This is an argumentative essay on the misguided ideas that vaccines are likely to cause serious health problems to people. Vaccination is a chemical procedure which entails the introduction of antigenic substances in the body to make the immune system develop adaptive immunity to specific diseases. The primary function of vaccination is to safeguard our bodies against illnesses and diseases.
There is no doubt that these are significant medical breakthroughs that have been used to control the spread of debilitating and fatal illnesses that were once very common. Although there is much medical and scientific evidence showing vaccination as the most successful public health tool which can be used to prevent diseases and associated afflictions, the procedure has been surrounded by many controversies. These, however, are just misleading ideas and perceptions that have continued to trigger mixed reactions about vaccines.
According to Bloom and Paul, Vaccination is categorized among the most significant and effective methods used in preventing infectious diseases in the contemporary world (12). As a matter of fact, better results have been realized in all those areas where vaccination has been applied. Ever since the vaccine for smallpox was successfully developed by Edward Jenner more than 200 years ago, vaccination has become a key element of medical research, and today there are vaccines that can be used to protect people from numerous diseases.
These diseases would include Polio, Measles, Tetanus, and Whooping Cough, among other debilitating illnesses. There have been many misleading claims from anti-vaccine activists who have always linked vaccines to threatening health problems and conditions.
For example, it has been alleged that vaccines can lead to autism, infertility, and sudden infant death syndrome, among other problems. These misconceptions have led to decreased rates of immunization in some parts of the world, thus putting people’s health at great risk. As a result, epidemics of fatal childhood diseases have been observed in most of these regions.
Many questions about the effects of vaccines originate from fears that the antigenic substances used to administer vaccines can bring more harm than good to people. These claims have been spread by some anti-vaccine individuals and organizations through interactive social media platforms such as blogs and twitter, among others. Meryl Dorey, the president of the Australian Vaccination Network, is one of those people who cannot be convinced that vaccination is safe and effective.
Dorey believes that vaccines can lead to diseases such as asthma and autism, among other serious health problems. In this regard, she observes that these medical procedures are becoming an emotive issue in the world and that there is a need for more public debates to be raised on their outcomes.
However, these claims have been completely discredited by researchers in the medical field, who have constantly argued that extensive study has been conducted over the years to ensure that immunizations are safe and effective for the treatment of diseases. The safety of vaccines has also been confirmed by the government and the medical department, who have come out to dismiss the claims that the same vaccines that are intended to protect people from diseases can lead to disease resurgence, among other serious effects (Nuland 26).
As it would be observed, the misguided beliefs and perceptions that vaccines can bring serious implications to people have continued to trigger adverse effects on communities all over the world. Apart from the claims that vaccines can trigger diseases, there have also been arguments by the anti-vaccine crowd that these procedures also tend to violate people’s rights and religious principles. Another common factor which has necessitated negative beliefs about vaccines is the lack of enough public awareness about the procedures.
Those communities who believe that vaccines are unfit due to the above factors have always advised people to rely on their faith and personal confidence instead. This anti-vaccine perceptions and fears have over the years made communities vulnerable to fatal illnesses, thus being a threat to public health. Even though there might be some flaws in the use of vaccines, their benefits far outweigh the shortfalls, as it has been verified by scientific data.
People should understand that most of these beliefs are based on mere observations and not a scientific study, which is likely to give concrete support on any claims raised. There is mounting evidence that vaccines are modern medicine’s biggest achievement, whose benefits are undeniable allover the world. For example, studies have revealed a prevalence of pandemic diseases among those communities that have been misinformed about these significant medical procedures, thus turning against them.
As it would be observed, there is a definite risk of unvaccinated children falling sick, and this has been confirmed by study findings that children who have skipped specific vaccinations are about 30 % to 35 % more likely to get diseases such as measles and polio than those children who have already been vaccinated against these diseases.
Many people across the world have come to see vaccines as effective and safe ways of preventing diseases, but those still in doubt are challenged to look back and see how devastating illnesses would be before vaccines were introduced into the world.
Atkinson and Jennifer observe that “with an epidemic of autoimmune illnesses gradually crippling nations, it is time we changed our views about vaccination and fully embraced it for the benefit of the coming generations” (72). In this regard, global communities should embrace the idea of using these significant medical procedures to save people’s lives from the menace of epidemics that stare the world in the face.
As it has been proven through studies, continued increased levels of vaccines in all regions of the world will be necessary in avoiding a resurgence of illnesses that have been nearly eradicated from the face of the world. People, especially those who have been misinformed about vaccines, should be made to realize that the many misconceptions surrounding the procedures are based on invalid precepts. As a matter of fact, many breakthroughs have been realized in the medical sector following the continued use of vaccines.
Moreover, there is a potential for these significant medical procedures to bring vast improvements to many of the diseases affecting humans today if the idea of mass vaccination was welcomed by all people in the world. To achieve this objective, anti-vaccine communities should be educated about the overall benefits of vaccines and the misguiding perceptions associated with them.
More importantly, the media, which has played a key role in misinforming people about vaccines, should devise its misleading ways and try to help the world see sense about vaccines being safe and effective in preventing fatal diseases.
Works Cited
Atkinson, William, and Jennifer Hamborsky. Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation, 2011. Print.
Bloom, Barry, and Paul Henri. The vaccine book. Carolina: Academic Press, 2003. Print.
Nuland, Sherwin. The mysteries within: A surgeon reflects on medical myths. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000. Print.