Benefits & Risks of Vaccines

**Benefits & Risks of Vaccines**

Vaccines have helped children stay healthy for more than
50 years. Vaccines teach the body how to defend itself when germs enter the
body that do not belong. If a person was to get a disease later in life but had
already got the vaccine for it such as the flu the immune system recognizes it
and attacks the infection. “Vaccinations have reduced the number of infections
from vaccine-preventable diseases by more than 90 %”( healthychildren.org, 2014). There are people who should not get
vaccines such as premature babies, people with asthma, vitamin D deficiency, or
severe illness. Vaccines are considered the natural way to deal with infectious
diseases. Neil Kaneshiro is a medical doctor and Clinical Assistant Professor
of Pediatrics at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine, he states, “The
recommended vaccination schedule is updated every 12 months by the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention”.

**Types of Vaccines**

There are four different types of vaccines that can be
given; live virus vaccines which are a weakened form of the virus, measles,
mumps, and rubella vaccines are types of live viruses.  Killed vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, are
made from protein or other small pieces taken from a virus such as the flu
vaccine. There is also a toxoid vaccine that contains toxins or chemicals made
by the virus. Toxoid vaccines make you immune to harmful effects of the
infection, these are found in diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. Finally, biosynthetic
vaccines are manmade substances similar to the virus like the vaccines
haemophilus influence type B (2014).

**Babies and Pregnant Women**

The
reason babies need vaccines a few months after birth is because it helps
protect the baby from germs that cause the diseases that their bodies are not
use to. The baby’s body was protected for 9 months in the womb by the mother’s
placenta. But hours after birth there is no more protection. With the exception
of the flu shot, no vaccines should be given to a pregnant women. It is best
that when trying to become pregnant a woman is up to date on vaccines.

“Whooping
cough is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in the United
States. It is caused by bacteria that spread easily from person to person
through personal contact, coughing, and sneezing. It can be very serious for
babies and can cause them to stop breathing. “Pregnant women should receive a
dose of Tdap during each pregnancy, preferably at 27 through 36 weeks - to
protect themselves and their baby” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
2014).

**Symptoms**
of Vaccine Reactions

* pronounced

 swelling redness, heat or hardness at injection site that continues for
 days or weeks;

* body

 rash or hives;

* shock/collapse;
* unresponsiveness,

 prolonged deep sleep;

* high

 pitched screaming (may include arching of back);

* hours

 of persistent, inconsolable crying;

* high

 fever (over 103 F)

* respiratory

 distress (difficulty breathing);

* twitching

 or jerking of the body, arm, leg or head;

* rolling

 or crossing of eyes;

* severe

 head or neck pain;

* joint

 pain or muscle weakness;

* disabling

 fatigue;

* loss

 of memory and mental skills;

* paralysis

 of any part of body;

* changes

 in sleep/wake pattern and dramatic personality changes;

* lack

 of eye contact or social withdrawal

* loss

 of ability to roll over, sit up or stand up

* head

 banging or unusual flapping, rubbing, rocking, spinning;

* onset

 of chronic ear or respiratory problems (including asthma);

* severe/persistent

 diarrhea or chronic constipation;

* excessive

 bruising, bleeding or anemia

* other

 serious loss of physical, mental or emotional wellness
Crystal
Lombardo wrote the article *9 MAJOR PROS AND CONS OF VACCINATIONS,* she states,“Over 90% of doctors that were surveyed for a study by a
prestigious university answered yes that they had at least one parent that had
opted to NOT vaccinate their child based on what they believed were the cons of
vaccination”. “Proponents say that vaccination is safe and one of the greatest
health developments of the 20th century. They point out that illnesses,
including rubella, diphtheria, smallpox, polio, and whooping cough, are now
prevented by vaccination and millions of children’s lives are saved. They contend
adverse reactions to vaccines are extremely rare” (ProCon.org, 2015). All 50 states require vaccinations if the child is
to enter a public school even though there is no laws staying that children
must be vaccinated. “Opponents say that children’s immune systems can deal with
most infections naturally, and that injecting questionable vaccine ingredients
into a child may cause side effects, including seizures, paralysis, and death.
They contend that numerous studies prove that vaccines may trigger problems
like autism, ADHD, and diabetes” (ProCon.org, 2015). Immunizations need to be
taken more seriously, it could change a child’s life in a good or bad way.

**References**

Vaccinations?
Know the risks and failures. Retrieved from http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/Vaccinations--Know-the-risks-and-failures-.aspx

Vaccines
Your Child Needs. (2014, April 24). Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Vaccines-Your-Child-Needs.aspx

Vaccines
for Pregnant Women. (2014, October 10). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/pregnant.html

Should
Any Vaccines Be Required for Children? (2015, February 6). Retrieved from http://vaccines.procon.org/

Kaneshiro, N. (2015, April 24). Vaccines (immunizations) - overview:
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002024.htm