Pros and Cons to Vaccination in Children

Anyone that has not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine is at risk for contracting measles. Other risk factors are vitamin A deficiency and traveling to third world countries. Coming in contact with someone that has this disease can increase your risk as well.

Vaccinations can be administered shortly after birth and are recommended into adulthood. The first dose of the Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccine is typically given shortly after birth but may be given at one or two months of age. Hepatitis is a disease effecting the liver and can be life threatening. By two months of age physicians recommend the second dose of Hep B along with the first dose of the rotavirus, diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and pertussis (TDaP), hemophilus influenza type B (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).

In the past, Americans did not have much say in their own health care. In today’s time, with the advent of new health-care bills and peaked interest in personal well being, Americans are now anxious to determine for themselves what they need to maintain their own and their loved ones’ health. However, there are still government-regulated requirements for people of all ages in regards to keeping the general public healthy. Vaccinations have always been a topic of contention in regards to younger children, but have been a staple of health for older adults. In fact, college requirements for vaccinations are mandatory, and failure to get the proper vaccines before college starts could result in holds on college students’ accounts or delays in

Should children be vaccinated? This is a question that has been a hot topic for some time now. All children should be vaccinated. We often ask “Why should we have our children vaccinated”? There are pros and cons to vaccinations. Vaccinations will reduce the risk of illness, provide a safer environment, and keep the parents from worry as much. In some cases, people think they cause more harm than anything.

Over the years, there has been much controversy surrounding the subject of childhood vaccinations. With differing opinions, many are in favor about childhood vaccinations being required for children. Children vaccinations have been proven to be an effective means of preventing serious effects, including fatalities, from childhood illnesses yet there is still controversy over whether the risk of side effects from the vaccines outweighs the risk of contracting diseases. The belief behind mandatory vaccinations has been linked to people wanting vaccinations to be required for children because it will prevent the spread of childhood diseases, but there are still questions and concerns around why childhood vaccinations should be required. Questions surrounding this topic are: why should vaccines be required, are there any serious risks involved in vaccinating your child, and should children be turned away from school if they do not have vaccinations? There is also the question of should these vaccinations be mandatory or should this solely be a choice that the parents of the child should make? In order for us to be able to take our stance on the subject, we need to examine the answers to the question.

One month following administration of the second vaccination (Month 7) 98.5% of subjects showed a combined immune response, with seroconversion for anti-HAV antibodies and seroprotection for anti-HBs antibodies. Antibody response rates were comparable to those observed with the three-dose schedule of the paediatric formulation (7) and those obtained with the monovalent vaccines (8, 9) with geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of 11543 mIU/ml for anti-HAV antibodies and 8056 mIU/ml for anti-HBs at month 7. A good tolerability profile was also observed, with the two dose adult formulation being less reactogenic than the three-dose paediatric formulation. Injection site pain was the most prevalent localized symptom occurring in 32.9% of children aged 1-6 years and 46.9% of children aged 6-11 years. Fever was the most common solicited general symptom in children under the age of 6 (14.8%) while fatigue was the most common solicited general symptom in children aged 6-11 years (25.5%). Unsolicited symptoms included gastroenteritis, bronchitis and influenza-like symptoms all of which resolved within the 30 day follow-up

When most people are babies they go to the doctor and get immunizations or vaccines. People get vaccines to protect they from harmful diseases like polio, smallpox, and the measles. Now parents are starting not to vaccinate their children because they fear the vaccines. When vaccines first came out parents took their children right away to be vaccinated because they knew the terrible things those diseases can bring. Now those diseases are gone and parents do not know what they can do to a child. Although some may argue that vaccinating babies and young children is a bad idea it is actually good because it protects others, prevents outbreaks, and they are not harmful to most children.

For this week’s discussion forum, I have decided to utilize these five articles to assist me in addressing my problem statement. Main concern is the about the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccine. This is a complex issue, because there are concerns on both sides of the argument. Due to the recent rise in the incidence of autism spectrum disorder, parents are refusing to vaccine their children, because they feel that it is the cause of their children being diagnosed with autism. On the other hand, there are known health benefits of vaccines in preventing childhood diseases or death. Moreover, there is a growing trend of diseases that were once controlled or eradicated as a result of mass vaccinations are reemerging.

