Debate on Vaccination - Essay Example

A vaccination is an injection that produces immunity in the body against an organism that has either been killed orweakened and contained in that particular injection. Consequently, a vaccine can be said to be the product contained in the vaccination. Several types of vaccines exist depending on the type of disease it is best suited to prevent. Scientists choose the type of vaccine to developing based on the characteristics of the infecting microbe to make the safest vaccine. Vaccines may contain either live viruses that have been weakened to render them harmless, the inactive or killed viruses or just portions of the pathogen (Buxton 10). For instance, the vaccination against smallpox used cowpox, which was a poxvirus resembling smallpox to defend against it but did not cause any major illness. Vaccinations are done during the formative years of a person’s life even though this does not hinder an adult to go for vaccination. Children die of diseases each year since they are susceptible to infections due to their fragile immune systems. They are weak because they are young, and their bodies have not built immunities to these diseases. Therefore, the best way to protect children from such diseases is through vaccination (Sprigg 32). Several parents believe that vaccines are not safe for their children. However, it is more painful when a young life is taken by the infection of a killer disease because the child was not vaccinated. Ailments kill children each year. Children are more susceptible to infection due to their feeble immune systems. They are weak because they have not yet stayed alive enough to develop mechanisms for fighting infections. “…Unlike remedial treatment, vaccination provides a lifetime of protection from deadly diseases…and ensure healthier children, families and communities.” (Seth). Although vaccinating children can help prevent certain diseases, there are still many parent that are refusing to vaccinate their children. Vaccines against disease such as polio and MMR should be mandatory for all children who wish to attend school. These vaccinations can control the spread of deadly diseases, help protect children that are not able to get vaccinated and can save family time and money. However, many parents and guardians have failed or refused to take their children for vaccination due to a number of ideologies that have been propagated about vaccination over time. Some of the ideologies have been brought about by fears while others by misconceptions about the process of immunization with the most affected group by failure to immunize being the children themselves. It is always way easier to prevent diseases than treat them. A study carried out in the United States concerning the economic impact resulting from child vaccination shows that the society saves more than five dollars in real cost for every one dollar that is spent on vaccination (Zhou et al.). Vaccines are the most effective methods used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases as well as their complication. In the contemporary society, the well-being of children is not wholly dependent on the religious aspect but also by taking appropriate safeguards against the risks posed by major diseases (Omer et al. 89). Most of the people who oppose immunization in Africa and other developing states are mostly led by religious beliefs and superstitions that vaccination is a Western motive to wipe off their beliefs. Jehovah Witnesses, for example, believe that their children should not be vaccinated at all. They consider medical practices such as blood transfusion and vaccination as a violation of their god’s laws. These religions put their children at a great risk of infection as well as the society. However, God is concerned with the well-being of the children, and even these medical inventions come from God as a way to help alleviate pain and suffering from people. Religious leaders should, therefore, come to terms with medical advancements such as vaccination and develop an amicable solution to this misconception about Western civilization for the good of the children (Grabenstein 63). Others are against vaccination stating that the use of human tissues to develop vaccines is immoral. For instance, Rubella (German measles) vaccine is prepared using human fetus of aborted babies containing the virus. Consequently, various religious institutions including the Vatican have raised objections and moral questions regarding the use of Plotkin’s rubella vaccine since its development by the Stanley Plotkin. However, vaccines work on a common principle where antibodies are preserved from a healthy individual and introduced to a susceptible group to boost their immune system. The use of human tissues should therefore not be considered as immoral because it is one of the ways the body obtains these antibodies (Deane-Drummond 58). Many groups believe that the child’s parent should be given the final say when it comes to deciding if their child should be vaccinated or not. The proponents of this group believe that the child’s parent should be given the final say to decide if the child should be vaccinated and not the government imposing a mandatory obligation to the parent. However, the government does not put up such legislations as a measure to punish the parents but rather it is done for the well-being of the children. If the parents do not forgo their pride about having the ultimate say about their children, they put the lives of those children at a great risk of infection. Vaccination should be made mandatory for the safety of the society is at risk if a child is not properly vaccinated. Comming up with a strategy that will incorporate the needs of the parent and those of the society is, therefore very important (West 48). Vaccines do not only protect the children, but also their parents and also those around them. The immunization of children should be an objective of public health to prevent the spread of diseases. Immunization can save a family’s time and money. The immunization process is a government funded initiative in many jurisdictions in the world and therefore making it affordable to every parent and guardian of a child. Therefore getting a child vaccinated in rather a very cheap method that is accessible and affordable to all. However, when one forgoes this benefit and chooses not to immunize the child, the child risks being paralyzed and disabled for life. Even where there may be corrective medicine to remedy the situation, they are very expensive and time consuming since they involve a person care as well as physiotherapy sessions for the affected child or individual (Koplan et al. 89). Moreover, there are those that are opposed to immunization since they are of the view that the side effects that accrue from immunization far outweigh the benefits that are enjoyed within. They assert that vaccination can lead to side effects such as severe allergic reactions that may lead to breathing complications that may be long term. They also allege that vaccination can cause infertility and may be used by the government as a measure to control population increase. However, even though vaccines may be accompanied with an initial feeling of pain and discomfort arising from the injection, the safeguard that it offers against long-term pain and discomfort such as paralysis caused by diseases cannot be overstated. Besides, the process of coming up with an effective to be given to children involves deep analysis and review of the process by doctors, scientists, and highly qualified health practitioners. Therefore, the likelihood of having major side effects as a result of immunization is almost zero (spring 80-82). Also, vaccination ensures the continuity of mankind through protection of future generation. It is evident that diseases that a few years back paralyzed and killed many people in the world have been eradicated through the emergence of vaccination. For instance, when a pregnant woman vaccinates against Rubella, the risk that they will pass this virus to their unborn children or the fetus is greatly reduced as well as the birth defects to children that are associated with the virus are eliminated. Also, through the development and use of the smallpox vaccination, the disease was completely eradicated from the world and, therefore, the children today no longer need to undergo vaccination against smallpox. Vaccination should be made mandatory for the safety of the society is at risk if a child is not properly vaccinated (Salmon et al. 93). The religious sector and human right lobby groups ought to work in a coexistence with the medical professionals to save our societies. Proper communication concerning the process of developing a vaccine will work to reduce the unnecessary opposition that puts the lives of these young ones at a great risk. We live in a society where the well-being of children is not wholly dependent on a religious aspect but also by the risks posed by major diseases. The idea of not vaccinating children should be done away with. Proper communication concerning the process of developing a vaccine will work to reduce the unnecessary opposition that puts the lives of these young ones at a great risk (West 78). In conclusion, Bill Gates is quoted as saying, “…the arguments that have been peddled against immunization is utter nonsense and complete lies that have claimed the lives of thousands of children worldwide...” The main issue that aggravated this situation is the parents who were told these lies and believed them and hence refused to take their children for immunization against measures, nor the Plotkins Rubella ( German measles) vaccine which was fatal to the children. Moreover, The foremost benefit of vaccination is that it can save the life of the child. Through the development in the field of science and medicine, diseases that once killed or maimed thousands of children such as polio, (a one time most feared diseases for killing and paralyzing children) have now become extinct from the face of the earth or are almost completely eradicated. Therefore, through taking a child for immunization provides a proven safeguard to the child against these deadly diseases (Koplan et al. 81).Therefore, there is a duty to all people in the world to stop peddling propaganda and unfounded myths against the vaccines but rather more effort should be expended to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination to the children in the world. Vaccines are the most effective methods used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases as well as their complications (Omer et al.). As a result, parents should be advised to take their children for vaccination regardless of their religious beliefs. Otherwise, they put the lives of their children at a great risk of infection. Works Cited Deane-Drummond, Celia. Genetics and Christian Ethics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print. Koplan, C. Schoenbaum, C. Weinstein & David W. Fraser. "Pertussis Vaccine — An Analysis of Benefits, Risks, and Costs." N Engl J Med (1979; 301): 906-911. Documents. S B. Omer, D A. Salmon, W A. Orenstein, M. Patricia DeHart and Neal Halsey. "Vaccine Refusal, Mandatory Immunization, and the Risks of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases." N Engl J Med (2009): 1981-1988. Document. Buxton, Jess. ‘The Rough Guide to Genes & Cloning. New York: RoughGuides, 2007. Print. West, Darrell M. ‘Biotechnology Policy Across National Boundaries’: The Science-Industrial Complex. New York:: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007 Sprigg, P. "Pro-family, pro-vaccine—but keep it voluntary."Washington Post 15 July 2006. JD Grabenstein. 2013. What the world’s religions teach, applied to vaccines and immune globulins. Vaccine April 12; 31(16) (2013):2011-23. Document. Read More