...With reference to the thousands of family’s affected by reactions to vaccines and are not entitled to compensation as families in other countries are: 1) I think there should be avenues for support if a child is permanently disabled as a direct result of a vaccination (by participating in the vaccination program they are assisting in the maintenance of the herd immunisation of our country after all) 2) The numbers of any reaction reported and associated with medicine (including vaccines) in Australia are recorded at http://apps.tga.gov.au/PROD/DAEN/daen-report.aspx . These reports do not confirm causality but are a point for adverse reactions to be recorded from which the government can follow up on the safety of the reported medicines. Anyone can submit reports to this data base and the following information is from the TGA website: “Each year the TGA receives more than 17,000 reports of suspected adverse events to medicines and vaccines. In 2013 about 55% of these reports came via pharmaceutical companies, 17% from state and territory health departments, 10% from hospitals and hospital pharmacists and the rest from community pharmacists, general practitioners and consumers. The TGA asks for contact details from people making reports so that it can seek further information about suspected adverse events. The TGA does not accept anonymous reports. If you have any concerns about an adverse event it is important to also speak to a health professional.” With reference to comment...
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...Should Vaccinations be Made Mandatory for Children? Throughout history, there have been many deadly diseases and viruses that have plagued humanity, killing thousands - even millions. Since vaccination techniques and practices started appearing during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, diseases such as smallpox, polio, and yellow fever have nearly been wiped out, proving that vaccinations are effective in preventing the spread of disease and virus. Smallpox has been officially eradicated, and polio cases have decreased by over 99% since 1989 (World Health Organization, 2015). In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends getting 28 doses of 10 vaccines for kids aged 0 to 6, however, there are currently no federal laws that mandate vaccination for all children (CDC, 2015). Immunizations keep our children safe, healthy, and most importantly, alive. Despite the high success rate and plethora of benefits of immunization, not everyone is on board. Though there is high pressure for children to be vaccinated, and all 50 states...
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...Professor Perez ENGL102 8 November 2015 The Anti-Vaccination Movement Over the last 30 years, the number of vaccine-preventable diseases has increased substantially. This is due to a rising number of “anti-vaxxers” spreading misinformation “that vaccines are actually ineffective, useless, or even dangerous” (Kata 3778). The internet and other forms of mass media have steered parents to believe these claims and it has had devastating results. It has been proven by scientists for hundreds of years that the use of vaccinations greatly outweighs the risk of not getting them. The research shows that the claim that vaccines cause autism or any other disease cannot be substantiated by any scientific evidence and therefore, should not be entertained under any circumstances. The background of the anti-vaccination movement is an old one. The United Kingdom’s Vaccination Act of 1853 is a good example of this. The act required parents to vaccinate their children for small pox at three months or risk life in prison. This is a harsh punishment for the parents, but considering the millions of deaths that small pox has caused world-wide, lawmakers at the time considered it a just penalty. “The anti-vaccination movement experienced a steady decline from the turn of the century up to the 1970's” (Kasarda 548). After the 1970’s there was a resurgence in the anti-vaccination movement. This is due to research from a group of authors working at London Hospital. “M. Kulenkampf, J.S. Schwartzman...
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...(HCWs) have been targeted for influenza (flu) vaccination. The first reason is to protect HCWs from disease and to prevent work absenteeism, particularly during flu outbreaks or pandemics. The second motive is to protect others such as co-workers and family members, especially vulnerable patients in their care since HCWs can be a significant source of nosocomial spread of influenza. When a healthcare professional receives a vaccination, it sets an example for colleagues and others in the community and increases the likelihood HCWs will advocate for vaccination. Purpose of the Intervention The purpose of the proposed intervention is to maximize vaccination rates in...
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...Health Reports, of the parents who delay or refuse vaccinations for their children 57% said their reason for not vaccinating their children was fear of autism (Levs 4). Since the speculation of a causal relationship of vaccinations and Autism began the world has seen some of the most threatening outbreaks of diseases that would have been preventable with the use of vaccines ("The End of the Vaccines Cause Autism Myth." 2). Is it the vaccines causing the problem, or the overprotective parents that are endangering their child and many other people’s children? Parents who do not trust science for vaccinations continue to trust science for other ways such as “to...
