To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that's the question lingering in parent's minds. For the majority of parents this decision is a no-brainer. Diseases are deadly and our kids need protection, right? If that's the case then more parents would be advocating vaccination. However, this is not the situation at hand. Recently there have been a growing trend of parents shifting away from vaccinating their kids. Whether its Religious, philosophical, or personal exemption, parents are utilizing these tools to get around vaccinations. This is not to imply that these parents are 'bad parents', but to indicate that these parents fears could potentially place their children in harms ways without vaccination. So the real issue here is why the choice not to vaccinate. The untrustworthiness of companies that produce vaccines and the regulatory agencies that regulate them is a key factor in these parents' decisions.
There is no arguing that vaccines are vital in the fight against diseases. Progression has been achieved against deadly diseases that once destroyed lives. This is mostly due to the development of vaccines. Diseases like polio is an afterthought to most people. There are no overwhelming cases of the polio sprouting around cities. In fact, the CDC and other collaborators are close to eradicating the disease (Update on CDC). That would be a great achievement on the part of the CDC. Polio, like many other diseases, is life altering and difficult. However, it's because of the vaccines that many cases are not witnessed, which in return equals less severing for individuals. This is just one of the benefits that vaccines provide for each of us.
There are always pros and cons to everything developed by mankind. There are no perfect creation or invention. The creation of the vaccine is no exemption to this fact. One could argue that the pros out weight the cons when dealing with vaccines. However that's not always the case when there is an infant or toddler involved in the equation. Some parents feel that the cons of the vaccines are more harmful to the child. Actually this is one of the reasons parents are reluctant to inject their infants with the recommended vaccines. Vaccines often time come with side effects and adverse reactions. Though used interchangeably, adverse reaction indicates a severe reaction from the medication taken. There are minor side effects that is caused by a vaccine. However, it also produces harmful adverse reactions when administered. Makers of these vaccines are responsible for warning of any adverse reaction or side effect. The makers of Trippedia vaccine, which is for DTap, do state these facts. They stated that the vaccine can cause reactions like: sudden death syndrome, anaphylactic reaction, cellulitis, autism, convulsions/ seizures, brain dysfunction, low muscle tone and strength, nerve damage, and apnea. These are very serious reactions that could possible occur upon administration of this vaccine. It wouldn't be surprising if parents said "no way am I injecting little Billy with that". In addition doctors are not aware of any allergic reaction that little Billy may have with the vaccine being administered. Until after the injection occurs. On the other hand, the parents are not aware of allergic reaction either, so are parents willing to gamble with the end results? It appears that most parents are willing to gamble, since majority of parents do vaccinate their children.
Another factor that comes into play is the chemicals that are being injected into the kids during the doctor visits. Do parents really know what's being injected in their kids? It is a fact, that must individuals don't question doctors or any other kind of healthcare professional. This is due to the assumption that healthcare professionals know what they are talking about. We are all guilty of this. Most parents don't ask what their child is being injected with, which is concerning. There are numerous sorts of additives and substances that are in vaccines. However, there are a few that are more concerning than others. Things like thimerosal, which is a preservative, is used in some vaccines. It can be harmful since it contains mercury. The CDC states that thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that is added to vials of vaccine that contain more than one dose to prevent contamination and growth of potentially harmful bacteria (Ingredients of vaccines). Too much exposer to mercury can produce undesired side effects and with more than one vaccine administered, that could be concerning.
The number one reason parents fear vaccines is the link created between MMR and autism. Though it is denied by majority of doctors and scientist, a minority of parents believe that there is a link between the two. Autism is a group of complex disorders of brain development. It's not something any parents wants their child to experience. So when parents converse amongst one another, stories are shared. When that story is told through the eyes of the afflicted, it resonates more to the other parents. The blame is put on the vaccine or cocktail of vaccines given to the poor child. Is the parent correct in holding the makers of the vaccines responsible for the incident? It's a tough question, because it's hard to point the finger in one direction. Anything could have played a factor in contributing to the undesirable event. However, there is a doubt created in the back of parents minds. Perhaps the vaccines were the inducer of such heartbreak. In coming to that conclusion, most parents want to protect their child from that pain all together, even it means potential vulnerability to diseases. It almost seems like a lose-lose situation. It's a tough decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. This is understood by parents who chose not vaccinate their children.
It's really unknown what the cause of autism really is. It seems that question is difficult to answer. However, majority of doctors and scienctist agree that vaccines are no the culprits. The CDC states that the MMR vaccine is not linked to autism in vaccinated children. When a normal developing child suddenly shifts in behavior and development, after given a vaccine injection, that's a red flag. That has been the case for many parents. As a parent to witness your child slip away for you is unfathomable. But is the case of the disorders really vaccines. It's all a mystery and parents account aren't too reliable. There many vaccine injury reports reported by parents. However, majority of them haven't been verified as vaccine related. Databases like VAERS (vaccine adverse event reporting system) compile vaccine injury reports that are unverified. This makes the decision to vaccinate a child harder because facts are unclear.
There has been a potential game changer when research MMR and autism. Recently a whistleblower emerged within the CDC. William Thompson, a senior scientist at the CDC, reported that his team omitted relevant data regarding MMR vaccines. The omitted data reveled that African-American boys were at greater risk to develop autism when give doses of the MMR vaccine. The risk is greater when the child is 36 months and younger. However, even this coming out is received with much criticism and skepticism. This report is more fuel for the fire for parents who are anti-vaccine. But for the undecided parents, who do they trust to produce an educated decision?
