Vaccination: Dangers vs. Benefits

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Vaccine Use of Thimerosal
Side Effects and Adverse Events
Disease Prevention and Mitigation of Disease Severity
Disease Control Through Herd Immunity
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Vaccination remains one of the most controversial public health issues in contemporary medical experimental science due to effectiveness and safety concerns. While governments attempt to push for scientific prevention methods for infectious diseases, vaccines emerge as a viable option for preventing and controlling infections. However, as much as vaccines prevent diseases, an ever-going debate seems to consolidate and gather various fears and concerns about contemporary medicine and man’s future regarding medical experimentation (Hausman, 2019).

Vaccination, having stemmed from medical experiments, faces differing views from the public, most of whom believe in myths and misconceptions about immunization. Generally, vaccination raises the question of the role of illness and disease in our lives and how history and human motivations can interfere with trust in governments and scientific establishments. Contrary to the commonly perceived dangers of vaccinations, such as the use of Thimerosal and potential side effects, vaccination provides overwhelming benefits such as disease prevention and mitigation of disease severity and disease control through herd immunity.

Vaccine Use of Thimerosal

Vaccination is necessary for preventing, controlling, and eradicating children’s infectious diseases. In achieving this outcome, countries have been impacted by using a concentrated Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) schedule in expectant mothers and children vaccines. Changes in metabolism during early development have been demonstrated to be a risk factor for ethylmercury (EtHg) impacts on infant neurodevelopment. Similarly, Thimerosal exposure significantly sensitizes susceptible persons to permanent contact dermatitis. Conversely, Thimerosal-free vaccines indicate a substantial decline in contact with dermatitis (Dorea, 2017). Vaccine skeptics point to the dangers of vaccination by highlighting the use of Thimerosal, an adjuvant used in vaccines to be a toxicological risk.

Besides, Thimerosal is an active compound that can act on neurological and immunological systems of young children across all levels and gets utilized in pediatric vaccines. However, research indicates that TVCs in young children lead to neurodevelopmental issues, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition to that, TVCs have been linked to increased risks with several conditions, including language delay, hyperactivity disorder, attention deficits, childhood obesity, emotional disturbance, premature puberty, speech disorder, and developmental delay (Dorea, 2017). These findings have galvanized skeptics in exposing the use of Thimerosal in vaccines as a significant threat to human existence while also pointing out the potential side effects of vaccinations.

Side Effects and Adverse Events

Moreover, skeptics argue that vaccines lead to side effects that endanger human health and well-being. The CDC has provided information indicating that no vaccine is safe even though they are safe and effective. Vaccines might lead to mild side effects such as slight fever, local reaction, and various systemic symptoms as part of the normal immunological response (CDC, 2021). For example, systemic symptoms are observed in 5-15% of the measles mumps or rubella vaccine recipients 5-12 days after vaccination (CDC, 2021). These are attributed to childhood background events. However, vaccine skeptics tend to use side effects to indicate harmful effects of the vaccination process.

Also, numerous criticisms exist on the adverse reactions caused by vaccines, such as anaphylaxis, seizures, osteitis, persistent crying, hypersensitivity, febrile seizure, and encephalitis (CDC, 2021). Some of the side effects are a result of contraindications that got missed during diagnosis. In addition, these adverse reactions might be long term thereby threatening the individual’s health. Although there are some perceived dangers to vaccinations, vaccine proponents insist on the overwhelming beneficial outcome of their use, mainly disease prevention, control, and mitigation.

Disease Prevention and Mitigation of Disease Severity

Vaccine proponents argue that vaccines make disease mitigation a reality, disrupt viral transmission, and reduce hospitalization due to illness and disease. WHO estimates that globally at least 3 million saved from vaccination programs annually by boosting the immune system to protect against pathogens threats (Mallory et al., 2018). Prevention of disease infection is possible through vaccination which guards against more transmission of the virus in a population. The process can involve the induction of active immunity in vaccinated persons, thereby preventing illness, infection, and spread.

In addition, protection can be indirect by keeping susceptible individuals from exposure to the virus by flouting the human-to-human spread chain. In the infected persons, vaccinations reduce the severity of the disease by reducing mortality rate and length of stay in hospitals. As a result, the person has less chance of admission to the ICU. Studies indicate that the 2013-2014 vaccination season of flu resulted in a 52% drop in flu-related fatalities among adults, 50-64 years, while those 65 years and above witnessed a 61% reduction. Besides, the season was characterized by decreased hospital length of stay and ICU amid older adults equated to unvaccinated adults of the same age (Schaffer et al., 2018). Thus, vaccination illustrates the human ability to counteract disease infections and the severity of the disease, and the benefit of controlling the disease.

Disease Control Through Herd Immunity

There are plenty of infectious diseases that threaten our existence, and vaccination helps control diseases through the development of herd immunity. Vaccines are never 100% effective, but they offer indirect protection of those remaining at risk of infection, such as those unable to be vaccinated because of their health, contraindication, and age. Ultimately, vaccination of large population portions protects the immunologically naïve, immunocompromised, as well as unvaccinated by cutting the susceptible hosts number to the level below the required transmission threshold (Mallory et al., 2018).

Herd immunity can be established through attaining the vaccination threshold. Such an approach has been used to eradicate rinderpest and smallpox globally. In eradicating smallpox globally, an immunization of at least 80% was needed to lower transmission rates among the uninfected persons to the point of destroying the virus (Mallory et al., 2018). It has also led to the near eradication of polio and local elimination or suppression of other diseases. Thus, vaccination has made it possible for health professionals to control infections by targeting populations.

Conclusion

Vaccination remains a controversial subject in contemporary medical practice because of the pre-existing perceived dangers and benefits. Whereas there are specific threats to this promising area of experimental sciences, there are certainly some threats. However, the benefits of immunizations by far outweigh the potential dangers. Furthermore, benefits such as disease mitigation and prevention as well as control of disease through herd immunity provide a solid foundation for support of vaccination.

Concerning the dangers, I would recommend the following: Further research into the possible impact of thimerosal use in vaccination; Educating the public on the possible contraindications relating to vaccinations; Health promotion activities targeting awareness creation on the side effects and adverse events and how to manage them; The public health professionals should also communicate to the public on the myths and misconceptions relating to vaccination. In addition, there is a need for more research on the preservation of vaccines using mercury and the potential risk associated with the preservation method.

References

CDC. (2021). Possible side effects from vaccines. Web.

Dórea, J. G. (2017). Abating mercury exposure in young children should include thimerosal-free vaccines. Neurochemical Research, 42(10), 2673-2685. Web.

Hausman, B. L. (2019). Anti/Vax: Reframing the vaccination controversy. Ilr Press.

Mallory, M. L., Lindesmith, L. C., & Baric, R. S. (2018). Vaccination-induced herd immunity: successes and challenges. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 142(1), 64-66. Web.

Schaffner, W., McElhaney, J., Rizzo, A. A., Savoy, M., Taylor, A. J., & Young, M. (2018). The dangers of influenza and benefits of vaccination in adults with chronic health conditions. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice, 26(6), 313-322. Web.

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