How many hate seeing their child suffer through a sickness or disease? How many parents would like to prevent these sicknesses? Vaccines are a very easy way to do prevent these diseases. Over the last hundred years, scientists have been on a hunt to discover all the inhibitions for many of the infectious diseases that are roaming the world we live on today. Throughout past years, scientists have been able to prevent more than half of these diseases we find infectious, but that does not account for the other half or the other diseases that still could be roaming this world. Because of these diseases, many people can and will get infected, including children. Children have the highest risks for getting these infections and the highest risks to pass them onto other children.
Most people believe that vaccinations are important for children of young ages, but many people have issues according to their religious views or the thought of being controlled. People do not like the fact that they themselves may be harming their children and the fact that sometimes it is unavoidable. It is important for young children to get vaccinated because it can save their lives, it can protect the health and safety of others around them, and the vaccines are made of harmless ingredients.
Many people believe that it is in the children’s best interest to get them vaccinated, but not all people believe that to be the case. There are different reasons that people choose to not vaccinate and the majority fall into three categories. Some believe that the government is trying to take control of their lives and their children’s lives. Parents believe that they alone should have the right to decide what they can and cannot do for their children. Also, many people have religious views on medication, and with vaccinations being required, it conflicts with their religious views. The first amendment of the constitution talks about the freedom of religion (National Archives). People believe that if vaccinations are forced, this is a violation of that amendment. Lastly, parents believe that they are being forced to put harmful chemicals into their child’s body if they allow some vaccines to be used. Parents believe there are serious side effects and that the ingredients used in vaccines are dangerous to their child’s body (“Should Any”).
In 2009, more than 26,000 babies died before the age of one in the United States. This means that for every 1,000 births, 6 infants die (Fisher). Some believe the deaths of these children is caused by the large number of vaccines given to an infant before the age of one. Fisher states that American babies receive 26 vaccines before their first birthday, almost doubling other countries like Japan and Sweden. This data has convinced many people that vaccines are harmful to a baby’s life.
One of the biggest reasons that people think that vaccines are important is because they can save a child’s life. Academy of Pediatrics says “most childhood vaccines are 90%-99% effective in preventing disease” (“Should Any”). That statistic is a huge number. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 732,000 American children were saved from diseases, and more than 300 million illnesses were prevented during the period of 1994-2004 (“Should Any”). With the use of vaccines, a child can be protected from multiple diseases the rest of their life. Vaccines are made from similar germs that cause a disease, but the germs are weakened so they do not make one sick. They are then injected into one’s body, allowing the immune system to make antibodies that help prevent the disease in the future (“Vaccine”).
Schoenbohm talks about a young boy that has been greatly affected by not being vaccinated. When Max was just a young boy, he was diagnosed with measles. The measles virus caused Max’s lungs to have complications, many times causing Max the inability to breathe. Six years later, because of this lung complication, seizures started to occur. Measles also affected Max’s memory, and his behavior changed. Max is still alive today, but his condition gradually is worsening day by day.
