Vaccines function to support the immune system by imitating the features of an infection. The infection takes place when the viruses or bacteria attack the body and multiply. The development of an infection then results to an illness. When the vaccine enters the body, it results in an infection which instead of causing illness, it triggers the immune system to make more antibodies and T-lymphocytes (Lillvis 475). The imitation may result in several but minor symptoms. The symptoms are expected because the body is strengthening its immune system (Lillvis 475). The analysis puts into view the explanations on vaccines having bad public relations, a description of the most common claims by the anti-vaccine movements, the effect of vaccine rejection on public health and whether the vaccines should be mandatory.
Vaccines tend to have a bad public viewpoint with the view that the body can handle some of the infections on its own and that injecting some of them into the immune system of children may result in issues such as diabetes, and autism. The view is that the body has a natural system that protects it from diseases and hence some people prefer their children not getting all the prescribed vaccinations. A common claim by the anti-vaccine movements is that vaccines may result in severe side effects which may at times result in death (Kata 3778).
According to the CDC, vaccines exhibit the potential of resulting in an allergic reaction that risks the lives of children (CDC). Reports from the CDC indicate that the chickenpox vaccine may result in pneumonia and that the MMR vaccine and the DTaP vaccine may result in permanent damage to the brain, coma and extensive seizures. Also, intussusception which includes the blockage of bowel movements may be caused by the rotavirus vaccine (CDC). Also, reports from the National Vaccine Information Center indicate that some vaccines might bring about autism, diabetes, learning disabilities, long-term inflammation and other forms of disabilities (NVIC).
Another argument is that vaccines contain ingredients which are harmful. Aluminum tends to be used in certain vaccines by which too much of it may affect the neurological system (Kata 3778). It is perceived that some vaccines meant for polio, DTaP and TD have 2-phenoxyethanol which may result in frequent headaches, kidney and cardiac failure convulsions and even death. Also, some vaccines used for human papillomavirus, Hepatitis A and B, and PCV have the yeast proteins which may result in attention deficit disorder, Alzheimer, asthma, stroke, diabetes, seizures in addition to irritable bowel syndrome and migraines (Kata 3778).
Vaccines have proven to be useful over the past years with the reduction in prevalence cases of diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, small pox, and diphtheria. Therefore, rejecting vaccines increases the risk of the prevalence of the diseases and other new diseases (Lillvis 476). In other words, if vaccines are not used, it becomes difficult to manage the public health as more risks are attracted.
Vaccines should be mandatory as they exhibit more good than harm. They have assisted in the control of diseases such as polio, small pox, and diphtheria and other infections that affect the immune system. Vaccines save the lives of millions of children from a global perspective. According to a report by the CDC, the vaccines used for controlling measles has decreased the mortality rate for children by seventy-four percent (Shot at Life). Therefore, vaccines should be mandatory.
As stated earlier, the analysis puts into view the explanations on vaccines having bad public relations, a description of the most common claims by the anti-vaccine movements, the effect of vaccine rejection on public health and whether the vaccines should be mandatory. It can be viewed that the whole society has not fully embraced the use of vaccines. However, vaccines have played significant roles in reducing diseases.
Works Cited
CDC. "Possible Side-Effects from Vaccines." CDC, 2017, www.cdc.gov.
Kata, Anna. "Anti-vaccine activists, Web 2.0, and the postmodern paradigmAn overview of tactics and tropes used online by the anti-vaccination movement." Vaccine 30.25 (2012): 3778-3789.
Lillvis, Denise F., Anna Kirkland, and Anna Frick. "Power and persuasion in the vaccine debates: an analysis of political efforts and outcomes in the United States, 19982012." The Milbank Quarterly 92.3 (2014): 475-508.
NVIC. "Autism." National Vaccine Information Center, 2017, www.nvic.org.
Shot at Life. "Homepage - Shot At Life." Shot at Life, 2017, http://shotatlife.org/.
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