Mandatory Vaccination of Children - Essay Example

Name Instructor’s Name Course Name and Code Date Mandatory Vaccination of Children: Why do we Need Vaccination Outline Introduction Vaccination enables an individual body to defend itself against numerous diseases that are caused by certain viruses and bacteria. Individuals are exposed to viruses and bacteria contributing to immunity. Not all the vaccinations operate accurately leading in instances of individuals been infected Vaccinations available for numerous diseases Thesis statement: The aim of the essay is to illustrate the importance of vaccinating the children. Body: i. Socioeconomic benefit to the society a. Prevents likely hood spread of contagious disease b. Parents and children saved time rather than visiting health institutions c. Reduced overall medication costs ii. Vaccination prevents numerous diseases a. Prevention strategy against dangerous diseases b. Herd immunization strategy c. Protect future generation d. Prevents disabilities and other side effects of the diseases iii. Counterargument: Risks of vaccination a. Results in other health and medical problems b. Complicated side effects c. Numerous examples of negative consequences of vaccination iv. Refutation: Risks are unavoidable a. Rarity of negative reactions b. Extensive use of vaccination yields more benefits c. Children are exposed to different toxics and pathogens, which are worse than immunization d. The aim of risk management is weighing the better evil v. Conclusion a. Administration of bacteria and virus to improve immunity b. Numerous benefits exist c. Shortcomings are common but are manageable d. Further studies and research should be done to improve the efficacy of vaccines Essay Vaccination enables an individual body to defend itself against numerous diseases that are caused by certain viruses and bacteria. The vaccination results in immunity that the doctors can provide and in certain scenarios, individuals are exposed to viruses and bacteria contributing to immunity. If an individual is immunized against a disease, the individual may not be infected with the disease or get a mild version of the disease. However, not all the vaccinations operate accurately leading in instances of individuals been infected. Vaccination is available for numerous diseases such as diphtheria, measles, polio and small pox but further studies are done to create vaccines for diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases and Ebola virus infection. Through the use of vaccination, the health is improved worldwide while preventing serious diseases. Debates and arguments exist surrounding vaccination such as complications, which may be associated with the problem, efficacy, ideological perspective on vaccination and appropriateness of a variety of the vaccines. Children are forced to undergo mandatory vaccination against diseases such as measles and polio, but reasons exist for reasons of receiving these vaccinations. The aim of the essay is to illustrate the importance of vaccinating the children. Vaccination has a wider benefit to an individual to the community when premised on the overall requirements of the community and society. It prevents any likely outbreak of contagious disease, and most members of the community would be protected (Evans 626). Individuals who are unable to access expensive vaccines, these individuals receives the vaccines through the herd vaccination strategy (Moniz and Richard 2564). Vaccination also creates economic benefits because the parents and children are saved from the time required to treat the vaccination preventable disease. Vaccination is cheaper since it reduces the costs that may be associated with long-term medical costs, potential long-term disability care, and weighing between work and caring for a sick child. The wider benefits are imperative to acknowledging the importance of the health and vaccination programs. For example, the complications caused due to lack of effective vaccination regimes affects the entire society and community. For instances, problems may be raised because of the complications associated with the vaccination, but it is important to address the issue through analytical processes. Weighing between benefits and shortcomings should be done, which indicates vaccination has a wider benefit compared to the risks and shortcomings. Thus, it is important to advance the vaccination strategy to prevent passage and infection of contagious diseases and problems. Vaccines can save children’s lives because of the efficiency of the medical directive (Andrus et al. 1104). When children are born, the children are vaccinated against numerous diseases including measles and polio and becomes an effective strategy used in preventing infection of common and dangerous diseases. Vaccination is important when viewed from individual and community perspectives. The vaccinations target children meaning the “herd” immunization is important to the community. Vaccination is also important because it protects the future generations. For example, mothers who received vaccination against rubella reduced the chances in which the virus can be transferred to the newborn or unborn children and elimination of the congenital disabilities such as mental disabilities, spleen and liver damage, congenital cataracts, vision and hearing problems and heart problems (Evans 628). Vaccination such as against smallpox has resulted in near eradication of polio and other similar health-related requirements. The success of the vaccination strategies depends on the content and ingredients used in the researching and development of the drugs. Vaccines should be viewed from the same lenses as other medical prescriptions are premised on vaccinations. According to CDC (2016), vaccines like other medicines carry some levels of risk such as life-threatening allergic reaction. CDC presents the example of rotavirus vaccination that may result in intussusception condition, which is a kind of bowel blockage that may result in hospitalization of the child and CDC estimates one per 20,000 babies have the problem in the United States. MMR vaccines (measles, mumps, and rubella) and DTaP (vaccines against pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria) associates