Anti-Vaccination on the Rise Vaccinations have proven to be one of the most beneficial preventative measures that has been taken worldwide to fight against crippling childhood diseases. Diseases such as small pox, diphtheria, polio and rubella have become eradicated or dramatically decreased by more than ninety five percent. Vaccines save an estimated six to nine million lives each year, three million of those lives being children (Oshima Lee, 2013). Despite the success of vaccinations, the growing number of parents choosing not to have their children immunized is on the rise. The rise can be credited to the growing concern of both real and perceived adverse side effects. Refusal to vaccinate increases the concern of the serious consequences
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Too often parents get on the internet to google information, click the first websites they see, and believe everything they read. On the other hand they may become frustrated from not knowing from one article to the next what they are supposed to believe, leading them to become fearful and suspicious of immunizations. It is important for healthcare providers to stay informed and up to date about common vaccine related concerns, as well as what to expect for the rationale for refusal. Healthcare providers also need to be prepared to supply evidence based materials that identify the pros, cons and misconception surrounding the vaccination. Materials that parents can view at home, such as a list of evidence based practice websites or videos that allow the parents to do the research and arm themselves with accurate …show more content…
What is unclear is whether the increase is due to increasing awareness, environmental exposures, or differences in the methods used to assess for this disability. Researchers from all over the world have collected evidence and have led scientific studies to examine the relationship between the MMR vaccine, thimerosal and autism. Evidence from several studies that examined vaccine trends and autism frequency shows no association and favors rejection of any type of relationship (Miller, Reynolds, 2009). One example is of a controlled case study that involved two hundred and fifty six children that were diagnoses with autism and seven hundred and fifty two random children who did not have autism. The research examined both prenatal and postnatal exposure to thimerosal to determine whether children exposed to thimerosal containing vaccines where at an increased risk for developing autism. Statistical analysis of collected data revealed that there is not an increased risk for autism related to thimerosal (McKinney, 2013). Thimerosal is used as a preservative in vaccines to prevent contamination from multiple punctures in a vial. It is fifty percent mercury and is degraded to ethyl mercury, an organ mercurial, which should not be confused with methylmercury, which can accumulate in the brain and cause neurological damage. Studies have shown that ethyl mercury is metabolized and
Too often parents get on the internet to google information, click the first websites they see, and believe everything they read. On the other hand they may become frustrated from not knowing from one article to the next what they are supposed to believe, leading them to become fearful and suspicious of immunizations. It is important for healthcare providers to stay informed and up to date about common vaccine related concerns, as well as what to expect for the rationale for refusal. Healthcare providers also need to be prepared to supply evidence based materials that identify the pros, cons and misconception surrounding the vaccination. Materials that parents can view at home, such as a list of evidence based practice websites or videos that allow the parents to do the research and arm themselves with accurate …show more content…
What is unclear is whether the increase is due to increasing awareness, environmental exposures, or differences in the methods used to assess for this disability. Researchers from all over the world have collected evidence and have led scientific studies to examine the relationship between the MMR vaccine, thimerosal and autism. Evidence from several studies that examined vaccine trends and autism frequency shows no association and favors rejection of any type of relationship (Miller, Reynolds, 2009). One example is of a controlled case study that involved two hundred and fifty six children that were diagnoses with autism and seven hundred and fifty two random children who did not have autism. The research examined both prenatal and postnatal exposure to thimerosal to determine whether children exposed to thimerosal containing vaccines where at an increased risk for developing autism. Statistical analysis of collected data revealed that there is not an increased risk for autism related to thimerosal (McKinney, 2013). Thimerosal is used as a preservative in vaccines to prevent contamination from multiple punctures in a vial. It is fifty percent mercury and is degraded to ethyl mercury, an organ mercurial, which should not be confused with methylmercury, which can accumulate in the brain and cause neurological damage. Studies have shown that ethyl mercury is metabolized and