...2015 The Vaccine Debate During the last ten years or so, there has been a debate on childhood vaccinations. This debate all started from the acquisition that vaccines cause autism. Since the debate, many parents have been skeptical on whether or not they will get their children vaccinated. From the negative comments that are going around from highly respected people new parents doubt vaccines importance to the world. Parents are concerned, which they should be, about if vaccines are beneficial or harmful to their kid’s health? Some claim that vaccinations are needless and unsafe. With the misleading information in parent’s ears they are stuck with the big question. Should I vaccinate my child? Since this vaccine debate, “about 40 percent of American parents today has chosen to delay certain vaccines or outright refuse to allow their children’s physicians to vaccinate their children with one or more of the recommended or mandated vaccines” (Largent). As the rates of being vaccinated go down, it is putting not only that child in danger but also the whole community. Diseases that were once gone are on the rise.” A 2013 study published in the journal Pediatrics reports that California’s worst whooping-cough outbreak, which infected more than 9,000 people (Rothstein)”. Also “the CDC reports that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2014, 54 people in the U.S. have reported being infected with measles” (Sifferlin). The issue with the decrease in vaccination rates is it disturbs...
Words: 1559 - Pages: 7
...Mandatory Influenza Vaccinations Review Shumetria Cleveland English 321 Mandatory Influenza Vaccinations Review Introduction Influenza is a highly, contagious virus that affects the respiratory system. It is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets by an infected person coughing or sneezing. Influenza is much more serious than the common cold and is preventable. Good hand washing, covering your cough, and good health habits will prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory diseases. It is onset by chills, fatigue, high fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches are some sign or symptoms of influenza often referred to as the flu. The incubation period is one to four days. Each year, influenza causes a significant increase in illness and death. In the elderly, children, patients with chronic illness and immune compromised disease. Once in a while the influenza changes to a severe disease. In the early 1900 there was a pandemic that killed approximately 20,000,000 people. Scientist later discovered the bacterial that causes the virus by testing the blood. Today physicians are able to keep the bacterial infections under control with antibiotics. In 2009 the swine flu epidemic caused illness, stole lives and flashed a light on health care workers to get mandatory influenza vaccinations. Some institutions, for the first time, implemented policies for mandatory influenza vaccines for health care workers due to the escalation of the swine flu...
Words: 2189 - Pages: 9
...To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate: Childhood Vaccinations Walden University Allison B. Neal 2/13/2015 NURS 6051 For this assignment I will be looking at the debate on childhood immunizations and the pros and cons of this controversial topic. My target audience would be young adults to middle aged parents and expecting parents. As a mother of two myself I strongly believe in vaccinations as both of my children have been vaccinated and I feel that by not doing this you could not only be harming your children but societies children as well. I am well aware of the ongoing debate that vaccinations may be linked to causing some autism disorders and will briefly touch base on that as well. Disease is real and can potentially be very serious and even fatal. When talking about diseases and how vaccines help prevent this does not include the common cold, most stomach bugs, and similar viruses and diseases that the body can fight off with proper nutrition and rest. Chronic and acute disease the body cannot fight off without outside help. This help could be antibiotics, vaccinations or other forms of treatments. It’s essential that our bodies build up immunities to chronic diseases some argue this should be done naturally or through specialized manufactured ones. According to the source article, vaccinations are used to prevent a number of serious diseases concurrently, and utilize dead or weakened bacteria or viruses to create immunity in the body (Morningstar, 2009). Although...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
...Clinical Situations Position Paper Kelli B. Teems University of West Georgia Professional Nursing Concepts (Nurs 4102) Professor J. Wilder, MSN, NP-C April 7, 2015 Part 4 – Immunity and Health Policy Vaccination has been known to provide immunity to a variety of illnesses, including influenza. To minimize influenza-related deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that vulnerable people and health care workers (HCW) be vaccinated against influenza annually (van den Dool, Bont, Hak, Heijne & Wallinga, 2008). A topic of debate between HCWs and healthcare facilities is the discussion over whether annual influenza shots should be mandatory. Multiple studies have been completed to determine if the benefits are substantial enough...
Words: 731 - Pages: 3
...(HCWs) have been targeted for influenza (flu) vaccination. The first reason is to protect HCWs from disease and to prevent work absenteeism, particularly during flu outbreaks or pandemics. The second motive is to protect others such as co-workers and family members, especially vulnerable patients in their care since HCWs can be a significant source of nosocomial spread of influenza. When a healthcare professional receives a vaccination, it sets an example for colleagues and others in the community and increases the likelihood HCWs will advocate for vaccination. Purpose of the Intervention The purpose of the proposed intervention is to maximize vaccination rates in...
