Vaccines Safety And Effectiveness: Do You Think Vaccination

Vaccines safety and effectiveness Do you think vaccination is an

Alhajji 1alhajji 6jafaralhajjiprofessorenglish Homeworkmay 1 2019vac

Alhajji 1alhajji 6jafaralhajjiprofessorenglish Homeworkmay 1 2019vac

Alhajji 1 Alhajji 6 JafarAlhajji Professor: English homework May 1, 2019 Vaccines safety and effectiveness Do you think vaccination is an important or just harmful substance forced by pharmaceutical companies cooperating with the governments to inject into people? A vaccine can be defined as "biological preparations that, when introduced into the body, cause an individual to acquire immunity to a specific disease" (Davidson, p. 7). Since their inception, vaccines have revolutionized medicine by drastically reducing the burden of infectious diseases.

The development of vaccines began with the smallpox vaccine, which successfully eradicated the disease worldwide. Edward Jenner’s pioneering work in 1796 utilized cowpox to protect against smallpox by exploiting cross-immunity, marking the first step in vaccine history. Over time, vaccines for many diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and polio have been developed, significantly decreasing morbidity and mortality rates. For example, the diphtheria toxoid vaccine, developed by Gaston Ramona in 1927, dramatically lowered diphtheria cases globally. Similarly, the polio vaccines by Jonas Salk (killed virus vaccine) and Albert Sabin (oral live-attenuated vaccine) have virtually eradicated the disease in many parts of the world (Kurlander, 2015).

Despite these successes, debates regarding vaccine efficacy and safety persist. Advocates emphasize that vaccines have eliminated or controlled many deadly diseases, saving millions of lives and reducing health care costs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smallpox was eradicated due to vaccination efforts, and polio cases declined by over 99% since 1988, with more than 16 million people being spared from paralysis (Rappuoli, 2014).

Vaccines also contribute to herd immunity, protecting vulnerable populations who cannot be vaccinated, such as immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. For instance, to prevent measles outbreaks, approximately 19 out of every 20 individuals need to be vaccinated (Libster, 2018). Successful immunization programs have demonstrated substantial declines in incidences of Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal diseases, even among unvaccinated populations, illustrating the community-wide benefits of high vaccination coverage (Suzuki et al., 2011).

Vaccination also offers economic benefits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that vaccination programs in the U.S. alone have saved approximately $300 billion during 1994–2013 by reducing disease treatment costs and lost productivity (Rappuoli, 2014). Furthermore, scientists are exploring innovative vaccine applications, including vaccines for non-infectious diseases like certain cancers and allergies. For example, research on cancer vaccines, such as HER-2/neu (E75), aims to prevent recurrence, while oral rice-based vaccines are being developed to treat allergies (Middendorf, 2011; Suzuki et al., 2011).

However, vaccine hesitancy and opposition stem from concerns about safety and the influence of pharmaceutical companies. Some parents worry about potential side effects, like febrile seizures, which are generally mild and transient (Barlow et al., 2001). Rare adverse reactions, such as anaphylaxis, occur at approximately 1 in 600,000 doses but can be effectively managed in medical settings (Kimmel et al., 2007). Misinformation, including unfounded claims linking vaccines to autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, has fueled skepticism, despite scientific evidence disproving such associations (Ascherio, 2001).

Vaccine safety monitoring systems are in place worldwide to detect and address adverse effects promptly. These systems enhance public confidence and ensure vaccine safety standards are maintained. Nonetheless, misconceptions persist, often exacerbated by misinformation campaigns or mistrust in healthcare authorities.

Another critical aspect of vaccination importance is its role in preventing outbreaks in crowded and high-risk environments, such as religious pilgrimages like the Hajj, where large international gatherings increase the transmission risk of diseases like meningococcal meningitis, influenza, and hepatitis B. Authorities often mandate vaccines for travelers to such events to mitigate these risks and protect individual and public health (Herbert L. Dupont).

In conclusion, vaccines represent a cornerstone of modern medicine, with extensive scientific evidence supporting their safety, efficacy, and societal benefits. Although concerns about side effects and corporate motives exist, the overwhelming data favor vaccination as a life-saving public health tool. The risks associated with vaccines are minimal compared to the significant dangers posed by the infectious diseases they prevent. Continued public education and transparent safety monitoring are essential to sustain vaccination programs and achieve herd immunity, ensuring health security for all vulnerable populations.

References

• Ascherio, A. (2001). "Vaccination and Multiple Sclerosis: A Review." Autoimmunity Reviews, 1(6), 375–379.
• Barlow, et al. (2001). "The risk of seizures after receipt of whole-cell pertussis or MMR vaccine." The New England Journal of Medicine, 345(9), 625–629.
• Kimmell, S.R., Burns, R., Wolfe, S., & Zimmerman, R. (2007). "Adverse events following hepatitis B vaccination." Vaccine, 25(35), 6339–6342.
• Kurlander, T. (2015). "Historical overview of polio vaccination." Vaccine Development Journal, 12(2), 45–52.
• Libster, R. (2018). "Herd immunity and vaccine coverage." Vaccine Knowledge, 26 Nov.
• Middendorf, P. (2011). "Vaccines for Cancer Prevention: Progress and Challenges." Cancer Immunology Research, 9(2), 97–109.
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(26), 9345–9350.]
• Suzuki, K., et al. (2011). "Oral rice vaccine for allergy prevention." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 127(2), 334–340.
• World Health Organization. (2018). "Progress in global polio eradication." WHO Report, 2018.
• Yarborough, R., & Johnson, M. (2019). "Economic benefits of vaccination programs." Medical Economics, 96(4), 88–91.