Anti Vaccination Argumentative Essay

Vaccinations

Bill Gates said it perfectly when he was quoted, “So it's an absolute lie that has killed thousands of kids. Because the mothers who heard that lie, many of them didn't have their kids take either pertussis or measles vaccine, and their children are dead today. And so the people who go and engage in those anti-vaccine efforts -- you know, they, they kill children. It's a very sad thing, because these vaccines are important.” The reason why weather or not to vaccinate is such a big debate is parents feel it is a personal choice to vaccinate their children and shouldn't be mandated, while others feel that not vaccinating actually puts children in harm's way. Parents read and hear misleading things about vaccines and fear their

children will be exposed to other illnesses from getting them.
Vaccines eradicated smallpox and have nearly eradicated other diseases such as polio.

“Children are no longer vaccinated against smallpox because the disease no longer exists due to vaccination. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1948; the last case in the world was 1977 in Somalia” (ProCon.org). “Jenny McCarthy is an actress and has been in the public eye for her stance against vaccinations, “she has a boy with autism-like symptoms that she is convinced were caused by the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). You can credit her passion for her child, sympathize with her heartbreak — and still cringe at her wholly irrational cause. Another theory, latched onto by Jenny McCarthy, is that the MMR vaccine in particular causes autism. Dr. Andrew Wakefield published this supposed link in a famous article in the British medical journal The Lancet. It has since been thoroughly debunked. The Lancet retracted Wakefield’s paper, and the British Medical Journal reported that he “falsified data.” He had his medical license revoked. All of which should have been enough to give the anti-vaxxers pause

“(Lowry).
Diseases have been around since mankind has been in existence. However, a widespread way to fight them has only been available for a little over a hundred of years. “The highly contagious virus known as the measles often leads to mild illness, but one in four leads to hospitalization and roughly one in 1,000 cases results in death. MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County is home to more measles cases than the rest of the U.S. combined after an outbreak that began last week. “A measles outbreak on Mississippi’s doorstep is a frightening reminder of why physicians push the importance of immunizations and our state’s strong policy on vaccine exemptions,” stated Daniel Edney, MD, President of the Mississippi State Medical Association. “Measles, like polio and diphtheria, can cripple our children and push a cancer patient to the brink” (Tennessee Measles Outbreak Concerns Mississippi).”
“There is also smallpox that was a very highly contagious disease and killed an estimated 300 million people” (Flight.) Smallpox is an acute contagious disease caused by the variola virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family. It was one of the world's most devastating diseases known to humanity. It was declared eradicated in 1980 following a global immunization campaign led by the World Health Organization (Smallpox). Mandatory vaccinations will prevent diseases from spreading to those that cannot protect themselves.
“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination.” (ProCon.org.)
“Vaccines protect the "herd." " Herd immunity (or community immunity) means that when a "critical portion" (the percent of people who need to be vaccinated to provide herd immunity) of a population is vaccinated against a contagious disease it is unlikely that an outbreak of the disease will occur so most members of the community will be protected.[61] Children and adults who cannot be vaccinated due to age, poor health (who are immunocompromised or undergoing chemotherapy, for example), or other reasons rely on herd immunity to prevent contraction of vaccine-preventable diseases.” (ProCon.org).
First of all, vaccines from disease are a way for humankind to prevent unnecessary death. “Vaccines save lives Pre vaccine era estimated annual morbidity for measles was 530,217 and dropped 99% after vaccines and in most recent U.S reports there has been an estimated 667 cases, also for Varicella which is also known as chickenpox pre vaccine estimates were 4,085,120 and dropped 96% after vaccines and in most recent U.S reports there has been an estimated 151,149 cases” (Steffen). “Global efforts toward polio eradication have included vaccination campaigns and active surveillance. The annual incidence of paralytic polio was reduced from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to about 1,000 from 2001 to 2004. Africa and South Asia are the last regions in the world where poliomyelitis is still endemic. False accusations of tainted vaccines by local leaders have led to a local resurgence of poliomyelitis cases and consequent spread to other parts of Africa” (Miller).
Second of all, vaccines are not only effective, but they are safe as well.

Vaccines are safe and effective and have been proven so by scientific research. Yes, a child may have a reaction to a vaccination as they would an allergy, but the benefits out way the risks. “Vaccinations have also eradicated several harmful diseases in the U.S such as smallpox and polio and have decreased the numbers in several others such as Diphtheria by 99%, Rubella by 99% and H. influenza (invasive, t Cause Autism). http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/autismutism.html

In my opinion vaccinations should be mandatory for all children. It is dangerous and irresponsible not to. Our job as parents is to protect our children and their future by not vaccinating we are not doing so. If I had it my way and everybody vaccinated I would no longer be worried of my loved ones, myself and others being affected with an incurable deadly disease.

In conclusion, vaccinations should be mandatory for all children. It is dangerous and irresponsible not to give them the very best chance in life. The main responsibility of a parent is to protect their child and to give their child the best possible future. If parents do not vaccinate their children, they are not doing their job. If everyone who was able to get vaccinated did, then those who could not, would be able to live their lives without fear of

disease.