Delaying of vaccination has been an alternative to not vaccinating ones child. Most physicians have a set schedule for each patient to get immunized. This set schedule that doctors' utilitiize is the same one CDC recommends. That's all the CDC does, it recommends, which means it's not a definite schedule that should be adhered to. However, vast majority of physicians prefer the CDC recommendation, since it's an established agency. For those undecided parents, altering the vaccine schedule is a viable option from their perspective. The child is receiving the immunization he/she needs and perhaps the risks of injures are reduced. However, a study published in pediatrics, reveals that delaying certain vaccines could place children at greater risk for seizures (scientific American). It is unclear why the vaccine causes the seizures at a late age. Despite the findings, parents still will delay vaccination. Some may say that's its wrong to put the child in harm's way, but it could be argued that the child is at risk for seizures at the earlier age. Vaccine manufactures do indicate that one of the side effects of their vaccine is seizures. It seems there is no definite way out of this vaccine maze for parents.
Parents who do vaccinate their children are not the best source for concerned parents to collect information from. This is due to the division created amongst parents. When it comes to children's health, the lines have been drawn. It's either you vaccinate your children or your labeled anti-vaccine. This type of mentality creates more pressure on undecided parents to select a team to support. Pressure never produces sound decision making. When parents make the decision not to vaccinate, they are labeled as a 'bad parents'. Even though labeling like this doesn't wither away parents confidence, it is a bit childish.
Some parents with vaccinated children won't allow their kids to interact with unvaccinated children. Once the parent founds out the vaccination status of the child, he/she is seen as infectious. If a child is vaccinated there should be no fear of contracting a virus he/she has immunity against.
There is notion that pharmaceutical companies profit tremendously from the vaccines. The companies do profit, but it's not the money maker in these companies. In fact, it only accounts for 1 percent of profits. Number in companies making vaccines have decreased from 26 in 1967 to 17 in 1980 and just 5 in 2004. Most of or all the vaccine making companies have been purchase by pharmaceutical companies. For these companies the vaccine department is not a money generator. We have to remember that pharmaceuticals are a business not a public service. If they wanted to stop making vaccines they could do that. The majority of the revenue comes from drugs. The highest revenue generating vaccine has annual gross of 1 billion dollars in the United States. In contrast, drugs for cholesterol, hair loss products, potency drugs, and drugs for heart diseases, obesity, or neurological problems generate 7 billion dollars per drug. So the vaccines don't really contribute much to the company's bottom line. There have been incidences when there was a shortage of vaccines, because only two companies were producing the vaccine.
Society in today's age is tough to navigate. It gets ever tougher if you're a parent. You're no longer the center of it all. Instead it's your offspring that steal the show and demand your undivided attention. Of course your aware of this development and would do anything to protect your child. Parents have different opinions on how to exactly protect their child, which is demonstrated in the division of pro vaccine and anti-vaccine parents. One thinks vaccines are vital for the child, while the other sees dangerous side effects. Neither of these parents are incorrect in their decision, but is one more beneficial to the child than the other? Perhaps the pros of the vaccines can out weight the negative side effects. Never the less, its questions like these that confuse the undecided parents. This may lead to an uninformed or misinformed decision. Their showered with information that needs verification before acceptance as facts. Truths have become harder to senses, which creates stressful situations for individuals. Teamwork and education is going to be vital in this matter. When finger pointing and labeling are set aside, knowledgeable decisions can be achieved. However, the final decision rests in the hands of the parent. No one is more connected to a child then the two parents. When healthcare providers understand this, they might have a better understanding how parents make decisions. The issue doesn't have to create a battle between parents, but a collaboration between parents to better safeguard their children.
Work Cited
"Updates on CDC's Polio Eradication Efforts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Ingredients of Vaccines." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nasir, there is more information, data, and figures available regarding the vaccination debate than you have presented in your essay. I suggest that you add more information as in-text citations from various online, free available online medical journals, news articles, and other academic sources that you could locate using free online journal services. The information that you currently provide, while most likely having come from your readings and research ont he topics, suffers from a lack of academic credibility. You don't quote factual sources in the research for information you present which affected the overall content and information of the paper.
You can't write an accurate research paper such as this using only 2 sources, both of which stem from the CDC website pages. In order to write this more accurately, you should cite at least 4 varied sources coming from medical journals, newspaper articles, medical books, interviews, and other academic sources. For example, you could look up Jennifer Garner, the actress, who is a staunch anti-vaccination advocate. She is the face of the anti-vaccination campaign these days and her interviews often lead to other academically accepted sources that inform regarding the anti-vaccination benefits.
The number one reason parents fear vaccines is the link created between MMR and autism.
- This quote is the center of your anti-vaccination discussion and yet does not present any data regarding the supposed connection between MMR and autism. You should discuss the basis for the belief that vaccinations cause autism. What is the history of this belief? How did it develop into a mindset that some parents have come to believe?
The omitted data reveled that African-American boys were at greater risk to develop autism when give doses of the MMR vaccine
- Since the data was originally omitted, you should mention it in your report. What is the percentage of ratio when compared to say Latino or White boys? Simple facts like that add to the credibility of your research and actually inform the reader, which is the purpose of your research.
Overall, your discussion is quite simple and easy to understand. The research information is what I am worried about. It needs to be strengthened and made more credible through the proper use of various paraphrased information, in-text citations, and figures. You don't have to revise the content as much as you have to add more academically acceptable information in it. By the way, wathc out for your in-text citation formats, I think you need to review the way that you write the little sources that you have at the moment. There is a specific method of writing these online sources. Look it up :-)
