The Imperative of Child Vaccination: A Global Perspective

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Vaccines save millions of lives each year and are among the most cost-effective health interventions ever developed. In fact, vaccines have led to the eradication of the smallpox virus. And a 74 percent reduction in childhood deaths over the past decade (Unicef). According to the Pharmaceutical Journal, in the least developed countries, we cannot get the vaccines to the children who desperately need them; one child dies every 20 seconds from vaccine preventable diseases (Leifer). Yet here in the United States, we are fortunate enough to have vaccines readily available, but there are parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. Children should be required to get vaccinated statewide for their own safety and the safety of other children. Vaccination policies currently vary country-to-country, as …show more content…

Parents get the majority of their information about these vaccines using the click of their mouse. Although there is an abundance of information on the internet, not all of it is reliable or accurate. Infectious diseases will always be a threat, but the only way to stand up against them and protect ourselves is to build an “army of immunized soldiers”. Despite the millions of lives saved every year, vaccines are not perfect. “However, one simple fact cannot reasonably be disputed – the benefits of immunizations far outweigh any possible risks” (Koch). Possible risk factors can include headaches, nausea, fever, or allergic reactions. The risks of natural infection outweigh the risks of immunization for every recommended vaccine. Immunization is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, and experts agree that immunization is key to staying healthy (ProCon.org). The greatest benefit of vaccination is that it prevents

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