Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

The Importance of Childhood Immunizations

Powerful Essays
2100 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Importance of Childhood Immunizations
Importance of Childhood Immunizations
Jennifer

Why do we immunize our children, and is it really necessary? Today many parents will be faced with the decision about, whether to immunize their children or not because of the growing concern over their safety. We hear it on the television and see it on the internet about the risks and side effects of childhood immunizations. TV and movies are all about entertainment value, they might be based on true stories or current events, but the storylines are usually meant to reel in viewers and give them a good show and not to educate the public about the truth. And the more controversial the topic, the more viewers will likely be interested in tuning in. As for the internet, just because it is written some where online does not mean it is true. Many sites that may look perfectly professional and legitimate are often written by uneducated people and may be based more on unsubstantiated rumors, myths, and conspiracy theories rather than actual research or proven science.

Therefore, there have been a growing number of parents who choose not to immunize their children because of the risks and side effects, but are their fears led by truth? Immunizations are safe and strongly recommended by pediatricians. We put our faith in them when our children get sick so why not trust their advice on immunizing our children? Pediatricians want what is best for all children and to protect the health of children. My goal is to help parents gain a better understanding about the importance of childhood immunizations so they can make a more informed decision. However, the best information comes from the professionals, I am just passing on the trusted information I have found. Just remember after all, everyone wants what is best for his or her child.

According to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (March 2008) before vaccines where developed in the United States, many children became seriously ill or died. “Every year Polio would paralyze 10,000 children. Rubella, also known as the German Measles, caused birth defects and mental retardation in about 20,000 newborns. Measles would infect approximately 4 million children with about 3,000 deaths. Diphtheria was one of the most common causes of death in school-aged children. Haemophilus influenzae (type b) also know as Hib, would be the cause of meningitis in 15,000 children that also left many children with permanent brain damage. Last but not least, Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, led to the death of thousands of infants.” All the children that these diseases claimed the lives of or left permanently disabled could have been prevented if we had the same medical technology that we have today. Thanks to the help of doctors, medical advances, preventive measures, and the many researchers this has been possible. We should be so fortunate for these medical advancements since there are still children in other countries that are still affected by these diseases everyday. This is due to the lack of the medical technology in other parts of the world.

However, whooping cough is still a major problem today. Even though babies are immunized against Pertussis, they may not be fully protected until their third or forth dose. Studies have found that when the source of Pertussis has been identified, parents were the cause in nearly half of the infant cases. (CDC 2008) That is why the Centers for Disease Control recommends a booster for everyone 11 through 64 years of age.

In 2002, the World Health Organization, also known as WHO estimated that 1.4 million deaths among children under 5 years of age was due to diseases that could have been prevented by routine vaccination. This only represents 14% of global total mortality in children under five years of age (World Health Organization, W.H.O. 2002). [pic]

Due to advances in medical science and vaccines, many of the diseases have become eliminated. With less reported cases every year, parents think that the threat of these diseases has past and that immunizations are no longer needed. This however is far from the truth. If pediatricians no longer immunized children for these diseases there could be a potential outbreak since these diseases are not extinct. We have come too far in our advancements to stop now and let our guard down. These less common diseases are only an airplane ride away. We do not just vaccinate just to protect our own children but also for the children of the future.

Now, since there are not as many diseases common today, parents are wondering if it is still necessary to immunize their children. More and more parents are starting to question the safety of the immunizations and a growing number of parents are concerned that vaccines may actually be the cause of diseases such as autism, hyperactivity, developmental delay, attention deficit disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) among others. These concerns have caused some parents to delay vaccines or withhold them altogether from their children. According to the Center for Disease Control (2008) the United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. There are year’s worth of testing that is required by law, before a vaccine can be licensed. Once a vaccine is in use, vaccines are continually monitored for safety and efficacy. Before vaccines are licensed, the Food and Drug Administration requires that they be extensively tested to ensure safety. This process can take in excess of 10 years. After the Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration have approved a vaccine, it will then monitor its side effects through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the Vaccine Safety Data Link. If and when researchers find that a vaccine may be causing a side effect, the CDC and FDA will initiate actions appropriate to the nature of the problem.

Unfortunately, there have been rumors that some combo vaccines have been linked to the cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in some children. This originally started all because of the debate by suggesting that there was a link between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. This theory was retracted and thrown out in 2004, long after it had been rejected by all major health organizations. Study after study has found no scientific evidence that autism is caused by any one vaccine, a combination of vaccines, or the mercury-containing preservative called thimerosal, which was once widely used in many childhood vaccines. However, in 1999 vaccine manufactures agreed that thimerosal be reduced or eliminated as a precautionary measure.

According to the Associated Press article viewed on the ABC news web site at: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=6655425. There has been no link from vaccines to autism. Still some parents are skeptical. This is why some parents choose not to immunize their children against the recommendations from health care professionals, over the recommended immunizations. Surprisingly however more then 77% of children in the Unites States have received all the recommended vaccinations (C.D.C 2008).

Although it is ultimately the parent’s decision whether to immunize their children or not, some parents feel that some immunizations are not necessary and choose to refuse certain ones. Pediatricians cannot force a parent to immunize their children with all of the recommended vaccines but if a parent does refuse to have their child vaccinated by some or all vaccines then they will have to sign a refusal waiver. The pediatrician also has the obligation to report this refusal to the American Academy of Pediatrics. For a more detailed look at the refusal information and waiver follow this link: http://www.cispimmunize.org/pro/pdf/RefusaltoVaccinate_revised%204-11-06.pdf.

Immunizations are administered at different stages of early childhood, mostly between the ages of birth to 18 months. Following this scheduled time line in Example A will help to assure that children get all of the recommended immunizations on time. Also doing so will prevent the child from having to get makeup shots at their next scheduled visit. Most shots are now combo shots meaning they contain more then one vaccine. This has caused some concerns with some parents because they worry that the children’s immune systems could be overwhelmed by receiving more than one vaccination at a time. However, the human immune system is remarkably strong; many studies have shown that simultaneous immunizations with multiple vaccines are safe for the normal childhood immune system. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends simultaneous immunizations when appropriate, saying “they are as effective in combination as they are individually, with no greater risk of side effects.” Also since some shots are now combo shots it provides a little relief for the children who will receive the shots. Some shots that would have been administrated in 3-4 individual needle pokes have now been combined into one.

Recommended immunization schedule for children aged birth to 18. [pic] Example A. Center for Disease Control (2008)

As a parent we cringe at the thought of our children getting shots, and that is because we do not like to see our children cry or experience discomfort. Even though the pain only lasts a few seconds it feels like an eternity for small children who do not understand why they are being poked with these strange objects. Doctors will sometimes recommend giving children Tylenol before their doctor’s visit to cut down on some of the discomfort afterwards. Some common side effects that pose no life threatening risk are; a temporary redness and soreness at the site of the injection and a mild fever. These side effects usually clear up within 24 hours.

Staying up to date on child vaccinations is important and is easy to do since most pediatricians will inform the parents when to schedule the next well child check up. Most follow up appointments will be approximately two months apart until the child is about six months of age. After that, the appointments will taper off to about three to four month spans until all recommended shots have been administered before the child reaches two years of age.

Once children reach school age, they will be required to show proof of current immunizations. Although not having the required immunizations does not mean that a child can not attend school. Most schools will allow a parent to enroll their children that are not immunized because of personal or religious beliefs. However, if there was to be a disease outbreak, children who are not immunized may be excluded from school or child care until the outbreak is over. This is done both for their own protection and for the protection of others. In some cases this can cause a financial burden on families.

In conclusion, I ask again. Why do we immunize our children and is it really necessary? I hope with the information provided parents can feel more comfortable with their decision. It is important to have access to accurate information so one can make an informed decision. Having more information about the facts and safety is important. As a parent we want to do what is best for our children and for our children’s future children. Immunizations remain a crucial tool for protecting kids against many serious and potentially deadly diseases during their childhood and beyond. This simple thing we can do for our children goes a long way. If you have concerns about any vaccination, be sure to talk to your doctor before making a decision to delay or skip an immunization. This choice could affect not only your child 's health but also that of other children.

References
American Academy of Pediatrics. Documenting Parental Refusal to Have Their Children Vaccinated. Revised 0708. http://www.cispimmunize.org/pro/pdf/RefusaltoVaccinate_revied%204-11-06.pdf.

"APHA: assure public on safety of vaccines.(APHA ADVOCATES: Recent actions on public health by APHA)." The Nation 's Health 38.9 (Nov 2008): 2(1). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. January 16, 2009. .

