The Pros And Cons Of Vaccination

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

It’s hard to imagine a world without vaccines—a world where “getting sick” had the potential to be fatal (or at least cause irreparable damage to one’s body). In this world, diseases robbed millions of bright-eyed children of their lives. Thankfully, though, with the development of vaccines, populations have grown larger and healthier over the past century. Sadly, despite the improved longevity of our species, many people are still undecided about—or vehemently against—childhood vaccination. They claim that vaccinations are dangerous and responsible for autism and other conditions. Medical experts, however, refute these claims by citing both the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. In fact, according to Centers for Disease Control and

Over many years, we have gained more and more knowledge in the medical field. We have learned new information about diseases, cures, and technology that can be used to help our society stay healthy. Vaccinations are one of the ways doctors help prevent people from getting various diseases such as polio and the measles. However, some peoples’ beliefs and religions get in the way of them taking vaccines. Also, some parents believe that vaccinations are linked to autism and refuse to let their children get vaccinated. For many years, people have been having controversies over this subject, but I believe that we should require kids to have vaccinations to keep society healthy and stable.

"Despite overwhelming propaganda in the mainstream media that vaccines do not cause autism, one poll found that one out of every four parents now believe that vaccines cause autism" (Vaccines Cause Autism). Parents who listen to the media rather than the doctors don't want to accept the fact that there is no connection between autism and getting vaccinated. As one doctor explains in viewpoint, "There is more likely a coincidental link between immunization schedules and diagnoses of autism because the disease tends to arise when children are young, around the same ages that they are receiving vaccinations" (Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism). Children get vaccinated against 14 diseases by the age of two, along with annual flu vaccinations. Even though many doctors have mounting evidence proving the safety and value of vaccination, many parents are still passionately opposed to them. "Many people believe that the increased number of vaccines children now get twice as many as they did in 1980 and can receive up to 20 injections by their first birthday are to blame for the rise in kids with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)" (Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism). It's completely coincidental that autism comes out around the same time that many of the vaccines are given to the children. Parents blame the vaccines because they don't want to accept that their child developed

Being a parent is a never ending full time job. Constantly on the run, doing laundry, making food, and wiping snotty noses, you are faced with decisions to make for your child every day. One of those important decisions is whether or not to vaccinate your child. In today’s society this has become a tough choice to make as negative light has been casted upon vaccinations and their safety. False allegations of vaccines causing Autism have led parents from vaccinating their children, but research has proven that vaccinations are not the cause of Autism and parents should continue to vaccinate for the safety of their child as well as society.

Vaccinations are something that is none around the world. It is supported in many countries but in others it is not. In the United States there is a constant controversy as to whether to vaccinate or not. Most parents in our society opt for the vaccination process to protect their children in any way they can. Although, many parents do not see it that way. The controversy of childhood vaccination spans back more than just a few years it goes back as far as the 18th century (Nelson) but the fact of the matter is childhood vaccinations have very few side effects, there have been very few lines between autism and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Vaccines”; Shea, Diekema), and when children come in to contact with diseases they are not vaccinated for it can cause nationwide pandemic (Nelson; “Should Any Vaccines Be Required for Children?”).

Vaccinations are considered to be one of the greatest medical advancements of our time. The first vaccine was created in 1796 and many more have been created since. These deadly diseases such as smallpox, polio, and diphtheria are now being prevented. Since vaccines have been doing their job, we do not see them around anymore. The media is now displaying vaccines in a negative way and people are listening to the misconstrued knowledge. Parents are worried about the risks associated with the vaccines instead of the diseases they are preventing. They believe there may be a link between vaccines and the development of autism. Parents also believe there is an issue with the current immunization schedule. They believe that the children are getting too many vaccines at one time and this might cause other health related problems. This does not only affect the child who is not being vaccinated, it is a danger to children who cannot receive the vaccine due to weakened immune systems or other health related problems. The CDC states that there is no connection between vaccinations and autism. They also state that the immunization schedule is safe. Since more and more children are not being vaccinated, this might cause a global health epidemic in the future. These deadly diseases that were prevented from vaccines may reappear. It is important for health care workers to be up to date on the scientific facts regarding vaccinations so they can provide parents with accurate knowledge.

