Immunization is a Healthy Choice for Kids

Immunization has become a hot topic in the past few years. Parents are demanding that their children not receive immunizations for certain diseases or asking that their children receive no immunizations at all. Immunizations can be a risky decision as no one can be absolutely certain how a newborn child or a young child will react to the ingredients contained in the vaccinations. However, the risks associated with vaccinations are slim compared to what could happen if a child is not immunized. It could also have a large impact on society if more and more children do not receive vaccinations as diseases that have been eradicated from a nation could return and harm the general population. Immunization is still the best option for protecting our children and protecting the health and longevity of society.

Some parents argue that their children do not need to be immunized against diseases such as small pox or polio since these are virtually eradicated from the entire world. Why put their children through the misery of receiving a shot for a disease they may never encounter (Disaster Management, 2008)? The key words here are “virtually eradicated” and “may never”. This does not mean these diseases are one hundred percent gone from the world and there is never a chance they will return. It is possible that their children will never visit countries where these diseases still occur occasionally but it is entirely possible that they may come in contact with persons who have sometime in their lives. If there are a high percentage of unprotected people it stands to reason that diseases that seem to be gone could find a new breeding ground and once again become a major health concern. Science has proven that when we vaccinate against the targeted disease it is eliminated from the population or the effects are greatly diminished (National Institute of Health [NIH], 2008). This can only stay true if vaccinations remain a priority and a mandatory practice for children.

Another reason immunization is important is what it does for a child’s immune system. Most vaccinations use a weakened or killed form of the virus to help the body create its own defense antibodies in case the child acquires the actual disease (NIH, 2008). When a child is not immunized, his body does not have antibodies on hand to battle a full force disease. Before vaccinations targeted specific diseases, many people died because their body’s immune system could not figure out how to battle the invading virus quick enough. When the body did create the correct antibodies, it could not produce them fast enough to keep the virus at bay. This meant that the person would die from the disease or if the immune system managed to overcome the virus, great damage was already done. Much of this damage was life altering. For example, polio can cause permanent damage through paralysis and even cause death (Global Polio Eradication Initiative [GPEI], n.d.). When a child is fully vaccinated against polio, he will forever be immune to it even if he comes in contact with it (GPEI). Another example is chickenpox. The vaccination for chickenpox is fairly recent and is recommended for both children and adults who either have never had the disease or had a slight case of the disease (The Mayo Clinic [TMC], 2007). It is clinically proven that if both doses of the vaccine are administered, the person will not contract chickenpox (TMC). The vaccination injects a small amount of the virus into the body and helps the body create a mapping for antibodies in case the disease is ever encountered. In this case, the body would be able to fight the virus as soon as it entered the body so that the person never feels the effects of the disease. It is like having a private chickenpox army at the ready at all times. Before the chickenpox vaccination, children suffered through the disease in order to acquire appropriate antibodies (NIH). If they suffered a moderate to severe case, then their antibodies would be able to deflect future encounters just as the antibodies do when working with the vaccine. If they suffered a slight case, they may contract chickenpox again because the body was not able to fully create substantial antibodies for reoccurrences. Science proves that our bodies respond to assistance to keep healthy in the form of vaccinations.

Immunization is the responsible thing to do as a parent. While many newborns are protected from the same diseases as their mother due to the mother passing on antibodies, this immunization is only temporary once born (National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases [NCIRD], 2006). If a newborn is exposed to disease he could die before his body can develop his own antibodies. This is high price to pay for not immunizing. Why would any parent chose this risk over the common risks known from vaccinations? Risks from vaccinations are documented but occur in less than 1% of all vaccinations given (NCIRD). Risk of death in newborns who are not vaccinated could be 100% depending on the disease (NCIRD). The math just doesn’t add up when it comes to maintaining your child’s health and life.

There are other concerns that parents have attributed to why immunization is not a good choice. Some concerns are the ingredients that are used in vaccinations which they claim are harmful. These ingredients are used to activate the vaccination once it is injected into the body. One such ingredient is thimerosal which contains mercury. It is a preservative which helps extend the shelf life of vaccinations. A concern that had the United States government require this additive be eliminated or greatly reduced is that it may lead to children developing autism.(National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases [NCIRD], 2007). Today, recommended vaccinations no longer contain thimerosal or contain only trace amounts.(NCIRD).

Immunization is a good choice for parents to make in regards to their children’s health. It is also a socially sound decision that affects the world in which they live. Immunizing children against disease will ensure their children’s lives will never be marred by the affects of diseases. It also ensures that future generations will also stay healthy and unaffected. Possibly a day may come when certain diseases are totally eradicated from the world but that will only happen when immunizations are continued and given to all children worldwide.