Vaccinations
Part 1: Vaccinations are mandatory for most babies and school-aged children as they build the body’s immune response. What are some pros and cons of vaccines?
Despite some reported risks of vaccines, for many medical professionals, these risks outweigh the benefits children get from them. Vaccines are believed to be responsible for the decline and prevention of infectious childhood diseases. However, vaccines do not guarantee 100% protection from illnesses. If a child contracts (who has been vaccinated) a particular disease, he or she experiences milder symptoms and complications (“Pro & Con Arguments,”2014), making it a lot easier to treat and poses a lower chance of mortality.
Reports show that since a vaccine’s main goal is to prevent rather than to cure, its administration in children also pose a significant benefit to society in terms of economy (“Pro & Con Arguments,”2014). It is cheaper to administer vaccines that treat individuals with illnesses that could have been prevented by vaccines in the first place.
On the other hand, most opponents base their arguments on their moral and religious beliefs. The occurrence of disease is considered a natural phenomenon and is according to the laws of nature and to God’s plan. People should just let nature run its course. Vaccines do exactly the opposite – they prevent spread of diseases (“Pro & Con Arguments,”2014).
The body develops natural immunity to certain diseases from fighting of these diseases as the body becomes infected with it. Those opposing vaccines believe that vaccines do more harm than good when it comes to the body’s immunity to diseases. Vaccines suppress the immune system and in the process destroy the body’s natural immunity (the body then develops artificial immunity). This then makes the children more susceptible to infections (“Pro & Con Arguments,”2014).
Part 2: How do immunizations affect the lymphatic and immune systems?
Immunization works by creating an artificial immunity to particular infections and diseases. An inactive part of the pathogen (a toxin, a specially treated virus or a bacterium) is administered into the body (via vaccines) in order for the immune system to recognize it and start the antibody production (“Immunisation and HALO, 2013). Vaccines create the same scenario as would a naturally acquired disease would.
The production of the antibodies is the immune system’s response to any infection .Since this portion is inactive, this pathogen will not cause the usual symptoms that a natural disease will present. Therefore, to counter this and initiate a strong immune system response, vaccines have adjuvants to do the job (“How Vaccinations,” n.d.). The immune system now thinks that a disease has invaded the body and proceeds to creating the antibodies, even if the trigger was not acquired naturally.
Part 3: Some vaccines diminish over time and require boosters or additional immunizations. Why is this? What are the most common vaccines that require booster shots?
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This is because the immunity offered by some vaccines is not life-long. The need for a booster shot after a certain period of time a vaccine is given is dependent on how long the body stays immune to a certain type of disease. Immunity, on the other hand is dependent on the progression of a disease through the body. If a diseases progresses rapidly and the immune system’s memory response is not fast enough to produce the needed antibodies, then a booster shot is needed to initiate the needed response (“Top 20 Questions,” 2014) to prolong immunity.
The some vaccines that need booster shots are the following: DTacP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), IPV/OPV (polio vaccine), Hib (Haemophilus influenze type B vaccine), Pneumococcal vaccine, and Rotavirus (“Childhood Immunization,” n.d.).
Part 4: Some people reported being ill after being vaccinated. What is actually happening to their immune system? Are there any chronic/life threatening illnesses or diseases that are transmittable through immunizations?
Getting ill after immunization, usually with a low-grade fever, is now the body’s reaction to the vaccination. Since vaccines contain a weakened part of the organism responsible for the disease, the body’s immune system will now think that it is under attack. The B-lymphocytes now reacts and multiplies to produce both plasma and memory B cells. This is called as the primary response. The plasma cells then create antibodies to fight off the disease. This manifests in a form of a reaction, usually a low-grade fever. The memory B cells then remain dormant in the body for several years. They again become reactive once they recognize the same organism causing disease as before (before invading the body via the vaccine but now via natural means). However, this time the reaction is a lot faster since all the necessary preparations (thru the introduction of the vaccine) needed to fight disease has been made. This is now what we call the secondary response (“What Happens After,” 2005).
One cannot get any transmittable, life-threatening diseases from immunization for as long the guidelines for both safe injection and disposal of injection equipment are upheld at all times.
Part 5: Do you think that all vaccines should be mandatory or only specific ones? Why or why not? Be specific using supporting sources.
I think all vaccines should be mandatory only because of one simple fact: vaccines save lives. It is our responsibility to keep our children healthy and free from diseases for their sake and for the sake of others. It is your social responsibility and obligation not to put others at risk by not complying with mandatory immunization. Sciencebasedmedicine.org reports on various comments on why vaccines should be compulsory or mandatory (http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/should-vaccines-be-compulsory/).
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References
Pro & Con Arguments: “Should any vaccines be required for children?” (2014). Vaccines. Retrieved from http://vaccines.procon.org/#background
Immunisation and HALO (2013, November). Immune System. Retrieved from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Immune_system#
How Vaccinations Affect the Developing Immune System (n.d.). Vaccine Decision.info. Retrieved from http://www.vaccinedecision.info/cgi-bin/viewcontent.cgi?article_id=18
Top 20 Questions about Vaccination (2014). The History of Vaccines. Retrieved from http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/top-20-questions-about-vaccination#5
Vaccination Schedules: Childhood Immunization Schedule (n.d.). Philippines Foundation for Vaccination. Retrieved from http://www.philvaccine.org/vaccination schedules/childhood-immunization-schedule
What Happens After Vaccination? (2005). Vaccination and Antibodies. Retrieved from
http://www.mydr.com.au/travel-health/vaccination-and-antibodies
