Pros And Cons Of Vaccination
Vaccinations: Option or Obligation? The concept of vaccination was first invented in 1796 by Edward Jenner, the father of immunology, who realized that certain people were immune to certain diseases. Further research led scientists to discover that people who were exposed to a strain of cowpox were immune because they already had antibodies that could fend off the strain. This was the genesis of over four hundred years of extensive and successful research. Since their beginning, vaccinations have been the spectacle of social disarray. Recently, there has been uprising in individuals who think vaccinations may be more harmful than helpful, due to false research linking the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine to autism. Many states allow
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parents to refuse vaccination on the basis of religious and nonreligious beliefs and an increasing amounts of parents have taken up this offer. These people are commonly referred to as “non-vaxxers.” The majority of both sides of the spectrum value the safety of their children. However, vaccines should be mandatory because they can lead to the eradication of certain illnesses, herd immunity is needed to protect the immune-compromised, they are beneficial to the economy, and they protect future generations against disease before they are even born. One of the first diseases eradicated from the United States was polio, due to the WHO (World Health Organization) campaign to expunge polio.
This vaccine was not mandatory, but because the population had seen the horrid effects of the virus they were quick to inoculate themselves. The campaign proved effective as a reporter stated, “The [Polio Eradication Campaign] has led to a sharp drop in polio around the world—from around 350,000 cases in 1988 to fewer than 2,000 in the year 2005” (Aldrige). Not being able to see the aftermath of such ailments is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, first world nations are at an advantage of not having to view the awful symptoms of some diseases; on the other hand this leads to complacency. Just because a disease is not outwardly visible does not mean it has ceased to exist, as most pathogens are commonly found living on or near people, which is why having immunity is essential. Other countries are at a disadvantage because they lack the resources that well-off countries have. Well-off countries share a different disadvantage-disease can evolve, spread, and learn much faster than humans, making immunology an endless search. If vaccination rates drop, it would negate hundreds of years of research and leave the United States a high risk
nation.
To understand the risks of vaccination one must first understand the two different, primary types of vaccines: weakened and dead. A weakened vaccine, also known as an active vaccine, contains a weakened version of the live virus, making infection possible but very unlikely. Dead or inactive vaccines contain a dead virus, making infection impossible (CDC). This is imperative knowledge to be able to recognize what research is feasible and what is not. Certain countries like the United States or Europe are usually more susceptible to more advanced diseases, as opposed to simpler ones, making anti-vaccination a risky breach of general health. Becoming vulnerable to avertable sicknesses will be a major setback financially and progressively. Not vaccinating sets the playing ground for easily avoidable illnesses to spread through the community like wild-fire and affect more at-risk individuals. Moreover, people with compromised immune systems are at hazard without the public being vaccinated. A compromised immune system usually occurs in children, people with autoimmune diseases, or individuals going through an extensive treatment, such as chemotherapy. These individuals rely on herd immunity, where about 90 percent of the population is vaccinated, to protect them from disease as their immune systems are too weakened for them to receive shots. In some areas, vaccination rates are dwindling below this 90 percent threshold necessary to prevent the spread of illnesses and protect immune-compromised people and infants who cannot be vaccinated. One example of an immunocompromised patient is Steven Weinreb, a cancer patient. Weinreb was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer that affects the bloodstream and bone marrow, and received a white blood cell donation that left him immunocompromised. While he waited for the white blood cells to mature (several months), he had an immunity similar to that of a newborn child. During this time, Weinreb could not receive any vaccines. However, herd immunity would allow Weinreb and other immunocompromised patients a much lower risk of contracting disease (Weinreb). When a society does not follow the guidelines for herd immunity, the health risks become disastrous for these individuals. This is only one example of how costly non-vaxxing can be and how vaccination choices affect far more than just one individual.
