Vaccines and Misinformation Surrounding Them

Vaccines and Misinformation Surrounding Them Celeste Clark An Argumentative Exploration into Vaccines and Misinformation Surrounding Them: TL;DR, Vaccination and Autism Have No Correlation Since the late 1990s, myths about the risk of a link between standard infant vaccination and those administered being autistic as a result, as well as general superstition or skepticism over the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, have been perpetuated and grown in popularity. So much so, that the president (at time of writing, Donald J. Trump) has questioned their safety, potentially putting millions of lives at risk. Vaccination is important for the health and well being of a community, as well as the human race, and should not be disputed. The belief in the chance of developing autism from vaccination is a harmful conviction to autistic people and children who dont get vaccinated because of their parents irrational fear that says, through their actions, I would rather my child die of a preventable disease than have a disorder. Especially in the current climate of alternative facts and conflicting information, it is imperative one should mold their beliefs to fit the facts, not m old the facts to fit their beliefs. Firstly, the positive (a double-meaning here of favorable and certain) effects of vaccination. On the authority of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Although children continue to get several vaccines up to their second birthday, these vaccines do not overload the immune system. Every day, your healthy babys immune system successfully fights off millions of antigens-the parts of germs that cause the bodys immune system to respond. The antigens in vaccines come from weakened or killed germs so they cannot cause serious illness. Vaccines contain only a tiny amount of the antigens that your baby encounters every day, even if your child receives several vaccines in one day. People are usually vaccinated when they are very young, since their immune systems are weak and not well developed. At their young age, they have a higher risk of contracting and failing to successfully combat diseases they come in contact with. The process of developing and testing vaccines begins with a laboratory, continues with clinical trials, and ends with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), who must approve a vaccine, its safety, and its effectiveness before its distribution and use in the United States. It is such a controlled and extensive process, it typically takes 10 to 15 years of research and testing before the vaccine is presented to, and approved or rejected by, the FDA. Vaccines, in their preventative nature, will likely seem to have a lack of effects to the person they are administered to-e.g., Person A gets vaccinated and nothing changes. Their life goes on as normal, and they do not notice that they have not come down with the disease that the vaccine counteracted. However, Person B was not vaccinated, gets the disease, and feels the full effects of what the vaccine silently prevented in Person A. For such a simple, quick procedure with a low-profile effect, its incredible the positive response it can have on an individual and a community. That, coupled with the fact almost all insurance covers it, makes it seem rather appalling more people fail to take advantage of it. An adverse event is, essentially, a coincidence; a health problem that occurs following vaccination that possibly could be induced by a vaccine. A side effect is a reaction shown to correlate to a vaccine by scientific studies and tests. The difference between adverse events and side effects is significant, especially in an argument as controversial and serious as this. It is important to recognise that personal anecdotes are not evidence. Adverse events reported to the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) are not necessarily side effects caused by vaccination. Vaccines do not affect or alter genes in any way, and gene mutation is what most likely causes autism, stated here by the Autism Society, There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children. Researchers do not know the exact cause of autism but are investigating a number of theories, including the links among heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting the theory that the disorder has a genetic basis. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that children with autism may have inherited. Autism is a developmental disorder, a broad spectrum of different symptoms and traits, found in people of all races, genders, ages, etc. It is becoming more commonly diagnosed due to increased knowledge. It is not a disease, nor is it curable or caused by vaccines. This quote from the article Vaccines Dont Cause Autism, but Thats Not the Point by Leslie Waghorn explains the moral wrong of accusing vaccination of provoking autism, and how it affects autistic people: . . . The panel discussion being broadcast was teens and adults with autism and how federal funding could better support them. As the show closed, the moderator asked if anyone on the panel felt a vaccine had caused their autism. Silence. One teen panelist spoke up, no, but it hurts that you would ask that question. The moderators tone softened, he apologized and asked why. . . . As I recall his response was, because it makes me feel like Im damaged or broken, when Im not. I was born this way. My brain just works differently than most other peoples. When people talk about vaccines and autism it makes me feel like Im not a person but a bad result. It reminds me that no one wants a kid like me and parents will risk their kids lives and everyone elses just to make sure their kid doesnt turn out like me. Even if vaccines did cause autism, it isnt a death sentence. Vaccine-preventable diseases can be. Children are not better off dead than disabled. Sources Cited   Ã‚   Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 02 May 2001. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Culp-Ressler, Tara. Massive New Study Provides The Best Proof Yet That Vaccines Dont Cause Autism. ThinkProgress. ThinkProgress, 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health Human Services, Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Evidence Vaccines Work. Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters. N.p., June 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. The Facts Behind Vaccine Safety. New York State. Department of Health, Feb. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Fine, Paul, Ken Eames, and David L. Heymann. Herd Immunity: A Rough Guide. Clinical Infectious Diseases 52.7 (2011): 911-16. Oxford Academic. Infectious Diseases Society of America, 01 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child. Vaccines.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. How Do Vaccines Work? HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. How Vaccines Work. Vaccineinformation.org. Immunization Action Coalition, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Importance of Vaccines. Vaccineinformation.org. Immunization Action Coalition, 09 Nov. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Khalakdina, Asheena, Alejandro Costa, and Sylvie Briand. Smallpox in the Post-eradication Era. Weekly Epidemiological Record 91.20 (2016): 257-64. World Health Organization. WHO, 20 May 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Making the Vaccine Decision. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 03 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. New Meta-analysis Confirms: No Association between Vaccines and Autism. Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks Inc., 19 May 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Olson, Samantha. History Of Autism And Vaccines: How One Man Unraveled The Worlds Faith In Vaccinations. Medical Daily. IBT Media Inc., 23 July 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Possible Side-effects from Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 02 Dec. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Proof That the HPV Vaccine Works. HealthyWomen. National Womens Health Resource Center, Inc., 22 Feb. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Should Any Vaccines Be Required for Children? ProCon.org. N.p., 31 Jan. 2017. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Stern, Alexandra Minna, and Howard Markel. The History Of Vaccines And Immunization: Familiar Patterns, New Challenges. Health Affairs. Project HOPE, 01 May 2005. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Understanding How Vaccines Work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health Human Services, Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Understanding Risk. The History of Vaccines. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccination Greatly Reduces Disease, Disability, Death and Inequity Worldwide. World Health Organization. WHO, Feb. 2008. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccine Myths Debunked. Public Health. PublicHealth.org, 27 May 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence. HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, 26 Jan. 2017. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccine Safety. ImmYounity. Sanofi Pasteur Inc., 03 Feb. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 23 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccine Side Effects and Adverse Events. History of Vaccines. The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, 27 Jan. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Vaccines Work! Immunization Action Coalition. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4037.pdf>. Waghorn, Leslie. Vaccines Dont Cause Autism, But Thats Not the Point. The Scientific Parent. TheScientificParent.org, 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Whats in Vaccines. Vaccines.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 01 May 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. What Causes Autism? My Child Without Limits. United Cerebral Palsy, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. What Is Autism? | Causes. Autism Society. Autism Society, 15 July 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Why Do People Think That Vaccines Can Cause Autism? Caresquad. Caresquad.com, LLC, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Willingham, Emily, and Laura Helft. The Autism-Vaccine Myth. NOVA. Public Broadcasting Service, 05 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. Willingham, Emily, and Laura Helft. What Is Herd Immunity? NOVA. Public Broadcasting Service, 05 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.