Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that introducing vaccines has led to more than 99 percent reduction of mortality and morbidity for measles, diphtheria, polio, rubella, and smallpox (Mooney, 3). Vaccination is one of the strategies used to prevent disease in children (Bronfin, 1). However, debates have circulated surrounding the question of whether or not parents should have the choice to vaccinate or not vaccinate their child. The decision of the parent to vaccinate his or her child is significant in protecting the overall health of a community (CITE). This not only influences the health of the nation, but also affects the child’s physical development, immunity, and schooling. The importance of this concern provokes the controversy
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From the moment, a child is brought into the world, he or she is exposed to more antigens in the environment than all their vaccines combined. Parents fear that children are exposed to too many vaccinations, but this is a positive commodity; medical facilities are able to protect children from more diseases than what was previously given (2). “The combination of vaccines given today in early childhood are much less of a challenge to a child’s immune system than the combination of vaccines given in the 1980s and 1990s (CCIC, 2).” A newspaper article by New Voice of New York, mentioned that “A full series can help protect children from several serious childhood diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hib meningitis, hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), and pneumococcal disease (2)” Further recommending that infants should receive the first dose of hepatitis B at birth and then receive the additional vaccines in order to be completely immunized against these lists of diseases (2). Scientists and doctors invest their time in determining the timing of a vaccine’s dose using two elements. One element, is the vaccine is scheduled for the age when the immune system of the body will respond at its best. The second element is, it is ensured that it will …show more content…
Smith, MD, MSCE and Charles R. Woods, MD, MS, found no evidence pertaining to the relationship between thimerosal exposure during the first year of life and neuropsychological outcomes at seven to ten years of age. A group of 1047 children at seven to ten years old were analyzed from a study of forty-two neuropsychological cases and thimerosal exposure. The relationship between each outcome and timeliness were analyzed and tested. A second analyses set represented children with the lowest and highest vaccine exposures during the first seven months of life (2). Forty-seven percent of the 1047 children were considered a timely receipt. While, those who did not receive vaccines on time made up twenty-three percent of the cohort study, Moreover, receiving vaccines on time had a full-scale IQs, stuttered less, and had a higher verbal performance. They also scored better on the teacher Connor’s ratings for inattentiveness and hyperactivity, grooved pegboard, Boston Naming Test, and metacognition. Through theses analyses, there was no statistical differences favoring the least timely group. “Timely vaccination during infancy has no adverse effect on neuropsychological outcomes 7 to 10 years later (1134).” Nnotwithstanding with these facts, parents still have the legal choice in vaccinating his or her
From the moment, a child is brought into the world, he or she is exposed to more antigens in the environment than all their vaccines combined. Parents fear that children are exposed to too many vaccinations, but this is a positive commodity; medical facilities are able to protect children from more diseases than what was previously given (2). “The combination of vaccines given today in early childhood are much less of a challenge to a child’s immune system than the combination of vaccines given in the 1980s and 1990s (CCIC, 2).” A newspaper article by New Voice of New York, mentioned that “A full series can help protect children from several serious childhood diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hib meningitis, hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), and pneumococcal disease (2)” Further recommending that infants should receive the first dose of hepatitis B at birth and then receive the additional vaccines in order to be completely immunized against these lists of diseases (2). Scientists and doctors invest their time in determining the timing of a vaccine’s dose using two elements. One element, is the vaccine is scheduled for the age when the immune system of the body will respond at its best. The second element is, it is ensured that it will …show more content…
Smith, MD, MSCE and Charles R. Woods, MD, MS, found no evidence pertaining to the relationship between thimerosal exposure during the first year of life and neuropsychological outcomes at seven to ten years of age. A group of 1047 children at seven to ten years old were analyzed from a study of forty-two neuropsychological cases and thimerosal exposure. The relationship between each outcome and timeliness were analyzed and tested. A second analyses set represented children with the lowest and highest vaccine exposures during the first seven months of life (2). Forty-seven percent of the 1047 children were considered a timely receipt. While, those who did not receive vaccines on time made up twenty-three percent of the cohort study, Moreover, receiving vaccines on time had a full-scale IQs, stuttered less, and had a higher verbal performance. They also scored better on the teacher Connor’s ratings for inattentiveness and hyperactivity, grooved pegboard, Boston Naming Test, and metacognition. Through theses analyses, there was no statistical differences favoring the least timely group. “Timely vaccination during infancy has no adverse effect on neuropsychological outcomes 7 to 10 years later (1134).” Nnotwithstanding with these facts, parents still have the legal choice in vaccinating his or her