Are Vaccines Worth a Shot? Essay Example

the limited advancement in medical science allowed the disease to spread uncontrollably. Infected individuals suffered from symptoms like fever, the emergence of dark spots on their skin, infection spreading to other organs, and eventually slipping into a coma or succumbing to death. Nevertheless, with the progress of scientific knowledge, a vaccine was discovered which resulted in urban countries witnessing a decline in cases and outbreaks, ultimately reducing the number of infected individuals close to zero (Peters). Similarly, polio - another infectious disease - has mostly been eliminated in urban areas due to vaccination efforts. Polio primarily attacked the spinal cord of those affected and often led to paralysis or fatal outcomes.

Eventually, a polio vaccine was introduced to the United States in approximately 1955. As stated on the CDC website, there have been no reported instances of polio in the United States since around 1979. The necessity of vaccines also greatly impacts overall public health. By receiving vaccinations, a significant majority of the population helps alleviate the severity of flu season and safeguards both themselves and those around them from contracting the virus when it is most widespread (Ballard).

While the majority of people support vaccines, there is still a small number who have doubts. These doubts are mainly fueled by a group known as "anti-vaxxers." Anti-vaxxers choose not to vaccinate themselves or their children due to concerns and skepticism towards the medical field and vaccinations. As time goes on, their beliefs and actions are having an increasingly noticeable impact.

Anti-vaxxers hold various beliefs and motivations for rejecting vaccines. Some argue that improved sanitation and

hygiene have played a significant role in reducing diseases, rather than vaccines completely eliminating the risk. Others believe that vaccines do not provide complete protection because getting a "live" vaccination, which contains a weakened form of the virus, could potentially result in experiencing a milder version of the disease. A minority of anti-vaxxers even go so far as to claim that administering vaccines to children can lead to health problems such as autism.

The main cause of these issues is the lack of trust in science and/or the government. Healthline states that anti-vaxxers are influenced by politicians and doctors who prioritize money above all else, leading to the resurgence of diseases like measles and whooping cough that were once thought to be eradicated. Despite the fact that vaccination can easily prevent these highly contagious illnesses, progress has been hindered by the rise of anti-vaxxers. This not only puts those who remain unvaccinated at risk but also poses a threat to those around them (Dansby). On the other hand, medical professionals offer substantial evidence disproving the claims made by anti-vaxxers.

According to the Oxford website, these professionals provide proof through studies, experiments, and journals.