Research Paper on "Parental Authority Choice on Childhood Vaccinations"

Research Paper 6 pages (2530 words) Sources: 5

[EXCERPT] . . . .

The children who suffered autism in this period are significantly minimal. For a fact, since the claim by parents to opt out of immunization is seen to cause more harm than good it is, therefore, preferable to embrace immunization. Among the parents, understanding that, the risk of not being vaccinated far much outweighs the minimal risks of being vaccinated needs to be emphasized. Although the disease may be cured, there are higher risks involved in treating the diseases than in preventing it (Geier and Geier 9).

To dispute claims that vaccine cause autism the general medical council established that Wakefield allegations were based on unreliable scientific research methods. The council established that wakefield allegation were made out of conflict of interest that led to wakefield ended up loosing the lincence to practice medicine. Additional assesments have further been made to determine whether the claims by wakefield were anywhere close to bieng the truth. The cliams emerged unrealistic and this asserts the fact that the vaccines administered are safe and unlikely to cause autism. Since there are sufficient dispute to the Wakefiled claims it is suffice to say that children are safe wwith receiving immunistaion injections (Geier and Geier 9).

With the increases seen in the number of parents opting out of children vaccination, the more vulnerable populations are now at a greater risk of contracting the disease. The vulnerable population comprises of those who have not received the vaccination for medical or age reasons. These are innocent lives whose well-being falls under the arms of their guardians and the state. Growth an acceleration in the trend and the number of parents rejecting to vaccinate their children will only heighten a likely catastrophic outbreak of communicable diseases (Institute of Medicine 1). In Philadelphia, an outbreak of measles less than ten years ago resulted in a total of seven deaths. These deaths are potentially preventable with vaccination. According to a research by the Pediatric Academic Society, it is evidenced that childhood vaccinations facilitate elimination of numerous life threatening diseases that once threatened growth of a generation. From their research vaccinations have contributed to the prevention of more than 10.5 million potential infections and above thirty thousand deaths annually (Chen RT, DeStefano F. And Davis RL. 188).

Complications arising from acquiring diseases with immune measures such as mumps and measles include preventable deaths, endless hospital visits in a livelihood and permanent disabilities. The potential of averting a possible outbreak and potential wipe out to a generation is highly minimized by vaccination. It is important for parents to apprise that potential of a growing child can be hampered by their choice to opt out of immunization. While, it is difficult to predict and prepare treatment measures to a child, policy on mandatory immunization attends to this hustle by providing a guard against infection. Historical facts indicate that some practices in hygiene facilitated in reduction of infections and potential deaths in the 19th century. Similar to this, the vaccination programs facilitate reduction in disease spread by increasing children's immune capability to resist infection. Following the widespread introduction of the vaccine there have been irrefutable improvements seen in the health of children. Occurrence of numerous infectious diseases has been reduced significantly. One such case is the case for smallpox. Once a health threatening disease smallpox occurrence in the world is now minimal, and this is attributed to the vaccination exercise carried out from 1977 (Madlon-Kay and Harper 612).

It is imperative to note there are different measures of treating ailments but if it possible to prevent, previous experiences provide proof that the vaccine are effective. Over the year negligence from parents and misguided discredits to immunization programs has seen an increase in new infections and wider spread of diseases such as Measles, Whooping Cough and Mumps (Institute of Medicine 1).

From the arguments presented above, it is evident that both parties have a desire to attain a positive outcome. The only difference is in the approach that separates the potential for a common good. Both parties present viable arguments as to their course of actions an tend to make preferences depending on their individual understanding. It is true that the immunization of children is important, and the outcome from such immunization is beneficial to the community as a whole. The parents view for what is best for their children need to be altered to accommodate the greater good.

Conclusion

A community or state where the immunization rates are highest is considered as a common. The state's intentions to make immunizations manadatory seek to achieve a common where posibility of disease occurrence are erradicated. The eradication of such infection being a desirable outcome can be faced with challenges owing to lack of common understanding. It is for the good of the concerned persons and that of the state that a common understanding be achieved. Failure to such understaanding may lead to oposition from all fronts and crumbling of all efforts initiated. With high level of immunization, the likely outcome of diceases is reduced and the health of a community will be guaranteed. Therefore, it is imperetive that all concerned parties should share common desires and cohesively work towards enforcing the desirable outcomes.

Works Cited

Chen RT, DeStefano F, and Davis RL. "The Vaccine Safety Datalink: Immunization Research in Health Maintenance Organizations in the U.S.A. ." Bull WHO 78.1 (2000): 186-94. Print.

Dave, Gram. " Vt. Debates Letting Parents Say No to Vaccines. Http://Sks.Sirs.Com/Cgi-Bin/Hst-Article-Display?Id=Sor0339-0-4872&Artno=0000340741&Type=Art." 2012.

Geier, M.R., and D.A. Geier. "Thimerosal in Childhood Vaccines, Neurodevelopment Disorders, and Heart Disease in the United States." Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 1.1 (2003): 6-11. Print.

Institute of Medicine. Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine and Autism. Report by the Immunization Safety Review Committee, Institute of Medicine. Washington, Dc: National Academy Press,2001. Print.

Madlon-Kay, D.J., and P.G. Harper. "Too Many Shots? Parent, Nurse and Physician Attitudes Towards Multiple Simultaneous Childhood Vaccinations. ." Arch Fam Med 3.1 (1998): 610-17. Print.

Salmon, D.A., M. Haber, and E.J. Gangarosa. "Health Consequences of Religious and Philosophical Exemptions from Immunization Laws: Individual and Societal Risk of Measles. Jama 1999;282:47 -- 53." JAMA 282.1 (1999): 47-53. Print.

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