Elizabeth Bowen
Shandor
Engl 1101
8 November 2013

Why is Vaccinating Children Really Important? Many soon to be parents and parents spend a generous amount of time debating rather to vaccinate their children or not. Parents naturally are concerned for their children’s health and safety. We worry about safety seats, doorknobs and stairs so of course their health is a concern. Vaccinations are not new to our generation; they have been around for years. Small Pox Vaccinations began in the early 1800s. (Durbach) The Vaccination Act of 1853 ordered mandatory vaccination for infants up to 3 months old, and, the Act of 1867 extends this age requirement to 14 years. (Durbach) While back then it was mandatory we can now elect to opt out from these vaccinations. We should not have to think about whether or not we are going to vaccinate our kids. We should be doing it. Vaccinations are important because they save lives, protect others, save time, money, are safe and effective. When you think about children you think of a long life ahead of them. Vaccines protect children by preparing their immune systems to recognize and fight serious and sometimes deadly diseases. Studies are now showing that there is a time limit for the lifespan of a vaccine’s ability to confer immunity against certain communicable illnesses. (Shapiro) Illness and death caused by infectious diseases, while not as wide spread as a half-century ago, are still a danger. Pertussis, or ‘whooping cough’, is a recommended vaccine. It is also recommended to follow the booster schedules for children and adults receiving the vaccines because it helps protect young infants who are not yet fully immunized. Vaccines can protect both the people who receive them and those with whom they have come in contact with. Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases around the world. Anti-vaccination positions and vaccination controversies have been around for years. A vaccine is a medical product, though they are designed to protect from diseases that can cause side effects. Some parents are left feeling anxious and in some cases, keep their young children unvaccinated. Some believe the MMR Vaccine is connected to autism. A large number of research studies have been conducted to assess the safety of the MMR vaccine, and none of them have found a link between the vaccine and autism. (Stratton) Most side effects from vaccinations are mild, such as soreness, swelling, or redness at the injection site. Some other side effects might include fever, rash, and achiness. There are serious side effects but they are rare, they include; life-threatening allergic reaction or seizure. I rather have a child with a slight fever for a day then the possibility that my child body is not strong enough to fight a disease such as ‘whooping cough’, measles, or polio. These germs are still around today, but because vaccines now protect babies, we do not see these diseases nearly as often. With Children beginning school earlier every year they are in constant contact with germs. Children in childcare experience more bout of illness on the first 2 years of life. Doctor bills, hospital bills, and prescriptions are expensive. The flu vaccine starts at the age of six months and helps protect your child through the flu season. It may not prevent your child from fully getting sick but it does prevent to seriousness of the flu. Children that miss school make parents miss work, which in turn makes parents lose money and causes a financial burden on the family. Most health insurance companies cover vaccinations at 100% as a preventative as long as the child is kept up to date. Vaccinations can save the family money in the long run if started out as a preventative. Vaccinating children while still babies can save time when enrolling the child in school. You can