Importance of Vaccination
Vaccinations save lives, reduce the worry associated with diseases, and minimize healthcare fees. Healthcare personnel risk being exposed to dreadful illnesses. It is recommended that they be vaccinated against Hepatitis B, Influenza (Flu), Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap), and Varicella (Chickenpox) (Eisenstein, 2009). Some diseases, which used to be fatal, have been wiped off and others are close to being wiped away thanks to vaccination, for example Polio. Diseases that could have been prevented using vaccinations may also take a toll on a person’s financial situation due to medical bills, lost time at work and a lifetime disability care (Eisenstein, 2009).
People are still not being vaccinated and they have cited a number of reasons one of them being that vaccinations have not caused a reduction in diseases. People have refined their sanitation and sustenance habits, which have in turn raised their natural immunity. They have also stated that a number of vaccines had been deemed unfit and therefore had to be pulled off the market, for example Lyme disease vaccine and Rotavirus vaccine. So, what happens if you had the vaccine already? A vaccine is permanent (Eisenstein, 2009).
Eisenstein (2009) states that people’s immunity declines and they are prone to a number of diseases if not vaccinated. In case of falling ill, the patient has higher chances of dying. It may also cause disability, which may need a lifetime disability care, resulting to it being expensive, and time consuming in terms of visiting the hospitals.
In the United States, many states have passed laws that it is mandatory for children to be given certain immunizations before being admitted to school (Malone & Hinman, 2014). However, this has conflicted with religious, cultural, and ethical believes of some people. To respect these believes, all the states permit vaccination exclusions for medical reasons, 48 of them permit religious exclusions; and 20 of them permit philosophical exclusions. Research studies, however, show that persons exercising religious and/or philosophical exclusions face substantial risks of developing diseases. Thus, researchers have advocated for a balance between ethics and health (Malone & Hinman, 2014).
National Childhood Vaccine Injury (NCVI) urges parents to know the dangers and difficulties that could be associated with diseases and vaccines. They need to know if they (parents and children) are sick before being immunized; if they have personal or family history of bad reactions to vaccinations (neurological disorders, severe allergies or immune system problems); vaccinations side effects; how to identify and report a vaccination reaction; and how to keep a written record of all vaccines taken (Malone & Hinman, 2014).
References
Eisenstein, M. (2009, June 20). Don’t vaccinate before you educate. Retrieved from http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2009/06/20/dont-vaccinate-before-you-educate/.
Malone, K. M., & Hinman, A. R. (2012). Vaccination mandates: The public health imperative and individual rights. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.