Introduction
Vaccination has become an issue of discussion for years now due to indifferences on whether or not they should be given to children and if they should be optional or mandatory. Benefits of vaccinating children are numerous considering the condition of children’s immune system at birth. However, some people are against it because of various reasons, some of which are religious. Although the reasons given against vaccination are not justifiable and medically defendable, they affect the rate of vaccinations worldwide. Anti-vaccination exposes children to many diseases, including deadly measles. Some of the diseases vaccinated against are incurable and transmittable, and therefore, should be prevented by all means. People in opposition of vaccinations argue that it is unethical to vaccinate children (Star Editorial Board, par. 2-15). They also argue that today’s immunizations have increased, and they expose children to more risks than the diseases against which they are vaccinated. This essay will justify that parents should accept child vaccination because it saves lives, prevents the spread of deadly diseases, and myths about immunization are baseless and untrue.
Vaccines Prevent the Spread of Deadly Diseases
Based on current situations, vaccines have proved to be instrumental in preventing the spread of deadly diseases. Coronavirus disease, commonly referred to as Covid-19, emerged for the first time in late 2019 in China, and by March 2020, it had spread to almost all regions worldwide. The spread was promoted by the movement of people from one place to the other. Since the virus had not been experienced before, there was no vaccine against it. However, pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions have been developing vaccines to stop the spread of the virus. Despite the availability of various treatment attempts, the rate at which it spreads is astonishing. The risks exposed to vulnerable groups in the society such as children, elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions are catastrophic. These special groups are at a higher risk of contracting diseases since their immune system is weak. Therefore, children should receive immunizations to prevent the risk of contracting diseases which would increase their vulnerability to deadly infections, such as Covid-19. To curb the pandemic, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health organizations recommend using vaccines alongside other preventive measures, such as social distances and the use of face masks, to prevent the spread of the virus (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases). Although everyone in the world can see the effects and the threat of the virus, there are people against mandatory vaccinations (Keenan, par. 2,4). They argue that it infringes individual liberties and citizens’ rights. Despite the vaccine being life-saving, it has become even more difficult for health institutions to continue developing vaccines. The delayed vaccines’ outcomes are an increased number of new infections and deaths resulting from the virus. However, the anti-vaxxers, though against vaccination, do not offer an alternative solution to the pandemic, exposing the public to more threats. Inoculations have been proven effective in preventing the spread of deadly diseases such as polio, and whooping cough, among others (Keenan), necessitating that children should continue receiving shots. Anti-vaxxers could object to this point by arguing that lifestyles and the general environment have changed over the years, and so have the infections. Moreover, anti-vaxxers would state that people have the rights over their lives, and therefore vaccines should not be mandated. However, in cases where the diseases dealt with are highly contagious and threaten society’s lives at large, health systems overlook personal rights and preferences to save the public. Child vaccination prevents the contraction of fatal diseases and, in the long run, reducing mortality rates. Another example of a deadly disease whose vaccination has reduced mortality rates is measles (Star Editorial Board, par. 2). Immunization against measles dates back to over 50 years, and the results have been unmatched. However, despite the disease being highly contagious and a potential cause of death, people have become reluctant to vaccinate. The hesitation resulted in measles’ resurgence, which caused approximately 10 million infections and nearly 150,000 deaths worldwide in 2018 (Star Editorial Board, par. 2-5). The disease is associated with many negative impacts, such as blindness, pneumonia, and brain swelling. Hesitancy does affect not only immunization against measles, but also other vaccines, such as HPV, which safeguards against cervical cancer. Indeed, child immunization is fundamental in preventing the spread of deadly illnesses, and parents should embrace it. Countries with controlled diseases such as measles are now experiencing a comeback, which is riskier to the unvaccinated population. Most people against vaccinations received the medications in their childhood, and whenever they fall sick, they visit hospitals for treatment, ultimately nullifying their argument. Additionally, vaccinations eradicate person-to-person spread of diseases such as rubella saving even more lives. Complete immunization against rubella in the western hemisphere prevents people from contracting it and prevents its spread in case of any contraction. With no doubts, vaccination is essential in prevention of fatal diseases.
