The Importance of Vaccinations

The Importance of Vaccinations By: Lauren LaPenna

Vaccines save an estimated 42,000 lives every year in the U.S. alone, 3x more than seat belts and child restraints combined (Immunization Partnership).

Many of the world’s deadliest diseases and infections can be easily prevented by vaccinations. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that childhood vaccines are 90%-99% effective in preventing diseases. Thimerosal, formaldehyde, and aluminum are common and safe ingredients used in most vaccines.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a campaign to emphasize the importance and value of vaccines across all generations of a family.

If children are vaccinated now and continue to get vaccinated throughout their lives, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future. Children and families can benefit from the wisdom of grandparents and great-grandparents who remember a time of the polio or measles pandemic, where millions of people were killed.

Parents should not let the possibility of a negative reaction stop them from having their child vaccinated; dangerous reactions occur in less than 1% of all vaccinated individuals (“Immunizations”).

Any medicine or drug that offers an extensive amount of benefits or alleviates pain is undoubtedly going to have some kind of negative side effect. The Center for Disease Control states that all vaccines carry a risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is only common in about one per million children (“Guardian: Children Continue to Die from Vaccine-preventable Diseases").

Doctors now recommend that all teens are vaccinated against the following diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV), chickenpox, polio, and the flu ("Vaccinations").

College campuses are a common location for people to get sick or contract infections easily. It is required for all students to get their vaccine shots for entry into school.

Parents should educate themselves on the effects of vaccines, both positive and negative, before deciding to vaccinate their children or refusing to vaccinate their children.

In order to ensure a healthy life, all children should receive vaccinations because vaccines prevent children from contracting deadly diseases, are proctored in a very safe and effective way, and ensure immunity to diseases/illnesses for future generations in the family.

Work Cited

"Benefits from Immunization During the Vaccines for Children Program Era — United States, 1994–2013." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Apr. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. <https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6316a4.htm>.

"Guardian: Children Continue to Die From Vaccine-preventable Diseases." Guardian: Children Continue to Die From Vaccine-preventable Diseases : The Vaccine Confidence Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. <http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/guardian-children-continue-to-die-from-vaccine-preventable-diseases-we-can-stop-that/>.

"Immunizations." HealthyChildren.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. <https://healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/immunizations/pages/default.aspx>.

"Timeline." Timeline | History of Vaccines. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. <http://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline#EVT_65>.

"Vaccine Discussion Guide Release." Valuing Vaccinations Across Generations. N.p., 02 June 2016. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. <https://bandageofhonor.org/home/media/press-releases/vaccine-discussion-guide-release/>.

"Vaccine Ingredients - Aluminum." The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 04 Nov. 2014. Web. 12 Mar. 2017. <http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-ingredients/aluminum>.

Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by dfuhlert - "vaccination doctor syringe" • US Department of Education - "ED0074-R1-11A" • dagon_ - "girl father portrait"