PHFear on Vaccines: Misinformation Strikes!
By: Raizen
[Note: Please have a little time to read it. I used autism since it was a great example to deliver how important vaccines are and it has a history of myths on vaccines. Fear-mongering and anti vaxxers seems active nowadays. Be educated.]
Since the late 1990’s, myths about the risk of a link between standard infant vaccination and those administered being autistic and nowadays even other preventable diseases as a result, as well as general superstition or skepticism over the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, have been perpetuated and grown in popularity. So much so, that the president has questioned their safety, potentially putting millions of lives at risk.
Vaccination is important for the health and well being of a community, as well as the human race, and should not be disputed. The belief in the chance of developing autism and other new strains of other diseases from vaccination is a harmful conviction to people and children who don’t get vaccinated because of their parent’s irrational fear that says, through their actions, “I would rather my child die of a preventable disease than have a disorder.”
Especially in the current climate of “alternative facts” and conflicting information, it is imperative one should mold their beliefs to fit the facts, not mold the facts to fit their beliefs.
Firstly, the positive (a double-meaning here of favorable and certain) effects of vaccination. On the authority of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), although children continue to get several vaccines up to their second birthday, these vaccines do not overload the immune system. Every day, your healthy baby’s immune system successfully fights off millions of antigens-the parts of germs that cause the body’s immune system to respond. The antigens in vaccines come from weakened or killed germs so they cannot cause serious illness.
Vaccines contain only a tiny amount of the antigens that your baby encounters every day, even if your child receives several vaccines in one day.
People are usually vaccinated when they are very young, since their immune systems are weak and not well developed. At their young age, they have a higher risk of contracting and failing to successfully combat diseases they come in contact with. The process of developing and testing vaccines begins with a laboratory, continues with clinical trials, and ends with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), who must approve a vaccine, its safety, and its effectiveness before its distribution and use in the United States.
It is such a controlled and extensive process, it typically takes 10 to 15 years of research and testing before the vaccine is presented to, and approved or rejected by, the FDA.
Vaccines, in their preventative nature, will likely seem to have a lack of effects to the person they are administered to-e.g., Person A gets vaccinated and nothing changes. Their life goes on as normal, and they do not notice that they have not come down with the disease that the vaccine counteracted.
However, Person B was not vaccinated, gets the disease, and feels the full effects of what the vaccine silently prevented in Person A. For such a simple, quick procedure with a low-profile effect, it’s incredible the positive response it can have on an individual and a community. That, coupled with the fact almost all insurance covers it, makes it seem rather appalling more people fail to take advantage of it.
An adverse event is, essentially, a coincidence; a health problem that occurs following vaccination that possibly could be induced by a vaccine. A side effect is a reaction shown to correlate to a vaccine by scientific studies and tests. The difference between adverse events and side effects is significant, especially in an argument as controversial and serious as this. It is important to recognise that personal anecdotes are not evidence. Adverse events reported to the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) are not necessarily side effects caused by vaccination.
Vaccines do not affect or alter genes in any way, and gene mutation is what most likely causes autism, stated here by the Autism Society,
There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children. Researchers do not know the exact cause of autism but are investigating a number of theories, including the links among heredity, genetics and medical problems.
In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting the theory that the disorder has a genetic basis. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that children with autism may have inherited.
Autism is a developmental disorder, a broad spectrum of different symptoms and traits, found in people of all races, genders, ages, etc. It is becoming more commonly diagnosed due to increased knowledge. It is not a disease, nor is it curable or caused by vaccines.
Now in our current situation, I feared that many will tried to spread baseless claims about the recent case on Poliovirus as after a nearly two decade of becoming polio free country, we have again one case. If you think, one case don't matter, think twice. Polio is highly contagious, no cure but can be prevented thru vaccine with the immunization program of the government and proper hygiene.
Please vaccinate your children, do not listen to those fear-mongering folks, your safety and health comes first before personal agenda.
Keep safe and always have proper hygiene
Sources and References:
Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 02 May 2001. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Culp-Ressler, Tara. “Massive New Study Provides The Best Proof Yet That Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism.” ThinkProgress. ThinkProgress, 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines in the United States.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Evidence Vaccines Work.” Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters. N.p., June 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“The Facts Behind Vaccine Safety.” New York State. Department of Health, Feb. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Fine, Paul, Ken Eames, and David L. Heymann. “”Herd Immunity”: A Rough Guide.” Clinical Infectious Diseases 52.7 (2011): 911-16. Oxford Academic. Infectious Diseases Society of America, 01 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child.” Vaccines.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“How Do Vaccines Work?” HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“How Vaccines Work.” Vaccineinformation.org. Immunization Action Coalition, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Importance of Vaccines.” Vaccineinformation.org. Immunization Action Coalition, 09 Nov. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Khalakdina, Asheena, Alejandro Costa, and Sylvie Briand. “Smallpox in the Post-eradication Era.” Weekly Epidemiological Record 91.20 (2016): 257-64. World Health Organization. WHO, 20 May 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Making the Vaccine Decision.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 03 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Possible Side-effects from Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 02 Dec. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Raizen of DeepWeb PH
CTTO
By: Raizen
[Note: Please have a little time to read it. I used autism since it was a great example to deliver how important vaccines are and it has a history of myths on vaccines. Fear-mongering and anti vaxxers seems active nowadays. Be educated.]
