Immunizations by Jessica Kelley

Immunizations are becoming controversial these days. Individual or religious beliefs have a big influence on the decision to immunize or not. Immunizations or lack thereof can become a social epidemic because they impact our community and country we live in. Would you want to live in a population that doesn’t receive immunizations? Being immunized impacts not only you but everyone around you, especially infants, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Having regular immunizations that are available to us is important because it helps control the spread of disease. They help build and protect us from diseases that could become an epidemic in our community. The people in our country should care about their well being and health to want to protect themselves against diseases, if possible. We are lucky to have the opportunity to be immunized at any time here in America. Not every country has that privilege. If we had a disease that became an epidemic would you change your mind about being immunized?

The origination of small pox is undetermined but can date back to the 6th century. In, the 1800s is when controlling the spread of the disease became more efficient. People were skeptical to trust being inoculated with a disease to build immunity toward the other. Then, immunizations were still experimental, and individuals were risking their lives and praying it worked. (Smallpox) Edward Jenner experimented using cowpox pustules to help build immunity toward small pox in his experiments. (Smallpox)  They had to become infected with the cowpox virus to see if it would work against the smallpox virus. Smallpox was an epidemic in the 1800s across Europe and killed millions of people. Smallpox spread globally over the course of many years.

 Once Jenner’s experiment shown signs of being successfully people were still cautious of the now immunization that would help protect them (Smallpox). Their beliefs, religion, or political aspects held them cautious. The vaccination act was created in 1853 which made it mandatory for people to get vaccinated from infancy. In, 1867 the age was increased up to 14 years old. This caused controversy amongst people and that is when Anti- Vaccination organizations were created. They felt as if they were not in control of their own bodies being forced to get vaccination. They didn’t want their rights as humans to be violated. Many were unaware and uneducated on the effects and impotence of being immunized (History of Anti-Vaccination Movements). They didn’t understand how this disease effects not only their town, but their entire community and even globally. People were afraid for their safety and effectiveness of the immunization. Edward Jenner’s foundation of vaccinology many immunizations have been created over the years to help prevent the spread of diseases. (History of Vaccines) Today we have many recommended immunizations we are required to receive from birth to the age of eighteen years old. Those immunizations include Hepatitis B 1, Rotavirus 2 (3 dose series), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP), Haemophlius influenza, Pneumococcal conjugate, inactivated polio virus, Influenza, Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Varicella, Hepatitis A, Meningococcal 11, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Meningococcal B12, Pneumococcal polysaccharide 3.  (Immunization Schedules) Many of these immunizations are given at various ages and series.  We also can acquire a yearly vaccine for Influenza to help block the spread of that easily contracted virus. There are still many diseases without a cure, or an immunization to help build immunity toward it today but many scientists and Pathophysiologists and the CDC are working to find ways to help if possible.  Being immunized against diseases in our society only helps us fight against deadly diseases and not create global epidemics. It is important to be immunized, so you as an individual acquires immunity. Immunizations are made up of modified or dead toxins of the disease.  Once you acquire that your body now has the defenses it needs to fight against dangerous diseases. You want people in your community to be vaccinated, that creates heard immunity. The more that are protected in your area creates a barrier to help infants that are too young, elderly and immunocompromised individuals from catching diseases. It also contains the spread of diseases. According, to the World Health Assembly in May of 1980 they declared the world eradicated of small pox. (Vaccination) This is the most accomplished achievement in public health.

In our known history when the Europeans settled in American they brought over diseases like Smallpox, Influenzas and Cholera. The Europeans also brought along animals that they were not accustomed to and had no immunity toward the diseases they carried. Native Americans that were already settled on the lands of America had no immunity for these diseases. Millions of Native Americas died because of these diseases. Smallpox was just new of many other major disease-causing epidemics. Smallpox is the only one that has been eradicated but scientists have created immunizations against many others to help prevent people from contracting the diseases.  A major epidemic we face on a yearly basis is Influenza. It is recommended that everyone receive a flu shot. 

Although ,the strains can be different from what our bodies are building immunity against the shot tries to prevent or be as close to the strain outbreak of that year. If people don’t get the flu it puts a strain on the economy as well, employer’s loss money when employees are out on sick days. The productivity drops during flu season for the lack of employees not getting the flu shot. Some employers make it a requirement to get a flu shot. The U.S. economy alone could lose up to an estimated 80 billion dollars per year during flu season.  According to Jonathan Quick, a global health expert he feels that the United States may not be prepared for a global pandemic like the 1918 Flu. The situation with this is because of the constant change in strain and the guesswork that the CDC and manufacturing have to create a new vaccine yearly. (100 Years Later: Can the Government Stop an Epidemic like the 1918 Flu?) The government and CDC need more funding in manufacturing the vaccine. They also need to put more awareness to the public and educate them of symptoms and simple hand washing hygiene that can prevent the spread of the flu (100 Years Later: Can the Government Stop an Epidemic like the 1918 Flu?).  Many people are unaware that Bioterrorism is a national health threat using microorganisms to cause harm. Vaccines and antimicrobials are the only possible protection. Anthrax is one of the leading bioweapon agents because its airborne spores can enter the body thru inhalation. A person can be treated with antibiotics if caught in time, but it is also deadly.  (Home - PMC - NCBI)  In, 2001 in the United States weapons grade anthrax powder was inside mail and transported thru the postal system. The powder was inhaled and resulted in five deaths.  (Home - PMC - NCBI) Smallpox and Anthrax are the only FDA approved vaccine against bioterrorism, they have strict limitations and are only used under certain circumstances. The vaccine is not for the use or available to the civilian population. Only certain members of the United States military acquire the vaccination. The vaccine would require six injections over an eighteen-month period and yearly boosters, making it difficult to get everyone to stay on track with the procedure. It is also expensive  and would take funds away from other manufacturing of vaccinations. (Home - PMC - NCBI) If no threat to the nation or potential evidence of this bioweapon being used the government will not enforce the manufacturing of the vaccine in a high demand. Also, the shelf life and longevity are questionable to stockpile the vaccine if it were to be assessable to the public.

According to NCBI creating biodefense vaccines would take political, ethical, social and economic concerns that are not usually a problem with standard vaccines that are manufactured. (Home - PMC - NCBI) Overall if the people of our nation helped put forth more funding toward manufacturing and research toward our vaccinations more diseases could be eradicated. If everyone practiced good hygiene to reduce the risk of spreading diseases and got regularly recommended immunizations our nation would lower the risk of epidemic outbreaks.

According to the CDC, the United States have safety systems that ensures vaccines are as safe as possible (For parents/Cdc). They are monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who ensure the safety, effectiveness and availability of the vaccines (For parents/Cdc). There are also many other scientific solutions to the social epidemic of not being immunized and why you should be. Scientific solutions begin with experiments, methods and observations of testing. For example, