The Issue of Vaccinations - Research Paper Example

Vaccination Detra Lane ENG135 Vaccination Vaccination as explained by Link (2005) is a medical intervention taken to prevent or reduce the possibilities of an individual or individual from getting a certain infection. Common vaccines include those against measles, chickenpox, whooping cough and many more. Those vaccinated have a higher degree of protection, and those not vaccinated are highly predisposed. However, there have been arguments for and against vaccination, particularly where individuals are forced or compelled to be vaccinated, even if they are unwilling. This paper discusses this controversial issue on whether individuals should be allowed to determine whether they should be vaccinated or not. Individual rights and patients’ rights As it noted by Williamson (2007) opposition to compulsory vaccination began in 1853, just after the passage of Compulsory Vaccination Act. He points out that the person who led this opposition was John Gibbs, who wrote a letter to the Board of Health, and argued that compulsory vaccination violated the principle of justice and the spirit of freedom. He also argued that this against the teachings of Christianity, erodes the aspect of common sense, and betrays the rights of individuals. The arguments of John Gibbs continued. He asserted that compulsory vaccination was a direct aggression on a person undergoing medical treatment. Compulsory vaccination interferes in the most unseen way the liberty of the people and the purity of their homes. It takes away decisions that should be made by a parent regarding vaccination of their children, and forces a parent to either break his/her personal beliefs and even his/her religious teachings or go against unfair law. The reason many parents agreed with John Gibbs, was because many parents did not believe that vaccination efficient and effective protection against small-pox. They as well doubted the way vaccination was done, that is arm-to-arm method. They also understood that vaccination could spread disease, for example syphilis. In addition, this was against their Christianity teachings, which said “do not harm yourself” Williamson (2007, 178). These opposing reasons though were put across in 1850s; they are the same or related reason being used today. Individuals can make informed decisions Many parents are forced to vaccinate their children to be accepted to schools or to continue receiving medical care from healthcare facilities. While some individuals particularly in army are forced to be vaccinated with different vaccines because they are in the military and thus cannot decline orders. However, this is against individual rights, since people are forced to do something they ordinarily would not have done. Individuals need to make an informed consent, and this implies that patients or people have an absolute right to accept or decline any type of medical treatment. An individual has got a right to be treated in a sensitive and compassionate manner. The doctor on the other hand has ethical and legal obligations to inform the patient risks and benefits of available alternatives. Indeed, all the states in the US have informed consent laws, are not applied when vaccination is involved (Runzheimer (2010). As noted by Runzheimer (2010), medical profession is guided my medical ethics. One of the principles of medical ethics is autonomy. This principle outlines that patients are independent in decision making. Thus, normal adult has the right to make individual decisions concerning what happens to his/her body. Healthcare provides are under an obligation to promote the patient health and well-fare. This basically means that patients can be advised but not forced to undertake any form of medical treatment. However, Runzheimer (2010) observes that what is ethical, may not be lawful, and vise versa. Thus, compulsory vaccination maybe not be ethical but legal, yet again, under the law, the individual freedom is protected. Long term effects of vaccines Pharmaceutical companies carry out safety of vaccines; however, they do not undertake long term studies. The follow-up data for vaccines safety testing on people before the marketing of a vaccine is merely done for a shot duration. These pharmaceutical companies as well as government health officers depend on post-marketing results to determine if any serious side effects and other reactions are reported after vaccination has been carried out to millions of children. Nevertheless, many doctor are unwilling to report serious reactions, it is projected that merely 10% of severe reactions from the vaccines are ever reported. Despite of this low reporting, between 12,000 and 14,000 severe reactions, that include hospitalizations, injuries and deaths, are reported each year. Owing to the fact that it is difficult to determine causal factors, a lot of these cases are dismissed as accidental and no further examination is done. The “control groups” used in trials for these vaccines to determine severe reaction are usually vaccinated children. Thus, it impossible to get the correct results for the vaccine being tested, and instead what is obtained is incorrect results that makes the vaccine to appear safer than real it is. More so, there is inadequate research on cumulative effect of many doses of multiple vaccines given to individual. Toxicity of vaccines Many people are not ready to accept vaccines because of the toxicity they believe is carried in the vaccines. In deed, more and more doctors argue that a baby’s immunity system is underdeveloped to manage the amount and levels of vaccines given. The lives of the children and their kidneys are still weak to metabolize or expel the toxic chemicals as well as heavy metals contained in vaccines (Runzheimer, 2010). Parents and other individuals should understand that although mercury has been removed in many of childhood vaccines, flu and tetanus shots still contain a considerably levels of mercury, mercury is understood to be highly toxic even at very low levels, particularly when injected to small babies. While toxicity issue is mainly raised about mercury in vaccines, mercury is clearly not the only toxic substances in vaccines. Other toxicity includes aluminum, which could accumulate in body tissues and could reach toxic levels in bones, blood and brain (Williamson, 2007). Studies on effect of aluminum indicate that it causes convulsions, memory loss and learning problems. Though many vaccines can be said to be safe and effective, they are neither 100% safe nor 100% effective. Some individuals who get vaccinated react adversely and some never get the intended protection. When formulating the vaccine, the biggest challenge is to reduce the possibility of adverse effects, while increasing the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, as noted by Loehr (2009) some individuals suffer medical conditions that could increase the danger of severe effects if they are vaccinated and thus they should not be vaccinated. Understanding these conditions individuals should be given a right to determine if they should be vaccinated or not. However the right should not be limited only on medical conditions, people ought to have a right of accepting or declining vaccination even without medical conditions. According to Link (2005) the religious beliefs of other people do not allow vaccination, some other people also oppose vaccination on different reason, they include philosophic ground, more so other people oppose vaccination on moral grounds, while others only oppose specific vaccinations and not all. Those who oppose vaccination on religious grounds go ahead to quote the first amendment, which states that a person has right to belong any recognized religious and follow its teachings. However, according