Vaccines: The Ease of Disease (SSR)

With the multitude of  fatal diseases and infections that plague all corners of the earth, it may seem that we must simply accept our imminent death. These highly contagious illnesses would surely induce constant fear within every individual, as they would live a life attempting to avoid contracting one of these lethal injections. However, as we live in the twenty first century, with technology that provides a great expanse of possibilities, we no longer are engulfed by fear of death. We are saved by our hero, our knight in shinning armor, the light at the end of the tunnel: vaccines. These medical treatments have been constructed in laboratories, and slowly perfected over the years. They offer individuals an escape to a life engulfed by fear, and assurance that they will be protected from some of the most contagious infections. However, even with theses benefits in mind some individuals refuse to receive vaccines, as the fear of the side effects hinders their decision.

Those individuals who refuse to receive vaccines often obtain views that are obstructed by the opinions of the people who surround them. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent explains in a CNN report that, "science often loses the zeal argument to ideology". People hear by word of mouth that a vaccination could potentially have adverse effects and this fear becomes greater than the benefits these medical innovations could offer. Gupta explains that most of these fears are not based off of fact, but on assumption. Many individuals have not personally witnessed a vaccine produce an adverse effect, but have heard of a friend of a friend who has possibly had a reaction to the vaccine. Gupta urges readers to take vaccines not as a matter of opinion,but as a matter of fact. To support this claim, Gupta explains through several statistics that vaccines are not as harmful as people may conceive; in reference to the measles vaccine he explains,"that you are 100 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to have a serious allergic to the vaccine". Gupta claims that if more individuals were genuinely educated on the facts concerning vaccines, they will be more apt to receive them and acquire their benefits.

Gupta further explains that individuals should not fear vaccines simply due to the potential stories of adverse effects. He expands upon his views through a quote from David Katz, a representative from Yale School of Public Health, who states, "it makes no more sense to rant against vaccines because you heard of someone who might have had an adverse reaction than to stop walking because you heard about a pedestrian struck by a car". People should not fear the unknown simply due to fears of possible faults. The advantages to vaccines offer benefits that exceed any adverse effects that may occur. With any situation, there will be some sort of fear of failure, however,we know that, in reference to the quote, that it is far more practical to keep walking, as there is little chance that most individuals who walk will be struck by a car. In the same way, there is little chance that vaccines will fail to serve their purpose, therefore individuals should keep in mind the benefits they produce.

In the United States, every citizen has the freedom to choose whether they wish to receive a vaccine or not. Those who choose not to receive vaccines must think of the people their choice is affecting as well. Their children, their co-workers, their family, the people they come in contact with daily could all become victims of their freedom of choice. If this individual happens to contact the disease, they put their loved ones at risk of contracting the disease as well, leading to possible death and and outbreak of the disease. Vaccines are an innovative technology that allow people to avoid contracting possibly lethal diseases that would be otherwise incurable. If we have the ability to reduce the chance of death caused by illness, why shouldn't we utilize it? Taking into consideration the facts and benefits concerning vaccines, it would be a logical decision for individuals to support the administration of vaccines to protect their lives and the lives of their loved ones.