The Prominent Significance Of Mandated Vaccines - 1141 Words

The Prominent Significance of Mandated Vaccines In 1796, Edward Jenner, a doctor living in Berkeley, England, injected an eight year old with a new concoction made of cow-pox lesions. James Phillips, the young boy, then became immune to the adverse effects of the Smallpox for the remainder of his life. Unaware at the time, Jenner conducted the world’s first vaccination, laying the groundwork for future innovations. Years later, accomplished scientists followed in Jenner’s footsteps, creating vaccines to combat everything from Measles to Polio to Tetanus. Despite the superior benefits of the new revelation, numerous parents still made the decision to not vaccinate their kids. A study conducted by CNN reveals that today, up to twenty eight†¦show more content†¦By making vaccines mandatory, we as a society insure good health for everyone. Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Paul A. Offit, stresses that â€Å"vaccines work very well to prevent disease and are necessary, eve n though the diseases they prevent are not common---in fact, vaccines are part of the reason this is so,† (Offit). Because many young parents have never seen more sickness that vaccines counteract, a substantial number believe that vaccines are unnecessary. However this is simply because vaccines have done their job and eliminated such viruses. It is entirely possible that if even twenty percent of the United States refused to vaccinate their children, epidemics of all sort would begin to ravish the nation. Imagine living in a world encompassed in fear of disease, suffering, and ultimately a painful death. We would have continued to live in this state of terror had it not been for vaccines. While vaccines come with their own possibility of side effects, these uncommon risks are greatly outweighed by the partnering advantages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses that â€Å"while vaccines are very safe, like any medicine they do sometimes cause reactions. Mostly, these are mild local reactions (soreness or redness where the shot is given) or a low-grade fever. They last a day or two and then go away,† (Childhood). Vaccines can produce some negative effects, yet one must