Vaccinations

In the Frontline Special Vaccine Wars, the benefit of vaccines is put into question and both sides of the argument are highlighted. While some parents are concerned for their children of the possible side effects that vaccines may cause, there is the fact that these vaccinations prevent their child from suffering as well as contracting the disease and passing it on to other vulnerable populations. Both sides are justified in their viewpoints, and the question of, “Should vaccinations be a societal responsibility or a parental choice?” is left up in the air.

The video did influence the way I look at vaccines and the negative or positive views surrounding them. I remember the Swine Flu scare when I was in high school, and the vaccine being offered in the school. And I remember those who were against getting it because they were afraid of the side effects, and I did not know a single person who contracted the swine flu. The fact that it did not seem like a threat to our town may have caused so many people to deny the preventative measure. On the other hand, the vaccination may have been what had kept the outbreaks at bay. This documentary brought to light these kinds of dilemmas that have gained in prevalence. In a society where public health and preventative care has become increasingly important, the question of “When is it all too much?” is difficult to gage an answer to.

According to the NIH, “herd immunity” is the notion that when a majority of the population is immune against a certain illness, the spread of the disease is contained and the chance for an outbreak is greatly lessened. Populations that are ineligible for immunization are less likely to contract the disease, as well, because there is a lower prevalence. This principle of course relates to public health because it is a reliable and population method to bring a contagion at bay in a population, and to prevent it from becoming a problem. Once a vaccination is developed and tested, its use on a population can save many lives, especially those in high-risk populations. The mere fact that the amount of people susceptible is lessened greatly decreases the chance of a crisis.

A vaccination is different from other public health measures because it is essentially left up to a parent to decide whether or not their child is protected. While doctors and nurses have a strong opinion on the matter and there is a strong sense of social obligation, the health of populations is up to parents. Naturally, some parents will opt their child out of the required vaccinations. According to the documentary, this is due to unfounded fears about rare cases of side effects and crazy internet stories. The public is easily influenced by the media; our culture has become more susceptible to influence from internet blogs than from scientific findings. Of course, with the risk of side effects and rumors of a relationship to autism, however unfounded, some parents are unwilling to take that risk. Children may also not be vaccinated if they do not have access to a physician, for example if they are the children of illegal immigrants or possibly if they are born using a midwife. Also, if parents are uninsured and unable to pay health fees the possibility of getting vaccinated diminishes. As a whole, the fact that the illnesses we vaccinate for are hardly seen anymore, the need for vaccines does not seem that pressing. But it is these vaccinations that prevent outbreaks.

As a public health professional, I would increase the prevalence of vaccinations through media campaigns. Such propaganda worked against the tobacco and cigarette industry, and I am sure it could work again. The difficulty in this is that the scientific relationship between vaccinations and horrible side effects is much more controversial than the negative health effects caused by smoking cigarettes. Regardless, the internet is the “fuel on the fire of vaccination fears” and the unfounded fears should be dispelled as much as possible.