Short Summary: The Childhood Vaccination Debate
The Childhood Vaccination Debate
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Eng/147
Today’s Date
Teacher’s Name
The Childhood Vaccination Debate Imagine a disease that begins much like the flu but ends with painful fluid filled pustules covering large portions of one’s body that can rob one’s ability to see, eat, and breathe. Furthermore, according to Berkeley University’s news writer, David Koplow (2003) this disease “has caused more deaths than all the world wars combined” (para. 3). Now, imagine if one quick vaccination could prevent children from being at risk for such suffering and devastating. The description is that of Smallpox, one of the deadliest diseases in history, which is now eradicated by the development and use of vaccinations during childhood. …show more content…
However, despite the successful eradication of this disease, many parents have opted out of immunizing their children, in part, for fear that a correlation exists between vaccines and Autism. The dangers of opting out include not only putting one’s own child’s life at risk but also endangers the health and safety of other children. Moreover, the claims that a correlation exists between vaccines and Autism have been entirely debunked. Although parents want the ability to choose what is best for their children, those who do not immunize are putting other children at risk and are not lowering the risk of autism.
The History of Vaccinations Vaccinations were created and first used in the 1790’s with the intent of eradicating deadly childhood diseases. Stern and Markel (2005) outline the history and creation of vaccinations in Health Affairs journal. The story begins with an English country doctor, Edward Jenner. Jenner gathered much of his idea for vaccinations by observation among farming communities. According to Stern and Markel (2005), “[Jenner] took pus from a cowpox lesion on a milkmaid’s hand…and inoculated eight-year-old James Phipps” (p. 611). The results of Jenner’s first inoculation was that the boy was unaffected by future exposure to smallpox. Jenner’s inoculation discovery eventually led to the eradication of the disease (Stern & Markel, 2005). As explained by Nurse Practitioner, Linda Diggle, is important to know the history of vaccinations to understand their necessity for disease control, and ideally, eradication of diseases (Diggle, 2006).
Opting Out of Vaccinations In 1998, a British physician published an article that would ignite a frenzy among many parents of young children leading numerous parents to begin refusing childhood vaccinations. The article was written by Andy Wakefield, published in Lancet, and made the claim that childhood vaccinations were directly correlated to autism (Bozeman, 2015). Not surprisingly, the thought of a vaccine causing Autism and the associated family struggles, incited panic and demands for answers. As a result, increasing numbers of parents began opting out with the intent to protect their children. Unfortunately, the result of the frenzied reaction caused a resurgence of some deadly diseases (Bozeman, 2015). Moreover, children too young to receive recommended inoculations were exposed, and in some cases, contracted potentially fatal diseases such as whooping cough (Bozeman, 2015). However, in 2010, Andy Wakefield’s study was debunked, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (2015) “by more than 100 peer-reviewed papers” (para. 1). Despite the indisputable debunking of Wakefield’s claims and the removal of his faulty claims from print, many parents continue to forgo vaccinations.
The Dangers of Opting Out Despite Wakefield’s study being debunked by more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, many parents continue to opt out of vaccinations putting their own and others’ children in danger. First of all, children who are not vaccinated put newborns and infants too young to be inoculated at heightened risk. According to Diggle (2006), life-threatening diseases can only be combated through developing immunity to the disease, which is what vaccinations provide. Younger children, including newborns and infants, do not have the active resistance required to fight off infectious diseases. Active resistance is not yet developed enough in younger babies for vaccines to be effective and for them to manage the known side-effects. According to Diggle (2006), known side-effects of vaccines include fever, lethargy, and possibly mild flu-like symptoms. Those who contract life-threatening diseases may not always die as a result. Rather, they may suffer long-term effects as described in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle by an individual who witnessed the horrific death of a sister to Diphtheria (Bozeman, 2015). Although parents may mean well and want to protect their children, the risks of opting out far outweigh any benefits.
Conclusion
The suffering of a child from the effects of any deadly disease is a devastating prospect for any parent.
The thought of watching a child suffer agonizing symptoms of a preventable disease contracted because parents intentionally and willfully opted out of childhood immunizations is even worse. The history of developing vaccinations proves that the eradication of deadly childhood diseases is possible, as in the case of Smallpox. However, vaccines only work for all children if parents do not opt out of having their children inoculated and are educated about actual side effects versus now refuted claims of a correlation between vaccines and Autism. The bottom line is simple. Vaccines work and have historically protected children and will continue to do so, but only if parents do the right thing by immunizing their children.
References
Vaccine myths dismissed and debunked. (2015, Feb 13). Bozeman Daily Chronicle Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1662434591?accountid=458
Diggle, L. (2006, Feb.). Childhood vaccinations: Understanding vaccines. Practice Nurse, 9-13. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230451891?accountid=458
Koplow, David A. (2003). Smallpox: the fight to eradicate a global scourge. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24220-3.
