A few years back, I remember bringing home a newsletter, informing parents about mandatory vaccinations. You know, the ones they gave back when we were in grade 7. My parents weren’t really into the whole idea of letting some people poke some needles into my arm, but of course, they signed off because they wouldn’t want me to get suspended. A few weeks later, a bunch of strangers came to my school and started preparing to administer the vaccines. One by one, each student was called up to receive their needle. Some kids were scared out of their minds, fearing the needles. Some were even crying. At the time, I wondered why vaccines were mandatory. How could something that caused so much trouble be mandatory?
In recent years, the controversy surrounding vaccines has resurfaced, but their history is much longer than a few mere years. Since the first documentation of vaccines in 1798, they have reshaped human health and medicine. Accordingly, vaccines have been so influential to the point where some scientists consider them to be among the greatest successes in public health. Despite the obvious benefits, some choose to not immunize themselves or their children for whatever reason it may be. Even though it may seem like an invasion of individual rights, it is strongly advised to get vaccinated because they have been proven to save lives, be completely safe, protect everyone from exposure to diseases, and protect future generations.
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Save lives
Since the creation of the first vaccine for smallpox, scientists have developed various vaccines that protect people from deadly diseases such as measles, polio, chicken pox, hepatitis, and whooping cough to name a few. Diseases that once killed thousands can now be contained. For instance, in the early 1900s, before the polio vaccine was introduced, thousands of Canadians were paralyzed or died from polio. Fortunately, because of vaccinations, Canada has been polio-free for the last 20 years.
In like manner, the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine has been very successful in reducing infection rates as well. Before its introduction in 1988, Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, which is a serious and life-threatening infection, among young children in Canada. Before the creation of the vaccine, about 1500 cases of Hib meningitis occurred in Canada every year. Since the introduction of the vaccine, Hib infections have almost disappeared in Canada.
Ultimately, vaccines have contributed to a significant reduction in many infectious diseases. In fact, vaccines have been so successful to the point that some infectious diseases, such as smallpox, have been completely eliminated. As a result, it is now relatively rare to experience the devastating and often deadly effects of diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.
Safe
In Canada, there are many standards and processes in place to ensure that the vaccines we receive are safe. All vaccines are thoroughly tested and must be proven to be safe and effective before they are approved for administration. For instance, a vaccine is first tested in labs, which is a process that can take several years. Using the information retrieved from these tests, the FDA decides whether the vaccine is ready to be tested on people. During clinical trials, a vaccine is tested on willing volunteers, starting with 20 to 100 people but eventually building up to include thousands of volunteers. Once again, the tests conducted in clinical trials take several years to complete. It is also mandatory that all safety concerns be addressed before FDA licenses a vaccine.
Even after a vaccine is given its license, tests are still conducted on the vaccine to ensure maximum safety and effectiveness. In order to ensure such things, the company that makes the vaccine will make different batches to make sure the vaccine is potent, pure, and sterile. Afterward, FDA reviews the results of the tests as well as inspects the factories where the vaccine is produced. This helps make sure the vaccines meet standards for both quality and safety. Essentially, the FDA requires up to 10 or more years of testing for all vaccines before they are licensed, and then they are monitored by the FDA to make sure the vaccines and the ingredients used in the vaccines are safe.
Protect
Having a large percentage of the population vaccinated is crucial because vaccines not only protect the people getting vaccinated but everyone around them as well. The more immunized people in a community, the tougher it is for a disease to spread. This method of protection is called “herd immunity.” Herd immunity emphasizes the idea that many of us are protecting each other without any real intention. By having the most part of the population vaccinated, we protect the most vulnerable among us, such as babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, people who cannot receive certain vaccines for medical reasons, and people who may not adequately respond to immunization, such as elders with poor immune systems.
With this being said, anti-vaxxers who argue that there is no apparent reason to get vaccinated because of low infection rates do not understand the concept of herd immunity and so, therefore, are the people who contribute to the return of forgotten diseases. For instance, in the early 2000s, low vaccination rates in England allowed measles to become endemic once again even though earlier vaccination rates had stopped its spread in the country. Due to this, it is important to realize that herd immunity will only be successful until a certain point, and opting out of vaccinations not only affects the person making the decision but quite possibly an entire nation.
Not only do vaccines protect the people in today’s society, but they also protect the generations to follow. Similar to the way we are no longer at risk of smallpox, in the future we may be able to eliminate other diseases, such as polio and measles. In order to do so, we need to increase the vaccination rates right now. By continuing to vaccinate people, other diseases could also be eradicated, and future generations could be protected from the diseases that nations face today.
Conclusion
Ever since the implementation of mandatory vaccines, the debate on vaccinations has been going around and had intensified with the autism scare of 1998. Due to this, anti-vaccination groups began refusing vaccines and even went as far as to encourage other parents to turn away from vaccinating their children. The consequences of such actions began to jeopardize the health of many as disease outbreaks, pandemics, and epidemics occurred. We must draw attention to the fact that opting out of vaccines does not only hurt those who make these decisions but also puts others around them in harm's way. It is crucial to note that vaccines undergo countless research studies to prove that vaccines do in fact save lives, protect the “herd” from the spread of disease, and protect future generations by aiming to eradicate the diseases altogether. When deciding whether to vaccinate, it all boils down to asking yourself which decision will grant safety, health, and overall happiness for the general public.
Think of it as a boat with a leak. Before we even started removing the water with a bucket, the boat was already filled to the brim. But, you know, we want to survive. So we get to work, and we work hard to get all the water out. After some time of removing all that water, the boat is now almost dry. Then we’ll say, “The boat is dry now, so we can throw away the bucket and relax.” Except, the leak hasn’t stopped. Before long, we’d notice water seeping in, and soon it might be back up to the same level it was at when we first started. Unless we can fix the leak, it is important to keep removing the water. If not, the water is bound to take us by surprise and will eventually drown us.
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