Significant Effects Of Vaccinations On Reported Diseases example essay topic

Vaccinations: A Clear Benefit By: Julie Roberts June 19, 2005 Vaccination: A Clear Benefits clear definition of a vaccination is, "the generic term for immunization procedures. Immunization is a procedure whereby living or nonliving materials are introduced into the body... :" (Nossal, 1999) The concept that people who survive an infectious disease do not get the same disease again is the basis for the administering of vaccinations. Vaccines are normally given to healthy individuals for the prevention of diseases. Vaccines work by using a human host to provide a stimulus to the immune system. Immunization is used for viral and bacterial diseases.

Rappuolli reports and predicts, "Vaccines will not only be used to prevent infections, but also to cure chronic infectious diseases, tumors, diseases and allergies". (1999) Even though there are risks involved with being vaccinated, there is no doubt that vaccines have been the most effective means of combating deadly infectious diseases throughout the twentieth century. Vaccinations were developed or discovered in 1796 when Edward Jenner, a doctor in England, noted that the farmers infected with materials from cows did not develop small pox, but instead were immune to the disease. Today, vaccinations are available for a variety of life threatening or life altering diseases such as; smallpox, rabies, salmonella, tuberculosis, diphtheria, yellow fever, tetanus, pertussis, polio, influenza, cholera, measles, mumps, rubella, , tick-borne encephalitis, pneumococcus, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, varicella, lyme disease, and rota virus. Vaccines are more commonly given to infants today to immunize early. Already there are more vaccines in development for infectious diseases such as cancer, hepatitis C, papilloma virus, and pylori.

With these vaccines, tumors will be dramatically decreased. So instead of regarding vaccinations as a painful childhood experience, they should be perceived as tools used in the prevention and cure of diseases. Therefore, the hazards of vaccinations have to be weighed against the benefits of immunization. Immunization has lowered the reported cases of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, (DPT), measles, mumps, rubella, (MMR), tuberculosis, and meningitis. A notable decrease in the number of cases of measles, hepatitis B, and polio were noticed after vaccinations started being administered. The hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in 1989.

Before the vaccine was available over one hundred thousand cases and almost six thousand deaths had been reported. The measles vaccine became available in 1964. Before that vaccine was administered over four hundred thousand cases were reported and almost four hundred deaths. The polio vaccine was offered in 1954. Before the vaccine was available, over fifty-five thousand cases of the disease had been diagnosed.

The following chart shows the significant effects of vaccinations on reported diseases: After the vaccines started to be administered, a notable decrease was reported in the amount of cases seen. In 1998 there were less than nine thousand reported cases of hepatitis B, less than one hundred reported cases of measles, and just over three hundred cases of measles reported. The number of cases reported of each disease in 1998 are identified as follows (Zimmerman, 2000): Studies conducted in the United States have found that the diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine is 90% effective in the prevention of the disease. As well, by administering the hepatitis B vaccine, 95% of those vaccinated accumulate protective antibodies against the disease. The varicella vaccine has been proven more than 97% effective in children. Despite the success of vaccinations in decreasing the existence of diseases, vaccination rates remain less than favorable.

Many times vaccinations are missed due to the limited appreciation of the risks of preventable diseases. (Zimmerman, 2000) Many people just do not understand that vaccinations are necessary to prevent diseases when they do not see them on a daily basis. Without having first hand experience with these diseases, they seem like a myth rather than a reality. Many parents, and physicians as well, lack knowledge and experiences with these diseases since they are not exposed to them.

In other cases, vaccinations are missed due to concerns about the adverse reactions associated with vaccines. Other factors that may contribute to missed vaccinations may be changing physicians or insurance issues. On a global level, the influenza vaccination in children is recommended and strongly encouraged. These vaccinations are recommended for children especially if they are to be exposed to a daycare or school environment because of the potential for spreading infection. Unfortunately, the influenza vaccine is not administered as needed because of the lack of education about the effectiveness and complications for physicians and parents. Also, the vaccination is not always readily available.

Many clinicians vary on there methods and routines of administering the vaccine, although its proven effectiveness warrants a more uniformed practice of delivery. Based on clinical studies, an increase of this vaccination is recommended to protect against the complications and spread of influenza. The risks associated with vaccines need to be taken seriously as they can have adverse side effects. According to Nossal, the most controversial vaccine is the DPT shot. Reactions such as fever, irritability, pain, and swelling were common side effects noticed after receiving the vaccine.

