vaccines in our immune system
Which body systems are affected?
A vaccine is introduced in the body to boost your immune system for it to be able to fight any attacks by a specific disease. Some vaccines fight against both bacterial and viral infections of other disease-causing agents. When these agents enter the body, the body introduces antibodies that fight the disease. Depending on the strength of your immune system and how efficient your antibodies are, one may or may not get sick. Vaccine work in the body for this same function in our bodies. They are made of a weak and harmless pathogen. When a vaccine is introduced in the body, the pathogen is not strong enough to make one sick; however, it is strong enough to create antibodies against it. As a result, one gains immunity against disease even before they get sick. If one is exposed to the pathogen again, the body can recognize it and combat it. If the vaccines are meant to fight bacteria, then the vaccine has bacterial pathogens. But there are instances when a modified form makes the vaccines of a toxin generated by bacteria. Take, for example, the tetanus vaccine. The vaccine is not directly produced by the tetanus bacteria but by a toxin created by the clostridium tetani bacteria. Different people are giving various reasons for not complying with the vaccination. However, most people’s arguments root from misinformation regarding the immune system and the response of the vaccine. They state that vaccines overwhelm the body and that natural immunity is better than the induced. This totally misses the point of vaccines in our immune system. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
What are the economic issues involved
A significant factor leading to people not complying is the lack of access to health due to socioeconomic and other factors. Many parents are going through job loss and divorce and other financial hardships. When people lose their jobs and their health insurance, some parents do not know if they can qualify for Medicaid to maintain their healthcare. Other families lack transportations and inconvenient hours at the hospital. Vaccination rates are attributed to poverty levels. There is no difference between children living under and above the poverty for MMR, IPV, and Hep B vaccination, which is offered under the children’s program. However, this is not the case for children living below poverty levels for vaccines that require four doses to complete the series. However, the difference is no longer there when the socioeconomic status is changed.
Also, by vaccinating children, the country can reduce the number of resources used to take care of sick children. The economic benefits of protecting children go beyond treatment costs, which are often added in the cost-effectiveness analyses. Many children who are saved by being vaccinated will bring economic value to the country, and they will also bring social value to the community. From the citizen’s perspective, the financial considerations to be looked at those that may take place in case of adverse side effects that are caused by the vaccines. Biodefense vaccines sometimes have high-risk reactions on individuals. They may become ill and incur health care costs and also lose their jobs. The compensation program created in 2003 was meant to compensate individuals in case of adverse effects with the smallpox vaccination; however, it was limited, compensation for loss of a job, and survivor benefits. There was a no-fault scheme of payment provided by the PREP Act of 2005does not have limitations with the risk of minimal compensation for individuals who may experience adverse occurrences.
Statistical facts related to people who do not use vaccines
According to the Pew Research Centre, around 73% of adults in the US indicated that the health benefits MMR vaccines are high, while 63% of the people said that the side effects risk is low. Also, 17 % of the population thought that parents should not vaccinate their children whether or not they create a threat to them. Approximately 91% of people with high science knowledge believed that vaccination had its benefits, while 55% of those with deep science knowledge found its beneficial. Also, those with low experience about vaccines were more likely to decline the vaccines.
What are the moral and religious issues that are involved?
Vaccines are becoming a victim of their success; many people have never seen the debilitating diseases that vaccines protect against. Various factors are at play; religion, misinformation about the vaccines, and subconscious beliefs.
Non-compliance to vaccination based on morals and religion is specifically relevant to the HPV vaccine. Most families decide not to vaccinate their children against HPV, attribute this with their moral and religious beliefs and the separation of church and state. Therefore, withholding parental consent is a concern in regards to the HPV vaccination of preteen girls. Other known reasons for non-compliance for the HPV vaccine is that they are not sexually active; they are not of the right age and also the side effects of the vaccine. However, these results show the myths surrounding the HPV vaccine, such as that it is only necessary for sexually active girls and that it’s not safe.
As per now, the US, parents of children under the age of 18, must give consent for medical procedures. However, it was suggested that the age of the teenagers for vaccination recommended by the CDC should be lowered on the basis that children need to be protected from diseases even with their parents withholding consent. Some states, however, are seeking to mandate the HPV vaccine despite the opposing on moral grounds by a religious organization.
Religion affects the decision on vaccination; a parent usually uses this religious objection as an excuse to avoid vaccinating their children or themselves. According to a study, the number of religious exemptions has been increased. Thus exceptions allow the parents to choose whether or not their children will be vaccinated based on religious reasons. Almost all states Washington included allow for the exemption beginning at least in kindergarten. However, four states California, West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arizona, do not allow.
An exemption is allowed due to medical reasons in all states. For example, a child who has cancer or any immune disorders; a vaccine cannot be administered if it can cause harm to the child’s health. Exemptions on religious grounds in 48 states, and also philosophical issues in 20 states. Approximately 1%- 3% of children are excused from immunization because of these exemptions, but these exemptions are as high as 20% in some communities. Even with a tiny percentage of children are justified from vaccination, there is still a risk of an outbreak of diseases; the rates increase from 2%-4%. All states have their regulations on vaccinations for children who go to public schools. More than a dozen states provide philosophical exemptions, commonly known as the personal belief exemptions, which does not mean that the parents’ desire to exclude themselves doesn’t have to be particularly religious beliefs. They can also include exceptions for conscience or moral ideology.
The major problem with this situation is that people who choose not to vaccinate often live in the same communities; therefore, some people are influenced by the social network. When a group of unimmunized people stays together, an infectious disease can quickly spread. People with personal and religious beliefs that make them exclude themselves from vaccination should have these conversations with physicians. These are conversations that should be done. These people need to be heard so that they talk about their concerns and fears about the vaccines. Also, while it’s true that parents have the right to opt for their underage children the vaccination, they are a medical treatment, this is different as it affects the child’s health and the surrounding community. Choosing not to vaccinate yourself or a child not only affects the child but also dangerous for everyone around the child. Having your personal and religious beliefs does not give anyone a right to put other people’s lives at risk.