Anti Vaccination Movement Essay Example

administering the vaccine [4].

The article was retracted and Wakefield's license was revoked after causing heightened fear among parents. Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the safety of the MMR vaccine, all of which consistently found no correlation between it and autism [4]. Additionally, during the late 1990s, there emerged a rising demand for vaccines to be more environmentally friendly, resulting in calls to eliminate thimerosal due to its potential harm [4]. Scientific controversies have historically surrounded vaccinations, and even in 2018, there remain individuals who are part of the Anti-vaccination movement.

The contemporary American anti-vaccination movement originated in April 1982 with the airing of a one-hour documentary titled "DTP Vaccine Roulette" on a local NBC channel in Washington, DC [4]. The documentary featured parents whose previously healthy children experienced adverse effects after receiving the whooping cough (DTP) vaccine, sparking concerns about the potential harm of vaccines in the United States. Various factors contribute to this movement, including a lack of trust in government and public health institutions like the CDC and WHO. This lack of trust can be traced back to the Jacobson vs Massachusetts case in 1905, where a law mandating smallpox vaccination for citizens of Cambridge, Massachusetts was challenged.

Jacobson's worries regarding state government power and the preservation of personal liberty in the Constitution were ultimately ignored in the case's resolution [1]. The Anti-Vaccination League of America, founded in 1908, aimed to eliminate restrictive medical regulations and oppose the growing influence of state medicine on individual autonomy [1]. Moreover, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), established in 1986 and financially supported by the government, further erodes trust in governmental entities [5]. This program

offers compensation to families who have experienced injuries linked to vaccines [5].

Therefore, anti vaxxers use this program as another reason why they do not believe in getting their children vaccinated. Additionally, the media and internet plays a major role in the fear of vaccinating children. The most frequent arguments that are found on the internet regarding vaccines include (1) safety and effectiveness – vaccines: contain poisons, cause diseases of unknown origin, erode immunity; (2) alternative medicine – promotion of treatments superior to vaccination (e.g. homeopathy) and “natural” approaches (chickenpox party); (3) civil liberties; (4) conspiracy theories; (5) morality and religion – vaccination is against God's will [4].

In conclusion, parents may believe that vaccines are harmful due to the diverse opinions of doctors and limited understanding of disease causes. A 2009 study found that 25.8% of parents chose to delay vaccinating their children, 8.2% refused altogether, and 5.8% initially delayed but eventually refused [5]. Those who oppose vaccinations commonly hold various beliefs that influence their decision. Currently, they often assert that vaccines can lead to seizures, diabetes mellitus, SIDS, mental retardation, ADHD, autism, MS, and other diseases.

As vaccine-preventable diseases have nearly been eradicated today, it is more common for individuals to know someone "disabled" by a vaccine rather than someone who died from a disease. The anti-vaccination movement raises concerns regarding vaccine effectiveness and abundance; the superiority of natural immunity versus immunity induced by vaccines; the ability of infants' immune systems to handle multiple vaccines; the adequacy of vaccine safety testing; and the connection between vaccines and autism [9]. Social issues in conjunction with scientific factors contribute to the anti-vaccination movement.

There has been an ongoing

discussion about the relationship between individual and public health concerns. Public health aims to protect a large population from diseases, while Anti-vaxxers argue that it values collective well-being over personal freedom. It is worth noting that there are currently no specific federal regulations in the United States regarding vaccinations.

However, in all 50 states, children attending public school must receive the DTP, MMR, polio, and chickenpox vaccines [6]. These vaccines are mandated by public schools to protect the entire state population. By ensuring that children are vaccinated, they can help defend against dangerous diseases. While medical exemptions are allowed in all 50 states, religious exemptions are allowed in 47 states and personal belief exemptions are only allowed in 17 states [3]. Religious objections to vaccines often arise from concerns about using human tissue cells or beliefs against receiving certain chemicals or animal blood/tissues. Instead, they believe in natural healing or relying on God's intervention [4]. Some groups opposing vaccination argue that mandatory vaccinations violate human rights. Many parents feel their children should not be obligated to undergo all the immunizations required by schools.

The issue of vaccine efficacy is a subject of controversy, with differing opinions. Supporters argue that vaccines can prevent the death of children, while opponents from the anti-vaccination movement claim they can lead to severe and potentially deadly side effects [7]. Furthermore, advocates emphasize the safety of vaccine ingredients when given in appropriate amounts. Conversely, critics assert that vaccines actually include harmful substances [7].

Major medical organizations support the safety of vaccines, while anti-vaxxers oppose government involvement in personal healthcare choices. Vaccines have successfully eliminated smallpox and greatly reduced other diseases such as polio. However,

opponents of vaccination argue that many illnesses preventable by vaccines are relatively harmless, making vaccines unnecessary [7]. Advocates against vaccination believe that for every benefit vaccines offer, there is a corresponding drawback. Personally, I strongly advocate for universal immunization in children unless there are medical or religious exemptions. My involvement in the medical field and my work on a maternity unit at the hospital further strengthen my beliefs.

Despite the slight possibility of complications following vaccination, I firmly believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. Anaphylaxis, a severe potential side effect, occurs in less than two cases per million doses administered to young individuals [10], as evidenced by research conducted in 2003. Vaccinating children is crucial as it not only helps prevent mortality but also contributes to both individual and communal immunity.

Despite progress in reducing the prevalence of diseases that once affected or killed children, there has been a recent increase in these diseases due to a lack of vaccination. In the United States, for example, there have been between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough annually since 2010, resulting in the deaths of about 10 to 20 infants each year. Sadly, some babies were too young to receive all their vaccinations. However, I am confident that mandatory vaccines would not be enforced by schools and the government if they posed any danger. Centuries of scientific evidence clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccines. Doctors, scientists, and healthcare professionals thoroughly evaluate the process of administering vaccines to children.

From my experience in a maternity unit, I have noticed that vaccines can occasionally lead to side effects, although most of them are not serious. These mild reactions usually

involve redness or swelling at the injection site and typically resolve within a few days. The connection between vaccines and autism has been heavily debated, but there is no solid evidence supporting this assertion. Many studies have been carried out, all of which have dismissed the idea that the MMR vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines play a role in autism [2]. Furthermore, it has been scientifically proven that maternal vaccines do not cause autism [2].

While there is fear around vaccinating young children, it is important to prioritize their health and the well-being of future generations by reducing the risk of severe illnesses. The anti-vaccination movement's increasing popularity has led to the reappearance of diseases that were once eradicated in America. Choosing not to vaccinate not only puts one's own child at risk but also threatens other children who may contract life-threatening diseases.

While there are parents who choose not to vaccinate their children out of concerns about side effects such as autism, epilepsy, brain damage, and other risks, scientific studies have proven the safety of vaccine ingredients for children in recommended age groups. Counterarguments against vaccination found online lack medical validity or acceptance. Opponents of vaccines also worry about government control over their child's body; however, it is important to recognize that the government would never intentionally put its citizens at risk.

The government's goal is to protect a large number of people, and vaccines are an effective way to control the rapid spread of diseases across the country. It is important to remember that despite strong emotions and personal beliefs surrounding vaccinating children, the benefits of vaccines outweigh the rare occurrence of negative effects.