Economically, the benefits that vaccinations have on health far outweigh their cost and their virtually nonexistent risks. Workplaces have certain stipulations for adults that they expect them to be in compliance to, including vaccinations. When workers are vaccinated it leads to healthier workers with less absences putting in more hours at work, as they are not restricted by illness. Additionally, when people are in good health they are more inclined to invest in their savings as they are not as worried about high medical bills. A more obvious and visible effect of vaccination is the lack of superfluous hospital visits and avoidable death due to adverse reaction to disease. In the article “People Should Not Be Allowed to Refuse Vaccination” it is stated that, “a study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…estimated that the first 20 years of measles vaccination in the U.S. had prevented 52 million cases, 5,200 deaths and 17,400 cases of mental retardation” (Bailey). Statistics like this prove the effectiveness of mandatory vaccinations.
Likewise, vaccination starts before the child is even born with the immunizations of the mother. Vaccinations are quintessential to an infant even before they are born. Research shows that, “…children born to rubella-infected mothers, who suffered from disease-induced birth defects, such as deafness, cloudy corneas, damaged hearts, and stunted intellects” (Bailey). Since their mothers had not received the MMR vaccine, all of these children were at risk before they could even take their first breath in this world. This is most likely the effects of research that linked the MMR vaccine to autism that has since been disproved. Due to a new generation of non-vaxxers, the state of newborns’ health and quality of living has declined drastically. This idea of not vaccinating children is also largely attributed to religious affiliations.
For years, religious exemptions have been used to negate critical vaccinations. One of the main ideas behind religious exemption is people wanting to stick strongly to their faith: “Religious leaders (opinion) on vaccination will not change easily, as their objections to vaccination are rooted in religious doctrine and they owe their authority to their application of this doctrine” (Rujis). Fear of being misconstrued as not true to their religion is an effective tactic used to convince parents to not vaccinate their children. Unfortunately, religious exemptions to vaccinations have recently morphed into a catchall excuse for anyone who does not want their child vaccinated, as most schools do not ask a parent to show some sort of proof or reason for exemption. While these parents may have their children’s best interests at heart, their decisions are not grounded in scientifically accurate research. Although people are allowed to not vaccinate their children based on religious and non-religious views, most schools will not permit a student to enter without meeting their vaccination guidelines. This has limited the use of religious and personal exemptions.
Furthermore, freedom of choice cannot come at the expense of the health of others. The growth of the Internet has fueled the conspiracy theories of the alleged dangers of vaccines causing many a frantic parent to opt out of one of the most beneficial discoveries of the modern era. According to these critics, vaccines may cause serious side effects or even prove fatal. One of the most hotly debated vaccines is the MMR vaccine, “Based on the epidemiologic evidence gathered for numerous studies conducted to probe this theory since it first surfaced in 1998, however, most medical authorities have concluded that the weight of scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that the MMR vaccine causes autism” (Ballaro and Sprague). However, because of the anxiety many of these people face, mainly accredited to false research, these statistics generally fall on deaf ears. Fear of vaccines is not specifically bad, as some vaccines have had very negative effects. However, there has been vast advancements in the medical technology used to create vaccines. A piece about the controversy surrounding vaccines explains that, “Vaccines are among the ‘safest pharmacological interventions for disease prevention available’ says epidemiologist Roger Bernier” (Koch). The people refusing to be vaccinated see it as a personal choice; they are unaware that this choice has great potential to harm others. As nations pass the threshold of no longer being able to achieve herd immunity, the overall well-being of these nations will drop significantly. Vaccinations are the cornerstone of advancement in developed countries. While not all nations have vaccination privileges, improvements are being made constantly to make vaccines affordable, largely distributable, and safe. People who do not vaccinate and people who do vaccinate have one major thing in common: they care about safety and health. However, not vaccinating has been proven to be dangerous and unhealthy. Freedom of choice, although fundamental, is not intended to protect choices that have such adverse and long-standing effects on the masses. As vaccination rates decline rapidly, risk for outbreaks increase steeply, especially on those with weakened immune systems. This lack of vaccination needs to be a wake-up call for nations to start requiring vaccinations to protect their general populace and to make sure the public is more informed about the effects of vaccines. Mandating the receipt of vaccines is the only way that herd immunity can be accomplished and it is, for the most part, harmless. This will bring to fruition a generation of healthier children and a successful economy that is not bogged down by avoidable hospital visitations and preventable deaths. Public health is not the burden of health organizations, rather it is the responsibility of the public. Vaccination is not an option for society; it is an obligation.