Associated Press. (2009) ABC News. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=6655425

Center for Disease Control. (2008) Vaccine Safety. Retrieved February 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/downloads/f_vacsafe.rtf.

"Health experts warn Californians about importance of immunizations." Managed Care Weekly (Nov 8, 2004) 83. General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. Retrieved January 16, 2009. http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPS.

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. (2003). Why Immunize?. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/why.htm.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (March 2008)Vaccine Education Center. Retrieved January 2009 from. www.chop.edu

World Health Organization. (2002). Disease chart. Retrieved February 2009 from. www.who.int.

References: "APHA: assure public on safety of vaccines.(APHA ADVOCATES: Recent actions on public health by APHA)." The Nation 's Health 38.9 (Nov 2008): 2(1). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. January 16, 2009.  . Associated Press. (2009) ABC News. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=6655425 Center for Disease Control "Health experts warn Californians about importance of immunizations." Managed Care Weekly (Nov 8, 2004) 83. General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. Retrieved January 16, 2009. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. (2003). Why Immunize?. Retrieved January 25, 2009, from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/why.htm. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (March 2008)Vaccine Education Center. Retrieved January 2009 from. www.chop.edu World Health Organization

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The first pressing reason to vaccinate children is to prevent them from contracting diseases. It can hardly be argued that immunizations fail to protect the majority of children from getting the infection the immunization was designed to prevent. In the 18th century, for example, hundreds of thousands of Americans were infected by a crippling condition called polio. Polio was a terrible infection that caused sufferers to lose the use of their legs. Many had to walk with braces or crutches. Some lost the ability to walk and had to be placed in wheelchairs, while others were so disabled they became unable to engage in any physical activity, or even died of the condition. Polio was so prevalent it even affected American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Schnell 2)! Thanks to vaccinations, today polio is all but unheard of in the USA, and in other countries that immunize against it. This example alone should show the desirability of immunization. Who…

    • 546 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some people have different opinions when it comes to deciding if children should get vaccinated or not. There are both pros and cons to getting children vaccinated, some of the pros are that it can help get rid of any type of bacteria that may be building up inside a child’s body. A con is that vaccines can sometimes cause serious and even fatal side effects. However, overall vaccinations and getting children vaccinated would be the best way to go. it’s better to be thankful now than to be sorry later. Vaccinations are the best way to keep children from being vulnerable to diseases or viruses. One of the main reasons why a person should get their child vaccinated is that vaccinations can save your child’s life. (Vaccines.com) By going to the doctor and…

    • 617 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Pro Stance for Vaccines

    • 687 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the United States many of the diseases vaccinated for are nearly absent in communities now. Some diseases may even be eradicated completely by the use of immunizations, as with the case of smallpox in 1977. (Kee, Hayes, McCuistion, 2012, p. 502) A low incidence in many of the vaccine-prevented diseases can lead some to a false sense of security against the risk of contracting such diseases. It is important for the general population to continue receiving vaccinations. An article in The New England Journal of Medicine points out "High vaccine coverage, particularly at the community level, is extremely important for children who cannot be vaccinated, including children who have medical contraindications to vaccination and those who are too young to be vaccinated. These groups are often more susceptible to the complications of infectious diseases than the general population of children and depend on the protection provided by the vaccination of children in their environs."…

    • 687 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Vaccine War

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages

    I believe that when the CDC and public officials make these recommendations and parents follow them, the biggest benefit is prevention. These immunizations prevent future outbreaks of these illnesses. They also prevent infants that are too young to be vaccinated, some children, immune deficient people and the elderly from getting ill, having to be quarantined, and dying in many cases. Public and private insurance companies, as well as individuals that carry no insurance and people that have large co-pays and deductibles, also benefit from individuals getting the immunizations as recommended. If there were to be an outbreak from lack of immunizations, the financial and social impact to people could be immense. Between hospital bills, prescription charges, missed school by children, missed work by concerned parents, and funeral charges in the extreme…

