Argumentative Essay On Vaccines For Kids

Vaccines For Kids
The subject over whether or not children should get vaccinated has been an on-going topic for years. It is starting to cause many arguments concerning the benefits and/or disadvantages of vaccinations. Some parents believe that vaccines can cause complications to children’s health while others believe that it benefits the child. This has been a huge, controversial debate for parents and researchers.
One of the many reasons people do not get vaccinated is because of the side effects caused by various vaccinations. “54 percent of parents were concerned about the serious adverse effect of vaccines” (Heyworth). Some side effects may include bowel blockage, long-term seizures, permanent brain damage and comas. Two out of every 20,000 babies get these side effects (“Should Any Vaccines be Required for Kids?”). There are also kids who cannot get

vaccinated because of allergies. Any vaccine can give a child a life-threatening reaction if they are allergic (Heyworth).
In addition to the side effects, some people believe vaccines are simply unnecessary. Most kids get over twenty injections by the time they are a year old (Heyworth). Many diseases that are trying to be prevented, are most likely harmless and can be treated with over-the-counter medications. Some people even make their own homemade remedies or natural cures (“Should Any Vaccines be Required for Kids?”).
In a like manner, people are not getting vaccinated because of the need to protect their legal rights (Perry).

In the Constitution, it clearly states people’s freedom of religion. A lot of religions are against vaccinations, such as the Anabaptists (“Should Any Vaccines be Required for Kids?”). Some people are even being harassed by health officials because they are not getting vaccinated due to religious issues. Parents want to protect their legal rights as citizens and have the upper hand when it comes to deciding what is best for their child (Perry).
However, although vaccines might offend some legal rights, they are very important. If children are not properly vaccinated, they are at a greater risk of getting diseases from other countries. Also, children who are too young to get their vaccinations could possibly get sick from another person who has not been vaccinated. When parents do not provide their kids with immunizations, outbreaks are more likely to occur. Various organizations support getting children vaccinated because it is the best way to stop diseases from spreading (“Importance of

Vaccines”).
Contrary to popular belief, vaccines do not cause autism. There have been multiple amounts of research and tests to prove no direct link exists to autism or any other disease. The accused ingredient for inducing autism, thimerosal, went under testing, and the results came back negative. This ingredient has been reduced and/or taken out of most vaccines. Multiple vaccines that children receive in their early years have also been proven not to cause autism (“Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism”).
With that in mind, recent studies have found that serious reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. Some side effects may cause mild reactions to occur, like a fever or headache, yet it is not likely. Researchers also say there is no link from childhood Leukemia to vaccines. The statistics of reactions are very small ratios. For example, fifteen out of one million children who get vaccinated, come down with a case of intussusception, which is the stopping of the blood supply going to the intestine (Rettner).
With all of the opinions, it has made a huge controversial debate for parents and researchers. Some people think that vaccines cause horrendous side effects, are unnecessary, and are against religious issues, and human nature. Others believe that vaccines are extremely important, don’t cause autism, and that the side effects are extremely rare for each injection. Even though there are some good and bad qualities to vaccines, it is up to the parents to decide what is best for their child.