parents to refuse vaccination on the basis of religious and nonreligious beliefs and an increasing amounts of parents have taken up this offer. These people are commonly referred to as “non-vaxxers.” The majority of both sides of the spectrum value the safety of their children. However, vaccines should be mandatory because they can lead to the eradication of certain illnesses, herd immunity is needed to protect the immune-compromised, they are beneficial to the economy, and they protect future generations against disease before they are even born. One of the first diseases eradicated from the United States was polio, due to the WHO (World Health Organization) campaign to expunge polio.
This vaccine was not mandatory, but because the population had seen the horrid effects of the virus they were quick to inoculate themselves. The campaign proved effective as a reporter stated, “The [Polio Eradication Campaign] has led to a sharp drop in polio around the world—from around 350,000 cases in 1988 to fewer than 2,000 in the year 2005” (Aldrige). Not being able to see the aftermath of such ailments is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, first world nations are at an advantage of not having to view the awful symptoms of some diseases; on the other hand this leads to complacency. Just because a disease is not outwardly visible does not mean it has ceased to exist, as most pathogens are commonly found living on or near people, which is why having immunity is essential. Other countries are at a disadvantage because they lack the resources that well-off countries have. Well-off countries share a different disadvantage-disease can evolve, spread, and learn much faster than humans, making immunology an endless search. If vaccination rates drop, it would negate hundreds of years of research and leave the United States a high risk
nation.
To understand the risks of vaccination one must first understand the two different, primary types of vaccines: weakened and dead. A weakened vaccine, also known as an active vaccine, contains a weakened version of the live virus, making infection possible but very unlikely. Dead or inactive vaccines contain a dead virus, making infection impossible (CDC). This is imperative knowledge to be able to recognize what research is feasible and what is not. Certain countries like the United States or Europe are usually more susceptible to more advanced diseases, as opposed to simpler ones, making anti-vaccination a risky breach of general health. Becoming vulnerable to avertable sicknesses will be a major setback financially and progressively. Not vaccinating sets the playing ground for easily avoidable illnesses to spread through the community like wild-fire and affect more at-risk individuals. Moreover, people with compromised immune systems are at hazard without the public being vaccinated. A compromised immune system usually occurs in children, people with autoimmune diseases, or individuals going through an extensive treatment, such as chemotherapy. These individuals rely on herd immunity, where about 90 percent of the population is vaccinated, to protect them from disease as their immune systems are too weakened for them to receive shots. In some areas, vaccination rates are dwindling below this 90 percent threshold necessary to prevent the spread of illnesses and protect immune-compromised people and infants who cannot be vaccinated. One example of an immunocompromised patient is Steven Weinreb, a cancer patient. Weinreb was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer that affects the bloodstream and bone marrow, and received a white blood cell donation that left him immunocompromised. While he waited for the white blood cells to mature (several months), he had an immunity similar to that of a newborn child. During this time, Weinreb could not receive any vaccines. However, herd immunity would allow Weinreb and other immunocompromised patients a much lower risk of contracting disease (Weinreb). When a society does not follow the guidelines for herd immunity, the health risks become disastrous for these individuals. This is only one example of how costly non-vaxxing can be and how vaccination choices affect far more than just one individual.
Economically, the benefits that vaccinations have on health far outweigh their cost and their virtually nonexistent risks. Workplaces have certain stipulations for adults that they expect them to be in compliance to, including vaccinations. When workers are vaccinated it leads to healthier workers with less absences putting in more hours at work, as they are not restricted by illness. Additionally, when people are in good health they are more inclined to invest in their savings as they are not as worried about high medical bills. A more obvious and visible effect of vaccination is the lack of superfluous hospital visits and avoidable death due to adverse reaction to disease. In the article “People Should Not Be Allowed to Refuse Vaccination” it is stated that, “a study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…estimated that the first 20 years of measles vaccination in the U.S. had prevented 52 million cases, 5,200 deaths and 17,400 cases of mental retardation” (Bailey). Statistics like this prove the effectiveness of mandatory vaccinations.
