Essay Sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of Vaccines

Vaccination is a primary method or process performed to children who are of age and mostly on babies. Vaccines are administered to help secure the spreading of infectious diseases and build the immune system. Vaccination is being done in many countries now since it has helped save children's lives. Parents and doctors out here have accounted for and made testimonies on the benefits of vaccines. In the earlier years, when the vaccines were introduced, a large number of adults were against this life-saving invention (Walkinshaw, 2011). Numerous misconceptions arose regarding the vaccines; they were partially illiterate and not aware of how hazardous some of these diseases would turn out. Epidemics occurred in some countries just because the parents stood firmly against the administration of vaccines to their babies. Babies are prone to tolerate vaccines due to the ability of the immune system to deal with the microbes they are exposed to after childbirth. The immune system can bear the burden; thus, children can receive a lot of vaccinations at once.

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Vaccines can save the lives of children. It helps prevent diseases like polio, smallpox, measles, et cetera, hence protects the children from illness and deaths. The depicted is one of the advantages of vaccines. Outbreaks of these diseases always occur, and when babies are exposed, most of the population is likely to be swept out (Haverkate et al., 2012). Parents are advised to ensure their children receive the required vaccine doses to prevent such a calamity from happening. Organizations and several studies show that vaccines have saved a large number of children every year from preventable diseases (World Health Organization, 2010).

The vaccines doses given to our children also protect the parents, other adults or anyone else around them, the herd immunity. The action is whereby a higher percentage of the population is vaccinated against a specific contagious disease and the remaining portion is left out (Walkinshaw, 2011). With the showcased at stake, the people who have not yet received the vaccination are protected from these diseases. Therefore, vaccines prevent the spreading and contracting infectious diseases like whooping cough and yellow fever. With the countless advantages of vaccines, it also has its cons (Walkinshaw, 2011).

Disadvantages

Vaccines contain harmful ingredients. Pharmacists, doctors have proven, and even various studies have shown that some of the ingredients used in making the vaccines we use are dangerous to our body tissues. They include the vaccines that are made using some animal products, which are considered to be unhealthy (Haverkate et al., 2012). Most of the diseases targeted by vaccines are relatively harmful, like chickenpox while others have even disappeared like smallpox. There is no need for administering vaccines of conditions that are nearly extinct; it is a waste of government resources. Similarly, diseases like measles, rubella, and chickenpox are often rashes with blisters or fever and are treatable (World Health Organization, 2010).

How Immunization Affects the Immune System and Lymphatic System.

Organisms that cause diseases (pathogens) are prevented through immunization. During immunization, the vaccines prepare the body to fight diseases, and the immune system is strengthened and not exposed to the symptoms. The lymphatic system is a component of the immune system and it is also productive in vaccination (Zhou et al., 2013). It is meant to absorb the tissue fluid and returning it to the blood and during immunization, its lymphatic channels act as the path for the vaccine antigens carried to the secondary lymph tissues. In the lymph tissues, there reside the lymphocytes that are produced by muscles in the bone marrow and they produce antibodies that activate immune system function (Zhou et al., 2013).

Why Some Vaccines Require Boosters and the Types

Many vaccines are given once at a tender age, although not all of them are worth the single shots. As we grow, there are diseases that we contract whenever there is an outbreak even though we received their vaccinations (Zhou et al., 2013). At the depicted point, some can start criticizing the government and the vaccination motive, but this should not be the case. Some of these vaccines need boosters or additional immunization to prevent the latter unavoidable consequences, which is contracting an infectious disease. Therefore, adults are also qualified to receive vaccine doses because some of them diminish after a certain period. The annual treatment for the flu is one of the vaccinations that require boosters and TDAP vaccination. (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) (Haverkate et al., 2012).

The Side Effects of Vaccination and Diseases Transmitted

Vaccination builds the immune system; it is made stronger and prepared to fight diseases. After the administration of vaccines, some people can report illnesses. They are not caused by the vaccine doses, but they can be reactions likely to happen after vaccination (Walkinshaw, 2011). Some of them might experience local results, which include redness, itching/pain and swellings in the injected areas, fever, delayed reactions like fever & rashes, and allergic reactions. It is usually the side effects of some of these vaccines, like other drugs, they have their side effects (Walkinshaw, 2011).

The World Health Organization has shown that vaccines today are safe, and any vaccine scares are presumed to be false alarms (World Health Organization, 2010). No fatal disease can be transmitted through vaccination. Although some ingredients used in these vaccines are harmful, as we discussed earlier, positive reports are being issued by parents and doctors on immunization. Statistics show that a higher percentage of the population worldwide is positively affected by the vaccines offered; some contagious diseases are non-existence due to the battle vaccines won over them (World Health Organization, 2010). The side effects of vaccination can be appropriately treated in hospitals and people are promised long life spans with stronger immunities.

Importance of Making Vaccines Mandatory

All vaccines are valid and should be made mandatory in every country. Most countries nowadays have already made the move of introducing this policy, whereas others still have debates over it, they are voluntary. Vaccines are necessary; they protect the citizens of a country or our population by ensuring herd immunity. For instance, in France, a recent official government announcement was made that vaccination was mandatory and is a legal activity. Any parent opposing would face charges (Walkinshaw, 2011).

Many pieces of research and researchers support the vaccine policy of making it mandatory; it states that if enough people are vaccinated, herd immunity is achieved, and this makes it difficult for infectious diseases to spread because the significant majority are protected (Walkinshaw, 2011). It, therefore, protects the people we love, too, and if not vaccinated, they can spread infectious diseases to other babies who are not of age or other people who have never been treated. The World Health Organization also reviews that vaccination has vastly reduced the infectious diseases burden; some of these diseases are now rare in most countries (World Health Organization, 2010). To protect the people in this globe and prevent deadly epidemics, vaccination should be administered widely and to everyone for a better future.

References

Haverkate, M., D'Ancona, F., Giambi, C., Johansen, K., Lopalco, P. L., Cozza, V., & Appelgren, E. (2012). Mandatory and recommended vaccination in the EU, Iceland, and Norway: Results of the VENICE 2010 survey on the ways of implementing national vaccination programs. Retrieved from https://edoc.rki.de/handle/176904/1242

Walkinshaw, E. (2011). Mandatory vaccinations: The international landscape. Retrieved from https://www.cmaj.ca/content/183/16/E1167.short

World Health Organization. (2010). Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, 3-4 December 2009. Weekly Epidemiological Record= Releve epidemiologique hebdomadaire, 85(05), 29-33. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/241508/WER8505_29-33.PDF

Zhou, W., Pool, V., Iskander, J. K., English-Bullard, R., Ball, R., Wise, R. P., ... & Braun, M. M. (2013). Surveillance for safety after immunization: vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS)-the United States, 1991-2001. MMWR Surveill Summ, 52(1), 1-24. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/Preview/mmwrhtml/ss5201a1.htm