Buckley 1

Josh Buckley

Hailee Hammond

Chanse Michael

Megan Salchert

Brittanie Smedley

Mr. Gross

English 12 B (3)

16 May 2018

Vaccinations Save Lives

“Children who are immunocompromised”, are children who remain at risk, children like

four year old Maggie (Jacks 1). She was diagnosed with all—acute lymphoblastic leukemia

(blood cancer). “She had multiple rounds of chemotherapy, lumbar punctures, and surgery to

implant her injection port” (Jacks 1). Before her chemo she had received ​almost all of her

vaccinations (could not receive all vaccines because of her chemo). The day Maggie was

discharged she had came into contact with a child whose family chose against the measles

vaccinations. Maggie lacked the immunity to defend against measles due to her early age chemo

treatments. “The only protection available was multiple shots of rubeola immune globulin

(measles antibodies). She screamed, cried, and suffered, but Maggie’s family was hopeful for

temporary protection against the measles. Vaccines are designed to build immunity to deadly

diseases like the measles. The benefits of vaccinating children are clear.

Thanks to scientific advancements; smallpox, poliomyelitis (polio), and measles have

been declared eradicated for years (“Disease” 1). Children are required by law to receive certain
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vaccinations in ability to attend school. Unfortunately, thirty-one percent of families find ways to

bypass laws (Levs 1). This must not be allowed. Parents must be required to vaccinate their

children as soon as possible. Old diseases are returning, threatening children like Maggie. ​Non

vaccinating parents are completely unaware of whom their choices affect, they must not be given

the option against vaccinations.

There is a dangerous amount of children who are not vaccinated. “5% of kindergarteners

did not receive vaccines for preventable diseases in the 2013-14” (“Vaccination…” 1). This

seems like a fairly low number. However, the ones who were not vaccinated seem to be in the

same general area, not spread evenly across the United States. These clusters results in a higher

risk of outbreaks (Levs 1). This is especially true in the case of California's 2010-14 Whooping

Cough outbreak. Within this four year span there was tenthounds 10,000 reported cases, and ten

infants reported dead. Coordinated efforts rid the world of a diseases, but more and more people

are refusing vaccines (“The Worst…” 1), threatening the public health as a whole.

Diseases that have been almost wiped out are remain infectious to the public because

many children are not vaccinated. One disease that had a vevious return is the measles, “The

U.S. experienced a record six hundred sixty-seven measles cases from twenty-seven states in

2014 the greatest number of cases since the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention

declared the disease eradicated in 2000” (“Measles...” 1). It returned as a result of vaccine

refusals. There is a story on Facebook from 2018 by Jennifer Hibben-White of her experience

with her son and the measles. Jennifer claims that she took her son in for a newborn weigh-in on

January 27th and was called on February 9th that someone who has developed the measles and

sat in the waiting room at the same time as Jennifer and her son, Griffin. Griffin had not had the
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vaccine yet because he was too young. The family had to isolate themselves for a week while she

waited to see symptoms in her beloved son (Hibben-White 1). The person who contracted

measles chose against the vaccine. Therefore, everyone in that waiting room, and everyone

whom they came into contact were exposed. Any one of the exposed could have contract the

disease themselves. Every parent was filled with panic. Fortunately, others had not refused to

vaccinate their children because the families were aware of the dangers that follow such diseases.

Parental refusal of vaccines are a growing concern to vaccine preventable diseases in

adolescence. Parents choose not vaccinate their children for many different reasons, one being

their lack of knowledge on vaccines. Parents are hesitant to vaccinate when they are unsure of

the outcome or possible side effects. One frequently asked question is “Did I put my child in

more danger by getting them vaccinated?” (Klein 1). The CDC can successfully answer that as,

no. According to the CDC, vaccines can cause side effects (like any medication), yet they are

mostly mild. Keeping in mind that many vaccine-preventable disease can be very serious, or

even deadly. The side effects from vaccines are easy to treat, and almost always minor. Redness

and swelling where the shot was give may appear and just as quickly disappear. Tenderness is

also likely and can be cured with some Ibuprofen or a warm compress. On the other hand, sixty

three percent of parents fear that a serious side effect or allergic reaction will occur (Levs 1).

This kind of reaction is ​very​ rare. Doctors and staff are aware of the child's medical records and

would know beforehand whether the child is at risk. Educating parents on vaccinations can

relieve their stress, and increase the amount of children who are vaccinated. This would result in

an overall decrease of disease outbreaks, and ensure civilian safety.

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The United States ensures that vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety monitoring begins

with "the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who ensures the safety, effectiveness, and

availability of vaccines for the United States. Before the FDA approves a vaccine for the public.

