Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Madeleine
Collier
Adam
Padgett
English
102
14
November
2016
Vaccines:
Essential
to
Americas
Health
The first vaccine was invented and introduced in 1796, and since that time it
has
been
a
controversial
medical
topic.
When
vaccinations
were
first
proposed
to
the
public,
many
people
were
against
them
at
first
because
of
their
unknown
effects,
which
is
still
true
today.
Throughout
history
weve
seen
that
vaccinations
have
been
proven
effective
in
preventing
serious
diseases
and
illnesses.
Some
people
argue
whether
the
risk
of
possible
side
effects
associated
with
the
vaccines
out-weighs
the
risk
of
developing
the
disease.
In
recent
years,
the
incidence
rate
of
these
diseases
has
decreased,
and
a
number
of
parents
have
decided
against
vaccinating
their
children
due
to
the
fears
of
side
effects,
most
commonly,
autism.
On
the
contrary,
others
have
linked
certain
outbreaks
to
these
groups
whose
members
claim
vaccinations
are
unsafe
and
ineffective
(Anderson).
Collier 2
Below
is
a
chart
that
displays
the
number
of
reported
measles
cases
in
the
United
States
from
1974
to
2014.
While
looking
at
the
graph
as
a
whole,
it
is
clear
that
since
the
1980s
the
country
has
overall
greatly
improved
with
significantly
less
cases.
However,
if
you
look
closely
you
can
see
that
there
is
an
increase,
albeit
slight,
of
documented
measles
cases
in
2014,
after
years
of
nominal
cases
reported.
This
increase
in
cases
indicates
that
more
people
have
recently
been
compromised
by
the
disease
because
of
the
lack
of
vaccinations.
In
2015,
California
experienced
a
measles
outbreak
whose
numbers
climbed
to
over
100
new
cases.
Health
officials
cited
unvaccinated
individuals
as
a
main
contributor
to
the
diseases
spread
(Anderson).
This
specific
case,
and
many
more,
raises
the
question
of
whether
or
not
the
government
should
mandate
Collier 3
Diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough, and meningitis are easily
spread
and
very
deadly.
From
the
mid
1900s
to
today,
pandemics
have
occurred
throughout
the
United
States
as
a
result
of
these
diseases,
killing
hundreds
of
thousands
of
people.
The
US
Centers
for
Disease
Control
recommends
that
children
should
receive
vaccines
that
protect
them
from
a
slew
of
frightening
diseases
like
mumps,
measles,
chicken
pox,
and
meningitis
by
his
or
her
second
birthday
(Vaccines).
Vaccines
are
recognized
as
the
most
valuable,
effective,
and
cost
efficient
medical
tool
in
history.
Small
pox
was
the
most
devastatingly
infectious
disease
to
ever
exist;
however
with
the
invention
of
the
vaccine,
smallpox
was
reduced
and
finally
eradicated
in
the
United
States
and
across
the
globe.
Vaccinations
like
this
are
especially
protective
against
the
certain
diseases
that
impact
children
the
most
(Calfee).
Vaccinations
are
not
only
effective,
but
also
safe.
They
have
been
used
for
many
years
without
any
proven
major
side
affects.
Some
people
argue
that
there
is
no
way
that
vaccinations
can
be
safe
for
children
as
young
as
a
newborn,
yet
researchers
have
found
that
a
babys
immune
system
can
easily
handle the vaccines (Evidence Shows) The immune system has an exceptional
capacity and the moment a baby is born the immune system begins fighting off the
antigens
in
bacteria,
viruses,
and
fungi,
so
a
baby
can
easily
withstand
exposure
to
the
antigens
in
vaccines.
(Evidence
shows).
Ever since their development, vaccines have been the most controversial and
widely debated medical invention. Many people believe there is a link between
Collier 4
vaccinations
and
autism,
or
other
major
side
effects.
In
the
past
10
years
the
number
of
children
diagnosed
with
autism
has
risen
by
78
percent
(Snyder).
People
claim
that
big
pharmaceutical
companies
are
pushing
vaccines
in
spite
of
the
risks
associated
with
them.
Another
claim
is
that
many
vaccines
contain
thimerosal,
a
preservative
containing
mercury,
which
is
toxic
and
causes
both
brain
and
neurological
damage.
The
naysayers
arent
only
focused
on
children;
they
say
that
adults
are
also
at
risk
of
developing
complications
after
being
injected
with
vaccines.
According
to
an
article
titled
Vaccines
Cause
Autism,
pregnant
women
have
experienced
complications
and
have
lost
their
baby
after
being
vaccinated.
Additionally,
adults
have
become
permanently
disabled
after
taking
vaccines
(Snyder).
that
if
the
government
mandated
certain
vaccines,
the
American
peoples
freedom
and
individualism
would
be
greatly
compromised.
Government
officials
and
various
health
departments
face
a
difficult
challenge:
respecting
the
rights
and
freedoms
of
individuals
or
protecting
the
public
welfare
(Vanishing
Vaccinations).
Some
libertarians
argue
that
required
vaccines
would
be
a
violation
of
liberty
because
agents
of
the
state
inject
substances
into
someones
body
against
his
or
her
will
(Murphy).
They
insist
that
when
someone
is
vaccinated
the
primary
beneficiary
is
himself
or
herself;
therefore
it
should
be
their
right
to
choose.
The last main controversy relating to the mandatory vaccinations is that they
would
conflict
with
individuals
religious
and
philosophical
beliefs.
Almost
all
of
the
states
in
the
United
States
provide
exceptions
for
those
whose
beliefs
contradict
Collier 5
with
certain
vaccinations.
Specific
vaccines
may
be
developed
using
human
tissue
cells,
which
is
an
ethical
dilemma
to
some
(Cultural
Perspective).
The
Catholic
Church
understands
the
importance
of
vaccines,
however
they
desire
for
members
of
the
church
to
receive
an
alternate
to
any
vaccines
that
are
produced
using
cell
lines
from
aborted
fetuses,
if
they
are
available.
Other
religious
view
the
body
as
a
sacred
place
and
should
not
be
contaminated
with
chemicals,
blood,
or
tissues
from
certain
animals.
They
would
rather
be
healed
by
God
or
natural
means
rather
than
the
vaccines.
In
recent
years,
exemptions
from
mandatory
vaccines
on
the
basis
of
religion
have
risen.
As
a
result
of
the
contested
vaccines,
infections
spread
quickly
through
small
church
communities
because
they
are
all
unvaccinated
(Cultural
Perspective).
being
vaccinated
are
too
serious
to
overlook
or
ignore.
When
people
choose
to
not
vaccinate,
herd
immunity
is
greatly
impacted.
Herd
immunity
is
the
concept
that
unvaccinated
individuals,
like
the
immunocompromised
and
very
young
babies,
will
still
be
protected
against
diseases
if
a
significant
majority
of
the
population
is
vaccinated.
This
vaccination
level
is
generally
agreed
to
be
at
about
90
percent
of
the
population
to
protect
against
outbreaks
in
the
United
States
(Vaccines).
A
result
of
the
declining
herd
immunity,
many
vulnerable
populations
are
prone
to
suffering
harm
or
even
death.
In
the
future,
the
exemption
process
should
be
carefully
modified
to
keep
people
from
opting
out
of
required
vaccinations
for
the
reason
of
convenience,
but
still
allowing
the
exemptions
for
those
individuals
with
serious
convictions
or
medical
reasoning
(Vanishing
Vaccinations).
Collier 6
paper
in
the
late
1990s
that
raised
concerns
about
the
potential
connection
between
the
Measles/Mumps/Rubella
Vaccine
and
autism.
The
authors
of
this
paper
could
not
prove
that
there
was
a
link,
and
further
research
indicated
that
the
MMR
vaccine
did
not
cause
autism
(Vaccines).
Not
only
was
Wakefields
paper
deceptive
and
carelessly
thrown
together,
he
included
fraudulent
information.
Experts
found
that
throughout
his
research,
Wakefield
has
manipulated
the
data
for
each
test
subject
(Calfee).
The
journal
that
published
the
paper
retracted
Wakefields
work
and
his
medical
license
was
taken
away.
Although
both
Wakefield
and
his
work
were
Collier 7
discredited,
many
parents
of
young
children
are
still
concerned
about
the
idea
that
vaccines
may
contribute
to
autism
(Vaccines).
because
of
their
religious
beliefs,
it
is
also
pivotal
that
they
understand
the
possible
consequences
of
their
decisions.
There
have
been
many
cases
of
infectious
diseases
rapidly
spreading
through
small,
unvaccinated
religious
communities.
In
1990
there
was
a
significant
measles
outbreak
involving
Philadelphia
schoolchildren.
These
children
were
members
of
churches
that
relied
on
prayer
instead
of
vaccines
to
heal.
