The ability to vaccinate against disease has become one of the most impressive modern medical achievements. Vaccinations can effectively prevent and protect us from a multitude of illnesses. Worldwide, about 29 percent of deaths in children 1 to 59 months of age are vaccine preventable. Devastating illnesses that are vaccine-preventable include, but are not limited to pertussis, tetanus, chickenpox, HiB, (Haemophilus influenzae type B), measles, hepatitis, mumps and influenza. All of these can be severe and life-threatening.
The most common side-effects of vaccinations are a sore arm and mild fever. These minor complications are insignificant when compared to the awful symptoms of the illnesses they prevent. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention both certify that vaccines are safe and effective.
Still, there are many people who purposefully refuse vaccinations for themselves and their children. Lack of trust in science, internet hoaxes and conspiracy theories have been known to overshadow the scientific evidence that vaccines are safe and effective.
A major setback in vaccination rates occurred after 1998 when a fraudulent report linked the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, (MMR) vaccine to autism. This report was retracted quickly due to multiple thorough studies that showed no connection of the two, but it led to international fear and distrust of vaccines. This invalidated report distracted people from the fact that there are less than 1 in a million deaths from the MMR vaccine compared to 1 in 1000-2000 deaths from the disease itself.
Vaccinated people have a distinct advantage over those who choose not to vaccinate. These advantages are factually documented and people who are not immunized against measles are up to 35 times more likely to get measles than a vaccinated person. The Hib vaccine lowered the number of serious cases of infection by over 99 percent. About half of the infants who get pertussis must be hospitalized and can develop pneumonia and seizures. This potentially fatal illness can be avoided by a vaccine.
Those who refuse to be immunized often expect to be protected by high rates of vaccination among everyone else. This theory is ineffective because highly contagious diseases like measles require vaccination rates of 95 to 99 percent of people.
When someone chooses to not vaccinate their child, they are putting other children at risk. Unvaccinated people run a high risk of getting infants sick because they are too young to be vaccinated. Cancer and transplant patients are also more susceptible to illness due to weak immune systems and in some cases their medical state does not allow them to get a vaccine. By refusing vaccination, vulnerable people are put at an even higher risk and that is unfair.
Ensuring that you are keeping up with necessary vaccinations is critical to the health and safety of society as a whole.