The reason I found this topic interesting is because of the many conflicting views regarding childhood vaccines. It is probably one of the most controversial discussions regarding the health of children. The central theme to be discussed is vaccines, vaccinations, and immunizations. According to Basics (2008), there is a difference between the three. A vaccine produces immunity from a disease, vaccinations is the injection that produces immunity and immunization is the actual process by which a person is protected from a disease. For many years, there have been myths and untruths circulating regarding the safety of childhood vaccines. Among many, a few concerns consist of the use of animals to prepare and test vaccines, invasion of privacy, religious beliefs and it can cause Autism. Conversely, many believe it is one of the best ways to protect

One argument in favor of immunizing children is, while the diseases such as the measles are rare, there is still a chance the disease could be contracted. To prevent this from occurring, children should be vaccinated. “People might not realize that measles is not just fever and rash, said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious diseases and public health specialist” (Wallace). With the MMR vaccination, children and parents will be able to worry less and the spread of the measles will decrease.

Pro: majority of funding for research and development is paid through vaccination sales and independent donations (2/3)- cuts a lot of public’s expense down/creates more opportunities for better vaccinations

From 1976 to 2002 the number of cases of pertussis has risen from 1,010 to 8,276 (Stimola, 59). This is just one example of a disease that is reoccuring more often due to failure to vaccinate children at a very young age. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, affects babies and young children. It causes them to develop a very distinct cough, but other symptoms are very similar to that of the common cold. Immunizations or vaccines are made up of weakened strands of a virus that can no longer cause harm to the human body, but can assist in building antibodies to prevent people from contracting a potentially deadly disease. Some can not receive vaccines due to allergy or resistance to a specific component. Immunizations are a crucial component of public health. They prevent infectious diseases from breaking out and potentially causing an epidemic. Although vaccines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some still opt out of them. Immunizations are so important that some doctors refuse to see patients who refuse vaccines to protect themselves as well as other patients within the office (Garrett). Exemption from vaccination has been on the rise within the last decade more than ever.

Before vaccines were invented, people could only obtain immunity against an infectious disease after they survived from that disease. Thanks to modern technology, people nowadays can acquire immunity against some once fatal infectious diseases just by vaccination, which is injection or oral-taking inactivated or attenuated strains of microbe in order to stimulate body immune system, thereby preventing disease caused by that microbe (Kurstak, 1994). Some diseases, such as polio and smallpox, have been eradicated from many countries and regions in the world (Kurstak, 1994). Vaccination is considered to be a safe and effective way to prevent many infectious diseases and have saved millions of children’s lives, yet it is not mandatory in Canada. Only three provinces (Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick) have legislation or regulations that require proof of immunization of certain diseases for school entrance, but all have exceptions for medical or religious reasons (Vaccine Choice Canada, n.d., para 1). Therefore, it is extremely important for parents to understand why your children need to be vaccinated.

Immunizations are recognized as a standard process for securing the health of children attending daycare and public school. In fact, “immunization coverage among children entering kindergarten currently exceeds 90 percent for most recommended vaccines.” (U.S. Institute of Medicine, 2013, p. 2). Additionally, the recommend vaccination schedule set forth by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) protects “young children (age 6 years and under) against 14 pathogens and strives to protect children at the youngest age necessary to shield them from diseases when they are most vulnerable” (U.S.IOM, 2013, p.1). Notably, in the U.S., immunization programs have brought about the eradication of smallpox, the purging of polio, and near elimination of life-threatening diseases to include mumps, measles, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, and rubella (Maglione et al., 2014). Alongside the advantages of widespread immunization, over the last 15 years controversy against vaccination policy has been mounting, a controversy that has now made entry into the State of Evergreen; specifically, the counties of Cedar, Fir, and Pine.

Vaccination is a vital primitive measure in order to protect oneself as well as others. Vaccines help prevent illness, and have caused a wipe down of illness like polio. Many people avoid getting vaccinated due to the risks, however, the risks do not even compare to the risk of not getting vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is encouraged so individuals don’t pick up anything while traveling and bring it back to the US. They can spread illness to more vulnerable individuals like infants and cancer patients. Many also believe that that ‘natural’ immunity works better, however the results of not getting vaccinated could be of greater concern. The government doesn’t necessarily have a say in whether a child gets vaccinated however, schools do require immunization records in order to preserve the student body from a chance of getting an disease. There are however ways to get out of taking vaccinations for school needs, however this probably won’t be the best idea. Getting immunizations offer more of an insurance of safety for the student body, as well at the community.