Vaccine Debate Essay Example

disease in order to gain immunity. However, some individuals doubt vaccine effectiveness as stated by doctors, pharmaceutical companies, or the government.

Despite documented successes of vaccinations, critics argue that vaccines contain excessive toxins and are associated with various medical conditions such as autism. Furthermore, these critics claim that the risks of vaccines outweigh their benefits.

The resistance to vaccines has endured for more than a century since the introduction of smallpox inoculations in 1796. Despite the eradication of smallpox from the human population and the discontinuation of routine smallpox vaccination in 1972, vaccine critics have continued their opposition.“Smallpox Questions and Answers: The Disease and the Vaccine.” (par 13) Nonetheless, despite the proven safety and effectiveness of vaccines, preventable diseases still persist. Receiving the vaccine not only saves lives but also safeguards the health of loved ones, including future generations. While improved hygiene and sanitation may have contributed to a belief that infectious diseases were disappearing, this was not due to vaccinations.

Boulanger and Gotter (par 10) have disproven the belief that improved hygiene and sanitation does not cause harm, as evidenced by the recurrence of previously eliminated infectious diseases. In 2000, the United States of America declared measles eliminated. This achievement was credited to the effectiveness of the measles vaccine, a successful vaccination program for children, and a robust public health system for identifying and responding to measles cases and outbreaks (CDC par 14). The declaration was based on the absence of continuous transmission of measles for at least 12 months in a specific

geographic area, indicating that measles is no longer consistently present in the USA. However, recent outbreaks of measles in the country are caused by unvaccinated travelers who contract the disease while abroad and bring it back with them. These outbreaks occur when infected travelers transmit the illness to individuals who have not been vaccinated, resulting in numerous cases.

From 2000 to 2014, the United States experienced varying numbers of reported measles cases annually. The range was from 37 cases in 2004 to 667 cases in 2014, after the announcement of measles eradication. However, despite this declaration, vaccine-preventable diseases still exist within the country. In just one year, 2016, there were a total of 17,972 pertussis cases, along with 6,369 mumps cases and 85 measles cases. These statistics emphasize the significance of ensuring both the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations.

The Immunization Safety Office of the CDC plays a critical role in achieving this goal by identifying potential side effects associated with vaccines and conducting research to determine any health problems linked to these vaccines.

Vaccines go through clinical trials conducted by the manufacturer to assess how safe, effective, and appropriate they are for public use. Once they receive FDA approval, post-licensure studies are done to keep track of the vaccine's safety.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (AICP), composed of medical and public health experts, reviews safety and effectiveness data on vaccines. They use this information to make recommendations for vaccine usage and take action if side effects are identified. The AICP evaluates the benefits versus risks in order to determine any necessary changes in recommendations.

To ensure vaccine safety, the Vaccine Adverse Event

Reporting System (VAERS) collects reports of potential side effects from across the country. This system is utilized by scientists from the FDA and CDC and accepts submissions from manufacturers, healthcare professionals, vaccinated individuals, parents, or family members.

According to "For Parents: Vaccines for Your Children," strict regulations in vaccine manufacturing and monitoring programs have resulted in a historically safe and effective supply of vaccines in the United States. Scientific evidence also supports the effectiveness of vaccines.

In the United States in the 20th Century, there were about 503,282 annual cases of measles. However, after the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, the reported cases decreased by 99.9% to only 71 cases in 2009.

Before the early 20th Century introduction of the Diptheria vaccination, there was a yearly caseload of 175,885 cases in the US. However, by 2009, there were no reported cases of Diptheria.

Regarding mumps, there were approximately 152,209 cases per year in the US during the 20th Century. Nevertheless, this number decreased by 98.7% to only 1,991 cases in 2009.

Similarly,rubella had an average of around47,745cases per yearinthe20thCenturyUS.Nonetheless,in2009there werethree reportedcases.

Thanks to vaccination, the occurrence of rubella has dropped by 99.9%, resulting in a decline in the number of people affected by these diseases and their long-term consequences. Vaccines have played a crucial role in significantly reducing vaccine-preventable illnesses in the United States. It is vital to recognize that vaccines are both safe and efficient in preserving lives.

The introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 has significantly reduced deaths caused by vaccine preventable diseases. In 1951, there were 683 deaths in the US solely due to

measles. However, from 2000 to 2016, there were only nine deaths related to measles in the country, with the most recent one occurring in 2015.

The statistics from 1950 indicate that there were 1,904 polio-related deaths in the US. However, between 1980 and 2016, only four deaths occurred over a span of 36 years (Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, par 2). These numbers highlight the crucial role vaccines play in preventing fatal illnesses. Despite advancements in healthcare, without vaccines, the number of deaths would be significantly higher. Moreover, vaccination not only protects individuals but also safeguards those unable to receive vaccines due to factors like age, compromised immune systems, or allergies. When a large portion of the population is vaccinated against a specific disease, it reduces the risk for everyone involved. This concept is known as herd immunity or community immunity.

