Vaccination Argumentative Report

Nicholson, M. S., & Leask, J. (2012). Lessons from an online debate about measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization. Vaccine, 30(25), 3806-3812. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.10.072

This article addresses a debate through online discussion regarding the safety of the MMR vaccine and if it is the cause of autism. However, the authors faced some challenges in that they did not include enough health professionals to respond to the increasingly high rates of those questioning the vaccine. The forum was a place where parents could express their concerns, opinions, ask questions, and share their personal experience with their own children who they felt were affected by the vaccination. However, there was no connection to

Over a hundred years ago, small pox affected over 48,000 people just in the U.S. Today smallpox has been eliminated because of immunizations. Immunizations are implemented in order to prevent diseases, decreasing the chances of diseases, building herd immunity, and prevention of diseases in children. The need for vaccination has eliminated infectious diseases. However, public health mediations have some risk. Past experience with other vaccines introduced forty years ago has presented some complications of intussusception and sporadic paralytic poliomyelitis. Small risk of individual vaccines is always considered when weighing the risk and benefits to preventing a spread of a disease to the greater population. Speculations of linking autism and type 1 diabetes has increased creating a debate on the safety of the vaccines and potential effects. Certain side effects included: crying, fussiness, fever and in rare occasions, febrile seizures. The vaccine contains: formaldehyde, egg proteins, human albumin, aluminum, antibiotics, thimerosal, yeast proteins, and ethyl mercury. Although the presence of mercury toxicity in the vaccine may cause the neurologic damage seen in autism, it has not been completely linked to the vaccine. The CDC recommends the MMR. Some believe that it might be related to the beginning of certain autoimmune diseases. However, there has not been any connection linking the two according to a study

This concern has arisen due to an increase in the numbers of unvaccinated children in the U.S. leading to the debate if immunizations should be mandatory. This article addresses the ethical debate parents of vaccinated children face in their feeling that the government should make it mandatory for all children to be vaccinated. They feel unvaccinated children place a risk on their own children. Libertarians stress their rights to make their own choices regarding their health concerns and their children’s rights should not be violated. Conservatives argue all citizens, particularly in the area of health issues, should conform to guidelines that are for the greater good of protecting all citizens from avoidable harm. Both sides are based on the ethical principle derived from Western society of respect for people’s autonomy, right of self-determination of morals, and life’s meaning. While it is evident that we should not put others in danger, we should do what is ethically right to prevent injury. Although the libertarians and conservatives have two different views on vaccinations becoming mandatory they both reflect what is morally right for society and finding a proper balance of both displaying ethical principles. The author maintains the position both sides are doing what is morally right and