Vaccines could be described as safety measures to prevent illnesses by stimulating an immune system to produce a prepared defense against a particular sickness. Although vaccines have been highly associated with protecting from COVID-19 since the recent pandemic, their variety is more comprehensive than some may assume. This essay investigates the positive and negative sides of vaccinating youth and whether students should be vaccinated to attend public education facilities.
Vaccine Hesitancy
In general, vaccines can be considered safe due to their extensive trials and policies, and the core principle of the vaccine is to protect people. However, vaccines may cause serious adverse effects in some cases, which may be the primary reason for parents who are against vaccinating their children. The flu vaccine may cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome, along with possible allergic responses from the body (Giubilini and Savulescu 238). Even if the frequency rate of vaccines could be considered extremely rare, they cannot be declared completely safe. Further, some adverse effects of the vaccines existing for an extended period could be fully classified. However, newly developed vaccines that passed initial trials could still be dangerous due to the lack of information. Recently developed vaccines could receive high skepticism from some people, as the long-term effects of vaccines could be revealed only after years or even decades of observation. The amount of information on rare adverse effects of the new vaccine against COVID-19 is still limited (Li et al. 2). Possible side effects and lack of data could be the main arguments of parents who are against the vaccination of their children.
Benefits of Vaccination
Vaccinations could also be highly effective in battling different diseases, decreasing the possibility of severe and lethal outcomes. Although the immune systems of young people could be considered robust, vaccines can still be needed against severe diseases. For example, in the case of COVID-19, a vaccinated person could still have some chances of being infected with the virus, but the symptoms of the illness can be less severe. Vaccines against COVID-19 are effective against the virus and can also prevent aftermath diseases such as inflammatory syndrome (Wilson 8). Moreover, vaccination does not only protect the owner but may also benefit society. Vaccinated people are less likely to be infected with a disease, and in the case of highly transmitted diseases, they could protect their surroundings by delaying the transmission process. Youth vaccination effectively protects them and their community, as they interact with more people by attending school. Also, their families may be under increased protection as they get infected in school and bring the disease home (Iacobucci 1). The crucial point is that although youth vaccination is beneficial, the youth should still have freedom of choice.
Vaccination for Public Schools
Vaccination is an integral part of human development, as people are often vaccinated in their childhood and periods of youth. Children attending public schools should be vaccinated for various important reasons, as they are responsible for maintaining their health and preserving surrounding people. The most effective measure for battling an illness is the vaccination against it, and they are a crucial element of society’s health and wellbeing. Promoting vaccination among youth could benefit them and their families (Pelullo and Di Giuseppe 4). Children and adolescents not protected by vaccines could endanger their health and the lives of their classmates and teachers in school. In response to this issue, some schools may restrict unvaccinated children from attending classes. For instance, if a child is infected with a highly contagious disease, a school may face a minor epidemic and stop operating until the situation normalizes. Students may be refused admission to public schools if they are not vaccinated after highly contagious illnesses such as smallpox. Vaccination against these diseases should be mandatory to preserve public health (Cinquemani 15). Public schools can have policies demanding mandatory vaccinations for certain diseases.
Restricting children from attending school because of their beliefs about vaccination could be an unsatisfactory solution, as the development of children who do not attend classes may be delayed. Instead of restrictions, the school can start a complex campaign to encourage vaccination. Schools are often considered to be places of authority among parents, where their children grow personally and professionally. More than 80% of mothers consider schools to be the second home of their children. If the school organizes conditions for students to be vaccinated, parents are more likely to agree to the procedure (Shahbari et al. 8). Schools could also conduct seminars and lessons on the benefits of vaccines to clarify the possible skepticism of adolescents.
Vaccination is complex as some people doubt it because of its possible adverse effects. However, the chances of negative side effects are miserable, and vaccines are highly effective against various diseases, as they allow to prevent an illness or weaken the symptoms. The studies indicate that it is beneficial for children to be vaccinated while attending public schools, as they preserve the health of the school’s community and their own. However, it is paramount to emphasize that children and adolescents can exercise their freedom of choice regarding vaccination.
Works Cited
Cinquemani, Rita. “Mandatory Vaccinations: The Long-Term Implications of Mandating a COVID-19 Vaccine.” Government Law Review, vol. 15, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-41, Government Law Review.
Giubilini, Alberto, and Julian Savulescu. “Vaccination, Risks, And Freedom: The Seat Belt Analogy”. Public Health Ethics, vol 12, no. 3, 2019, pp. 237-249. Oxford University Press (OUP).
Iacobucci, Gareth. “Covid-19: Vaccinating Children Will Help End Pandemic, Says Minister”. BMJ, vol 374, no. 2254, 2021, p. 1. BMJ.
Li, Grace et al. “Should We Be Vaccinating Children Against COVID-19 In High-Income Countries?”. Expert Review Of Vaccines, vol 20, no. 9, 2021, pp. 1043-1046. Informa UK Limited.
Pelullo, Concetta Paola, and Gabriella Di Giuseppe. “Vaccinations Among Italian Adolescents: Knowledge, Attitude And Behavior.” Human Vaccines &Amp; Immunotherapeutics, vol 14, no. 7, 2018, pp. 1566-1572. Informa UK Limited.
Shahbari, Nour Abed Elhadi et al. “Perceived Trust In The Health System Among Mothers And Nurses And Its Relationship To The Issue Of Vaccinations Among The Arab Population Of Israel: A Qualitative Research Study”. Vaccine, vol 38, no. 1, 2020, pp. 29-38. Elsevier BV.
Wilson, Clare. “Is It Time To Vaccinate Children?”. New Scientist, vol 251, no. 3343, 2021, pp. 8-9. Elsevier BV.