Personally, I think that the myth of the vaccinations came about because there have been a large increase involving the diagnoses of autism. These diagnoses have also come shortly after the numerous shots that children were given. In the recent decades, the amount of shots that are recommended are astronomical, compared to previous years/decades. Being the fact that autism doesn’t have a clear-cut cause, there is an urgency to find the leading cause. Researchers are leaning towards genetics, but even with that there has been a specific gene that has been positively linked to be named the culprit. I also think when parents get an idea or thought in their head about

In the 1950s, the polio vaccine was introduced and life in America was forever changed. We vaccinated children against polio and many other diseases and America as a whole became a much healthier place. Soon, parents could quite reasonably expect to have a happy and healthy child. Vaccines were like miracle drugs. Then, in 1998, everything changed. Andrew Wakefield, a physician from the United Kingdom, published a study stating that he had found a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Thus began the dangerous trend of refusing vaccines for children. Although many people believe vaccines to be dangerous, in fact, they are one of the safest medical procedures done.

Recently the anti-vaccination movement has been on the rise. It all started with one study that suggested that the increasing rates of people diagnosed with autism is directly related to vaccines. Parents whose children were healthy babies and then started showing symptoms of autism were quick to blame vaccines. It is normal for symptoms of autism to not show up immediately, but some parents assume that this must mean that something caused it. Vaccines are something that many children get starting in their infancy so it is an easy target. The study that suggested that vaccines are related to the increase in autism was later falsified and there is currently no evidence that vaccines cause or have any relation to autism. Yet, many parents are concerned about their effects. Some parents are uncertain about whether vaccines have adverse effects so they better about not getting their children vaccinated. If given the choice between acting and potentially causing harm to their children and not acting and potentially causing harm people generally feel less guilt about not acting. This leads to people feeling safer about not vaccinating and putting their children at risk of a catching a disease than vaccinating and putting their children at risk for autism. While the number of people diagnosed with autism is increasing, this does not necessarily mean that the number of people who have autism has increased. The increased number of diagnoses is related to the increased ability to

More parents are choosing to not vaccinate their children these days because they fear for their own children’s safety from damaging side effects due to the shots. Parents worry about metal such as aluminum and formaldehyde in vaccine. Formaldehyde significantly increases the risk of asthma and allergy in young children. Parents actually believe vaccinations causes cancer. There are studies that say vaccines can and do cause cancer. The original paper that found a link between vaccines and autism was retracted by Lancet because they believed the statements in the paper were false without any ambiguity. Wakefield wrote the paper to make money. It was found that he didn’t disclose that he was a paid consultant to lawyers that were representing

The trend to refuse vaccinations is believed to have stemmed from a fake study completed by Andrew Wakefield in 1993 saying the MMR vaccine caused autism and bowel disease. In Wakefield’s study he tested 12 children who had grown up with normal development who presented a loss of acquired skills after receiving the Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine. According to the study, “Behavioural disorders included autism (nine), disintegrative psychosis (one), and possible postviral or vaccinal encephalitis (two)” (Wakefield, 1998). It was later found that these diagnoses were false and Wakefield had been paid off by parents of children with autism to make these claims and that there was no evidence to support

Vaccinations have gone through opposition and critics, but for the most part legislation has been slow, but treated vaccination fairly. To this day vaccination still faces many of the challenges that it faced in the early nineteenth century. The reasons have gone from personal freedom issues and just the overall effectiveness of mass immunization. The courts in the nineteenth century typically supported the enactment of mandatory vaccination programs. Most importantly for the future of mandatory vaccination policy, one important Supreme Court decision in the early part of the twentieth century acknowledged the power of state governments to mandate vaccination.

from being miserable. If you get this vaccine you wouldn’t have to watch your child suffer and constantly clean them because of this disease for up to nine days. Also, you could develop symptoms of rotavirus which could seriously affect your health and daily life. Getting this immunization that is completely safe could keep you, and most importantly, your child’s health at a good state and save you from a few miserable weeks of cleaning up diarrhea.

Some parents believe that vaccines will cause their children to develop autism, however, other parents believe vaccinating their children creates a herd community. Vaccinations are a common practice that most people have done for years. So why are vaccinations such a major controversy today? Multiple studies have shown that there really is not a correct answer to many people’s questions. Are the risks of not vaccinating children too severe? The risks of not vaccinating include children becoming sick unnecessarily, herd immunity decreasing, and the harming of future generations. Is it worth the risks of not vaccinating children when the effects are very significant?