Vaccines came into the picture around the 18th century. It was Edward Jenner, who found a method for smallpox vaccinations. Since then, many more vaccines have been introduced and have saved countless lives. Outbreaks of infectious diseases can occur if not enough individuals are immunized. “To be most effective, 80% of the population must have received the vaccine” (Erondu par. 2). Smallpox was a great example of how the importance of vaccines was proven in the past and how it still is important to prevent many deadly infections, but for some reason, a small majority of people still don’t understand it and oppose it.
Infectious diseases were a big contributor to death in ancient times and all through the middle ages, until vaccines and medications came into the picture. Since families were larger back in the day many children passed away suffering from childhood illnesses instead of reaching adolescence. The first vaccine was discovered by Edward Jenner in the late 18th century. This immunization was intended to prevent the growth of smallpox, an infection with a high “case fatality of 30%” (Lofquist 749). The treatment was satisfying, as Jenner stated: “The deaths from smallpox in Britain have been reduced from 40,000 to less than 6,000 per year since the introduction of my discovery” (3-4). The preceding development of the microscope was crucial to the immunization model and opened a whole new cosmos for scientists, as they could now see things never seen before. A simple drop of water could reveal a jungle full of new organisms, which was astonishing for researchers who had no idea of the existence of these life forms before. The revelation of microorganisms was significant for understanding the causes of infections and finding cures. It was hard to believe for most people that there existed little creatures that were too small to see with the bare eye.
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Furthermore, some illnesses are largely perceived as extinct by most people in the present time, all as a result of vaccinations. It would make sense if we thought an infection was extinct if we didn’t see it for a long time but thinking that way could lead to horrible circumstances in the future if we are not 100% sure. As the Current article “There's Good News and Less Good News about Worldwide Immunization”, written by Ngozi Erondu, describes, “80% of the Population must receive an immunization for the protection to be best” (par. 2). If that percentage is not given, the risk of outbreaks persists, since immunized individuals can still become sick, just the risk is dramatically decreased. Africa is a good example: a lot of villages there are very remote and hard to reach. Also, most of the population in those isolated areas is extremely poor and relies on humanitarian aid to get vaccines. Through the modern ways of fast travel, infections can make their way into areas where they have not been experienced for a long time.
People are still opposed to immunization, to this day more and more people are cutting themselves and their kids off from getting vaccines. Internet articles are to blame nowadays for more people pulling away from vaccinations. “conspiracy theories on social media are alive and thriving” (“The Golden Age” par. 2). The reasons for rejecting many beliefs are that the risks are higher than the benefit, which can be true for newly invented immunizations, like HPV because there can not be any long-term studies on safety. Some people think that they can rely on the other 80% of the residents to be vaccinated, and therefore do not have to get a shot themselves. Yet others do not put any thought into it, or think it is cool to be different than the majority, which in my eyes looks dumb and heightens the risk of exposure.
In conclusion, vaccines are an incredibly important tool to prevent infectious diseases from having an outbreak as experienced in the past. To keep up the necessary shots is an enormous task that needs ongoing attention. Most of the rising opposition to immunization is not aware of the immense risks taken by staying unprotected, as the current generation has not faced the deaths of family members and friends caused by infections at a drastic rate seen before. Thanks to Edward Jenner, to whom humanity will be in debt for all time since he invented the first vaccine to protect against smallpox, the devastating loss of countless lives is mostly being contained.
Works Cited
- Erondu,. “There's Good News and Less Good News about Worldwide Immunization.” Scientific American, 26 April 2018, https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/theres-good-news-and-less-good-news-about-worldwide-immunization/
- Jenner, Edward. Letter from Doctor Edward Jenner, to William Dillwyn, Esq., on the effects of vaccination, in preserving from smallpox: to which are added sundry documents relating to vaccination, referred to and accompanying the letter. Philadelphia Vaccine Society, 1818, http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/2559002R
- Lofquist, Jennifer M., et al. 'Smallpox: A Review of Clinical Disease and Vaccination.' American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, vol. 60, no. 8, 15 Apr. 2003, p. 749-756. EBSCOhost.
- 'The Golden Age of Anti-Vaccine Conspiracies.' Germs 7.4 (2017): 168-70. Stein, Richard A (Editor). ProQuest.
- Bowles, Mark, and Barbara Kaplin. Science and Culture throughout History. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, 2012.
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