Vaccinations Pros and Cons Essay

The administration of a weakened microbe in the body of a human being with the aim of stimulating the immune system to develop immunity to diseases caused by the germ. The working principle behind the concept of vaccination is boosting the immunity system which is the natural mechanism for fighting infections in the body. After the administration of the vaccine, the body will generate antibodies that will fight the weakened germs. If an individual is exposed to the actual live microbes, the body's immune system through the antibodies can recognize the infectious germs hence destroying them (Anderson, 2017). The first disease to have its vaccine developed was smallpox, and it was administered through injection. Worldwide eradication of diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus was only possible through vaccination campaigns. Immunization is the best global method for preventing infectious diseases. Viral diseases are immunized against using weakened antigen while vaccines for bacterial infection use a small portion of dead bacteria which can stimulate the production of antibodies to fight against the whole bacteria (Jit et al. 2015). Research has proven that vaccines prevent diseases, eradicate virulent diseases like smallpox, protect large population through herd vaccination, protect future generation and provide economic benefit to the nation. Renowned medical groups have convincingly supported and advised the administration of vaccines to avoid diseases.

Although the benefits of vaccination outweigh the cons, some serious arguments are against the vaccine. First, a vaccine can cause a serious and fatal effect on human life. Most of the allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is associated with vaccination. Also, issues of long-term seizure and brain damage are associated with the vaccine like tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Report from CDC shows that chickenpox vaccine can sometimes cause pneumonia. Also, some ingredients and chemicals used in vaccines can be harmful and risky to human health. Re4search shows that some vaccines have some mercury and aluminum components in them which is detrimental to children and adults (Anderson, 2017). Excess use of aluminum is associated with neurological harm leading to cardiac impairments, central nervous depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Mandatory use of vaccine to children invades the religious beliefs and freedom of some people. Some religion prohibits the use of vaccination as it lowers their faith. To them, Christian state of mind is the best preventative cure for any disease while vaccination is associated with fear and lack of faith. According to research, when vaccine invades organisms directly, they lead to the occurrence of autoimmune diseases which sometimes invades the body cells (Nugier, Limousi & Lydie, 2017). Despite all the claims against vaccination, the benefits derived from vaccines are more than the cons.

Vaccination has helped in the eradication of virulent diseases like smallpox. The only way to prevent an individual against infection of smallpox is through administering vaccines. In the past, smallpox used to be a dangerous disease that took millions of lives. However, vaccination against it completely eradicated it (Jolley, 2014). Vaccination against such diseases as polio, influenza, and smallpox has well-documented benefits. When a disease stops circulating in a given region, it is considered eliminated from the region. For example, polio was eliminated in the USA in the year 1979. Eradication occurs when the world is declared free of disease. Ring vaccination and focus surveillance were the techniques that led to the declaration of the world as smallpox free (Jit et al.2015).

Vaccinations are effective in protecting large population using a concept known as herd vaccination. Through herd immunity, the spread of infections has been contained. Usually, if a disease has to persist, one each infected person has to transmit the causative agents to some other persons. The infection gradually disappears when this scenario fails to occur. Children, the aged and individual who are undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy depends on herd immunity to avoid contracting diseases that can be prevented through vaccination. Therefore in the absence of herd immunity, many people in a society who contract preventable diseases like whooping cough which is a killer disease when not checked. Consequently, wide-scale vaccination raises the efficacy level of any vaccination program (Barnighausen, Bloom, Cafiero & O'Brien, 2014).

Vaccinations are worth the expense. Essentially, vaccinations are deemed to be cost-effective whereby they save a significant amount of money used in paying for health care. For instance, infants born in 2009 in the USA were vaccinated with nine vaccines which approximately helped in preventing twenty million cases of disease and effectively save approximately 40000 children from early deaths. Also, the vaccination helped save roughly more than thirteen billion in straight medical and non-medical costs which included factors like treatment for primary infections, special education costs, travel costs and other costs of equipment (Barnighausen et al. 2014).

Vaccination campaigns and programs help protect future generations. Vaccines have greatly reduced, and in some instances, they have eliminated many diseases that in the past were claiming many lives and leaving other severely disabled. For example, vaccination against smallpox led to the total eradication of the disease. Today, small children do not need to get vaccinated for the same disease as it no longer exists. Secondly, by vaccinating small children against rubella, the probability of pregnant women passing the virus to their newborns or fetus is significantly reduced thus birth disabilities associated with the virus are also reduced. Sensitizing societies on the need of vaccination programs will lead to wiping out of most diseases (Anderson, 2017).

Vaccination is associated with an economic benefit for the society and the entire nation. Through vaccination, a country incurs less cost in treating future diseases that might occur to children or later in adulthood. Most developed nations continue to lead high in the economy since they spend less in medicinal cost. The savings are used in production and growing economic sectors like industries. A report released by UNICEF shows that the United States of America saves approximately 27 dollars saved by one dollar incurred on vaccinations hence saving more than six billion dollars (Anderson, 2017). One reason why developing countries lag behind in development is the cost incurred in paying for medical bills which could have been prevented paying small vaccination fee. Also, the cost incurred when taking care of the disabled people in their lifetime is very high. The high death rates and high child mortality in developing and undeveloped are linked to improper medical attention at childhood. Nations should advocate for early vaccinations to all children and where possible issue free vaccine to children from the poor background to achieve economic benefit (Jit et al., 2015).

Conclusion

In conclusion, vaccines prevent diseases, eradicate virulent diseases like smallpox, protect large population through herd vaccination, protect future generation and provide economic benefit to the nation. As the world moves towards global health, prevention is one of the strategies put in place to counter significant diseases. Vaccine are cost effective hence a benefit not only to the family but the growth of any nation. Various conditions that arise during childhood and later in adult life are easily conquered through vaccination. Also, the vaccine protects a large population and saves children's life. Cases of disability are rare in children who have been vaccinated with all the thirteen vaccines. More so, vaccine ensures safety and protection of future generation who could be at risk of being born with a congenital disability, mental disabilities, hearing, and vision problem and many other. All parent should be encouraged to take their children for vaccination early enough since it brings more help than harm.

References

Anderson, T. (2017). Communicating science-based messages on vaccines. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 95(10), 670.

Barnighausen, T., Bloom, D. E., Cafiero-Fonseca, E. T., & O'Brien, J. C. (2014). Valuing vaccination. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(34), 12313-12319.

Jit, M., Hutubessy, R., Png, M. E., Sundaram, N., Audimulam, J., Salim, S., & Yoong, J. (2015). The broader economic impact of vaccination: reviewing and appraising the strength of evidence. BMC Medicine, 13(1), 209.

Jolley, D., & Douglas, K. M. (2014). The effects of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories on vaccination intentions. PloS one, 9(2), e89177.

Nugier, A., Limousi, F., & Lydie, N. (2017). Vaccine criticism: Presence and arguments on French-speaking websites. Medicine et maladies infectieuses.