A vaccine is a biological preparation that consists of antigens that cause the immune system to produce antibodies to fight certain diseases. Vaccines cause the body to act as if it has been infected with a disease without actually infecting the body. Vaccines are estimated to prevent 2.5 million deaths globally each year and are used in medicine to help control or completely stop the spread of infectious diseases. With the rise of untrustworthy internet blogs and false information spreading to gullible, uninformed parents; child vaccine rates continue to drop as parents fear the rare side effects that could occur and inadequate links to autism. Vaccines are medicine’s greatest lifesavers that have been proven in several experimental trials
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Measles is a member of the paromyxovirus family and is spread via airborne transmissions or through direct contact with nasal or throat secretions from someone who is infected. Despite the fact that the measles vaccination prevents millions of deaths each year, obscure allegations connecting measles to autism is believed to be the reason behind a lack in child immunization. Parents fear that the rising number of children developing autism could possibly be linked to the state required measles vaccination. In part to autism accusations, many parents (in the United States particularly) view the measles vaccination as pointless for eighty-eight percent of measles cases occur outside of the United States. What many parents fail to realize is that measles is imported into the U.S from travelers visiting the country or when Americans visit other endemic countries. When those from distant places return or foreigners visit the U.S after being exposed to the highly contagious measles virus, the virus can spread rapidly among those who are not vaccinated and lead to an outbreak. Serious outbreaks can occur “When unvaccinated groups cluster together, an unfortunate consequence is the decline in herd immunity. This frequently manifests as outbreaks in certain communities, and not only the children whose parents refused vaccinations, but also in those children who cannot be vaccinated due to age or immunodeficiency” (Rudrefer and Krilov 2). In order to fully protect society from a serious epidemic occurring, the majority of those who can physically get vaccinated need to in order to protect those who cannot. The links between the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and autism has never been scientifically proven and only continues to set fear into the minds of worrisome parents. If parents
Measles is a member of the paromyxovirus family and is spread via airborne transmissions or through direct contact with nasal or throat secretions from someone who is infected. Despite the fact that the measles vaccination prevents millions of deaths each year, obscure allegations connecting measles to autism is believed to be the reason behind a lack in child immunization. Parents fear that the rising number of children developing autism could possibly be linked to the state required measles vaccination. In part to autism accusations, many parents (in the United States particularly) view the measles vaccination as pointless for eighty-eight percent of measles cases occur outside of the United States. What many parents fail to realize is that measles is imported into the U.S from travelers visiting the country or when Americans visit other endemic countries. When those from distant places return or foreigners visit the U.S after being exposed to the highly contagious measles virus, the virus can spread rapidly among those who are not vaccinated and lead to an outbreak. Serious outbreaks can occur “When unvaccinated groups cluster together, an unfortunate consequence is the decline in herd immunity. This frequently manifests as outbreaks in certain communities, and not only the children whose parents refused vaccinations, but also in those children who cannot be vaccinated due to age or immunodeficiency” (Rudrefer and Krilov 2). In order to fully protect society from a serious epidemic occurring, the majority of those who can physically get vaccinated need to in order to protect those who cannot. The links between the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine and autism has never been scientifically proven and only continues to set fear into the minds of worrisome parents. If parents