The Immunization Controversy
A vaccine is a drug that trains the immune system to
fight particular infections by introducing it to the same microorganism that
causes it. A vaccine is given to a healthy person, while the other drugs are
given to a person who is already suffering from an infection. Despite the
increased acceptance of the vaccination programs, the caregivers’ concerns
regarding vaccines’ safety, legitimacy, and possible side effects have been
raised by the caregivers. Most of the concerns are based on anecdotal or scanty
evidence that some vaccines cause complications. There is a need for the
medical profession to carrying out and document a detailed study about the
safety of vaccine programs.
Caregivers refuse to vaccinate their children due to
allegations that the vaccines cause complications such as autism. There was a
case that linked autism to the MMR vaccine, and the allegation developed into a
controversy over vaccines‘ safety (Miller, 2015). The lack of trust also fuels
the vaccine controversy. The anti-vaxxers claim that studies about vaccines’
safety are done by people who are usually paid by the same pharmaceuticals who
develop the vaccines. The anti-vaxxers also claim that immunizing a child
causes an overload to the immune system. The baby’s immunity depends on the
mother’s breastfeeding habits to fight diseases. The doctors should encourage
parents to take HIV tests to prevent transferring infection from the mother to
the child, especially in developing countries (“Physical Development in
Infancy,” 2020). Delayed vaccinations can weaken a baby’s immunity
system.
Studies that have already been done rules out all the
augments that are raised by the anti-vaxxers. A scientific study on whether
autism develops after a child is immunized with the MMR vaccine indicated that
the claims have no basis. There have been studies of whether the immunity
system of a baby is overloaded by vaccines as anti-vaxxers have argued it, but
is no evidence that vaccines interfere with the immune system (Miller, 2015).
Fears of overloading the child’s immunity lead to delayed immunization by
caregivers who still believe in vaccination (McMurtry et al., 2015). The
mistrust between anti-vaxxers and those who advocate for vaccination can be
solved by encouraging parents to report the side effects of a vaccine to the
disease control and prevention centers to promote transparency.
Caregivers’ worries about the safety of vaccines on
their babies are caused by a lack of sufficient information and education.
However, a parent will rely on their healthcare provider’s attitude towards a
vaccine to decide whether they will delay vaccination or not for their child
(McMurtry et al., 2015). The healthcare providers have a duty of educating the
caregivers on the importance of immunizing a child and rule out the wrong
perceptions that are spread by anti-vaxxers. Apart from vaccines, the doctors
should encourage the caregivers to have exclusive breasting to improve the
baby’s immunity as they wait for vaccination (“Physical Development in
Infancy,” 2020). The doctors should have access to current information
about vaccine safety, and they should communicate with the parents about the
importance of immunization and the adverse effects of a lack of immunization.
Conclusion
The wrong perception about vaccines can be finished by
health practitioners providing well-researched information about vaccines and
being open to debate about the fears and controversies that are raised by
caregivers and anti-vaxxers. The increase in vaccine-preventable infections
such as polio and measles Canada, Europe, and the US shows that it is necessary
to know how to develop positive perspectives about vaccines. Cultural and
personal experiences create perceptions, and having educational programs that enlighten
people about scientific issues can change negative perceptions.
References
McMurtry, A., Wilson, K., Clarkin, C., Walji, R., Kilian, B., & Kilian, C. et al. (2015). The development of vaccination perspectives among chiropractic, naturopathic and medical students: a case study of professional enculturation. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 20(5), 1291-1302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-015-9602-4
Miller, E. (2015). Controversies and challenges of vaccination: an interview with Elizabeth Miller. BMC Medicine, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-015-0508-z
Physical Development in Infancy. (2020). Retrieved 15 May 2020, from.
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