I believe vaccinations are safe and that they save lives.
As a result, both of my daughters are current with their immunization schedule. Additionally, the entire family receives our seasonal flu vaccine. This year we also received the H1N1 vaccine.
Why I Believe Vaccinations Save Lives
I believe immunizations save lives because of the available scientific evidence. While it’s true that no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing disease, there is a mountain of evidence in support of that fact that vaccinations help.
According to ImmunizationInfo.org:
- Before 1985, Haemophilus Influenza type b (Hib) caused serious infections in 20,000 children each year, including meningitis (12,000 cases) and pneumonia (7,500 cases). In 2002, there were 34 cases of Hib disease.
- In the 1964-1965 epidemic, there were 12.5 million cases of rubella (German measles). Of the 20,000 infants born with congenital rubella syndrome, 11,600 were deaf, 3,580 were blind, and 1,800 were mentally retarded as a result of the infection. There were 9 cases of rubella in 2004 and only four cases of congenital rubella between 2001 and 2004.
- Before 1963, more than 3 million cases of measles and 500 deaths from measles were reported each year. More than 90% of children had measles by age 15. In 2002, there were 44 cases of measles
- In 1952, polio paralyzed more than 21,000 people. In 2002, there were no cases of polio in the United States.
- In the early 1940s, there was an average of 175,000 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) per year, resulting in the deaths of 8,000 children annually. In 2002, 9,771 cases were reported.
- In the 1920s, there were 100,000 to 200,000 cases of diphtheria each year and 13,000 people died from the disease. In 2002, there was only one case of diphtheria in the United States.
If you do a little research, you’ll find tons of statistics that are similar to these. It’s simply a proven fact that children used to get sick—and some of them died—from diseases that are now all but non-existent because of immunizations.
Why I Believe Vaccinations Are Safe
There are risks associated with immunizations. However the risks typically involve inconvenient side-effects (e.g. temporary soreness or fever), while the results of getting sick from diseases like polio and smallpox are much, much worse.
Now let’s compare the risk of vaccinations to other activities most parents subject their children to. How many of us drive our children around every day? Did you know that automobile accidents are a leading cause of death for children under the age of 4? The sad fact is that we live in an imperfect world. We are forced to subject our children to risks every day. Yes, there are risks associated with vaccinations, but those risks are tiny compared to the risks involved in contracting a disease like polio or meningitis. Vaccinations are safe.
What About Those Who Believe Vaccinations Cause Autism?
There is a growing community that believes immunizations are causing children to develop autism. However scientists have studied the correlation between vaccinations and autism, and found no connection between them.
According to Wired.com:
To be clear, there is no credible evidence to indicate that any of this is true. None. Twelve epidemiological studies have found no data that links the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine to autism; six studies have found no trace of an association between thimerosal (a preservative containing ethylmercury that has largely been removed from vaccines since 20011) and autism, and three other studies have found no indication that thimerosal causes even subtle neurological problems.
Conclusion
Parenting involves managing risks and determining what’s best for our children. In my opinion, there is a mountain of evidence that says children are safer and healthier when they’re vaccinated. That’s why my wife and I make sure our daughters get their immunizations.
What about you? Are your children vaccinated? What are your thoughts on this?
Tags: immunization, vaccination