to Loehr (2009) compulsory vaccination should be accepted because it protects people against contagious diseases such as chickenpox. She notes that before chickenpox vaccine was discovered, nearly each child in America suffered from this disease. Chickenpox is very contagious and those children who are not immunized easily contact the disease. Though chickenpox is a mild disease, it can result in encephalitis and pneumonia among individuals with weakened immunity. Conclusion There are several reasons why people are against compulsory vaccination, some of the reasons include individual rights and rights of patients to make their own decisions, religious beliefs, long-term effects of the vaccines on people, toxicity of the vaccines and the fact that people can make their own decisions. Indeed, Individuals should have the right to decline vaccination. Individuals are not told about these laws they are normally told that they do not have an alternative. In general, individual should be given back their rights to make informed decisions when it comes to vaccination, without being forced, threatened or disapproved by doctors and healthcare officials. Annotated bibliography Belhorn, T. (2008). 100 Questions & Answers About Childhood Immunizations. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning. In this book, Behorn formulates 100 commonly asked questions regarding childhood immunization and answers them. The answers are comprehensive and informative and greatly helps in understating of immunization program, and vaccines used. This book attempts to give correct information so that parents could make informed decisions when it comes to vaccinating their children, a decision that has to be made with good understanding of vaccine and how they work. The information contained in this book is crucial in the current debate about vaccination. The book provides important information, but on a neutral ground making thus one can reach on a conclusion without biased information. There are several arguments for and against vaccinations that do not have evidence, this book provides evidence in both sides of argument, and it is therefore useful for this current paper. Link, K. (2005). The vaccine controversy: the history, use, and safety of vaccinations. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group. In this book Kurt Link a professional in internal medicine and a supporter of vaccination, offers a comprehensive guide that highlights the different types of vaccines, their efficacy and possible toxicity. He also offers a historical account of vaccine development and possible future vaccines that are being developed. He also examines the immune system and the manner it works. This book provides important information on the current paper as it explains the vaccine controversy, the history of vaccines and the safety of these vaccines when used. The various reasons that can be used to accept or reject vaccines are discussed in this book. Loehr, J. (2009). The Vaccine Answer Book: 200 Essential Answers to Help You Make the Right Decisions for Your Child. New York: Sourcebooks, Inc. This book has been written by an experienced person in medical field, the book offers important information regarding vaccines and public health, giving the reasons behind them. The book as well offers full information on recommended vaccine program for children, and comprehensive information on each of the vaccine. The book as well gives a complete disclosure of possible side effects and circumstances when a person should not be vaccinated. This book gives unbiased explanation of latest controversies regarding vaccines. People on many occasions decline vaccines without clear reasons. This book gives important and essential answers to questions that people may have regarding vaccines. The recommended vaccines for children and comprehensive information about these vaccines provide information of logical arguments. Malone, K.M., and Hinman, A.R. (2003). Vaccination mandates: The public health imperative and individual rights: In Law in Public Health Practice. New York Malone and Hinman starts by highlighting the concept for community disease prevention, by describing the challenges faced when societal interest and well being conflict with individual rights and interests. The author observes that when people mingle together, they each have the responsibility for the well being of the society and their say reduces as the society becomes bigger. This implies that individuals have a little say in a group. They authors equates this to vaccination of people for prevention of disease within the community. The community wellbeing supersedes individual demands. The issue of accepting or declining vaccination is not only an individual issue, but also a community issue since vaccination is public health aspect. Those who are not vaccinated may affect those who are vaccinated. This book offers vital information for the present discussion. Romm, A. J. (2006). Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parents Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives. New York: Inner Traditions / Bear & Co. Aviva Jill Romm, a midwife, herbiest and writer, examines numerous current research on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and provides a logical and balanced debate on the pros and cons of each regular childhood vaccination. Romm presents a wide range of options available to parents; they can accept full vaccination, selective vaccination or decline all vaccinations. Negotiating with school stipulations, dealing with the community and moving about with unvaccinated child are all discussed in this book. Stressing that no particular approach is suitable for all children, the writer guides parents in making right choices for their children. Deciding whether to vaccinate a child or not, and if yes when do it, is an important but difficult healthcare decision for any parent. With increase in recommended vaccines for children and even adults, this decision has become more difficult. The present controversy on efficacy and safety of some of these vaccines have left a lot of parents more confused and concerned about their children, this has been the issue under discussion. Runzheimer, J. (2010). Medical Ethics For Dummies. New York: McGraw Hill Professional. This is a practical and insightful guide that discusses moral and ethical standards of healthcare. The author argues that to succeed in healthcare means more than diagnosis and writing prescriptions. He notes that healthcare professional have a duty to convince patients and their family members on the best action and treatment to take, while keeping in mind the right and moral choices to make. This book has helpful information for aspiring medical professional and the general public. Basic information about vaccines is provided in this book. For those who do not have enough information on vaccines, this book gives important and essential information on vaccines and the ethical aspects of these vaccines. Williamson, S. (2007). The vaccination controversy: the rise, reign, and fall of compulsory vaccination for smallpox. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. According to Williamson, smallpox was for many years among the deadliest and very contagious and feared diseases. The author has managed to clearly present the controversy of compulsory vaccination, starting from1853 when the Act was introduced. Williamson outlines the social, political and moral consequences of mandatory vaccination. This paper discusses the controversy of vaccination, and this book provides in-depth and detailed information on this controversy. The author has been able to present both sides and the arguments in respect to smallpox. However, the discussion is not limited on smallpox alone. Read More