Evelyn
In my lifetime I have observed with a lot of keenness the aspect of vaccine refusal take a recurring model in the society (Smith, 2017). Although, there has been scant evidence that such rejection is growing in the population, many researchers have reported on the concerning trends of decline of confidence in vaccines, the medical professionals who administer vaccines, and perhaps the scientist involved in the study and development of the vaccines (Smith, 2017). As specialist in immunology and infectious diseases, I can say boldly that scientists are genuinely content developers who lack the direct relationship with people considering undertaking vaccination or their children who are always with the healthcare professionals.
I have witnessed the growing concerns and the resurgence of the anti-vaccine movement. These are groups with strong held doubts mostly under the guise of culture, religion or other traditional practices that vaccines are not effective and secure (Smith, 2017). This very scare can sometimes be traced back to the authorship of Andrew Wakefield’s which connected the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism in the 1998(Smith, 2017). Some of the rejections even historically date back to 18th century in the variolation of reducing smallpox mortality and morbidity.
However, the argument against vaccine keeps on changing from time to time. Some have held that vaccines are toxic and contain dangerous elements like antifreeze, mercury, aluminum, ether, among others (Smith, 2017). Some suggests that a child immune system is somewhat immature to handle vaccines, that they are administered too many too soon that overwhelms their immune systems (Smith, 2017). A lot other arguments are out here, and in one way or another, they have succeeded in creating a diametrically opposed sides about vaccination.
Robert
Vaccine controversies are not recent in the medicinal field. For the past 80 years, numerous opposing issues regarding vaccines have appeared. Regardless of scientists’ several efforts to verify that vaccines are useful and safe for people, panic remained a vast blow to their continuous hard work. The panic arose because of numerous epidemics and demises from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
The vaccine controversies adhere to a particular sequence, making it tough to restructure the public’s trust in the vaccine. Primarily, a hypothesis concerning the negative health effect of a vaccine is established, restricting the initial research on the vaccine. Ultimately, the public’s assurance of the vaccine is conceded and may take years to recreate. This is an enormous health problem since it surges people’s vulnerability to the related illnesses along with significant fiscal losses in the vaccine businesses. For example, Doctor Andrew Wakefield’s disputed the contention that the MMR vaccine instigates autism; this resulted in many inconsistencies and deficits and was labeled as the most disparaging medical paradox for the past 100 years (Dixon & Clarke, 2013).
Even though vaccines are likely to cause various health effects, the effects are extremely rare and make it tough for experts to regulate their grounds. Nevertheless, for the immunization programs to be efficient, the public’s trust is vital. Numerous pieces of evidence have established that vaccines inhibitions have resulted in an ending of numerous sorrows and deaths triggered by infectious illnesses compared to the number of hostile effects it has produced. Consequently, comprehending the health risks caused by failing to vaccinate (Flaherty, 2011).
Ariel
There have been controversies surrounding vaccines for a long time. There is scientific evidence showing that vaccines are safe and effective but there are still people who spread misconceptions and some of them are scared. It is important to recognize that many of these claims have been unsubstantiated. The result of these claims which are not proven has been various outbreaks and deaths from diseases that have for long been preventable (Davidson, 2017). There are people who expose themselves and their children to various medical problems that could have been avoided. I believe that it is important for everyone to get immunized for their protection as well as that of the community. It is important to make sure that there is immunization among all groups for the elimination of diseases which are avoidable.
In history, the countries which have let the immunization levels to drop have witnessed the coming back of disease which have been eliminated. In the case of Great Britain, there was an outbreak of more than 100000 cases of pertussis after the dropping of immunization and vaccination (Geoghegan et al., 2020). There were also deaths in the hundreds which was not necessary. It is, therefore, important for everyone to play their part and make sure that their children and family members are immunized at the right age. The united states are dealing with the problem of misconception and it should address them as soon as possible to avoid outbreaks of some avoidable diseases. There are situations such as measles outbreaks in schools among the children because of the behavior of some of the parents. It is important for everyone to follow the science and avoid myths.
Yamile
Vaccination is a very controversial topic to discuss, it is a critical component of the health care plan. As all topics with cons and pro. It scientifically demonstrated the efficacy of the vaccination to prevent diseases and to lower the effect of many diseases in the human body. The risk and negative effects are less than the benefits.
Some time patient has an allergy to some components of the vaccine and developed a reaction considered negative, but we must keep in consideration the condition pre-existent in the patient, another time, the patient has an immunocompromised system allowing multiples complications after the use of many medications including vaccinations, but it does not mean vaccines are not good for this kind of patient because vaccines are created following scientific parameters considering all kind of situation, that why, we have vaccines from alive microorganism or death, or as simple as an attenuate activity, to provide and cover all patients necessities, the important is to provide coverage enough to prevent the medical condition.
Miss communication, miss education, miss orientation, religious belief, and many other cultural, and spiritual conceptions make the human incredule and refusal to try, but the truth is many diseases had been eradicated, many diseases had been minimalized in its effect to the human being.
