Carlee Williams
Mrs. Heather Timmons
American Literature 132-03
Thursday March 20, 2014
Do the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks?
Although vaccination has proven to be an effective means of preventing serious
childhood illness, there is still question over whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Through
much research we can assume that it has been successfully proven that the benefits truly do
outweigh the risks; which is why many people should choose to vaccinate their children.
“Vaccines are among the 20th
preventing disease, disability, and death.” (Risk vs. Benefit) During the years 1951-1954 there
were over 1,879 deaths from the disease polio. In 1955 the polio vaccine was licensed in the U.S.
By the year 1991 polio was eliminated from the Western Hemisphere. We can see the dramatic
change with vaccinations throughout history. Scientists are still looking for more ways to assist
the small amount of risk factors in our society today.
Vaccines are a type of substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and help
prevent several diseases. There are many benefits to vaccinations, vaccines are examples of
taking small risks to enjoy large benefits. Our society should ask themselves the question would
you rather say you took the chance in vaccinating your children or waiting to see the terrible
outcome from not taking that risk. Although you may think vaccination is dangerous you are
helping not only the individual but also protecting your community from diseases spread from
person-to-person. Parents and patients are revealed to a lot of false information. They here in the
media, the news, the internet, and the public; false information about vaccines. Even parents that
c...
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...ic achievements in the United States during the
20th
century.” (Risk vs. Benefit) Without vaccination we would lose our friends and family
each day. There are vaccines that have eliminated poliomyelitis in America; and has controlled
measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and other infectious diseases. We have only reached the
beginning with vaccination in our society today. With technology improving there is a clearer
road for a risk free vaccine process. Now that we have reached the 21st
and effective vaccines will be strongly continued. Vaccines have truly reduced the number of
people who get infectious diseases. Without vaccines, a widespread of preventable diseases
would return. Which would increase illness and disability. Ultimately without vaccination we
would have a higher risk of the worst disease possible, death.
century promoting safe
Most people have never thought twice about vaccines until the day they are faced with injecting a weakened virus with chemicals and known toxins into their baby.
At first polio was a troubling prospect when it first reared its ugly head in the United States of America. In a noble effort to be rid of polio, America as a whole was to adopt stringent sanitation measures. Everywhere, especially the home was to be spotless and clean in order to try and prevent the contraction of polio. This coupled with the view that America as a western nation seemed impervious to such a lowly disease tried to assuage American fear of the disease. Despite the measures commonly adopted throughout the myriad of cities and towns, polio still managed to spread around the country and wreak havoc taking thousands of lives. An outbreak that ravaged America claimed nearly 27,000 lives in a terrible reckoning before it finally subsided. This and several other troubling outbreaks
Sixty-five years ago, the US was facing the brunt of one of the most feared epidemics of the 20th century. Polio had been lingering in the region since its discovery in 1894, but was now running full throttle. This was the beginning marker of an era that changed the face of medicine and propelled the U.S. forward as the worldwide leader in not only medicine, but also innovative pediatric medical care. In the early 1950s frightened parents quarantined their families and entire towns were put on lockdown for fear of transmission of the airborne pathogen. The nation scrambled as 58,000 cases swept through taking with them the lives of 3,145.
“Vaccinations are causing a major upsurge in childhood diseases, adult maladies, and even deadly ailments such as Gulf War Syndrome and Lou Gehrig’s disease” (Blaylock). Every now and then an individual’s doctor calls telling them about the latest vaccine they should receive. The person immediately schedules a time to come in and get it done. But do they even give a second thought about it? Have they ever thought that maybe they do not need another vaccination? Many people have not taken the time to seriously think about the process of immunization. The truth is, there are many dangers that the average person should be unaware of. Rarely do vaccines actually accomplish what the public has been told. In fact, a lot of vaccines contain harmful substances that have been linked to disorders such as autism. The lack of education and dishonesty from doctors are putting people in danger of health problems without even realizing. Many parents feel obligated for their children to get vaccinated because of school, not knowing they have the alternative option of refusing immunization.
Vaccines have been used to prevent diseases for centuries, and have saved countless lives of children and adults. The smallpox vaccine was invented as early as 1796, and since then the use of vaccines has continued to protect us from countless life threatening diseases such as polio, measles, and pertussis. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) assures that vaccines are extensively tested by scientist to make sure they are effective and safe, and must receive the approval of the Food and Drug Administration before being used. “Perhaps the greatest success story in public health is the reduction of infectious diseases due to the use of vaccines” (CDC, 2010). Routine immunization has eliminated smallpox from the globe and led to the near removal of wild polio virus. Vaccines have reduced some preventable infectious diseases to an all-time low, and now few people experience the devastating effects of measles, pertussis, and other illnesses.
