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Gwenna Thompson
Professor Collins
ENGL 1301
14 September 2016
Exploring Vaccinations
Vaccinations are a large controversial topic today in America. According to
historyofvaccines.org, a website with an article that explores the ethical issues regarding
vaccines, immunizations have been ethically challenged since schools first began to
require vaccinations, specifically for smallpox, in the 1850s. This was until the 1990s,
[when] all 50 states required students to receive certain immunizations In the 1960s
and 1970s, the state tried to eliminate measles. These attempts brought about modern
mandates policies (historyofvaccines.org). Immunizations have been a prominent debate
for over 150 years because some people have concerns about the possible side effects
while others worry about the safety of all if people do not to vaccinate.
Supporters of vaccinations and those who have done research, such as
vaccines.gov, say they simply want to protect the future generations from degenerative
diseases. According to vaccines.gov, a government funded website that analyzes the
benefits of vaccines, the smallpox vaccine that originated in 1850, protected todays
generation; [the] smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide.
Immunizations have been able to almost or eliminate diseases that have caused thousands
of deaths and a lot of cases where people have become paralyzed. Supporters suggest that
if the people were to consistently be immunized as requested, society could potentially
make certain diseases, like smallpox extinct, essentially protecting our future generations.

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These concerns are a great example of how some parents and researchers worry about the
safety of all when some choose not to vaccinate.
Many researchers support vaccines because they believe that they have been
proven to be effective and that without them any adult or child will become more
susceptible to preventable diseases. Research from parents.com, a website article
explaining the pros and cons of vaccinations, vaccines to be eighty five to ninety five
percent successful. They also mention that there are four phases that vaccines must go
through in order to be proven safe and effective; this takes about ten to fifteen years. This
is to ensure parents that there is no harm to their child so that people do not turn away
from immunizations. Professor Elizabeth Miller, a consultant Epidemiologist at the
Immunization Hepatitis and Blood Safety Department, explains, An implacable
rejection of vaccination, despite strong evidence of its safety, is damaging. It places the
individual at increased risk of disease and also of exposing vulnerable contacts. This
explains why those in favor of immunizations are adamant about their children and others
being vaccinated. They are looking out for themselves and others in society. In the
interview with Elizabeth Miller, the audience learns that the reason for people advocating
for vaccines is because of the severe risks of the diseases compared to the minor and rare
symptoms of the vaccine that will help prevent it. These supporters guarantee the safety
of the vaccines and the safety of all others.
People against immunizations believe that it is in violation of their first
amendment rights. It is not just parents; Pediatrician Dr. Halsey says that these parents
concern are completely valid. This makes it even more difficult when parents want to
have their child made exempt from vaccines, but the doctor dismisses your fears or

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insists on vaccinating without answering all of your questions (Halsey). Another reason
parents fear for their childs safety is apparent in the fact that some doctors are refusing to
treat children regardless unless they have their vaccines (parents.com). So, the parents
voice on parents.com by expressing their anger that because childrens health is being
threated because of the parents decision they make in interest of their child. The article
explains why and what makes the parents feel that their first amendment rights are being
ignored and not respected in reference to vaccinations.
Some parents express fear about immunizing children because they believe that
vaccines can cause injuries, diseases, and other disorders, such as autism. Dr. William
Thompson, a leading scientist at the CDC, has alleged that the CDC falsified and
omitted statistically significant data showing the link between the MMR vaccine and
Autism. He continues to explain that there is no concrete evidence or research that can
prove that vaccines are safe, but there have been plenty of incidences where children and
adults have been ailed by an illness due to the vaccines they have received. (Thompson).
Dr. William justifies parents concern about vaccines potentially causing an irreversible
injury or disorder by use of his own research as a scientist. The fear that parents express
about immunizing their children is relevant because there have been many cases in which
children have been diagnosed with diseases that they did not have prior to receiving a
vaccine.
Vaccinations are still being debated today in 2016 because of two valid views.
Some believe that vaccines have harmful sides effects that can hurt a persons health.
Others stand by the results of tests that indicate there is no life threatening symptoms and
say that the reason for requiring them is simply in the best interest of the future

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generations. These two sides will never agree because it is impossible for there to be
enough research in order to prove that vaccinations are or are not one hundred percent
safe.

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Works Cited
@Change. U.S. House of Representatives: Stop Allowing the Violation of Our
Children's Human Rights through Mandatory and Forced Vaccinations with or
without Parental Consent. Change.org, https://www.change.org/p/u-s-house-ofrepresentatives-stop-allowing-the-violation-of-our-children-s-human-rightsthrough-mandatory-and-forced-vaccinations-with-or-without-parental-consent.
/.latest_citation_text
Ethical Issues and Vaccines. The History of Vaccines, College Physicians of
Philadelphia , http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/ethical-issuesand-vaccines.
/.latest_citation_text
Haelle, Tara. 8 Reasons Parents Don't Vaccinate (And Why They Should). Parents,
http://www.parents.com/health/vaccines/controversy/8-reasons-parents-dontvaccinate-and-why-they-should/.
/. latest_citation_text
Miller, Elizabeth. "Controversies And Challenges Of Vaccination: An Interview With
Elizabeth Miller." BMC Medicine 13.(2015): 267. MEDLINE. Access. 24 Oct.
2016. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=cmedm&AN=26472230

&site=ehost-live

Vaccines.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services, https://www.vaccines.gov/more_info/features/fiveimportant-

reasons-to-vaccinate-your-child.html.

/.latest_citation_text

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