The Vaccination Debate:
Science Shows Immunizations Not Linked to Autism
If you have children, do you vaccinate them? Are you going to vaccinate them? Do you know someone who is an “Antivaxxer”? It seems as if everyone has taken a side, and many without even a glance at the research. In early 2015 there were a reported 159 cases of Measles across 18 states. The number is disturbing when one considers the source of the outbreak: unvaccinated children. Why is it that with the advancements of medicine and technology we still live in a time when people find themselves fearful of vaccines that prevent deadly diseases? The answer is quite simple: the Autism scare. Every parent is now faced with the fear of their child developing Autism from receiving …show more content…
He uses The National Vaccine Compensation Program as proof of fraudulent behavior. However, the program is designed to compensate families whose children have had adverse reactions to vaccinations. The whole purpose of the program is for the government to allow families a relief from the burden the vaccine placed upon them. The program has awarded $2 billion since 1986 (Heyworth 4). The fact that this program exists shows that the government is not afraid to admit to families when they’ve released a vaccine that unfortunately is not suitable for everyone. However, when looking at the numbers it is important to remember that vaccines are for the greater good of the population as a whole. That the risks associated with fatal diseases far outweigh the risks associated with any immunization. The point is that Wakefield is wrong when he criticized the research. He continues to twist the statistics and misinform the public about the research that is present today. Most recently, in 2014, researchers from the RAND Corporation even further reviewed the Institute of Medicines report. They too found that the evidence was strong in showing no link between vaccines and Autism (Evidence Shows Vaccines Unrelated to Autism 2). It should be of great concern to parents everywhere that no other scientist is capable of recreating the same evidence as Dr. Wakefield. The RAND Corporation is able to sort through the same research and come to the same conclusion as the many scientists before them, except for Dr. Wakefield’s research. The amount of research that continues to be done to prove how safe and effective vaccines are is
Science Shows Immunizations Not Linked to Autism
If you have children, do you vaccinate them? Are you going to vaccinate them? Do you know someone who is an “Antivaxxer”? It seems as if everyone has taken a side, and many without even a glance at the research. In early 2015 there were a reported 159 cases of Measles across 18 states. The number is disturbing when one considers the source of the outbreak: unvaccinated children. Why is it that with the advancements of medicine and technology we still live in a time when people find themselves fearful of vaccines that prevent deadly diseases? The answer is quite simple: the Autism scare. Every parent is now faced with the fear of their child developing Autism from receiving …show more content…
He uses The National Vaccine Compensation Program as proof of fraudulent behavior. However, the program is designed to compensate families whose children have had adverse reactions to vaccinations. The whole purpose of the program is for the government to allow families a relief from the burden the vaccine placed upon them. The program has awarded $2 billion since 1986 (Heyworth 4). The fact that this program exists shows that the government is not afraid to admit to families when they’ve released a vaccine that unfortunately is not suitable for everyone. However, when looking at the numbers it is important to remember that vaccines are for the greater good of the population as a whole. That the risks associated with fatal diseases far outweigh the risks associated with any immunization. The point is that Wakefield is wrong when he criticized the research. He continues to twist the statistics and misinform the public about the research that is present today. Most recently, in 2014, researchers from the RAND Corporation even further reviewed the Institute of Medicines report. They too found that the evidence was strong in showing no link between vaccines and Autism (Evidence Shows Vaccines Unrelated to Autism 2). It should be of great concern to parents everywhere that no other scientist is capable of recreating the same evidence as Dr. Wakefield. The RAND Corporation is able to sort through the same research and come to the same conclusion as the many scientists before them, except for Dr. Wakefield’s research. The amount of research that continues to be done to prove how safe and effective vaccines are is