(1999) Usually, a mild measles rash can occur after receiving the measles vaccine. Serious complications from vaccinations occurred less than one time per one hundred thousand cases showing that serious adverse reactions are rare. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has relatively mild side effects such as a mild fever and tenderness at the injection site. Nossal concludes that since the side effects of vaccinations are mild, vaccines are generally safe. (1999) Vaccines have been proven safe through studies and trials for common systemic symptoms and local reactions.

In rare instances more serious reactions have been reported. Convulsions occur in one out of every 2000-3000 cases and the possibility of a serious acute neurological illness has been raised to one per three hundred thousand. Rarely, abscess formations and arthritis have been reported due to vaccinations. The serious complications are reported less than one time in one hundred thousand. It should be noted that each serious case reported should be researched carefully on a case by case basis to determine other contributing factors. Education is an important factor to help promote vaccinations to prevent diseases.

Sara Richards, who helps nurses cope with parental concerns over the recent changes in childhood vaccinations, reminds us that in today's society many parents have very little exposure or knowledge to the diseases that their children receive vaccinations for, therefore causing parents to forget that vaccinations have made the haunts of those diseases a thing of the past resulting in lowered numbered of vaccinations. That is what makes it that much more necessary to educate parents to continue to have their children vaccinated as directed. (Richards, 2004) Because of the existence of risks associated with vaccinations, parents have valid concerns. Some of these concerns have been started by the media and blown out of proportion. The media is a source that appeals to a wide audience for the purpose of higher ratings and does not necessarily base all of their reports on medically proven facts. (Zimmerman, 2000) Because some of the risks are often overestimated, vaccinations rates decrease.

Parents are afraid to take their children to get immunized because of what they hear through the media and other sources. Just recently reports were offered suggesting that vaccinations caused autism due to their content. Some vaccinations contained a preservative called thimerosal, a form of mercury. This substance was blamed for causing autism in children. A study in Denmark in 1996 involving almost five hundred thousand children concluded that thimerosal containing vaccines did not have a connection to children diagnosed with autism.

(Bu escher, 2004) More concerns were raised when about a possible association between vaccinations and type-1 diabetes. After conducting a study in Denmark on more than seven hundred thousand children, there was no indication that childhood vaccinations caused type-1 diabetes. (Zeph, 2005) Another study was conducted to determine the safety of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination after concerns were raised. The study was conducted to see if there was an association between MMR vaccinations and encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, and autism. Over five hundred thousand children were included in the study. The study concluded there was no identifiable association between MMR vaccinations and encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, or autism.

(Makela, Nuorti, Peltola, 2002) One more surprising source of the exaggerated risks of vaccinations comes from physicians. According to Richard Zimmerman, 32% of physicians, about one third, overly estimate the risks associated with the immunization process. (2000) Zimmerman offered an explanation as to why this might happen in reporting that, "A national survey found that almost one fifth of the clinicians responding had concerns about the possibility of litigation from vaccine related injury". Nossal notes, "In an increasingly litigious world, it is possible to sue a vaccine manufacturer if there is a serious adverse event following vaccination. Some countries have decided that the public health benefits of immunization are so great that the state has to indemnify the manufacturers and pay compensation if are damages are proven". (1999) This is unfortunate because the threat of legal ramifications have slowed vaccine research.

A study has shown an association between the DTP or tetanus vaccinations with allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms. The study was conducted with almost fourteen thousand children in the United States. The study showed that the odds of having asthma were twice as great among vaccinated children as the children that did not receive vaccinations. However, even though the prevalence of allergic disorders in children has risen in the past twenty years, there are many other possible causes or contributing factors other than vaccinations. Pollution, food additives, environment, or even genetics could play a role in respiratory disorders or allergies. (Gaby, 2001) In summary, vaccines have been proven to be safe.

Vaccines have eliminated or dramatically lowered the incidences of many diseases. In order to prevent the spread of disease and infection, the medical field relies on vaccinations. Rappuolli wrote in the encyclopedia of life sciences, "Vaccines have been the most effective tool for preventing and eliminating devastating infectious diseases and thus improving the quality of life". (1999) The hope that one day vaccinations can wipe out terminal illness, allergies, and other sicknesses that plague countless men, women, and children, should warrant a proactive response to promoting the national vaccination program. Parents, as well as Physicians should be educated as to both the benefits and risks of immunizations. With education comes understanding and recognition of facts rather than confusion from miscommunication.

Taken into consideration the fact that vaccinations save countless lives and improve the quality of life by reliving the population from life threatening and altering diseases, clearly the benefits of vaccinations outweigh the minimal risks.

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