    • 1506 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thanks to technology and research, vaccines have kept serious diseases from becoming epidemic illnesses, unlike many years ago. When children are vaccinated, the chances of contracting the disease being vaccinated for are decreased drastically. Every child should be immunized to protect themselves and the people around them from these deadly diseases. The best way to prevent preventable diseases is to have an immune population. We can achieve this by simply vaccinating our children.…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eighty families lost children to a vicious disease that physicians had not yet developed a vaccine for immunity. Tina Albertson, a pediatric resident, recalls a young girl who had come in contact with whooping cough, “She was a six-week old girl with a sister and brother, four and six. The family had chosen not to immunize, and the week she was born, her siblings both had whooping cough. When they’re real little, the babies don’t whoop, they just stop breathing. This little girl was septic by the time they got her here” (Allen 3). Lastly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states why children need vaccines at an early age, “Children are given vaccines at a young age because this is when they are most vulnerable to certain disease” (Centers 1).…

    • 1054 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A vaccine is a substance used as a preventive inoculation to obtain immunity from a specific disease, commonly using an innocuous form of the disease as an inactive pathogen to stimulate antibody production. Even though the first vaccine was created 215 years ago in 1796, many people today are still apprehensive about vaccines due to fear of vaccines’ negative side effects. This investigation studies whether vaccinations should be made mandatory or otherwise, considering both the negative and positive impacts of vaccines.…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Deciding whether to vaccinate your child against these diseases could be a difficult decision for some people to make. For some people it’s not even a question whether or not to have their child vaccinated, they feel they are protecting their child from disease and its consequences, and the temporary discomfort that the child (and sometimes the parent!) experiences will quickly be forgotten. They also feel that it is in the best interest of the population as a whole, and simply follow their doctor’s recommendations, to have their child immunized. Others however, believe that there are serious side-effects from these vaccines and they are not willing to expose their child to that risk. Perhaps they know a child who has had an adverse reaction to a vaccination and are afraid that the same will happen to their child. They may also feel that because some diseases have been nearly eradicated, the threat of their child contracting these diseases is minor, so why risk the side effects? Some opponents to these immunizations believe that…

    • 1137 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the years there have been many things that have threatened children. One of the biggest threats to children has been disease. The human race has worked and fought to prevent children from dying of these diseases. With great strides, this goal has been met with the creation of vaccines. Though many people think that vaccines are a good idea, there are also others who don’t believe in vaccinating their children. In the best interest of children and everyone around them, vaccination is a great way of preventing and eliminating diseases.…

    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Health Musuem

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The past decade has seen enormous declines in deaths and health care costs associated with vaccine preventable diseases. New vaccines, rotavirus, herpes zoster, and human papillomavirus vaccines were introduced. A recent economic report indicated that vaccination of each U.S. birth statistics with the current childhood immunization schedule prevents about 42,000 deaths and 20 million cases of disease, with net savings of nearly $14 billion in direct costs and $69 billion in total societal costs(NIC,2011).…

    • 612 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    First of all, the inventions of vaccines can prevent some diseases in the childhood. In 1960, the health authorities recommend the kids to get five vaccines—smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. The first time a child is exposed to a disease, the immune system can’t create antibodies quickly enough to keep…

    • 778 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As a parent my main concern is my childrens health. There has been an increased interest in vaccine safety over the past decade as opposed to the 1980’s. There has been many successful results from vaccines. The introduction and widespread use of vaccines have profoundly affected the occurrence of several infectious diseases. For example smallpox has been eliminated with the last naturally occurring case in 1977, and the vaccination against smallpox stopped. Poliomyelitis is another disease near elimination with a the last case occurring in 1979. Vaccinating your children and yourself is important, because of the existing continuous threats of…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    For example, according to Medicinenet.com, before there was a vaccine for diphtheria, it used to kill over 10,000 children every year; it is so rare now that doctors almost never see a case of it. “Parents in the 1950s were terrified as polio paralyzed children by the thousands…now the fight against polio is nearly won” (Medicinenet.com).…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Vaccine Controversy

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Vaccination became widespread in the United Kingdom in the early 1800’s. Before that, religious arguments against inoculation (the placement of something that will grow or reproduce) were advanced. In a 1772 a sermon entitled “The Dangerous and Sinful Practice of Inoculation”, the English theologian Rev. Edmund Massey argued that diseases are sent by God to punish sin and that any attempt to prevent small pox via inoculation is a “diabolical operation”. Some anti –…

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    many parents today are delaying or refusing vaccines for their children. These parents have different controversies, such as negative side effects, learning disabilities, religious reasons, and forcing parents to vaccinate as well as other opinions. I believe it is important for children to receive vaccines. There are three main reasons why children should get vaccinated. The number one reason is that research shows that vaccinations are generally safe…

    • 68 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays