Fear cripples. It is an emotion that, if not addressed, can wreak havoc resulting in many unwanted consequences. Fear can rock the core of the human spirit, blazing a path of destruction and possibly warranting a swath of poor choices. When people make choices based on fear, it is probable that these choices may not be the best, most thoroughly thought out, decisions. There are many cases in society and throughout history where a series of negative consequences occurred due to a decision made based on fear. More specifically though, a modern parallel is the situation with the views concerning the use of vaccines. To give some background, what exactly is a vaccine? A majority of the public possesses some knowledge of this medical phenomenon:
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Upon closer examination though, the reality actually portrays the opposite. The general anti-vaccine demographic is upper-class whites between the ages of thirty and forty who earned college degrees (pewresearch.org). Usually, this population sample is not associated with sheer obliviousness and they are clearly educated. Then why the rebelliousness? First off, there have been cases where harsh side effects were linked to vaccines. According to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, the government has doled out roughly 2 billion dollars through 2,398 claims due to side effect problems resulting from vaccines. Evidently, there have been unpredictable drawbacks, but 2,398 is a minuscule fraction of the total vaccine recipients in the United States. The probability that one will face any harm by way of vaccine is unlikely. In fact, the chances of brain swelling as a result of the DTaP (whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria) shot is 11 in 1,000,000. In contrast, if diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough are contracted due to the absence of vaccination, they are fatal in 1 in 20 cases, 1 in 10 cases, and 1 in 1,500 cases, respectively (parents.com). This suggests the prospect of kids developing harsh side effects is slim, while the probability of children surviving one of these diseases is relatively high. …show more content…
This limits the spread of a disease due to a large percentage of dutiful, immune people. Indirectly, this saves people that are not actually immune. Believing in this phenomenon puts the onus on others rather than yourself. This scenario is similar to the free rider problem, when those who do not pay for a service still reap the benefits from it by feeding off others’ contributions. Essentially, this problem is created when people figure someone else can pay for the good or service. The free rider attitude can be a dangerous one to adopt since certain societal duties like voting and taxation, consequently, are not tended to. People may feel that their contributions are insignificant because of the sheer number of citizens, but if everyone feels this way then not many tasks are sufficiently completed. Taking responsibility for your actions is important and crucial for a well functioning society. Still, a popular anti-vaxxer sentiment remains that the herd immunity will likely account for the lack of their own child’s vaccination. First of all, this point is not appropriate because the child could still possibly contract a disease such as contact with foreigners or exposure to other unvaccinated kids. Likewise, for the herd immunity to come into effect, 80-90 percent of people have to be fully protected (procon.org). This leaves little room for unexpected occurrences.
Upon closer examination though, the reality actually portrays the opposite. The general anti-vaccine demographic is upper-class whites between the ages of thirty and forty who earned college degrees (pewresearch.org). Usually, this population sample is not associated with sheer obliviousness and they are clearly educated. Then why the rebelliousness? First off, there have been cases where harsh side effects were linked to vaccines. According to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, the government has doled out roughly 2 billion dollars through 2,398 claims due to side effect problems resulting from vaccines. Evidently, there have been unpredictable drawbacks, but 2,398 is a minuscule fraction of the total vaccine recipients in the United States. The probability that one will face any harm by way of vaccine is unlikely. In fact, the chances of brain swelling as a result of the DTaP (whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria) shot is 11 in 1,000,000. In contrast, if diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough are contracted due to the absence of vaccination, they are fatal in 1 in 20 cases, 1 in 10 cases, and 1 in 1,500 cases, respectively (parents.com). This suggests the prospect of kids developing harsh side effects is slim, while the probability of children surviving one of these diseases is relatively high. …show more content…
This limits the spread of a disease due to a large percentage of dutiful, immune people. Indirectly, this saves people that are not actually immune. Believing in this phenomenon puts the onus on others rather than yourself. This scenario is similar to the free rider problem, when those who do not pay for a service still reap the benefits from it by feeding off others’ contributions. Essentially, this problem is created when people figure someone else can pay for the good or service. The free rider attitude can be a dangerous one to adopt since certain societal duties like voting and taxation, consequently, are not tended to. People may feel that their contributions are insignificant because of the sheer number of citizens, but if everyone feels this way then not many tasks are sufficiently completed. Taking responsibility for your actions is important and crucial for a well functioning society. Still, a popular anti-vaxxer sentiment remains that the herd immunity will likely account for the lack of their own child’s vaccination. First of all, this point is not appropriate because the child could still possibly contract a disease such as contact with foreigners or exposure to other unvaccinated kids. Likewise, for the herd immunity to come into effect, 80-90 percent of people have to be fully protected (procon.org). This leaves little room for unexpected occurrences.