Vaccines And The Anti Vaccine Argument - 953 Words

â€Å"As healthy as my lifestyle seemed, I contracted measles, mumps, rubella, a type of viral meningitis, scarlatina, whooping cough, yearly tonsillitis, and chickenpox, some of which are vaccine preventable† (Parker 1). This quote by vaccine advocate Amy Parker, a woman who was not vaccinated as a child, shows just a glimpse into the life of an unvaccinated individual. Parents who do not vaccinate their children claim many different reasons for their decision. Three of the most popular reasons are: religious grounds, health problems as a result from vaccines, and the belief that the illnesses are rare. Each of these reasons can be proven as nonessential in the anti-vaccine argument. First of all, religion has become a frequently used excuse. Recently, a case arose in New York City when three families obtained vaccination exemptions due to religious reasons (NYC Court 1). Because they chose to not vaccinate their children, their children were not allowed to attend school duri ng times when another student had a vaccine-preventable illness (NYC Court 1). Naturally, this sparked an uproar among the parents, who then sued the city by claiming it was a violation of their First Amendment right to religious freedom and their 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law (NYC Court 1). The dogma of several mainstream religions references vaccines and whether or not they are necessary. For example, â€Å"the Catholic Church strongly supports vaccination, even making it a moral andShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Receiving Vaccinations On Children1619 Words   |  7 PagesFor the longest time, vaccines have been thought of has as medical breakthroughs of epic proportions. They have, in part, led to a dramatic increase in human life expectancy and have successfully rid the human race of horrible diseases such as smallpox and polio. However, recently there has been controversy regarding alleged side effects of receiving vaccinations, with autism being at t he forefront of discussion. A study published by Wakefield in 1998 is what sparked the debate; in the study, WakefieldRead MoreThe Importance Of Vaccination1414 Words   |  6 PagesControl (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 by equatingRead MoreThe Anti Vaccine Movement Paper1004 Words   |  5 PagesPierce Kurek Anti-Vaccine Movement Paper 4 September 2016 The first argument that I found compelling – in the manner that someone with little formal training in science might be susceptible to – was the claim that there are unnatural and dangerous chemicals and poisons in vaccines. Through looking at a short list provided by the Healthy Home Economist, you can see things that would make any parent nervous: formaldehyde, aluminum, mercury, antifreeze, and many more. These are dangerous chemicalsRead MoreVaccines Is A Old As The Vaccination982 Words   |  4 Pagescontroversy over vaccines is as old as the vaccination itself.† While both sides of the immunization controversy have gathered ample sources backing their claims throughout the duration of this controversy, the validity of the two sides couldn’t contrast more. The pro-vaccine advocates provide factual information supported by scientific research, while the anti-vaccine advocates make bold sensational statements that attempt to place blame for various dis eases and genetic disorders on vaccines, while failingRead MoreAn Epidemic Of Fear : How Panicked Parents Skipping Shots Endangers Us All1417 Words   |  6 Pagesmisconception 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 disproves the theory of them being the causation of autism, by presenting convincing data, statistics and brings attention to faulty appeal to authority. Wallace also appeals to authority that persuades those who already agree with her argument though her use of such a public figure alienates herRead MoreVaccination Is The Act Of Receiving An Injection Of Either Prepared Killed Microorganisms920 Words   |  4 Pages(CDC). Vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), human papillomavirus (HPV), and influenza are three of the most controversial subjects in medicine. Over the last few years, there have been s trong opinions concerning these vaccines, stirring up an international debate as to their efficacy, safety and reliability. Consequently, a plethora of parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children due to potential negative side effects. In this paper I investigate both sides of the vaccine debateRead MoreVaccines : The Anti Vaccine Movement1385 Words   |  6 PagesVaccines save lives; fear endangers them. Vaccinations have been used since the 18th century to cure various deadly diseases, from smallpox to the influenza virus. On a global level, vaccination is one of the few cost-effective medical measures that result in universal benefit. Yet there have always been those opposed to vaccinations because of possible side effects. With the increase in technology and the ability to share ideas in modern society the anti vaccine movement has flourished making theRead MoreAnti Vaccination : A Dangerous Movement1331 Words   |  6 PagesAnti-Vaccination, it is a dangerous movemen t that recently began and is killing hundreds of innocent children. Certain vaccinations should be mandatory for the health and safety of our children and communities because parents who do not vaccinate their children not only put themselves at risk, but other innocent children. A family with a young girl returns to the US from Kenya. They are Anti-Vaccine. The girl contracts measles, which spreads to her family members. measles has a fairly long incubationRead MoreThe Opposing Viewpoints Of The Vaccination Of Children1097 Words   |  5 Pagespoints from both sides of the arguments in favor of and against the vaccination of children. To those who are in favor of vaccinating children, vaccinations are seen as a means of protection against some highly contagious and possibly deadly diseases. To those on the other side of the argument, vaccinations are generally seen as ineffective in protection, as well as a possible source of autism and other disorders. This paper will present and analyze both sides of this argument in an attempt to inform theRead MoreVaccinating Children Should Be Mandatory Essay1031 Words   |  5 Pagesasinine, and yet many parents are doing just that. Sadly, much of the fear of vaccines stems from Dr. Andrew Wakefield, and his fraudul ent research that linked vaccines with autism. Although it has been proven that Wakefield was a fraud – his medical license was even revoked – the debate rages on. It is incomprehensible that any parent would choose not to vaccinate their child. With the safety of all people in mind, vaccines for children should be mandatory. Tyler Ludlum, a once healthy 10-year old