To Immunize or Not To Immunize, That is the Question - Essay Example

In order to prevent the emergence and spread of a lethal disease, such as the Avian virus, it is important for everybody living in the United States to receive a vaccine against the disease. Vaccination is an effective method of preventing the spread of a lethal virus, and this is because some elements of the disease in question are introduced into the person’s body (Merino, 2012). This allows an individual to have the first encounter with the disease, and it makes the individual’s body to develop some anti-bodies that will have the capability of circulating, for purposes of preventing the occurrence of the disease under consideration.

Through this method, the vaccine produced will have the capability of providing immunity against the virus, protecting the individual under consideration from falling sick. Vaccines also have the capability of eradicating the disease under consideration (Colgrove, 2007). A good example is the total eradication of small pox, which some generations ago, the disease was responsible for killing thousands and thousands of people (Merino, 2012). Due to immunization, the world health organization’s managed to contain the disease, and eradicate it completely.

Currently, governments and health care institutions have a policy of vaccinating little children against polio. It is important to denote that polio has been contained, due to vaccination programs, even though it is not totally eradicated (Colgrove, 2007). It is within my belief, that in the coming years, there will be a total eradication of polio. This is all thanks to the vaccination programs being carried out by various health care institutions, and government agencies. Vaccinating people against a disease is always effective and safe.

Vaccines are only administered to people after a long period of trials, and clinical tests, concerning the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine under consideration (Merino, 2012). In as much as there will be some side effects when a vaccine is administered in an individual, it does not mean that the vaccine harmful to the individual concerned. On the contrary, these side effects such as fever, body rashes, are an indication that the vaccine under consideration is working (Studer and Douch, 2010).

Most people associate the occurrence of fever in an individual as a bad thing. However, this is not always the case, as it depends with what type of fever an individual suffers from (Merino, 2012). The dangerous type of fever, are the ones that rise quickly, leading to seizures. However, fevers that occur through vaccination are referred to as low grade fevers, and do not pose a threat to the life of an individual (Colgrove, 2007). There are other side effects such a pain, swelling, and redness of the skin.

These are only responses to the disruption of muscles, which occurs near the injection area. These side effects brought forth by vaccination are not a threat to an individual’s life, but are a sign that the vaccine is having an effect on the person concerned. In conclusion, it is important for the congress to allow all American to undertake a vaccine for purposes of protecting them from a lethal virus. This will be beneficial to the country, because it will manage to save the lives of its citizens, as well as eliminating a dangerous disease, that is a threat to mankind.

References: Colgrove, J. K. (2007). Vaccination a history of vaccines.. Washington, D.C.: Public Health Service, ASPH, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Merino, N. (2012). Vaccines. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Studer, H., & Douch, G. (2010). Vaccination: a guide for making personal choices (2nd ed.). Edinburgh: Floris.