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...There has been much debate in the media recently about whether or not to vaccinate your children. As a mother, it’s not something I ever gave much thought to, it was always just a part of the upbringing of my children that I would have them fully vaccinated, so I decided to do a little research on the pros and cons of childhood vaccinations. The first website that I chose to look at was Australian Vaccinaton-Skeptics Network www.avn.org,au This website has been up and running since 1994, and provides links to the latest news stories in regards to vaccinations, however, I found the latest news story they provided was from 30/01/2014. They are a membership run organisation who campaign for better research, better safety and support for people who have been negatively affected by vaccine use. I found that this site was aimed at being ‘pro-choice’. They gave information about making an informed choice when it came to vaccinations. They provided detailed information about a wide range of vaccinations, such as HPV, Influenza, Polio and Meningitis. www.avn.org/vaccination-information/ I also found that vaccinations are not compulsory in Australia, something that I was not aware of, and that you can have your doctor sign a ‘conscientious objection form’ in order to be exempt and still be entitled to government benefits and child care rebates. They also provide a wide range of external links in order to gain further information. They gave a list of government links, natural health...
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...Vaccinate! No do not vaccinate! In the recent years there has been a sprout in the anti-vaccination movement, more and more people are choosing to not vaccinate their kids. There are no federal laws that demand vaccination; nonetheless all states have certain vaccinations requirements for children entering public schools (procons.org). Since the start of vaccination requirements there have been anti-vaccination movements that are fighting to bring awareness to people on the affects of vaccinations. Some say it is a violation of human rights, while others put great emphasis on the harmful side effects of vaccines. As a result, many Americans have turned to medical treatments that go against mainstream medication, something know was Complementary...
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...Influenza Prevention and Vaccination Program According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), the influenza virus poses a serious health threat to vulnerable populations including adults 65 years of age and older, people suffering from certain underlying medical conditions, and health care workers (HCWs). From September 2012 to May 2013, the group most affected by the influenza virus was adults 65 years of age and older (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Likewise, HCWs “… are at [an increase] risk for occupational exposure to (and possible transmission of) vaccine-preventable diseases” including influenza (CDC, 2011, para. 5). Therefore, I chose to explore the Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System...
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...legislators had proposed measures to increase uptake of HPV vaccine, including educational campaigns, public subsidies, and insurance requirements. The most important of these measures seems to be mandatory vaccination for girls attending school (Colgrove, Abiola, and Mello 785). Thus, with this proposal, a controversy question about compulsory vaccination of HPV began because it involves violation of parents’ autonomy about their children’ lives. Also, being HPV a sexually transmitted infection, some conservative individuals fear that the vaccination could promote promiscuity among adolescents. Despite all controversy that surround HPV vaccine, immunization of young women against HPV is a way to prevent HPV transmission and cervical cancer. However, cost of vaccination, promotion of promiscuity, and safety are some challenges that need to be...
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...Anti-Vaccination: An Opposition Melanie Say Kaplan University Professor Chad Walls CM220 March 13, 2015 Opposition: Anti-vaccination Despite extended benefits demonstrated through immunization programs, parents and vocal groups alike are challenging the administration of inoculations. A history of fraudulent studies introduced the concept of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, adding fuel to the controversial fire of adverse reactions associated with immunizations. Furthermore, organizations in Maine defend philosophical exemptions in schools as their "personal freedom and parental right", disregarding the "imminent danger to others who can't take the vaccine" (Boston Globe, 2015, para. 4). Within the past two decades, opposition...
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...The U.S. Government on Mandatory Vaccination What are vaccines? Vaccines contain a mixture of sugars, proteins, and certain chemicals that all serve a purpose in neutralizing the severely weakened or dead virus within. They are substances that are typically injected subcutaneously under the skin to trigger a bodily response. This response activates the creation of antibodies against the foreign compounds, which then leads to immunization from the desired disease. Although the modern story of vaccination began with Edward Jenner’s approach of introducing already infected material to a healthy subject to protect against smallpox, the idea dates as far back as 1000 B.C. in China. Before agreeing to the label of vaccination, it was generally termed inoculation. It was Jenner’s 1796 research that became the base for which smallpox ultimately became eradicated in the United States. Today we strive to advance our understanding of vaccinations to build a future free from diseases such as HIV, malaria, dengue, and RSV. Today, the government and its schools hold considerable responsibility in the control of preventable diseases. The initial mandatory vaccination laws were passed by Massachusetts in the early 1850’s. The vaccine law transpired because of the new mandatory school attendance law. It was passed in order to keep the growing number of school students safe from disease, and to halt the advancement of smallpox. Vaccines were never collectively respected though. The...
