Childhood Vaccinations

“Immunization is one of the most successful and cost-effective means to help children grow into healthy adults. 1 in 5 children is still  not being reached.”

IMMUNITY PROTECTS US FROM DISEASE

To prevent a disease, the body needs to form immunity. When germs enter the body as foreign invaders, they’re called antigens. The body then produces proteins called antibodies to fight them off.

How Does It Work?

  • Vaccines contain the same antigens (or parts of antigens) that cause diseases
  • For example, measles vaccine contains measles virus. But the antigens in vaccines are either killed, or weakened to the point that they don’t cause disease. However, they are strong enough to make the immune system produce antibodies that lead to immunity
  • A vaccine is a safer substitute for a child’s first exposure to a disease.

Immunizations can save your child’s life. Diseases that once killed thousands of children, have been eliminated primarily due to vaccinations. For example, polio caused death and paralysis across the U.S. and now there are no reports of polio in the U.S.

Vaccinations are very safe and effective. Vaccinations are only given to children after lots of research and review by scientists, doctors and healthcare professionals. Serious complications/side effects are extremely rare.

Today, immunizations are such an important part of public health. Vaccines have helped to dramatically decrease childhood deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases. At the beginning of the 20th century, 100 out of 1000 babies would die before their first birthday (Anderson, 2015). Now, the number has decreased to 7 out of 1000 babies. Even with the obvious benefits and proven studies, many parents are still fearful of vaccinating their children. Since vaccine preventable diseases are low to nonexistent, parents have become blinded by the media and the stories of severe reactions to vaccines (Anderson, 2015). As more people decide against vaccination, these vaccine-preventable diseases are becoming more prevalent. In 2015, 592 cases of the measles, and 4 college campus mumps outbreaks have been reported in the U.S. (Anderson, 2015). It’s important to remember that every single vaccine undergoes “stringent review before licensing” (Anderson, 2015, p. 4).

FACTS VS. MYTHS

Myth: The body’s immune system can cope with infection without the help of vaccines.

Fact: Each time a germ infects the body, the immune system “remembers” how to defeat that particular infection. Without causing infection, vaccines trick the immune system into responding as if the body is under attack from a specific bacterium or virus by using dead or weakened versions of the germ.

Myth: Vaccines cause side effects and should be avoided.

Fact: Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent the spread of many communicable diseases. Vaccines are tested and approved before they are able to be administered.

Myth: Vaccines cause autism.

Fact: Many rigorous studies show there is no link between MMR vaccine or thimerosal and autism. Your infant’s health is top priority. Vaccines are now very safe.

 

WHAT IF YOU DON’T VACCINATE?

The number of parents refusing to vaccinate their children is increasing. Parents might avoid vaccination because of religious or personal beliefs. Some don’t agree with the fact that vaccines aren’t “natural” and that a child would be safer to naturally get a disease or illness. This isn’t true. Vaccines are a safer way for a child to develop immunity. With this vaccination debate, more vaccine-preventable diseases are becoming prevalent. The herd immunity is becoming threatened. “When that critical threshold of immunity is achieved, the benefits of preventing the spread of an infectious illness also extend to theose who cannot themselves be vaccinated (e.g., young infants), the immunocompromised (e.g., those undergoing chemotherapy), those for whom immunity may have gradually worn off overtime, or those who have incomplete vaccination status” (Hendrix, Sturm, Zimet, & Meslin, 2016, p. 274).

Your child can infect others in the community

  • An unvaccinated child can infect babies who are too young to be vaccinated, or fully immunized.
  • An unvaccinated child can infect people who cannot be immunized due to medical reasons, including leukemia and other cancers, and immune system problems.

Vaccinations continue to be an extremely large public health concern, ever since the increase and resurgence of several contagious illnesses in the U.S. “In 2010, for instance, a total of 27,550 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, were reported, which was a 250% increase from the 7,867 cases in 2000 (Song, 2014, p. 541). Vaccines are the safest, and most effective way to prevent these diseases. Unfortunately, more parents are refusing to get their children vaccinated. Although all 50 states require vaccination before attending school, there still are 20+ states that allow religious, medical, and philosophical exemptions (Song, 2014). Many parents are arguing that vaccinations aren’t safe for their children, and that these diseases are no longer around in the U.S. This study reviews both the benefits and risks that are perceived by the public.

 

For more information, you can visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html

https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/ResourcesforYou/Consumers/ucm345587.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/conversations

 

References

Anderson, V. L. (2015). Promoting Childhood Immunizations. Journal For Nurse Practitioners, 11(1), 1-10.

Hendrix, K. S., Sturm, L. A., Zimet, G. D., & Meslin, E. M. (2016). Ethics and Childhood Vaccination Policy in the United States. American Journal Of Public Health, 106(2), 273-278.

Perio, M., Wiegand, D., & Evans, S. (2012). Low Influenza Vaccination Rates Among Child Care Workers in the United States: Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors. Journal Of Community Health, 37(2), 272-281. doi:10.1007/s10900-011-9478-z

Song, G. (2014). Understanding Public Perceptions of Benefits and Risks of Childhood Vaccinations in the United States. Risk Analysis: An International Journal, 34(3), 541-555.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/conv-materials.html

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/immunity-types.htm

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs378/en/https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/howvpd.htm