If a significant number of people do not get immunized, there is a risk of disease resurgence and severe consequences. In 1989, low measles vaccination rates caused an outbreak in the United States that impacted over 55,000 people and caused 136 deaths (source). Hence, vaccines safeguard both individuals and communities. Despite scientific evidence supporting vaccine safety, some people still express concerns about components like mercury, formaldehyde, and aluminum present in vaccines.

Vaccines mainly consist of sterile water containing antigens, along with additional components to stabilize the solution or increase their efficacy ("Vaccine Ingredients - Thimerosal." par 6). Certain parents have expressed concerns about mercury in vaccines because thimerosal was once present in some vaccinations. Nevertheless, studies have demonstrated that thimerosal breaks down into ethyl mercury, which does not accumulate in the body like methyl mercury—a neurotoxin

found in fish like Tuna. As a precautionary step, thimerosal has been removed from all infant vaccines since 2001.

The influenza vaccine comes in multi-dose vials with thimerosal for individuals aged three years and older, or in single doses without thimerosal for the same age group. Certain vaccines may contain small amounts of formaldehyde as a preventive measure against contamination; however, these levels are significantly lower than those found in other sources. The amount of formaldehyde naturally produced by our bodies exceeds that found in vaccines. Moreover, vaccines include aluminum salts which have no long-term impacts but do enhance immune response and increase antibody production, thus improving the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Short-term effects of vaccines with aluminum salts may include swelling or redness at injection sites. These reactions actually help improve the body’s response to the vaccination by attracting immune system cells and inflammatory factors to the injection site. (Haelle par 13) Another concern that has been expressed over vaccines is the potential for a child to develop autism as a result. This worry surrounding vaccines originated from a study conducted by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a British Gastrointestinal doctor, and twelve colleagues, which was published in The Lancet in 1998. Wakefield's study associated the MMR vaccination (measles, mumps, and rubella) with intestinal problems that he believed led to autism. (Wakefield par 9) Following this publication, some celebrities embraced this information and promoted it.

Vaccines

were accused of

causing autism on widely watched talk shows that reached a global audience, leading to fear among parents and reinforcing the belief in the

vaccine

-autism connection. Numerous studies published in reputable medical journals have found no evidence linking the

vaccine

MMR and autism. The Lancet fully retracted the article in February 2010. Dr.

Dr. Wakefield and his colleagues were taken before the General Medical Council in London and were deemed responsible for ethical transgressions for conducting invasive examinations on the children involved in the research without obtaining the required ethical authorizations. Additionally, they were held accountable for scientific misrepresentation. Dr. Wakefield's team, specifically, inaccurately claimed that the results obtained from their investigations were consecutive, when in reality, they were deliberately handpicked to present a specific outcome. Through falsifying information and selectively cherry-picking data, the scientists intentionally engaged in fraudulent actions to solely include pieces that supported the argument put forth in their article.

(Owen paragraph 7) The General Medical Council in London released a statement stating that Dr. Wakefield showed a "continued lack of insight," lied to the council, performed unnecessary procedures on patients for research purposes, conducted unauthorized research, obtained blood samples from children at a birthday party, and ignored warnings about conflicts of interest regarding his funding. (Eggertson paragraph 2) Due to his ongoing misconduct, the GMC determined that suspending his medical license was insufficient punishment. They concluded that Dr. Wakefield's actions were incompatible with his registration as a medical practitioner and decided to remove him from the medical register, effectively revoking his license in England. (Eggertson

paragraph 5) Consequently, it was proven that the link between autism and vaccines was falsified and the controversial physician had his license revoked. However, there are still individuals who believe that the risks associated with vaccines outweigh their benefits.

The most common side effects of vaccines are almost always minor. Some of these reactions include redness, soreness and swelling at the injection site, which can be treated symptomatically and fade away within a few days. (“For Parents: Vaccines for Your Children.” par 11) In the scarce event a severe side effect is reported, it is investigated without delay. It is far more likely to be grievously injured by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine.

For instance, polio can result in paralysis, measles can lead to encephalitis and blindness, mumps can cause sterility in males, and rubella contracted during early pregnancy can cause deafness, blindness, heart malformations, and intellectual disabilities for the infant. Moreover, some vaccine-preventable diseases may even result in death ("10 Facts on Immunization" par 10). While any serious injury or death caused by vaccines is unacceptable, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. Without vaccines, countless more illnesses and deaths would occur.Although one of my children was unable to receive the varicella vaccine, and now has naturally acquired immunity, the other two children were protected due to previous vaccinations and artificially acquired immunity. Vaccine-preventable diseases still exist worldwide, and

it has been proven that vaccinations are safe, effective, and life-saving. In order to secure our future and the future of our children, it is crucial that we vaccinate. Vaccines play a vital role in ensuring the decline of vaccine-preventable diseases and preventing complications caused by these illnesses.

To safeguard and maintain the herd immunity for those that cannot vaccinate themselves, it is necessary to immunize individuals who are able. If we fail to vaccinate, could we be the source of the next outbreak? Could we be at fault for loss of life? The answer is yes.