Fear Of Vaccination Research Paper
Despite overwhelming evidence supporting the safety and benefits of vaccines, fear of vaccinations has proven resistant to information leading to a rise in refusals among parents in developed countries (Dipietro). In modern society with the rapid pace of vaccine development along with new technology, the history and importance of vaccines seem forgotten, leading people to underestimate the severity of infectious diseases. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” George Santayana. The growing resistance to vaccinations is a well-known occurrence, due to the positive effects vaccinations have had worldwide. Studying history is necessary to continue to evolve and avoid repeating the mistakes of our past. “History never repeats itself, but man always does,” Voltaire. Modern society (Millennials) do not understand the threat of infectious disease because they lack the life experience to know the devastation they can bring. Several parents have increasingly questioned the safety of vaccines, as a result vaccination rates have fallen to dramatically
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lower levels in recent years (Mcclure).
In 1958, the World Health Assembly received a report of the overwhelming consequences of Smallpox in 63 countries. Launching the process for a global campaign to eliminate Smallpox worldwide. The World Health Organization finally succeeded in the eradication of smallpox in 1977. Finally announcing on May 8, 1980, that the world was free from smallpox, and immunization for Smallpox was no longer needed. However, since the attack on the World Trade Center, the threat of biological warfare and bioterrorism has reemerged and Smallpox has been identified as a possible agent for bioterrorism. It’s imperative that we review the history of infectious diseases because, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity,” Martin Luther King Jr. Improved understanding of the association between vaccine refusal and the epidemiology of diseases is needed. The effects of vaccine hesitancy are widespread, not surprisingly, having an influence on vaccination rates, which in turn are linked to increased emergency department use, morbidity, and mortality. Vaccine acceptance remains generally high, but fear of vaccines has become a growing epidemic. Due to the risk to the public health this perception produces, and with legal principles supporting government action to protect the common good, society has the right and responsibility to establish laws and regulations to discourage vaccine refusal. “If history repeats itself and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience,” George Bernard Shaw. For example, measles and pertussis, 2 vaccine-preventable diseases with recent US outbreaks.
Since measles was declared eliminated in the United States after January 1, 2000, there have been 18 published measles studies and more than half had no history of measles vaccination. Of the 970 measles cases, 574 cases were unvaccinated despite being vaccine eligible and 405 had nonmedical exemptions (for religious or philosophical reasons). Among the 32 reports of pertussis outbreaks, which included 10,609 individuals ranging in age from 10 days to 87 years. However, several pertussis outbreaks also occurred in highly vaccinated populations, indicating waning immunity. A substantial proportion of the US measles cases were intentionally unvaccinated. Although pertussis resurgence has been attributed to waning immunity and other factors, vaccine refusal was still associated with an increased risk for
pertussis. In 2014, Dr. Ron Chapman the director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer warned, “That the number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases would continue to increase.” CDPH has received reports of 2,649 cases of pertussis occurring from January through May, which was significantly more than all cases reported in 2013. April was the highest month on record since the 2010 outbreak with more than 800 cases. Of the reported hospitalized patients in 2014 outbreak, 66 of them were infants 4 months old or younger. Eighty-three percent of the cases were children younger than 18 years of age, 70% of the cases ranged in age from 7-16 years old. This highlights the importance for both children and adults alike to stay up-to-date on their immunizations to avoid vaccine-preventable medical emergencies in some cases even death.
lower levels in recent years (Mcclure).
In 1958, the World Health Assembly received a report of the overwhelming consequences of Smallpox in 63 countries. Launching the process for a global campaign to eliminate Smallpox worldwide. The World Health Organization finally succeeded in the eradication of smallpox in 1977. Finally announcing on May 8, 1980, that the world was free from smallpox, and immunization for Smallpox was no longer needed. However, since the attack on the World Trade Center, the threat of biological warfare and bioterrorism has reemerged and Smallpox has been identified as a possible agent for bioterrorism. It’s imperative that we review the history of infectious diseases because, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity,” Martin Luther King Jr. Improved understanding of the association between vaccine refusal and the epidemiology of diseases is needed. The effects of vaccine hesitancy are widespread, not surprisingly, having an influence on vaccination rates, which in turn are linked to increased emergency department use, morbidity, and mortality. Vaccine acceptance remains generally high, but fear of vaccines has become a growing epidemic. Due to the risk to the public health this perception produces, and with legal principles supporting government action to protect the common good, society has the right and responsibility to establish laws and regulations to discourage vaccine refusal. “If history repeats itself and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience,” George Bernard Shaw. For example, measles and pertussis, 2 vaccine-preventable diseases with recent US outbreaks.
Since measles was declared eliminated in the United States after January 1, 2000, there have been 18 published measles studies and more than half had no history of measles vaccination. Of the 970 measles cases, 574 cases were unvaccinated despite being vaccine eligible and 405 had nonmedical exemptions (for religious or philosophical reasons). Among the 32 reports of pertussis outbreaks, which included 10,609 individuals ranging in age from 10 days to 87 years. However, several pertussis outbreaks also occurred in highly vaccinated populations, indicating waning immunity. A substantial proportion of the US measles cases were intentionally unvaccinated. Although pertussis resurgence has been attributed to waning immunity and other factors, vaccine refusal was still associated with an increased risk for
pertussis. In 2014, Dr. Ron Chapman the director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state health officer warned, “That the number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases would continue to increase.” CDPH has received reports of 2,649 cases of pertussis occurring from January through May, which was significantly more than all cases reported in 2013. April was the highest month on record since the 2010 outbreak with more than 800 cases. Of the reported hospitalized patients in 2014 outbreak, 66 of them were infants 4 months old or younger. Eighty-three percent of the cases were children younger than 18 years of age, 70% of the cases ranged in age from 7-16 years old. This highlights the importance for both children and adults alike to stay up-to-date on their immunizations to avoid vaccine-preventable medical emergencies in some cases even death.