In Conclusion, Understanding Polio’s etiology, history and epidemiology, as well as proper treatments will assist in avoiding its return. Although polio has been known to substantially affect a wide population in a small amount of time, eradication of this disease may also be accomplished in a short period of time. Scientists and medical professionals continue to research this disease in order to better understand and maintain it for many years to come. There are still aspect of the disease people do not understand that may be vital for the future of a polio-free world.
Spencer, Steven M. "Where Are We Now on Polio?" Saturday Evening Post 10 Sept. 1955: 19+. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 6 Mar. 2014.
The extent of adverse reactions to vaccines is crippling. Every year, there are more than 20,000 vaccine adverse reaction reports that are filed with the US government (Merino 17). 13% are classified as serious, including death, lifelong disability or life-threatening illness (“Vaccines ProCon”). Considering that almost all Americans are vaccinated makes these numbers seem less significant. However, it is estimated that less than ten percent of adverse reactions are reported (“National Vaccine…”). This means that over 200,000 people in America are possibly affected in a negative way by vaccines per year.
diseases, many of which are deadly. Some people seem to think vaccine side effects can cause
Poliomyelitis, also known as Polio, is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. Most victims to this disease are younger than five years of age; they are more likely to get this disease than any other age group. Out of two hundred people infected with the polio disease one is most likely to result in paralysis. The Polio Virus has decreased greatly since the Polio Vaccine was developed. In 2010 a WHO (World Health Organization) pole reported only 1,352 cases worldwide. Since the Polio Vaccine was developed the U.S has not has a single Polio case since 1979.
Polio: An American Story describes a struggle to find a vaccine on polio through several researchers’ lives, and over the course of many years. The second thesis is the struggle between Salk and Sabin, two bitter rivals who had their own vaccine that they believed would cure polio. The author David M. Oshinsky, is describing how difficult it was to find the cure to a horrifying disease, which lasted from the Great Depression until the 1960’s. Oshinsky then writes about how foundations formed as fundraisers, to support polio research. Lastly, the author demonstrates how researchers were forced to back track on multiple occasions, to learn more about polio.
... Tarrant and Thomson (2008), parents readily admitted that they had knowledge discrepancies in regards to childhood vaccines but believed that the benefits of immunization overshadowed any risks that might be present. The biggest source of information for these parents was family members and peers. Along with this information wide-ranging public health programs and mandatory vaccination requirements for school entry made certain that childhood immunization recommendations were followed.
Those who choose not to vaccinate their children are endangering the health of those unable to be vaccinated themselves, such as infants, pregnant people, and the immunocompromised, by jeopardizing community immunity. According to vaccine.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, community immunity or “herd immunity” occurs when “a critical portion of the community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak” (Community Immunity). An infographic featured in an NPR article entitled “How Vaccine Fears Fueled the Resurgence of Preventable Diseases” illustrated the rise in measles cases in Western Europe and of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the U.S (Doucleff). In the first eight months of 2014, there were eighteen measles outbreaks, and six hundred cases of measles. This is incredibly dangerous because outbreaks give these diseases the opportunity to evolve and become resistant to vaccines, putting even vaccinated children at risk (Harmon). Parents making the decision not to vaccinate are doing so out of a place that all parents share: a desire to keep their children healthy. However, these anti-vaxxers are basing their decision not on
By delaying vaccinations it can increase the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Getting a vaccine-preventable disease could be fatal. Vaccines should be received as a general caution, so that vaccine-preventable diseases do not become fatal, just to be safe. The vaccinations that are most commonly given prevent humans from disease that are not as common now, but not getting the vaccination could still be dangerous because an outbreak can happen at any time. Doctors do recommend that getting vaccines is the smart idea. If a person gets a vaccine-preventable disease, and did not receive the vaccine earlier in life, it could be too late to use the vaccine to make the patient
Immunisation or vaccination is a very effective and safe form of medicine used to prevent severe diseases occurring from viruses and other infectious organisms and increase the amount of protective antibodies. It is given by drops in the mouth or injecting a person with a dead or modified disease-causing agent, in order for the person to become immune to that disease.