In
1994
there
was
another
measles
outbreak
in
a
different
church
community
that
also
opposed
vaccinations.
The
flare-up
started
with
one
sick
teenager,
and
the
illness
spread
and
created
significant
outbreaks
in
both
Illinois
and
Missouri.
Lastly,
and
more
recently,
a
measles
outbreak
occurred
in
another
religious
community
in
Indiana.
Once
again,
the
outbreak
was
caused
by
an
Collier 8
prevention
of
deadly
diseases
and
the
safe
guarding
of
public
health
in
America.
There
are
so
many
deadly
diseases
and
infections
in
this
world
that
have
come
and
gone,
only
to
come
back
again.
Most
of
these
diseases
are
easily
spread,
extremely
fatal,
and
yet
easily
preventable
with
a
simply,
and
safe
vaccine.
Despite
a
flurry
of
misinformation
regarding
vaccines
and
Autism,
no
credible
connections
have
been
made.
Vaccines
have
been
used
safely
for
over
a
hundred
years
to
stop
diseases
in
their
tracks,
and
we
should
not
be
less
diligent
or
complacent
just
because
of
their
success.
Maddie,
You
do
a
good
job
tackling
a
big
topic
and
covering
the
wide
range
of
subject
matter.
Your
thesis
is
clear
and
your
conclusion
really
hammers
the
point
home.
However,
this
paper
would
benefit
from
a
greater
sense
of
organization
and
focus.
There
are
times
when
I
feel
like
the
paragraphs
are
drifting
from
one
topic
to
the
next
and
we
lose
sight
of
your
thesis,
of
what
exactly
it
is
that
you
are
arguing.
Every
paragraph
needs
to
point
back
to
your
thesis,
and
you
need
to
analyze
each
of
the
quotes
you
use,
with
your
thesis
in
mind.
Also,
some
of
your
citations
in
your
works
cited
page
are
incomplete,
and
so
I
have
trouble
checking
them
out.
Also
you
have
several
from
Collier 9
Opposing
Viewpoints.
I
feel
like
I
made
a
comment
on
your
bib
about
the
trouble
with
this
particular
source.
Really
think
about
not
only
vetting
all
of
your
sources
here,
but
getting
your
citation
right.
This
is
a
really
important
component
in
academic
writing.
While
Im
not
super
fussy
on
the
details,
it
does
have
to
be
generally
correct,
or
correct
enough
so
that
the
reader
can
find
your
original
source
fairly
easily.
Collier 10
Works
Cited
Anderson,
Monica.
"Young
Adults
More
Likely
to
Say
Vaccinating
Kids
Should
Be
a
Parental
Choice."
Pew
Research
Center.
N.p.,
02
Feb.
2015.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
Calfee,
John.
Junk
Science
and
the
Anti-Vaccine
Fraud.
American
Enterprise
Institute.
11
Jan.
2011.
Website.
23
Nov.
2016.
"Cultural
Perspectives
on
Vaccination."
History
of
Vaccines.
The
College
of
Physicians
of
Philadelphia,
7
June
2016.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
"Evidence
Shows
Vaccines
Unrelated
to
Autism."
(Oct.
2014).
Rpt.
in
Vaccines.
Ed.
Nol
Merino.
Farmington
Hills,
MI:
Greenhaven
Press,
2015.
At
Issue.
Opposing
Viewpoints
in
Context.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
"Measles
-
Reported
Cases
by
Country."
Global
Health
Observatory
Data
Repository.
Global
Health
Organization,
12
Jan.
2016.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
Meyer,
Randoll
John.
"Mandatory
Vaccinations
Can
Be
Compatible
With
Liberty."
FEE
Freeman
Article.
N.p.,
1
July
2016.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
Murphy,
Robert
P.
"Mandatory
Vaccinations
Are
Incompatible
with
Liberty."
FEE
Freeman
Article.
N.p.,
2016.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
Snyder,
Michael.
"Vaccines
Cause
Autism."
Behavioral
Disorders.
Ed.
Roman
Espejo.
Farmington
Hills,
MI:
Greenhaven
Press,
2014.
Opposing
Viewpoints.
Rpt.
from
"Vaccines
and
Autism:
The
Secret
That
You
Are
Not
Supposed
To
Know."
The
American
Dream.
2012.
Opposing
Viewpoints
in
Context.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
"Vaccines."
Opposing
Viewpoints
Online
Collection.
Detroit:
Gale,
2016.
Opposing
Viewpoints
in
Context.
Web.
22
Nov.
2016.
Collier 11