it to numerous medical problems including permanent brain damage, lowered consciousness, coma, and long-term seizures (Smith 395; Patel et al. 2284). Even though these numerous problems exists, it is difficult to determine the causative agent or ingredient in the vaccines. CDC continues to present additional examples such as the Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which is caused by flu vaccine: Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a health disorder that an individual’s immune system attacks numerous parts of the peripheral nervous system of an individual and it is estimated in affects one per one million who have been vaccinated: chickenpox may also cause pneumonia (World Health Organization 3). Other professional views on vaccines exist such as the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) stating that vaccines may be linked to chronic inflammation, diabetes, autism, asthma, learning disabilities and other disabilities. These numerous medical and health problems illustrate that it is not productive to administer vaccines to the children. The purpose of vaccination is to improve the health condition of the child but based on the numerous studies and examples presented, vaccines creates more problems. Risks are inherent in any situation especially dealing with medications (Patel et al. 2290). There are long term and short term effect of other medications, which are commonly referred to as side effects. If these side effects, which are controllable, are acceptable, the reasons for the effectiveness of vaccination lack focus. CDC (2016) acknowledges the risks of vaccines but also states the negative reactions are extremely rare since the methodologies and ingredients in the development of vaccines consider the safety requirements. Examples of MMR that have been used since the mid-1940s does not have adverse effect while the ingredients used in the vaccines are safe in the amounts prescribed (Smith 395). For example, critics may present these vaccines contains aluminum, formaldehyde, and thimerosal but these ingredients are found in small quantities meaning large quantities may be harmful. The ideology is balancing what is good from what is wrong and administering the right dosage improves the efficacy of the drugs (Evans 627). Aluminum is available in more quantities in infant formula and breast milk compared with exposures to vaccines. It is imperative the frequency of breastfeeding and infant formula food compared with the frequency of vaccination. The children are also exposed to toxins, viruses, bacteria and other harmful substances in daily activities compared to exposure to vaccines. Since it is acknowledged that there are problems with certain vaccines, the continuous testing and stringent legislative requirements means that the children are protected against any negative side effect of the medication. In conclusion, vaccination is the administering of types of bacteria and virus to improve the immunity of the individual. The vaccination is given mostly to the children because the vaccine should be ready in the body of an individual before exposure. Vaccination as a wider benefit to the society and economy. It reduces the medication costs and other problems such as seeking for leave to care for a sick child. If vaccination is provided, the individual will not likely get sick, and the community and parents will continue with socioeconomic objectives. The integral benefit of vaccination is saving the children and protecting the future generation. Vaccines such as MMR, polio and flu have reduced the incidences of such diseases. It also has encouraged the herd vaccination which enables people without the financial strength to benefit from vaccines. Future generations benefits because the chances of passing the infection from the mother to children become less since the mother is already immunized. However, the vaccination has been associated with numerous medical and health issues. For example, studies have associated autism, diabetes and other forms of diabetes to chemical components of the vaccines. Formaldehyde and aluminum are commonly used in the preparation of these medicines, which possess threat and risks to the children. These ingredients have a long lasting effect on the child compared to the benefits of vaccination. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge the wider benefits of vaccination since even the normal drugs have side effects and may contribute to other medical problems. Vaccination should be viewed from the levels of risks and benefits to the community compared with the alternative: the lack of vaccination. Thus, mitigation of the problem is better rather than stopping the vaccination; likely stopping the problem may result in the presence of smallpox and other contagious diseases. The presences of questions regarding the efficiency of the vaccination, it is recommended further studies and research be done to improve the vaccination regime and mitigation or redress to the highlighted problems. Works Cited Andrus, Jon Kim, et al. "Challenges to building capacity for evidence-based new vaccine policy in developing countries." Health Affairs 30.6 (2011): 1104-1112. CDC. Vaccines. 2016, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines. Accessed 13 Nov. 2016. Evans, Alfred. Bacterial Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control. Springer, 2013. Print. Moniz, Michelle H., and Richard H. Beigi. "Maternal immunization: Clinical experiences, challenges, and opportunities in vaccine acceptance." Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 10.9 (2014): 2562-2570. Patel, Manish M., et al. "Intussusception risk and health benefits of rotavirus vaccination in Mexico and Brazil." New England Journal of Medicine 364.24 (2011): 2283-2292. Smith, Robert. Multilevel Modeling of Social Problems: A Causal Perspective. Springer Science & Business Media, 2011. Print. World Health Organization (WHO). Information sheet Observed Rate of Vaccine Reactions Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccines. May 2014, http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/initiative/tools/MMR_vaccine_rates_information_sheet.pdf Accessed 14 Nov. 2016. Read More