Are vaccines more harmful or helpful? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Is autism related to vaccinations? These are a few of the questions many people ask before getting vaccinated or allowing their children to be vaccinated. In this paper we will use scientific based evidence to explore the benefits, risks, and myths associated with vaccinations. Prior to the early 1900’s thousands died yearly from diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and polio. These numbers declined with the growing use of vaccinations throughout the United States. For example prior to 1963, there were 400,000 cases of measles per year. With the introduction of the measles vaccine the number of cases dropped to 25,000 cases per year by 1970. (Publichealth.org)
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The specific neurological disorders that were claimed to be connected to the MMR vaccine are encephalitis and aseptic meningitis. The study had a total of 535,544 children ages one through seven. They were all immunized between 1982 and 1986. The study showed no correlation between the two. Even so, this did not stop the rumors associated with the MMR vaccine. (aap.org)
One example the many myths would be that a baby’s immune system could not bear so many immunizations. This is false. All evidence suggests an infant could take up to 10,000 vaccines in one sitting. This is due to the amount of antibodies that are in the baby’s blood and the rate that the baby’s cells are regenerating. Exposure to the infant on a daily basis, is more than if they were given the vaccine.
Another common myth made about vaccines is that natural immunity is better and safer than immunity from the vaccines. There is belief that natural immunity causes a greater immunity to the disease. This is not true and can also be more risky than beneficial. The chances of someone dying due to measles is about 1 in 500, while the death rate that is caused by an allergic reaction to the MMR immunization is less than 1 in 1,000,000.
The specific neurological disorders that were claimed to be connected to the MMR vaccine are encephalitis and aseptic meningitis. The study had a total of 535,544 children ages one through seven. They were all immunized between 1982 and 1986. The study showed no correlation between the two. Even so, this did not stop the rumors associated with the MMR vaccine. (aap.org)
One example the many myths would be that a baby’s immune system could not bear so many immunizations. This is false. All evidence suggests an infant could take up to 10,000 vaccines in one sitting. This is due to the amount of antibodies that are in the baby’s blood and the rate that the baby’s cells are regenerating. Exposure to the infant on a daily basis, is more than if they were given the vaccine.
Another common myth made about vaccines is that natural immunity is better and safer than immunity from the vaccines. There is belief that natural immunity causes a greater immunity to the disease. This is not true and can also be more risky than beneficial. The chances of someone dying due to measles is about 1 in 500, while the death rate that is caused by an allergic reaction to the MMR immunization is less than 1 in 1,000,000.