Words: 1080 - Pages: 5
...In the wake of an especially vicious smallpox epidemic savaging American lndian communities on the western frontier, various persons urged the Secretary of War, Lewis Cass, and the commissioner of Indian affairs to petition Congress for the money and authority to vaccinate affected Native Americans. As the largest program of its kind in the United States, protection of American Indians from a deadly disease was the apparent goal of the program; however, other federal agendas provided the real motivation. While the superficial intent of the Cass-led legislation was to provide the preventative vaccination to Native Americans, the actual politics behind this act were somewhat less than humane, in which vaccinations were used to enable Indian removal. In examining these developments, I will argue that the underlying reason for the passage of the Indian Vaccination Act of 1832 was to consolidate and permit the relocation of Native Americans in order to expedite the westward expansion of the United...
Words: 573 - Pages: 3
...Immunization is a very controversial topic including the issue of mandatory flu vaccination for front-line health care workers. Health care workers are the front-line workers to whom patients are first exposed to during the initial encounter to medical system. Influenza is commonly referred to as the seasonal flu which strikes 5% to 15% of the world’s population with approximately 3 to 5 million severe cases of illness which leads to 250000 to 500000 deaths annually (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). In addition, hospital acquired influenza has a 16% mortality rate which increases to 60% in high-risk population groups (Cortes-Penfield, 2014). Specifically in Canada, the average rate of influenza infection is 10% to 20% of the population...
Words: 2448 - Pages: 10
...Research Proposal The subject of my persuasive essay is asking the question: Should vaccinations be mandatory for all children. I will be debating why it is extremely important for children to be vaccinated. I believe all peoples, especially children of very young ages, to be vaccinated to help against any germs and illnesses they may come into contact with in their later years. The importance of vaccinations should be instilled into every human being for one simple reason: protection. I became interested in this topic upon being given this research assignment. I have many siblings and young nieces and nephews who I want to live very healthy lives. It is important to me that I express my concern to their parents about the importance of vaccinations to insure their children remain healthy. I believe this topic will surely interest my audience. I plan to inform them of the importance of vaccinations, as well as inform them of the risks of going without them. My main audience will likely be young children and their parents, as well as people who hope to one day have children of their own. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “most childhood vaccines are 90% to 99% effective in preventing disease.” This quote answers the questions as to why vaccines should be necessary for all children. The AAP explains that if parents decide that they do not want their child vaccinated, they will be putting their child at a great risk. Unlike the Center for Disease Control and...
Words: 338 - Pages: 2
...Gregory Carter Comp II Mr. Best Final Paper Is there a link between vaccines and Autism? For many years now there has been an intense debate over the link between the cause of Autism and vaccinations. Since its appearance in the medical community the cause has come under much scrutiny. Research has been conducted by many leading scientist, always to be debunked by skeptics worldwide. The historic timeline for Autism always seems to correlate to an outbreak in new treatments and vaccinations. Some communities worldwide do not receive vaccinations and have no symptoms of Autism within their population, while there are others that do receive them and show no symptoms either. Based on these factors, one cannot surely believe there if there is a link between vaccines and Autism. Although Autism has become more common today than in the past, it is still very much misunderstood. Many people think that it is a disease, something contagious however it is a disorder, not a disease. There are many forms of Autism, labeled in the Autistic spectrum disorder, however it is a very complex disorder that affects the brain, and the immune system (A Medical mystery 2). The severity varies from child to child but the symptoms are pretty typical ranging from social skills, sensory issues, to slurred speech and uncontrollable body movements. It affects children of all ages but most commonly diagnosed around the age of three (2). The disorder crosses all economic and social boundaries, however...
Words: 2423 - Pages: 10
...risk it? Preventive care is the biggest milestone of the medical world, and vaccination represents one of the most important strategies in the prevention of disease in adults but more importantly children. The choices parents make to immunizations is a questionable debate. For example small pox has been globally eradicated, while diseases such as, polio are virtually nonexistent. Other life-threatening conditions such as measles have been dramatically curtailed to the point where families no longer fear the drastic effects of it. But in the recent outbreak of the measles in Disneyland, one would question if parents are still getting their children vaccinated for the measles. Dr. Andrew Wakefield wrote a research paper in 1998 on how vaccinations specifically measles and MMR could give a child autism, since then the speculations have increased and parents are worrisome. This is where one is at a stance, to vaccinate or not. Measles and other what once were eradicated diseases should be a requirement since scientists have now shown there are no correlations with autism, prevent the disease from spreading to others, and humanity would benefit as a whole. The recent outbreak in the US of the measles have taken parents are taking more towards social media and reading on some ‘news’ of how some vaccinations can cause diseases one of the most common autism. The news went around that the measles vaccination could give the risk of autism, and was even credited by some doctors who later...
