Vaccines have been around for a long time. They protect humans from many terrifying epidemics, such as polio and smallpox, that resulted in the deaths of thousands across continents. Study after study has been conducted; and they all show the effectiveness of vaccines at preventing infection. Still there are a large amount of people across the globe that are electing against immunizing their children. Why? After all this time why is it that parents are now choosing not to vaccinate? The anti-vaccination movement is actually not a new thing at all, according an article from the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. The article shows that there have been many movements dating back all the way to the 1800s. During that time, vaccines weren’t nearly as effective as they are now, and they carried risks that we don’t see today. Although vaccines are safe, there have been a lot of rumors circulating that suggested a link between autism, or other similar illnesses, and vaccines. This vaccine panic was originally caused by a study claiming there was a link between autism, and vaccines. A New York Times article explains, “The study was later disavowed by nearly all of the authors, then retracted by the journal in 2004.” Even though there have been several follow up studies that disproved the link, for example, a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics in 2013 showed no link between autism, and vaccines. The damage was already done, and people were already doubting the safety of vaccines. The anti-vaccine movement is typically made up of parents who are worried about the safety of their children. Sickness is one of the only things that a parent can’t protect their child from. With the swarms of rumors surrounding vaccines it can be hard to tell fact from fiction. Parents sometimes have a difficult time seeing past the scary stuff that they hear or read. One concerned mom, Skyler Smoot, says, “It just scares me. I’m confused.” Confusion is at the heart of the anti-vaccine movement. Another reason that parents may join the anti-vaccine movement is because it is much easier to believe another person than it is to believe numbers. If you hear a story about a kid who got really sick about the same time as they got a shot, what are you going to feel? It’s easier to relate to the sick child, and fear the vaccine, than it is to think about the study full of lifeless numbers that says vaccines are perfectly safe? It is easy for anyone to get caught up emotionally in the ideas, and stories of others; even if it is logical to listen to research. It also doesn’t help that no parent wants to take their kids to get shots. Some parents may decide to not vaccinate because it is easier than fighting with their kids or listening to them cry. Even though the anti-vaccination movement is not a new thing it still poses a major threat to people who depend on herd immunity. It’s especially ironic, because both sides of the movement want the same thing: healthy, safe kids.
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AuthorMy name is Katie Flexer, and I will be researching vaccinations. Archives
April 2018
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