We as Primary Health Care Provider must work hard to educate our population, to clarify knowledge and dudes about this topic, we must take the information and make it easy to understand and easy to be accepted by our population.
Idalmis
The controversies about vaccines would still be experienced globally because reaching consensus in research is difficult because research is a continuous process and limitations and gaps are always available. Vaccines are important in preventing some diseases that are likely to affect an individual in the future. The testing and approval of vaccine is based on the percentage effectiveness in disease prevention and also the side effects should be limited. Vaccines cannot be 100% effective or safe but the safety is considered a priority and should be a value above 95% (Offit, 2020). The definition of vaccine safety s what results to the misconceptions against the vaccine because safety does not mean ‘harmless’ and an effect caused by a vaccine is described as unsafe without considering the percentage success in other vaccinated people in the population.
A vaccine is approved by the health bodies based on the effectiveness and the benefits of the vaccine must outweigh the risks. The vaccine is always researched well about its side effects and ensured that the detrimental effects to the patient is minimal compared to the benefits. A vaccine has its challenges and side effects and the response of patients bodies to drugs are different so issues of allergic reaction and deaths that arises after vaccinations does not make it unsafe for disease prevention. The testing of the vaccine effectiveness involves use of the population sample and this shows that not all population response data to the drug is captured. The minimal negative impacts caused by the vaccine are contributed by differences on the response to drugs.
Muller
Parents who are choosing to not vaccinate their children say that vaccines carry a risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in about one per million children. The rotavirus vaccination can cause intussusception, a type of bowel blockage that may require hospitalization, in about one per 20,000 babies in the United States. Long-term seizures, coma, lowered consciousness, and permanent brain damage may be associated with the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) and MMR vaccines, though the CDC notes the rarity of the reaction makes it difficult to determine causation.
The CDC reports that pneumonia can be caused by the chickenpox vaccine, and a “small possibility” exists that the flu vaccine could be associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a disorder in which the person’s immune system attacks parts of the peripheral nervous system, in about one or two per million people vaccinated. The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) says that vaccines may be linked to learning disabilities, asthma, autism, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and other disabilities. m entail health populations are at risk. Underserved mental health populations. In my opinion, vaccines are safe and are the best preventive tool in place for communicable diseases.
Shilob
Immunizations are an important part of Primary Prevention. Primary Prevention aims to avoid disease prior to it happening and vaccines prevent infectious diseases example: Rubella, Influenzas, Measles, Mumps, and Polio to name a few. According to the CDC – Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Immunizations are considered one of sciences and medicines greatest achievements due to the dramatic decline in communicable diseases in the decades since vaccines were introduced. Yet there are still individuals “anti-vaxxers” who would use social media, Facebook or even petition others to create division or scare parents adding to the anti-vaccine movement.
As healthcare providers we must educate parents on the benefit and also the risk of vaccines. When educating on vaccine safety we may use reputable sources like the government CDC- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, IOM – Institute of Medicine, and The AAP – American Academy of Pediatrics are professional organizations offer reliable guidance on recommended immunization scheduling and best practice guidelines for immunizations and this information is scientific and evidence based. We can help instill confidence and trust into our patients’ parents when we refer them to the CDC App which helps them keep on schedule with the children’s vaccines and additionally educates them and address any potential barriers. They can feel safe with the CDC App because this App is a government agency site.
Daylamis
There is solid medical and scientific evidence that the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the risks. Despite this, there have been concerns about the safety of vaccines for as long as they have been available in the U.S. Childhood vaccination has proven to be one of the most effective public health strategies to control and prevent disease. In an effort to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issues annual recommendations and guidelines for childhood and adolescent immunizations. However, some parents decline or delay vaccinating their children or follow alternative immunization schedules because of medical, religious, philosophical, or socioeconomic reasons. Health care provider-based interventions have been suggested to overcome such vaccine noncompliance, including patient counseling; improving access to vaccinations; maximizing patient office visits; offering combination vaccines; and using electronic medical records (EMRs) and practice alerts. Community- and government-based interventions to improve parent and patient adherence include public education and reminder/recall strategies, financial incentives, and providing alternative venues for vaccination.
Despite the widespread availability of vaccines, multiple resurgences of measles, rubella, mumps, and pertussis have occurred since the 1980s. These resurgences have been attributed to various causes, including refusal to vaccinate, incomplete vaccination series, waning immunity, and imported cases. Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal have been implicated in outbreaks of invasive Hib, varicella, pneumococcus, measles, and pertussis. Notably, measles, which was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, caused a record number of cases in 2014 (23 outbreaks and 644 cases in 27 states) Furthermore, in 2015 the United States experienced a large multistate measles outbreak that was thought to originate with an overseas traveler who visited Disneyland in California.13 The majority of people contract measles during such outbreaks because they are unvaccinated.13 These cases underscore the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage in the U.S. population and advising travellers regarding immunization.
