Op-Ed hl440

Why you NEED to vaccinate
your children
Mackenzie Gauss HL440 April 8, 2015
Within the last ten years, vaccinations in young children have been a hot topic
everywhere. Vaccinations cause Autism, allergies, immunity problems, yada yada yada. The
truth is most of this information is completely inaccurate, unproven, and just plain ridiculous. So
what do you need to know about vaccinations in children? Let me start with the basics.
Vaccinations were developed all the way back in the 1880s to cure the spread of rabies.
The development of vaccines continued at a fairly slow rate until the last several decades where
there has been astonishing progressions due to new scientific discoveries and technologies. This
has led to rapid advances in virology, molecular biology, and vaccinology. (1)
Some parents are scared of the supposed risk factors that are sometimes associated with
vaccinations. However, aside from rare allergic reactions, which are usually minor and
preventable with proper pre-testing, there is little truth to the other beliefs. In March of 2013, the
Journal of Paediatrics published a study titled Increasing exposure to Antibody-Stimulating
Proteins and Polysaccharides (antigens) in Vaccines is Not Associated with Risk of Autism. The
study found that vaccines, during the first couple of years of life are not related to the risk of
developing an ASD diagnosis. (2) In fact, there has not been a direct association of vaccines and
Autism proven to this day. There are not enough evidence-based conclusions to show that the
two are in any sort of way directly related. Many parents that do not want to vaccinate their
children because of the supposed risk factors have usually only done online browsing through
opinion articles (they are not all as good as this one, trust me!) or basing their decision off of
hearsay from other parents. If vaccinations have been around for hundreds of years, wouldnt
you think that there would easily be some hard evidence by now if the two were actually
linked??
Have you ever heard the expression, one man can change the world? The idea that by
making a change in yourself, you can change those around you, and there becomes a domino-like
effect which in turn affects the whole world. Vaccinations work the exact same way. By choosing
to get your child vaccinated, you are protecting them from serious, or even fatal, viruses. When
they are protected, those around them are more protected, and the spread of the viruses
decreases. The same idea can also be reversed if less are being vaccinated. Unvaccinated
children pose a threat to children and adults who cant be immunized for medical reasons. This
includes people with leukemia and other cancers, immune system problems, and people
receiving treatment or medications that suppress their immune system. (3) It is completely unfair
to put those who cannot get vaccinated at risk, by choosing not to vaccinate your child. Not only
are you letting your child go unprotected, but you are putting others at risk as well. In a mild
influenza season, approximately 19 million influenza cases could be prevented by vaccinating
70% of children. (4) Do you think it is a coincidence that viruses such as measles, that had
almost completely disappeared, are out breaking rapidly all of a sudden in recent months? When
people do not vaccinate their children, these viruses have the perfect opportunity to make their
way back into the populations.
For now, vaccinations in children are not a requirement in all places. However, if parents
would properly educate themselves about vaccinations and how essential they are for our entire
populations good, they would see that the research drastically sways in the favor of vaccinating.
It really is a life-or-death matter in some cases, so I encourage you, find the facts, dont leave it
to fate, vaccinate!
Sources
1.) Vaccine Timeline-Historic Dates and Events Related to Vaccines and Immunization.
Immunization Action Coalition, April 7, 2015, Web. http://www.immunize.org/timeline/
2.) Arjun Walia. (2015, February 15). The Top 6 Reasons Why Parents Are Choosing Not To
Vaccinate Their Kids. Collective Evolution. March 31, 2015, Web. http://www.collectiveevolution.com/2015/02/15/the-top-6-reasons-why-parents-are-choosing-not-to-vaccinate-theirkids/
3.) (2011, December). What if you dont immunize your child? Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. March 31, 2015, Web. http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4017.pdf
4.) Basta, N., L. Dennis, Chao, M., Halloran, E., Matrajt, L., Longini Jr, I. (2009, August 1).
Strategies for Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination of Schoolchildren in the United
States. American Journal of Epidemiology. March 20, 2015, Web.
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2009/08/13/aje.kwp237.short

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Why you NEED to vaccinate

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