The Pros And Cons Of Vaccines

Vaccines are substance that are generally injected into a person or animal to protect against a particular disease. The advantages and disadvantages of vaccinations have been discussed by scientists such as Shizuo Akira or David Amaral. There have been studies conducted all over the world but mainly in United States and Europe. The main controversy surrounding vaccines is whether or not getting vaccinated is worth the potential side effects. Society is impacted in many ways but the largest way being that these potential side effects can be deadly at times.
Some scientists believe that the help that vaccines offer to society are too great to stop using them. In a History of Vaccines, the author states that vaccines have helped eradicate the smallpox virus (Hammond, 2013). The smallpox virus was a disease that was previously disfiguring, contagious, and most importantly deadly, (Fenner, 2006). The smallpox virus affected over 300-500 million people, (Fenner, 2006). Because to the use of vaccines today, the smallpox virus can no longer affect us due to it being almost nonexistent, (Fenner, 2006). The Children's Vaccine Initiative states that due to the use of vaccines, the Polio virus has
been almost completely eliminated, (Mitchell, 1993). The polio virus is known for causing full body paralysis by attacking the spinal cord and has affected over 60,000 people (Mitchell, 1993). Not only have vaccines helped eradicate many virus’ but according to the Institute of Medicine they are made as safe as possible by our government. “The childhood immunization schedule immunizes children consistent with demonstrated efficiency and reliability…..”(Institute of Medicine 2013). Medical practitioners have worked to make vaccines as safe as possible according to the Institute of Medicine. And according to Frank Fenner it has helped to eradicate smallpox. According to Violaine S. Mitchell it has helped to almost fully eradicate the polio virus. These many feats are the main argument from those on the pro-side of the vaccine debate.
Those apart of the anti-vaccine movement believe that when it comes to vaccines the risks far outweigh the good. For one, studies done by the CDC have found that 1 in 100 are affected by severe side effects of vaccines. Some of these side effects include seizures, blood in urine, and many others (CDC 2015). In another study done by the CDC they have seen that after getting the smallpox virus vaccine, the unhealed vaccine area can transfer the vaccine virus. It is a milder version of the smallpox virus (CDC 1991). It causes a rash, fever, headache, and body aches (CDC 1991). Those are not the only vaccines that have had unforeseen side effects. “Serious severe side effects due to the DTap vaccine. These include; long-term seizures, coma, permanent brain damage…”(CDC 2016). The DTap vaccine “...helps children younger than age 7 develop immunity to three deadly diseases caused by bacteria: diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis).”(WebMD Unknown). There are shown to be many of side effects due to the DTap vaccine. In fact, there has been shown to be many side effects due to vaccines in general. Which is the main argument of those against vaccines.
I chose the pros and cons of vaccines because it is something I have seen in the news a lot lately and something my family and I have debated about in the past.
I am impacted by this debate in many ways, but the main one being that my parents happen to be on opposite side when it comes to this topic. Before writing this essay I was for vaccines. Mainly because I believe that it is best to make sure you are ensuring you are taking the best care of yourself, and I think that vaccines help with that. My opinion is still relatively the same. Although I have read about some of the side effects and other arguments from those whom are against vaccines, I still believe that they are worth the potential risks. I think that they have caused a lot more good than harm and that's important to
me.