Since the late 1990’s, myths about the risk of a link between standard infant vaccination and those administered being autistic and nowadays even other preventable diseases as a result, as well as general superstition or skepticism over the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, have been perpetuated and grown in popularity. So much so, that the president has questioned their safety, potentially putting millions of lives at risk.
Vaccination is important for the health and well being of a community, as well as the human race, and should not be disputed. The belief in the chance of developing autism and other new strains of other diseases from vaccination is a harmful conviction to people and children who don’t get vaccinated because of their parent’s irrational fear that says, through their actions, “I would rather my child die of a preventable disease than have a disorder.”
Especially in the current climate of “alternative facts” and conflicting information, it is imperative one should mold their beliefs to fit the facts, not mold the facts to fit their beliefs.
Firstly, the positive (a double-meaning here of favorable and certain) effects of vaccination. On the authority of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), although children continue to get several vaccines up to their second birthday, these vaccines do not overload the immune system. Every day, your healthy baby’s immune system successfully fights off millions of antigens-the parts of germs that cause the body’s immune system to respond. The antigens in vaccines come from weakened or killed germs so they cannot cause serious illness.
Vaccines contain only a tiny amount of the antigens that your baby encounters every day, even if your child receives several vaccines in one day.
People are usually vaccinated when they are very young, since their immune systems are weak and not well developed. At their young age, they have a higher risk of contracting and failing to successfully combat diseases they come in contact with. The process of developing and testing vaccines begins with a laboratory, continues with clinical trials, and ends with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), who must approve a vaccine, its safety, and its effectiveness before its distribution and use in the United States.
It is such a controlled and extensive process, it typically takes 10 to 15 years of research and testing before the vaccine is presented to, and approved or rejected by, the FDA.
Vaccines, in their preventative nature, will likely seem to have a lack of effects to the person they are administered to-e.g., Person A gets vaccinated and nothing changes. Their life goes on as normal, and they do not notice that they have not come down with the disease that the vaccine counteracted.
However, Person B was not vaccinated, gets the disease, and feels the full effects of what the vaccine silently prevented in Person A. For such a simple, quick procedure with a low-profile effect, it’s incredible the positive response it can have on an individual and a community. That, coupled with the fact almost all insurance covers it, makes it seem rather appalling more people fail to take advantage of it.
An adverse event is, essentially, a coincidence; a health problem that occurs following vaccination that possibly could be induced by a vaccine. A side effect is a reaction shown to correlate to a vaccine by scientific studies and tests. The difference between adverse events and side effects is significant, especially in an argument as controversial and serious as this. It is important to recognise that personal anecdotes are not evidence. Adverse events reported to the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) are not necessarily side effects caused by vaccination.
Vaccines do not affect or alter genes in any way, and gene mutation is what most likely causes autism, stated here by the Autism Society,
There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children. Researchers do not know the exact cause of autism but are investigating a number of theories, including the links among heredity, genetics and medical problems.
In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting the theory that the disorder has a genetic basis. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that children with autism may have inherited.
Autism is a developmental disorder, a broad spectrum of different symptoms and traits, found in people of all races, genders, ages, etc. It is becoming more commonly diagnosed due to increased knowledge. It is not a disease, nor is it curable or caused by vaccines.
Now in our current situation, I feared that many will tried to spread baseless claims about the recent case on Poliovirus as after a nearly two decade of becoming polio free country, we have again one case. If you think, one case don't matter, think twice. Polio is highly contagious, no cure but can be prevented thru vaccine with the immunization program of the government and proper hygiene.
Please vaccinate your children, do not listen to those fear-mongering folks, your safety and health comes first before personal agenda.
Keep safe and always have proper hygiene
Sources and References:
Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 02 May 2001. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Culp-Ressler, Tara. “Massive New Study Provides The Best Proof Yet That Vaccines Don’t Cause Autism.” ThinkProgress. ThinkProgress, 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Ensuring the Safety of Vaccines in the United States.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Feb. 2013. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Evidence Vaccines Work.” Northern Rivers Vaccination Supporters. N.p., June 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“The Facts Behind Vaccine Safety.” New York State. Department of Health, Feb. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Fine, Paul, Ken Eames, and David L. Heymann. “”Herd Immunity”: A Rough Guide.” Clinical Infectious Diseases 52.7 (2011): 911-16. Oxford Academic. Infectious Diseases Society of America, 01 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child.” Vaccines.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“How Do Vaccines Work?” HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, 21 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“How Vaccines Work.” Vaccineinformation.org. Immunization Action Coalition, 15 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Importance of Vaccines.” Vaccineinformation.org. Immunization Action Coalition, 09 Nov. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Khalakdina, Asheena, Alejandro Costa, and Sylvie Briand. “Smallpox in the Post-eradication Era.” Weekly Epidemiological Record 91.20 (2016): 257-64. World Health Organization. WHO, 20 May 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Making the Vaccine Decision.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 03 Aug. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
“Possible Side-effects from Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 02 Dec. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.
Raizen of DeepWeb PH
CTTO