Stern, A.M. & Markel, H. (2005). The history of vaccines and immunization: Familiar patterns, new challenges. Health Affairs. 24(3) 611-621. Doi:
10.1377
Student’s Name
Eng/147
Today’s Date
Teacher’s Name
The Childhood Vaccination Debate Imagine a disease that begins much like the flu but ends with painful fluid filled pustules covering large portions of one’s body that can rob one’s ability to see, eat, and breathe. Furthermore, according to Berkeley University’s news writer, David Koplow (2003) this disease “has caused more deaths than all the world wars combined” (para. 3). Now, imagine if one quick vaccination could prevent children from being at risk for such suffering and devastating. The description is that of Smallpox, one of the deadliest diseases in history, which is now eradicated by the development and use of vaccinations during childhood. …show more content…
However, despite the successful eradication of this disease, many parents have opted out of immunizing their children, in part, for fear that a correlation exists between vaccines and Autism. The dangers of opting out include not only putting one’s own child’s life at risk but also endangers the health and safety of other children. Moreover, the claims that a correlation exists between vaccines and Autism have been entirely debunked. Although parents want the ability to choose what is best for their children, those who do not immunize are putting other children at risk and are not lowering the risk of autism.
The History of Vaccinations Vaccinations were created and first used in the 1790’s with the intent of eradicating deadly childhood diseases. Stern and Markel (2005) outline the history and creation of vaccinations in Health Affairs journal. The story begins with an English country doctor, Edward Jenner. Jenner gathered much of his idea for vaccinations by observation among farming communities. According to Stern and Markel (2005), “[Jenner] took pus from a cowpox lesion on a milkmaid’s hand…and inoculated eight-year-old James Phipps” (p. 611). The results of Jenner’s first inoculation was that the boy was unaffected by future exposure to smallpox. Jenner’s inoculation discovery eventually led to the eradication of the disease (Stern & Markel, 2005). As explained by Nurse Practitioner, Linda Diggle, is important to know the history of vaccinations to understand their necessity for disease control, and ideally, eradication of diseases (Diggle, 2006).
Opting Out of Vaccinations In 1998, a British physician published an article that would ignite a frenzy among many parents of young children leading numerous parents to begin refusing childhood vaccinations. The article was written by Andy Wakefield, published in Lancet, and made the claim that childhood vaccinations were directly correlated to autism (Bozeman, 2015). Not surprisingly, the thought of a vaccine causing Autism and the associated family struggles, incited panic and demands for answers. As a result, increasing numbers of parents began opting out with the intent to protect their children. Unfortunately, the result of the frenzied reaction caused a resurgence of some deadly diseases (Bozeman, 2015). Moreover, children too young to receive recommended inoculations were exposed, and in some cases, contracted potentially fatal diseases such as whooping cough (Bozeman, 2015). However, in 2010, Andy Wakefield’s study was debunked, according to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (2015) “by more than 100 peer-reviewed papers” (para. 1). Despite the indisputable debunking of Wakefield’s claims and the removal of his faulty claims from print, many parents continue to forgo vaccinations.
The Dangers of Opting Out Despite Wakefield’s study being debunked by more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, many parents continue to opt out of vaccinations putting their own and others’ children in danger. First of all, children who are not vaccinated put newborns and infants too young to be inoculated at heightened risk. According to Diggle (2006), life-threatening diseases can only be combated through developing immunity to the disease, which is what vaccinations provide. Younger children, including newborns and infants, do not have the active resistance required to fight off infectious diseases. Active resistance is not yet developed enough in younger babies for vaccines to be effective and for them to manage the known side-effects. According to Diggle (2006), known side-effects of vaccines include fever, lethargy, and possibly mild flu-like symptoms. Those who contract life-threatening diseases may not always die as a result. Rather, they may suffer long-term effects as described in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle by an individual who witnessed the horrific death of a sister to Diphtheria (Bozeman, 2015). Although parents may mean well and want to protect their children, the risks of opting out far outweigh any benefits.
Conclusion
The suffering of a child from the effects of any deadly disease is a devastating prospect for any parent.
The thought of watching a child suffer agonizing symptoms of a preventable disease contracted because parents intentionally and willfully opted out of childhood immunizations is even worse. The history of developing vaccinations proves that the eradication of deadly childhood diseases is possible, as in the case of Smallpox. However, vaccines only work for all children if parents do not opt out of having their children inoculated and are educated about actual side effects versus now refuted claims of a correlation between vaccines and Autism. The bottom line is simple. Vaccines work and have historically protected children and will continue to do so, but only if parents do the right thing by immunizing their children.
References
Vaccine myths dismissed and debunked. (2015, Feb 13). Bozeman Daily Chronicle Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1662434591?accountid=458
Diggle, L. (2006, Feb.). Childhood vaccinations: Understanding vaccines. Practice Nurse, 9-13. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230451891?accountid=458
Koplow, David A. (2003). Smallpox: the fight to eradicate a global scourge. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24220-3.
Stern, A.M. & Markel, H. (2005). The history of vaccines and immunization: Familiar patterns, new challenges. Health Affairs. 24(3) 611-621. Doi:
10.1377