In 1998, Andrew Wakefield published a report in a medical journal falsely linking routine childhood vaccinations to autism. This publication led to an uprising of what we know as “anti-vaxxers”, believing this theory that has no scientific backing. Several other researchers, doctors and scientists have failed to reproduce Wakefield’s results, proving his experiment and results to be flawed. Other studies and experiments have debunked this theory as well. Wakefield was found to have falsified his report and subsequently was barred from practicing medicine in the UK.
It is believed that the specific vaccine, the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, causes autism and autism like symptoms. This vaccine is administered around 12-15 months of age with a second dose at 4-6 years. The time period of the first dose also matches up with significant developmental points in a child’s life. At this point, the child usually starts talking, walking and expressing emotions. Anti-vaxxers appoint delays in any development or autism symptoms to the vaccine. While there is no science to back up the theory that autism is caused by childhood vaccinations, the “anti-vax” movement has accumulated a prominent following around the world ranging from celebrities to parents to politicians.
Due to the overwhelming and increasing amount of anti-vaxxers, diseases that were on the path to being eradicated in the United States have made a reappearance, such as measles. Since the publication of Andrew Wakefield’s false report, vaccination rates have steadily declined. This threatens our society’s herd immunity and puts those who are unable to receive the vaccine (due to age or health specific reasons) at risk of contracting the illness. With social media becoming more widespread across the country and world, this belief and other false information can be shared easier.
What is your stance on vaccines and why?
Do you think that fewer people receiving the vaccinations could have detrimental impacts? How and why?
Replies
Good story choice and well done Gabby!
I think vaccines are very important for everyone regardless of your age. Obviously, there are pros and cons to them, just like there are with literally everything in existence, but they are moreso beneficial in my opinion. The number of vaccinations in the US decreasing definitely could impact everyone. Not only does this make people percieve science differently, but it also puts some people at risk, like what you mentioned.
For the most part vaccines are benficial, but I don't believe they always are. Although they've helped prevent a lot of disease spread, they don't prevent all that they say they do. This has to do with how people's body reacts to vaccines. You're putting a small dose of it into your body and it's then up to your immune system to get rid of it and grow stronger against it, but this doesn't always happen right. Don't get me wrong, there are definetly some vital vaccinces out there, but some of them depend on your body and immune system. Personally, I haven't had a flu shot in a few years and have only contracted the flu once, and it was short lived. When I was younger I got it every year and I repeatedly got the flu every Winter, and it lasted for a week or more most of the time. I don't think they can cause autism either, but I do think they can have side effects on a child and it's developement. I say this because it all depends on how their body reacts.
I agree that the vaccines are beneficial, but like anything else, there are risks involved. However, severe reactions to the vaccines are very rare and shouldn't be the reason parents make the decision not to vaccinate their children. In regards to the flu shot, I think that is a bit different from childhood vaccines because it's an annual vaccine that doesn't guarantee full immunity to the flu. There's not much evidence to support the fact that a child's development is affected due to the vaccines, but like anything else, it could be possible.
I believe kids should get vaccinatated. They help stop the spread of viruses and dieases that could be very harmful to them. With less people getting vacccines, more kids will be getting sick with the illnesses that could've been prevented. With more of those illness, they can develop and spread fast.
I agree with you. The fewer people that recieve their childhood vaccines, the chances of outbreaks will raise significantly. It's already frustrating to watch outbreaks happen in the United States because we know the illness could've been prevented easily, but the amount and severity of outbreaks could increase.
I think that the majority of vaccines are good, but there are a few that are harmful to people. Vaccines are samples of the disease put into the human body in small doses. You are basically giving the person a little bit of the disease (usually too little to do any harm) in order to establish immunity. In the majority of vaccines, there is no problem with this. However, in rare circumstances, that little bit of disease is too much for the body to handle and ends up making the person sick instead of helping them. However, I think that people need to get the necessary vaccines to prevent highly contagious diseases.
Obviously with something like a vaccine that the majority of the population receives, there will be some risks involved. However, these reactions occur for a very small percentage of people and are extremely unlikely to occur. I agree that people need to get the vaccines unless there is a valid medical reason not to.
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I think that you should get your shots which you point out will keep the US herd immunity up. Having herd immunity stops us from having large outbreaks of diseases. If a large amount of people stop getting vaccines or having thier kids vaccinated it could lead to another epidemic but this time with measles or mumps.
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