The Epidemic Of The Anti Vaccination Movement - 861 Words

The Epidemic of the Anti-Vaccination Movement In 1988, 350,000 cases of polio, an incurable virus that can cause permanent paralysis or death, were reported. In 2014, only 359 cases were reported (â€Å"Poliomyelitis†). The reason for this dramatic decline in cases was a global initiative to vaccinate children and eradicate the virus. No longer did parents have to warn their children away from crowded areas or swimming pools for fear of their child contracting polio. However, as the relief faded and polio became little more than a historical relic, a new movement gained traction. People started focusing more on the possible dangers of vaccines than on their numerous advantages. It culminated in an â€Å"anti-vaccination† movement, and ever since science and advocates have been fighting over the issue. Vaccines have since been studied closely for years, and a myriad of investigations have proven that vaccinations are crucial. Every person should receive necessary immuniz ations because they protect people from dying of preventable diseases, their benefits far outweigh the risks, and vaccinated people protect all members of their community, especially those who cannot receive vaccinations. Amid all of the heated debates about the pros and cons of vaccines, it is quite easy to get lost when medical terms are bandied about by both sides. It is impossible to create an informed opinion on the topic without understanding exactly what is being discussed. The origins of the modern vaccine canShow MoreRelatedMandatory Vaccinations Of School Age Children1473 Words   |  6 Pageshad the proper vaccinations required of school age children (PBS). All 50 states prohibit students who lack proper vaccinations from attending public, and many private, schools (CDC). However, exemptions to this rule are made if the vaccination requirement conflicts with the religious beliefs (effective in all 50 states) or philosophical beliefs (effective in 19 states) of the parent s of these children (CDC). The number of parents with â€Å"philosophical beliefs† against vaccinations has increased dramaticallyRead MoreThe Importance Of Vaccination1414 Words   |  6 PagesDisease Control (CDC) describes vaccination as being one of the ten greatest achievements in public health of the 20th century (CDC 1999) Despite this regard, speculation regarding the matter of vaccines has been around for nearly the entirety of their existence (Wolfe 2002). In his book, Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All, Author Paul Offit does well in informing readers of the ongoing debate regarding the safety and implementation of vaccinations. Offit begins his book byRead MorePrevention Of The Anti Vaccination Movement1472 Words   |  6 Pagesbecause of this that vaccinations are a fundamental part of society and why doctors and parents alike advocate for hand washing, hydrating, and staying home when you are ill. Disease prevention is a corner sto ne in today’s society and has been one for around 200 years since; Edward Jenner created and administered the first smallpox inoculation. However, while always controversial the last few centuries have proved to lend unfounded credence to the anti-vaccination movement. Due to the publicationRead MoreAn Epidemic Of Fear : How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All1417 Words   |  6 Pagesarticle â€Å"An Epidemic of Fear: How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All† a majority of parents in America have come to believe and accept the ideology that vaccination is an unnecessary greed and actually the cause for autism in children. In her article Wallace fights against this misconception and tries to persuade her readers that vaccines are not only crucial for the health of children, but also harmless. Wallace writes a persuasive article regarding the importance of vaccination and disprovesRead MoreAn Active Supporter Of Anti Vaccination916 Words    |  4 Pagesscreen writer, and play boy bunny of the year in 1994 being confident in all of these roles and certainly not being shy about being an active supporter of anti-vaccination. Unfortunately since she claimed vaccinations gave her some autism many celebrities and regular people around the states have followed her words and not getting their child vaccinations. All claiming they would rather have their children sick than vaccinated. Her quote, â€Å"I do believe sadly it’s going to take some diseases coming backRead MoreThe Invention Of Modern Medicine1216 Words   |  5 Pagescommonplace and claimed millions of lives. Now they are something of the past- these illnesses are considered ‘eradicated diseases’. This massive increase in population immunization is due to the invention of vaccines and artificially acquired immunity. Vaccinations are critically important in preventing and maintaining individual and public health concerns. When people have infections or illnesses for the first time their immune systems have to fight them off. At first the invader is defined by foreignRead MoreQuestions On Immunity And Vaccines1462 Words   |  6 Pagescertain diseases or a virus. Vaccines vary from containing the virus and to containing components that connect to the virus. A vaccination is the injection of a killed or weakened organism that provides immunity, and an immunization is the process by which a person or animal becomes protected from a disease (vaccines.gov1). In order to have immunity to certain diseases vaccination must occur. In some cases more than one vaccine is necessary a health care provider may offer a combination of vaccines whichRead MoreNegative Effects of Vaccinations Essay1067 Words   |  5 Pages A parent can’t go a week without hearing about vaccinations and the problems they will cause our children. Generally the advertised negative effects of the vaccinations are immediate, wherea s others may indicate they cause problems later in life. In the day and age of the internet, what is a person to do? Get informed. Don’t take the information that is presented to you on Facebook, Twitter, email, or through the grapevine as science. Vaccinations have become a very taboo subject for parents todayRead MoreThe Anti Vaccination Epidemic Of Canada1489 Words   |  6 Pagesvalue to society if it is not communicated.† Unfortunately, we live in an age where misinformation allows the distortion of science for decidedly un-scientific purposes. There is no greater example of this phenomenon than the anti-vaccination epidemic. Childhood vaccinations for easily prevented diseases such as Diphtheria, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal Disease, Pertussis, and Varicella, must be made mandatory for all Canadians attempting to enroll in public school or public day careRead MoreCultural Perspectives on Vaccination1164 Words   |  5 PagesOutline (Pro-vaccinat ion) The debate is led by anti-vaccinators who oppose vaccinations on ethical, political, religious and medical safety grounds. On the other hand, pro-vaccinators argue that the health benefits of vaccines outweigh the very few adverse effects that they have, and that vaccines have been largely advantageous to public health. Main points of contention: Pro-vaccinators (usually health care specialists, microbiologists, governments, pharmaceutical companies) Vaccinations are an effective