Vaccines for Children

1. This respond should be addressed to George Pilkington

The number of children who are not vaccinated is at an alarming rate. Immunizations have an enormous impact on improving children’s health in the United States (CDC, 2018). I think the main reason is lack of knowledge. Many people hear from different media outlets how vaccines can cause other diseases. Many celebrities have made large negative campaigns regarding vaccines and their safety. All parents have the right to do what they feel is best for their child. That being said, there should be some rules or regulations if you choose to not vaccinate your child. The risks to others are substantial. Dr. Feyn, a Denver pediatrician, is worried he is creating a risky environment for vaccine-preventable infections in his community. The CDC reports 118 cases of measles in a five-month period in 2011. Of the reported cases, 89 % were unvaccinated people (Insel, 2012). Certain children cannot be immunized due to age or certain diseases. The kids are susceptible to developing an outbreak due to exposure of unvaccinated kids in everyday places like the grocery store or playground. Education is the key when parents refuse vaccinations for their child. Their might be a lack of understanding or misconception and the provider needs to give factual information for decision making. Vaccination is one of the best ways a parent can protect their child. Consequences of not protecting children do not outweigh the risks that are associated with certain vaccines.

2. This response should be addressed to Barbara Gulledge,

The number of young children not fully vaccinated for communicable disease has grown because of different policy requirements, lack of health insurance and financial assistances, parent’s religious beliefs, and fear of the unknown. According to (Ault, A.2011),”the immunization rate dropped because in some states parents do not have health insurance or are not eligible for free vaccination clinic”. Although, children should be immunized between the ages of infant to 18 years old many parents are skeptical of having their children vaccinated because of the death rate associated with immunization and the fear of children developing autism, cancer and other health deficiencies. However, I do not feel that parents should be able to opt out of having their child vaccinated because all children attending any type of school around other children should receive an immunization shot to help prevent any illness or airborne diseases that may be accumulated in the air. The immunization shot can help prevent blood borne pathogens as well as airborne hiccups from being shared among the children at school as well as other family members such as infants or people with weak immune systems. Few of the many diseases that can be spread without immunization shots are: Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Flu, Chickenpox, Measles and more. Communities that are not fully vaccinated, especially parents who espouse the alternative life-style religious beliefs that oppose vaccinations continue to contribute to the outbreak of diseases. Nevertheless, according to (Lee, Rosenthal, & Scheffler, 2014), the uses of vaccines have minimized the outbreak of disease that was lethal and confer a broader protection of communities by establishing “herb immunity”. “Herb immunity is critical for protecting the health of people who are vulnerable to communicable disease, those that cannot be vaccinated because they are too young, and have immunological conditions.”