Vaccines Save Lives
Despite the changes that the health sector has experienced globally, it has become a norm, and people no longer acknowledge the threats exposed to their children before they get vaccinated. A newborn has no guard in their body against any disease, and therefore, close contact with an infected person puts them a risk of contracting them. Since the body cannot fight the disease, the baby can succumb to it. In most cases, doctors cannot tell the side effects of immunizations, but they focus on the drugs’ primary purpose, preventing infections (Nemitz, par. 15-18). Prior to its administration to a child, the vaccine is tested and confirmed for the recipient’s wellbeing. Concern about the safety of vaccines, therefore, should be a non-issue to medical professional ethics (Szabo, par. 6-10). Doctors, nurses and all other workers in the health industry take oaths to ensure they serve the public with humanity. Their primary objective is to improve patients’ health and prevent infections. Therefore, claiming that vaccines are motivated by profits is untrue and against doctors’ ethics. However, those against vaccines would argue that doctors have been involved in drug promotion for various pharmaceutical companies for financial gain in the past, yet it is unethical. It is important to note that there is a special category of children who should not receive vaccines because they are immune-suppressed. Such face even more risks of contracting diseases from the people who must have benefited from vaccinations, but their parents rejected them. Gunlock posits that parents should ensure children are immunized to improve safety for the immune-suppressed people. Children interact with people in various environments, including schools, playgrounds, churches, and many more. Such exposures pose health risks to those who could not receive vaccines following their health conditions, such as genetic disorders, and must interact with their peers. To ensure that all children in learning institutions are safe regardless of their unique conditions, especially those that concern health, all parents should be proactively seeking prevention through vaccinations and other methods. Children become uncomfortable in response to immunizations, but there are more meaningful reasons to embrace child vaccination, as explained. Today, very few children die from preventable diseases, which has resulted to reduced child death rates worldwide.
Myths on Vaccines
There are many myths against vaccines, which bring confusion mostly to uneducated persons. People against vaccination argue that mandatory vaccines given to children infringe on their rights and liberty. However, individual privileges can be interfered with by the states to protect public health. A good example of a myth that has, for many years, underscored non-vaccination is the belief that vaccines increase the risk of autism infections. Unlike before, children today receive more vaccines at short intervals. Szabo’s (par. 3-6) research shows that are afraid of exposing children to autism due to frequent immunization. However, until today, there is no established relationship between vaccines and autism. Children get more injections today than two decades ago, but their vaccines are easier on their immune system than those used before. Modern vaccines are complex, and a few antigens administered to children spur the production of antibodies that prevent future infections. However, despite the numerous studies showing no connection between vaccines and autism, the myth still holds to many parents worldwide. Although signs of autism are realized after 12 months from birth, they are likely to result from changes that occur before conception and birth. Additionally, it is misconceptions that vaccines are profit-motivated, and therefore, there exists collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and physicians. People against vaccine also argue that physicians boast about vaccination among their patients, and the higher the number of vaccinated children, the higher the financial gain. Pharmaceutical companies that develop the vaccines are blamed for introducing many injections, which are overwhelming to the child’s body. However, this claim is presumptive because, whether the drugs are profit-motivated or not, they achieve their primary role in preventing diseases. When children miss immunization, they are likely to contract diseases in case of an outbreak, and in worst case scenario, die. People also argue that various pharmaceutical companies brought opioids so that they could sell their vaccines (Nemitz, par. 15). Still, no connection has been found between vaccines and opioids. Another example of an untrue claim concerns religious beliefs, which have undermined the purpose of vaccination, although there are no major religions that prohibit it (Star Editorial Board, par. 4-6). However, people against vaccines claim to use them or not solely dependent on a person’s beliefs or relationships. Anti-vaxxers who use faith as a defense for non-vaccination, at one-point visit hospitals, especially when suffering from critical illnesses or when the impacts of not vaccinating their children worsen. The question of partial trust in their faith arises since they still need a hospital for treatments. All the myths about vaccines are either unproven, that is, they cannot be defended scientifically or medically, or are inclined into personal interests or beliefs, and therefore should not reach the public.
Conclusion
Overall, parents should have their children vaccinated because the drugs are safe and are meant to boost a child’s immunity. They primarily save lives for both the younger people and the older generations. Moreover, immunization is crucial in preventing the spread of deadly diseases, which are costly and overwhelming to public health. Lastly, children should receive vaccines because fairytales against the drugs are presumptive, without medical proof, and parents could expose their children and society to more threats if they adhere to such myths. Anti-vaxxers should focus on bettering people’s lives but not exposing the public to health risks.
Works Cited
Gunlock, Julie. Con: Don’t Mandate, but Nudge Parents Hard to Vaccinate their Kids. Tri-cityherald, 2018. Web.
Keenan, William. In light of Coronavirus Epidemic, Vaccines Should be Mandatory. Badgerherald, 2020. Web.
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases. CDC’s Response, 2020.
Nemitz, Bill. The Truth is Vaccines Save Maine kids’ lives. Let’s Keep it that Way. Portland Press Herald, 2020.
Ontario Should End Religious Exemption for Vaccination. Thestar, 2020. Web.
Szabo, Liz. Full Vaccine Schedule Safe for Kids, no Link to Autism. Usatoday, 2013.