Microbiologists would probably attribute the decline of reported cases of disease to the increase in mass vaccination. They would claim that it is safer to vaccinate and suffer the lesser risks associated, than to not vaccinate at all. However some people are against immunization and would claim that vaccination is not worth it. The death rate linked to infectious diseases had supposedly already begun to decline a significant amount before the introduction of vaccines. “Injecting a known deadly pathogen in to a healthy host, is like putting a gun to one’s head and pulling the trigger, hoping it’s not loaded” (2).
As well as there was for smallpox, there is also a vaccine for polio. In 1992 there was a study that concluded with the fact that all of the cases of polio since 1980 in the United States, were indeed caused by the polio vaccine itself. These vaccine associated cases of polio were said to be caused by the orally administered version of polio vaccine. Since it was a live virus, it mutated in cases to actually cause polio itself. The inactivated polio vaccine supposedly has fewer risks associated with it. This however, wasn’t used as much simply because it is more expensive as it takes longer to produce. The pharmaceutical companies therefore backed up the old, more unsafe vaccines. Statistics also show that the polio death rate was on its way down anyway even before the vaccine came in to action. Although we know that there are several polio vaccine associated polio cases, many of us still continue to vaccinate against polio, and more and more people are infected.
Most vaccines cause some side effects, but they are usually minor and short-lived like low-grade fever and soreness at the injection site. Serious vaccine reactions; causing disability, hospitalization, or even death are extremely rare but they can happen. Like any medicine, vaccines carry a small risk of serious harm such as severe allergic reaction. But experts point out that the risk of being harmed by a vaccine is much lower than the risk that comes with infectious diseases. (3)
In the past there have been reports linking the hepatitis B vaccination to other diseases such as lupus, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis as well as others. In 1996 there were 279 cases of hepatitis B in children under the age of 14. In the same year group, there were 872 serious adverse events reported associated with the hepatitis B vaccination. Basically there were 68% more adverse reactions from the vaccine than there were from the infection obtained naturally that year. Children, who are not at risk of a disease, which is extremely rare in children, are forced in to taking this vaccine that is dangerous to them. People most at risk of hepatitis B are IV drug users, prostitutes, practicing homosexuals, dialysis patients and health care workers exposed to human blood. Which of these categories justify immunizing 4 million children a year with a vaccine that carries known risks which are often more dangerous than the disease itself? (4)
My opinion to the question “Are vaccinations really a safe method of disease prevention?” is unsure. I have been vaccinated against a number of diseases and I have not experienced any suffering from it. I find it disturbing to know that many people’s lives have been affected by the use of unsafe vaccines. But who is to say where we would be today in life if it wasn’t for Edward Jenner and the discovery of vaccines? If vaccines are effective, then why do figures show an increase in the rate of occurrence of many diseases after their vaccinations began? But on the other hand, if vaccines are ineffective, then why has smallpox completely disappeared since the development of vaccines?