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...Summary of “A Cell-Based Systems Biology Assessment of Human Blood to Monitor Immune Responses after Influenza Vaccination The goal of this study was to create methods and define protocols that may be used in future systems vaccinology studies. Having these tools at the ready can lend a hand in investigating the various reactions of different cell types to the immune response generated after vaccination. Scientists used influenza vaccinations in this study. Among the questions addressed the most important was if it was possible to develop these protocols and methods to study immune response to vaccinations in various individuals. One question addressed was how to “investigate the contribution of individual cell types to the immune response after vaccination.” (Hoek) Another question was is there any changes in protein-coding or non-coding RNA transcripts after vaccination. To answer their questions, the scientists established an efficient way to purify human T and B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, myeloid dendritic cells, monocytes and neutrophils from venous blood. Having this method not only helps conclude a hypothesis, but can be used in the future to help other scientists conduct their experiment. Using this high dimensional molecular approach, scientists can use systems biology to identify changes in the blood caused by vaccinations or other perturbations. Their results reveal that RNA and protein expression profiles from each individual sorted cell type differ from...
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...The role of non-evidence based beliefs on anti-vaccination-Literature Review Student Name: Institution: Introduction Anti-vaccination proponents have largely embedded their energies in promoting doubt in parents, instructing forms of biomedical fear while capitalizing on their spiritual and paranormal belief naivety to enforce the same. These approaches are ensured to make it possible that even with any increase in people’s knowledge and evidence, their rational strength over anti-vaccine movements become a myriad.[Lewandowsky et al. 2013] Decision making becomes a weak thing to do because by looking at both ends, things seem to parallel each other. There those who believe in an unquestionable trust in political figures, doctors and other medical professionals. Other parents seem to look at homeopathy, nature and metaphysical tendencies to resolve their medical dilemma as regards to the vaccine.[Huntley and Peeters, 2010; Battles, 2008]. It is at this point that Lewandowski et al. [2013] and his believed that with an increase in knowledge the worldview polarization of science also doubled. Apparently, these issues are evident to point out to the fact that anti-vaccine attitudes are predicted by them. But there is very limited research in place, to depict the underlying factor beneath these forms of psychosocial behaviors against vaccines. The notion of worldview approach to anti-vaccine over vaccines is a current one and stems from paranormal, spiritual, and conspiracy beliefs...
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...Facts 1. In the past 60 years, vaccines have helped eradicate one disease (smallpox) and are close to eradicating another (polio). 2. Vaccines currently help prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year. 3. The impact of child vaccines is magnified when used in conjunction with other health efforts, including with things such as antibiotics, oral rehydration salts, bed nets, and vitamins. 4. New and underutilized vaccines could avert nearly 4 million child deaths under the age of 5 by 2015. 5. Vaccines cause “herd immunity”—if a majority of people in a community have been vaccinated against a disease, an unvaccinated person is less likely to get sick because others are less likely to get sick from and spread that disease. 6. Vaccines helped reduce measles deaths globally by 78% between 2000 and 2008; in sub-Saharan Africa, deaths dropped by 92% in the same period. 7. Vaccines exist that could stop rotavirus and pneumonia, two problems that kill nearly 3 million children under 5 each year. 8. New or improved vaccines are currently being developed for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases. Researchers estimate that a viable malaria vaccine could be ready for children in the developing world as early as 2015. 9. Not all vaccines are given as shots; vaccines for rotavirus and polio, for instance, are given orally. 10. The GAVI Alliance has supported the immunization of more than 288 million children and as a result...
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...In recent years, a wave of anti-vaccination beliefs has been sweeping the nation. However, vaccines “protect us from diseases that used to routinely kill hundreds of thousands of children in the United States and still kill hundreds of thousands globally” (University of Pennsylvania, 2012). Even with this knowledge, many parents have refused to vaccinate their children over fears of side effects, but this has created a significant health risk for the greater public and those more at risk, such as children too young for vaccines and the elderly. Much of the anti-vaccination sentiment is based on misinformation and uninformed positions. Vaccines have benefited humanity greatly and the only thing to outperform the benefits of vaccines to public health is clean water (Andre, Booy, Bock, Clemens, Datta & John et al., 2008). Vaccinations are an essential part of disease prevention as when children are not vaccinated, they can spread diseases to others and face serious health risks of their own from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines rely on a herd, meaning that they are only very effective if nearly everyone receives them. This helps to eradicate the diseases from the bulk of the population, making it very unlikely that at-risk and unvaccinated individuals would be exposed to the diseases. As a result, the more unvaccinated people there are, the greater the risk of an outbreak. Therefore, “if a high number of children go intentionally unvaccinated because of personal belief...
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