Highly trained FDA scientists and doctors evaluate the results of studies, inspecting the sites

where vaccines were made, and the aftermath affect. All while following strict manufacturing

guidelines, but also how autism may be linked to vaccines.

The belief that vaccinations and autism are linked has spread quickly in recent years.

Fifty-seven percent of parents do not vaccinate due to autism concerns (Levs 1). Signs of Autism

often appear in kids around the same time they receive vaccinations, creating a “side effect”

illusion (Kids 1). The controversy arose over a research paper that was written in 1998 claiming

that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine caused intestinal inflammation. Which led to

“translocation of usually non permeable peptides to the bloodstream and to the brain, where they

affected development” (Plotkin 1). This has since been found to be fraudulent, and was removed

from the journal it was written in. There has since been many studies done to prove that vaccines

do not cause autism. One example is a study conducted by Dr. Angle Jan. Of the 95,727 children

she studied for five years only around one percent (994) were diagnosed with autism. Among

those diagnosed had an older sibling with autism (1,929), approximately seven percent (134)

developed the disorder” (“No MMR…” 1). Today, about one in sixty-eight U.S children acquire

autism — a rate that has remained unchanged since at least 1990. Though time there has been a

steady increase in awareness, diagnosis, and "acceptance". Autism affects the family tree as a

whole, mentally and physically. Many families are confused, and searching for an explanation

about why or how their children developed blindly placing the blame on vaccinations. David
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Amaral, an autism specialist at the UC Davis MIND Institute has conducted various studies and

all conclude that when adding all risks together, genetics accounts for fifty percent of the real

autism risk (Belluz 1). Correlation does not mean causation, as stated before signs of autism can

appear close to they receive vaccinations.

The number of parents refusing to vaccinate are only increasing, threatening their own

and others’ health. Parents must be required to vaccinate their children despite religion or beliefs.

Seventy percent of parents agree that vaccines are necessary to protect their children. The

remaining thirty percent must receive additional education from doctors to ease their skepticism.

Parents skepticisms are formed from spreading myths, but they are nothing more than myths.

The autism link and others are proven busted by the FDA, CDC, and other medical trained

professionals. Unfortunately, children like Maggie are forced to suffer in agony from deadly

diseases that were once eradicated. All due to the families whom are non vacantoris. In order to

reduce the risk of infection all children need to receive vaccines as soon as they are eligible.
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Works Cited

Belluz, Julia. “Researchers Have Ditched the Autism-Vaccine Hypothesis. Here's What They

Think Actually Causes It.” ​Vox​, Vox, 11 May 2017,

www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/5/11/15508006/what-causes-autism-spectrum-diso

rder-vaccine-theory.

“Disease Eradication.” History of Vaccines,

BBBBB​www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/disease-eradication.

“Hibben-White, Jennifer.” This Is My Son Griffin, and He May Have... - Jennifer Hibben-White

Jacks, Tim. “To the Parent of an Unvaccinated Child Who Exposed My at-Risk Kids Measles.”

BBBBB​Mother Jones, 24 June 2017,

BBBBB​www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/02/open-letter-parent-unvaccinated-child-mea

sl​BBBBB​es-exposure/

Kids, Caring for. “Vaccines: Myths and Facts.” Vaccines: Myths and Facts - Caring for Kids,

BBBBB​www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/vaccines-myths-and-facts.

Klein, M.D. Nicola P. “Why You Should Continue to Vaccinate Your Kids.” U.S. News &

World ​BBBBB​Report, U.S. News & World Report,

BBBBB​health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-07-20/why-you-should-continue-t

o-​BBBBB​vaccinate-your-kids.

Levs, Josh. “The Unvaccinated, by the Numbers.” CNN, Cable News Network, 4 Feb. 2015,

BBBBB​www.cnn.com/2015/02/03/health/the-unvaccinated/index.html.
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Mazza, Ed. “John Oliver Has Absolutely Had It With Anti- Vaxxers.” The Huffington

Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 26 June 2016.

“Measles (Rubeola).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, 5 Feb. 2018, www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html.

“No MMR-Autism Link in Large Study of Vaccinated vs. Unvaccinated Kids.” Autism

Speaks, 24 Apr. 2015,

www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/no-mmr-autism-link-large-study-vaccinated-B

Plotkin, et al. “Vaccines and Autism: A Tale of Shifting Hypotheses | Clinical Infectious

Diseases | Oxford Academic.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 15 Feb. 2009,

BBBBB​academic.oup.com/cid/article/48/4/456/284219.

“Vaccination Coverage Among Children in Kindergarten - United States, 2013–14

School Year.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, ​BBBBB​17 Oct. 2014, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6341a1.htm.

“Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence.” HealthyChildren.org,

BBBBB​www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccine-Studi

e​BBBBB​s-Examine-the-Evidence.aspx.