Benefits and Disadvantages of Vaccination - Research Paper Example

Pros and Cons of Vaccination Introduction Vaccination is the process through which the human body is made resistant or immune to different infectious diseases using a vaccine. Vaccines prompt the body into producing antibodies, which fight various illnesses, and thus it is the most suitable method of disease prevention. The term vaccination is used interchangeably with immunization. The issue of whether vaccinations are helpful or harmful is one that causes intense debate. It should however, be noted that vaccinations have eliminated the risk of over 16 major diseases in the past 20 years. ‘Three million lives are saved worldwide each year through childhood immunizations’ (Kassianos 27). In the last 100 years, vaccinations have increased human lifespan by over 30 years; along with protecting the masses from widespread epidemics. It is clear that the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the risk they pose to a small population of citizens. Most immunization efforts are focused on children and they have led to extension of life and curbed the spread of disease. Benefits of Vaccination One of the main benefits that are brought by vaccinations is the extension of human life through the reduction of mortality. The importance of vaccination in the extension of human life is demonstrated by the fact that ‘elderly individuals given influenza vaccine in the USA have approximately 20% less chance of suffering cardiovascular disease’ (Ehreth 598). The proper use of vaccines has been proven to reduce the mortality rate among children. This is because research in vaccines has increased the number of diseases that can be prevented using vaccines. Vaccines have also helped in the eradication of what used to be leading killer diseases such as small pox. According to the WHO website, an immunization campaign that was carried out from 1967 to 1977 led to the eradication of smallpox. This was from a situation in which 60% of the world population was threatened by the diseases. The disease was responsible for killing every fourth victim. The infection rates have however fallen by 99% following the extensive vaccination campaign. This shows that the vaccines have played an important role in the elimination of the diseases. The use of vaccines also helps in the prevention of contagious diseases. ‘Vaccination programs are cornerstones of primary health-care services in developing countries’ (Jamison 397) and thus help to prevent the outbreak of contagious diseases. Through vaccination, some diseases that were in the past very contagious and common have been eradicated with the use of vaccines. Research has shown that the use of vaccines prevents an approximated 10.5 million cases of contagious diseases annually. The vaccination of children provides them to receive protection from specific diseases at an early age when they are most vulnerable to diseases and infections. The use of vaccines has therefore led to a reduction in the occurrence of the contagious and life-threatening diseases because when a majority of people in a population receives the vaccines, there are fewer people who can contract and spread the disease. This protects the population from epidemics of the disease. Vaccination is also beneficial in that it has led to the prevention of diseases that were guaranteed to occur in the course of one’s lifetime. One such disease is measles. According to Jamison (396), without vaccination, the measles virus would infect almost ‘100% of people in a given population’. This would cause an approximated 2 million deaths every year. Another such disease is influenza, especially during the cold winter months. In the developing world, improved access to immunization has led to the reduction in infant mortality rate. The benefits of vaccination also extend to those who are not in a position (medically) to receive vaccinations. These include the children and even grownups who suffer from a weak immune system. The benefits also extend to those who do not respond to the vaccine. This is because by vaccinating the population, their chance of contracting the disease from the environment reduces as vaccination rids the population of the particular disease causing microorganisms. This leads to a lower chance of outbreaks and spread of the immunizable diseases. This is known as the ‘herd immunity’, which holds that as long as there is a sufficient number of immunized people in a population, the benefits of immunization will be enjoyed by the entire society, including those who do not undergo immunization (Kassianos 26). Immunization is also beneficial in that it achieves a more positive effect in the body than having the disease. However, unlike the disease, immunization does not cause one to suffer from long-term damages to the body or risk death as having the disease would. The process of having the disease is painful while the immunization is painless and effective. This means that the widespread epidemics that would occur in the absence of vaccinations are avoided. Another benefit of immunization is that in the few cases where the disease is contracted even after one receives the vaccination, the disease develops in a milder form, and the effects are less harmful than in cases where the patient lacks a corresponding vaccine. This means that the disease will cause fewer deaths with vaccination than without it. It will also have reduced discomfort for those who contract it. This implies that the number of people who suffer from the side effects and complication is however very low in a vaccinated population. Receiving large or excess amounts of vaccination can however reduce the ability of the body’s natural immune system to respond to diseases. This makes a person more susceptible to diseases and infections (Allot 98). The vaccines can also cause the body to suppress the skin reactions temporarily. This however only occurs in a minority of the population and therefore implies that the vaccines help in the increasing of the lifespan of the population, and benefits a majority of the population. Apart from the reduction of the risk of diseases, vaccinations also have an economic benefit. This arises from the fact that vaccinations are a cost effective measure of dealing with diseases. According to data from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), each dollar that is spent vaccinated children leads to a saving of up to $18.40 in treating the disease if it occurs because in the absence of immunization. The saving is also because of other indirect expenses caused by the disease. Immunization therefore makes economic significant economic sense as it helps in the improvement of healthcare at a reasonable cost. In the developing world, vaccination campaigns have saved the economies millions of dollars in expenses of treating preventable diseases (Ehreth 598). On the other hand, immunization has proved to be very costly for governments. However ‘external donor support has helped national immunization system budgets keep pace with these rising costs’ (Ehreth 599) Despite the fears that are expressed regarding the safety of the medicine that is used in the immunization process, research shows that the vaccines used in the process of immunizations are among the safest medicines that are in use in the medical field (Kassianos 28). Vaccinations have been associated with the risk of autism. It is often argued that there is a link between childhood vaccinations and autism. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination is said to increase the risk of autism among vaccinated children. Medical researchers further believe that the MMR vaccine increases the risk of developing the regressive form of autism, which is believed to occur due to the combination of three live viruses that form the vaccine, causing an overload on the children’s immune systems. This is especially the case in children who are genetically or immunologically predisposed to developing autism. This conclusion borrows from several cases of children who have developed autism upon receiving the MMR vaccine. The risk of autism from vaccines is also associated with vaccines that contain thimerosal as a preservative. As a preservative, thimerosal was also said to cause other developmental problems. The use of thimerosal in vaccines was however discontinued. This means that vaccines are safe and the benefits of receiving the vaccinations outweigh the risks that are associated with vaccines. In addition, vaccines have also led to the prevention of more diseases and death than any other intervention measure or treatment known to the medical field. People should therefore be encouraged to increase their uptake of immunization so that they can enjoy the benefits that it offers. There are also cases where the benefits of vaccinations are perceived as being relatively minor. An example is in the case of chickenpox where contracting the disease guarantees a lifetime immunity. Chickenpox however causes great discomfort, which can be avoided with the chickenpox vaccine (Orin 14). The severity of diseases is effectively mitigated through vaccination (Kassianos 29). Diseases which manage to develop in an immunized individual are usually milder than in a person who has not been immunized. ‘A shorter duration of chronic cough was demonstrated in individuals who were immunized with an Accellular Pertussis Vaccine in an efficacy study which was conducted in Germany’ (Ehreth 597). This illustrates that it is through vaccination that the virulence of microorganisms is reduced and as a result protecting the immunized individuals from severe infections. Conclusion As discussed, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks that it poses. It is also interesting to note that the benefits of vaccinations are not only restricted to the individuals but also other members of a population who might have missed the vaccines. There are also social benefits that accrue from vaccinations. Jamison et al (1167) asserts that ‘A person seeks immunization to protect himself from contracting a disease. By so doing, he reduces the risk of infection to others in the society hence compounding the social benefits of vaccination’. Despite the criticism and skepticism that is directed at immunization, it is important for people especially children to seek immunization and be protected from the risk of unnecessary death or disabilities. Research has also proven most of the concerns about vaccines to be untrue (Jamison et al 1167). An example is the myth that vaccinations cause sudden infant deaths, which has been proven to be untrue. This means that vaccination remains important and vital for the wellbeing of the society. Vaccination has benefits in the eradication of disease including reduction of mobility, mortality and complications of disease which may arise due to lack of preventive mechanisms. It is therefore important for people to be educated on the benefits of vaccinations so that the resistance to vaccinations can be reduced and the elimination of infectious diseases can be achieved. This is because vaccination enables the mitigation of the severity of disease and it can also protect unimmunized population through herd immunity. Finally, vaccination helps in the prevention of antibiotic resistance which makes it as an economical method of health care as compared to treatment. Works cited Allot, Andrew. Biology for the IB Diploma: Standard and higher level. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print. Ehreth, Jenifer. “The global value of vaccination.” Vaccine. 21 (7-8), 596-600. Jamison, Dean.et.al. “World Bank. Diseases Control Priority Project.” Disease control priorities in developing countries, Part 611. Washington, DC: World Bank Publications, 2006. Print. Kassianos, George. Immunization: Childhood and travel health. London: Blackwell science. 2001. Print. Orrin, Mark. The Chickenpox Vaccine: A New Epidemic of Disease and Corruption. Pearblossom, CA: Medical Veritas Internation, 2006. Print. Read More