Likewise, vaccination starts before the child is even born with the immunizations of the mother. Vaccinations are quintessential to an infant even before they are born. Research shows that, “…children born to rubella-infected mothers, who suffered from disease-induced birth defects, such as deafness, cloudy corneas, damaged hearts, and stunted intellects” (Bailey). Since their mothers had not received the MMR vaccine, all of these children were at risk before they could even take their first breath in this world. This is most likely the effects of research that linked the MMR vaccine to autism that has since been disproved. Due to a new generation of non-vaxxers, the state of newborns’ health and quality of living has declined drastically. This idea of not vaccinating children is also largely attributed to religious affiliations.
For years, religious exemptions have been used to negate critical vaccinations. One of the main ideas behind religious exemption is people wanting to stick strongly to their faith: “Religious leaders (opinion) on vaccination will not change easily, as their objections to vaccination are rooted in religious doctrine and they owe their authority to their application of this doctrine” (Rujis). Fear of being misconstrued as not true to their religion is an effective tactic used to convince parents to not vaccinate their children. Unfortunately, religious exemptions to vaccinations have recently morphed into a catchall excuse for anyone who does not want their child vaccinated, as most schools do not ask a parent to show some sort of proof or reason for exemption. While these parents may have their children’s best interests at heart, their decisions are not grounded in scientifically accurate research. Although people are allowed to not vaccinate their children based on religious and non-religious views, most schools will not permit a student to enter without meeting their vaccination guidelines. This has limited the use of religious and personal exemptions.
Furthermore, freedom of choice cannot come at the expense of the health of others. The growth of the Internet has fueled the conspiracy theories of the alleged dangers of vaccines causing many a frantic parent to opt out of one of the most beneficial discoveries of the modern era. According to these critics, vaccines may cause serious side effects or even prove fatal. One of the most hotly debated vaccines is the MMR vaccine, “Based on the epidemiologic evidence gathered for numerous studies conducted to probe this theory since it first surfaced in 1998, however, most medical authorities have concluded that the weight of scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that the MMR vaccine causes autism” (Ballaro and Sprague). However, because of the anxiety many of these people face, mainly accredited to false research, these statistics generally fall on deaf ears. Fear of vaccines is not specifically bad, as some vaccines have had very negative effects. However, there has been vast advancements in the medical technology used to create vaccines. A piece about the controversy surrounding vaccines explains that, “Vaccines are among the ‘safest pharmacological interventions for disease prevention available’ says epidemiologist Roger Bernier” (Koch). The people refusing to be vaccinated see it as a personal choice; they are unaware that this choice has great potential to harm others. As nations pass the threshold of no longer being able to achieve herd immunity, the overall well-being of these nations will drop significantly. Vaccinations are the cornerstone of advancement in developed countries. While not all nations have vaccination privileges, improvements are being made constantly to make vaccines affordable, largely distributable, and safe. People who do not vaccinate and people who do vaccinate have one major thing in common: they care about safety and health. However, not vaccinating has been proven to be dangerous and unhealthy. Freedom of choice, although fundamental, is not intended to protect choices that have such adverse and long-standing effects on the masses. As vaccination rates decline rapidly, risk for outbreaks increase steeply, especially on those with weakened immune systems. This lack of vaccination needs to be a wake-up call for nations to start requiring vaccinations to protect their general populace and to make sure the public is more informed about the effects of vaccines. Mandating the receipt of vaccines is the only way that herd immunity can be accomplished and it is, for the most part, harmless. This will bring to fruition a generation of healthier children and a successful economy that is not bogged down by avoidable hospital visitations and preventable deaths. Public health is not the burden of health organizations, rather it is the responsibility of the public. Vaccination is not an option for society; it is an obligation.