Words: 893 - Pages: 4
...surrounding the morality, effectiveness, and safety of childhood immunizations. The major argument is whether or not laws should be established to declare vaccination mandatory for all children. “The US food and Drug administration (FDA) regulates all vaccines to ensure safety and effectiveness,” (ProCon.org, 2012) therefor there should not be any reason to risk the health of any child. Vaccinating our children not only ensures their safety but also that of their future to come. The first major concern parents have when it comes to childhood vaccinations is that of the health and safety of their children. Some parents believe that vaccines were developed to help the spread against dangerous transmittable diseases. Other parents are under the impression that vaccines themselves present high risk factors for their children. Both have strong arguing points in this controversy and have good reason to believe in what they do. Proponents argue and the facts clearly show that since the emergence of vaccines in the twentieth century for common life threatening diseases, such as measles and diphtheria, the related number of deaths has decreased by more than 500%. On the other side, opponents argue that childhood vaccines are responsible for the dramatic increase of autoimmune diseases. Many proponents argue that childhood vaccination is vital and should be a state requirement not a parental option. They feel that vaccines are a necessity that should be required for the safety and...
Words: 1452 - Pages: 6
...topic of debate recently as people are becoming apprehensive about the safety of immunizations. Americans are doubting the effectiveness of vaccines, and unfortunately are deciding to refuse vaccination. Refusing vaccinations threatens the defense against diseases not only for that individual, but for our community as well. People who do not receive vaccinations put everybody at risk, and this introduces a major concern for our public health. My proposal to benefit our community, and to help preserve the health of the new generation is that vaccinations should be made mandatory for people that are not...
Words: 1660 - Pages: 7
...Vaccination Controversy Julie S. Bertram Excelsior College Author's note This paper was written for MLS 500: Graduate Research and Writing taught by Dr. Kyla Hammond Most healthcare professionals and leaders attribute vaccination as the single-most important reason for increasing the health of the human population during the past one hundred years. As a result, required immunizations are common in the U. S. and other developed countries. However, there is a segment of society who argue against vaccination due to worries that immunizing negatively impacts future health. More and more information is becoming available that presents allopathic vaccination in an ugly light. (Sharma, 2003) For the past century, vaccines for diptheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and now more recently, hepatitis B and varicella have programmed our immune systems to be powerful protectors of our health. Compulsory state immunization laws have increased the U.S. immunization rate to 77%, the highest ever. (Largent, 2012) Despite high immunization rates, there is an underlying progression of a movement of parents questioning whether the vaccines are contributing to health conditions such as autism. Contributing to the uncertainty are occasional anecdotal accounts of parents with children who experience adverse reactions. Fear causes many parents to entirely forego vaccines for their children. Regardless of mandatory school vaccine laws for school children, physicians can...
Words: 1554 - Pages: 7
...Don’t Wait, Vaccinate! In the recent few years, researchers, doctors, and parents have been having a huge debate on whether or not children should be required to have all of the vaccines suggested by The Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Many parents refuse to have their child(ren) fully vaccinated because they fear that the child may suffer from a mental disability such as autism. Parents make that decision because they are only looking at the risks for their own child’s health, but the don’t keep in mind the health of the people that are constantly around their children. There have been too many deaths from vaccine preventable diseases. “Since the 25th anniversary of HIV, there have been about 2.1 million deaths from vaccine preventable diseases; 1.4 million of those deaths were children under the age of five-years-old. This is a very alarming statistic, and something needs to be done to help lower these numbers. It needs to be required that parents have their juveniles vaccinated because without their immunizations they are putting their child’s health at risk, and also the people who are around them, on a daily basis. Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective inventions in the medical field (Colgrove), and the cost is just going to get even larger as more research is done. All of the different vaccines have helped reduce the number of deadly infections and diseases people can get. Most, if not all, health care providers recommend that health care workers, frequent...
Words: 2474 - Pages: 10
... There are fourteen vaccine-preventable diseases that are considered potentially serious and have been routinely vaccinated against; these are: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Meningococcal, Rotavirus, Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Polio, Hepatitis A and B, Pneumococcal disease, Varicella (Chicken Pox), and Haemophilus Influenza Type B (HIB disease). Not long ago, these diseases disabled and killed millions of American children but because of the United States high compliance with childhood immunization schedules, these diseases have now become very uncommon (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Immunization is a subject that evokes very strong opinions in the public and usually creates a lot of debate as to their efficacy, safety, and reliability. The main questions parents have to answer are whether to immunize or not, and do the risks of the disease outweigh the risks of the vaccine. To condense, some normal advantages of being immunized are the entire eradication of specific illnesses, the prevention of epidemics and a decline in the...
Words: 1426 - Pages: 6
