In 1796, Edward Jenner invented the first vaccine, which was for the smallpox virus. (Google timeline) Centuries later, we now have a very large amount of vaccines that have been created with the purpose of protecting the human race from infectious diseases. The question is, how effective are these vaccines? Are they more beneficial or harmful to us? Are they serving their purpose? Could a person survive in this world without ever being immunized? In this small research paper, I will discuss the pros and cons of getting vaccinated. I will provide data from which each person will be able to make their own decision on whether vaccination is necessary or not.
There are many pros and cons to getting vaccinated. Here are a few pros. Though there are numerous different types of vaccines, they all have a common purpose: to create immunity inside an individuals’ body against deadly diseases by injecting antigens of that very disease. This is so that in a situation where the immunized individual was exposed to the specific disease, he or she would already have memory phagocytic cells to fight off the virus before symptoms would even get a chance to occur. One source mentioned that by vaccinating the population, we are protecting the health of communities by preventing its spread. It is said that many epidemic that caused thousands of people to die were completely or almost completely wiped out thanks to the invention of vaccinations. However, a minority, but significant group of people believe that the decline in reported incidences of these diseases have been related to newly established hygiene procedures such as washing our hands after using the restroom and before eating meals.
There are also quite a few cons, mainly in the form of side effects, to vaccinations. The few general and usually mild side effects are pain, redness, headaches, fever, swelling and/or a small lump at the site of injection. More serious side effects include allergic reactions, seizures and a disease that is still under research, autism. If a child initially has a weak immune system, or their parents cover the mild effects of the vaccines with drugs, the child’s body will retain the vaccine pathogens. This retention is what triggers or at least contribute to the development of child illnesses such as juvenile diabetes, asthma, neurological disorders, leukemia and event cot deaths. Other cons such as for the vaccine for shingles, only protects fifty percent of those vaccinated. There has been report of other severe side effects but unfortunately, the research in that area is very minimal.
Another issue that most parents fail to realize about vaccines is their contents and where they originate. Apart from the antigens, vaccines also contain:
Aluminum: a neuro-toxin which has been associated w/ Alzheimers, dis-ease, dementia and seizures; aluminum is carcinogenic in laboratory mice and added to vaccines to "promote antibody response."
Thimerosol: a sodium salt derived from the deadly poison mercury and used as a disinfectant and preservative; thimerosal has been linked to brain and kidney damage as well as immune and neurological dis-orders; it is a component of vaccines for DPT, tetanus, hepatitius B and Hib.
Formaldehyde: a major component of embalming fluid, which of course is pumped into dead people to keep them dead; a known cancer-causing chemical, this toxic substance is used to "inactivate" viruses and detoxify bacterial toxins; formaldehyde has also shown to be injurious to the liver and to trigger gene mutations.
Carbolic acid: believed to cause gender mutation; a deadly poison used as a disinfectant, dye
ANTI (AGAINST) BIOTICS (LIFE): Neomycin, Streptomycin and a variety of other drugs - to which increasing numbers of the population are demonstrating serious allergies and to which increasing numbers of microbes are developing genetically-transmitted tolerance
ACETONE: used in fingernail polish remover and as a solvent
ALUM: used as a preservative
GLYCERIN: a tri-atomic alcohol extracted from natural fats which are putrefied and decomposed; toxic effects damage the kidneys, liver, lungs and "pronounced local tissue damage, gastrointestinal damage and death"
TOXIC CHEMICALS & DRUGS: trace elements of other chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin, benzethonium chloride, methylparaben; some of which are known or suspected of causing cancer.
My personal opinion on vaccinations is divided. Given all the serious possible side effects, I don’t believe children should get vaccinated. Though statistic show a small percentage of children being vaccinated actually developing these diseases, there is still a percentage which I deem too high to take the chance with my own kids. Also, quite a few diseases that are still being vaccinated for have completely disappeared, which means that there is no one to catch the disease from. So why risk getting the possible but very serious side effects from a vaccine that is for a disease that we will most likely not ever even encounter. On the other hand, vaccines have proved themselves to be efficient in the case of small pox, malaria and other epidemics. For this reason, I believe that vaccinations do work and should be given to traveling adults whom like to venture to under developed countries that do not have the same privileges as the United States. Places where terminal and easily transmitted diseases are common.
Work Cited
Parwani, Kritika. "Vaccinations for Children, Pros and Cons." Buzzle.com. Buzzle, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vaccinations-for-children-pros-and-cons.html>.
Hicks, Barb. "Shingles Vaccination side effects." Clivir, learning community. N.p., 27 jul 2009. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/shingles-vaccination-side-effects-pros-and-cons.html>.
"Pros and Cons of Vaccinations." Life Style Lounge. N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/pros-and-cons-of-vaccinations-2991.html>.
Parwani, Kritika. "Vaccinations for Children, Pros and Cons." Buzzle.com. Buzzle, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vaccinations-for-children-pros-and-cons.html>.
Hicks, Barb. "Shingles Vaccination side effects." Clivir, learning community. N.p., 27 jul 2009. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/shingles-vaccination-side-effects-pros-and-cons.html>.
"Pros and Cons of Vaccinations." Life Style Lounge. N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/pros-and-cons-of-vaccinations-2991.html>.
Cited: Parwani, Kritika. "Vaccinations for Children, Pros and Cons." Buzzle.com. Buzzle, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vaccinations-for-children-pros-and-cons.html>. Hicks, Barb. "Shingles Vaccination side effects." Clivir, learning community. N.p., 27 jul 2009. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/shingles-vaccination-side-effects-pros-and-cons.html>. "Pros and Cons of Vaccinations." Life Style Lounge. N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/pros-and-cons-of-vaccinations-2991.html>. Parwani, Kritika. "Vaccinations for Children, Pros and Cons." Buzzle.com. Buzzle, n.d. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/vaccinations-for-children-pros-and-cons.html>. Hicks, Barb. "Shingles Vaccination side effects." Clivir, learning community. N.p., 27 jul 2009. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/shingles-vaccination-side-effects-pros-and-cons.html>. "Pros and Cons of Vaccinations." Life Style Lounge. N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Nov 2012. <http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/pros-and-cons-of-vaccinations-2991.html>.
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