Childhood Immunizations

Many parents ask, are vaccines safe for my child? I am one of those parents but the more research that I have done, has put wondering thoughts to rest. Many parents believe that vaccinations are linked to the causes of autism, multiple sclerosis, asthma and many other health problems. Although many parents have legitimate reasoning to not have their children receive vaccines, there are more pros than cons to receiving the vaccines. In rare cases children have became sick after immunizations, some life threatening. Because of vaccine safety and studies, the change in affordability of the vaccines, and recent decreasing results of major disease outbreaks, vaccines are helping keep children and our society safe.

When a possibility of a new vaccine is made it first has to be presented to the Food and Drug Administration to be approved. The FDA is one of the companies that perform the scientific testing to make sure it is a safe vaccine. By understanding the body’s immune system, the scientist is able to make the vaccine more effective and less abrasive. The evaluation of vaccine safety is an essential parts of every vaccine clinical trial. Many vaccines can cause allergic reactions such as a rash, swelling, and a fever. Some parents are not aware of these side effects. Most of the side effects are mild and will go away on their own. Mild reactions include: fever, aches, headache, itching, and fatigue. These reactions usually begin shortly after the vaccination and last 1 or 2 days afterwards. The more teaching that is done on the vaccines the more parents are feeling better about their children receiving the immunizations. Another key point to giving vaccines is, the child must be healthy not sick. That helps the va...

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... more epidemic outbreak of other deadly diseases. Rep. Henry Waxman states, “Yet as we in crease research, we must also make sure that every parent knows that the best available science does not support a link between vaccines and autism” (662 Waxman).

With all of the information that has been provided, immunizations are doing our society and children good. They are also preventing our children to not have major diseases and to keep them healthy. After having a child and hearing all the talk about autism and immunizations, it made me do research on most of the immunizations that my child was going to receive. Honestly, there are more pros than cons to the immunizations that our children are receiving. Major companies are making sure that these vaccines are more effective and less abrasive to our children; that is why vaccines have been changing for the good.