Summary and Reflection on The Panic Virus Amid the ongoing dispute that links vaccines with autism, Seth Mnookin has published The Panic Virus in 2011. Due to what must be the success of the book, the author has re-published the book with an afterword in 2012. The book’s purpose is to provide perception of the truth using scientific facts and evidence. The author’s curiosity and interest in the issue grew after the realization of the suspicion of his friends toward the medical establishment and instead rely on journalism and media.
Vaccination Nation is about the controversy of vaccinations causing autism. The United States federal court denied any link between autism and vaccines, more specifically the MMR vaccine. Vaccines causing autism has been the talk on news, celebrities and magazines. Despite scientist denying that there is no connection this topic has gained several legal claims against vaccines. This has led parents into panic about autism.
Disneyland, also known as the happiest place on Earth, has recently been the considered one of the most dangerous places on Earth for those that have not received a measles vaccination. A measles outbreak had swept across the park only months ago, causing many unvaccinated individuals and those too young to be vaccinated to contract the awful sickness. Also, the individuals who became sick returned home and began to spread the germ in their towns and cities. The measles vaccine is proven to be extremely effective, so if parents had made the decision of vaccinating their children, the outbreak could have easily been prevented. Measles is one of many diseases that are preventable with immunizations, yet some individuals refuse to cooperate.
The vaccination wars debate is a large controversy over whether children should receive the recommended vaccines or not. This debate takes into consideration the possible risks to the child, family, and the community versus parents having a choice to say no to vaccines, despite pressures by society and the government. Furthermore, the debate discusses that although there are rare side effects of vaccinations, but overall they are safe and in the best interest of the child and the community. For instance, it was believed that autism was caused by the MMR vaccine. Except, with scientific proof, there showed to be no correlation between the MMR vaccine and autism.
Many people believe otherwise, that scientists, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies were trying to poison newborn baby and their children. The argument that sparked the most controversy was vaccines cause autism, since all vaccines were loaded with chemicals and other toxins. And on top of that, since injection is the only method to vaccinate, some people were outraged and skeptical of the method. They could not bear to watch their sweet little angel received a cocktail of illness inject right into their body. Andrew Wakefield, a British surgeon, published a study on The Lancet, a renowned medical journal, which indicating that the measles vaccinations associated with the upswing of autism cases.
On June 25, 2015, lawmakers of California voted into legislature a limit on vaccine exemptions for school-aged children because of a measles outbreak in the state during the previous winter that spread to 147 children (Reuters, 2015). This year the United States has had 592 cases of measles, and the majority of these cases are from non-vaccinated people. Being vaccinated accounts for a healthier and longer lives, especially for infants and children (Anderson, 2015). The frightening part about these outbreaks is how quickly these diseases can spread. I firmly believe these outbreaks are proof of the need and effectiveness of vaccines, and the exemption should be only be limited to
Vaccinations do not cause harm and are not linked to autism, parents not vaccinating children is the true cause of harm. Non-vaccination leads to the spread of diseases causing death and disablement in its wake. We must protect the weak in our community by immunizing those whose immune system is able to be vaccinated. By not vaccinating we are being negligent and putting not only our child in harm’s way but other individuals who have not been immunized as well. To protect our community we must mandate all children regardless of their parent’s beliefs or religion be vaccinated.
Vaccinations are easy to obtain and they prevent many children against communicable diseases. Subsequently, a large number of parents are contesting the vaccination laws for children. Many parents feel there is direct link between being immunized, autism and birth defects. The percentages are low for these
Autism is a birth defect where a child’s social and learning skills are more delayed than a child without autism. This would be understandable as to why a parent would not feel safe vaccinating their child. After thorough research done by scientists and doctors, they have come to the conclusion that vaccines and autism have no connection whatsoever. The reason for the speculation is that when a parent starts noticing the signs of autism, it is normally around the age of 12-18 months. This is the age where the shot for MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) would be given.
However, there are more resounding evidence that disproves the relationship between vaccines and autism that can’t be ignored. The study, published by the Lancet in 1998, conducted by Dr. Andrew Wakefield ignited a controversy in the medical world. 12 children believed to have developed autism participated in a study that reviewed their medical histories and evaluated their developments. They were reviewed for any underlying biological/physiological factors that could affect the child’s health.
The fear and misconception that vaccines are harmful puts not only children at risk, but the future population as well. Many people today might think of measles as a disease of the past because it’s no longer “around”; however, this does not mean that the measles disease is gone forever. A study was done in March of 2016, to evaluate the association between vaccine refusals and the measles epidemic. Scientist evaluated eighteen published measles studies which described 1,416 measles cases and more than half, 56.8%, had no history of measles vaccination. This proves that the phenomenon of vaccine refusal was associated with an increased risk for measles among people who refuse vaccines and among fully vaccinated individuals (Phadke et al.).
It has been implied that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine causes autism. The common use of the MMR vaccine has reportedly be concurrent with an inflation in the extent of autism in California and there is case reports of children in whom signs of both developmental reverting and gastrointestinal symptoms precise shortly after vaccination. Measles virus has been found in the terminal ileum in children with developmental disorders and gastrointestinal symptoms but not in developmentally normal children with gastrointestinal symptoms. The measles virus used in the MMR vaccine is a live constrict virus that normally causes no symptoms or only very mild ones. Studies construct to calculate the suggested link between MMR vaccination and autism do not assess an association, but the information is weak and based on case-series, cross-sectional, and ecologic studies.
In theory, protecting children from these life-altering conditions seems like an easy decision; however, substantial worry exists about the relationship between autism and vaccinations. Parents have to think about whether they should prevent some diseases their children could contract, all with the possibility of subjecting them to
Despite one’s beliefs, vaccines are essential not only to a person’s well-being, but to the health of those around them. Mandatory vaccinations do not cause autism; rather, they save lives while also
Unfortunately, the anti-vaccination movement is becoming increasingly popular due to individuals’ unfounded fears and imagined consequences associated with the idea of purposely inserting a disease into one’s body. However, despite one’s beliefs, vaccines are essential not only to a person’s well-being, but to the health of those around them. Mandatory vaccinations do not cause autism; rather, they save lives while upholding values of
