Immunization

Immunization
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Immunization
Immunizations are an asset to public health. Vaccines protect people from getting preventable infectious diseases. Facts from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) show that vaccinations have lessened or eradicated many infectious illnesses that used to kill or harm children, infants and adults in the U.S. Bacteria and viruses that cause these illnesses are, however, still in existence, and people who do not get immunized can still get infectious diseases. Statistics from Healthy People 2020 (2017) indicates that vaccines save at least 33,000 lives annually, prevents overs 14 million instances of diseases, and decreases direct health budgets by at least $9.9 billion every year. Despite its benefits to the public, immunization receives vehement oppositions around the country.
Most of those who oppose immunization are Anti-Vaxxers. These people do not believe in the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases. Instead, they perceive vaccines as injurious and unsafe, especially to children. Well, while it is admissible to hold to that perspective because a few cases have been reported regarding the side effects of vaccines, Anti-Vaxxers need to understand that no medical procedure nor drug prescription is completely devoid of risks. In fact, it is for this reason that there is a government-sponsored vaccine injury program.
Vaccines, like any regular drugs, are not completely free of side effects, but most are minor and uncommon.

A preponderance of evidence shows that some health complications that follow vaccinations do not directly result from them (Rao & Andrade, 2011). Most of the extreme instances of post-immunization complications depend on a person’s unique body formation. Notwithstanding, it is quite seldom for vaccines to cause severe health problems, such as allergic reactions (Health Resources & Service Administration, 2018). According to Kluger (2015), some of the claims regarding vaccines injuries and deaths are legitimate, but most of them are frivolous and fraudulent. A good example was the claim made by Andrew Wakefield which fueled anti-vaccination movements. After performing a shoddy research, Wakefield presented a confusing finding that vaccination caused autism in children (Wakefield et al., 1998).
Vaccines are effective and safe. Evidence from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2018) shows that every vaccine licensed and endorsed to public undergoes several years of safety testing and monitoring to ensure that it cannot pose a risk to the public, but benefits it. Therefore, immunization in its design is a public health asset, not a danger.

References
Healthy People 2020. (2017). Immunization and Infectious Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/immunization-and-infectious-diseasesRao, T. S. S., & Andrade, C. (2011). The MMR vaccine and autism: Sensation, refutation, retraction, and fraud. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 53(2), 95–96. http://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.82529Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., Linnell, J., Casson, D. M., Malik, M., … & Valentine, A. (1998). RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Retrieved July 19, 2018, from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(97)11096-0/fulltextU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006, October 11). Vaccine Safety. Retrieved July 19, 2018, from https://www.vaccines.gov/basics/safety/index.htmlKluger, J. (2015, August 19). Vaccine Injury Court: Here’s the Truth. Retrieved from http://time.com/3995062/vaccine-injury-court-truth/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, May 02). Vaccine Information for Adults. Retrieved July 19, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/reasons-to-vaccinate.htmlHealth Resources & Service Administration. (2018, April 01). National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Retrieved July 19, 2018, from https://www.hrsa.gov/vaccine-compensation/index.html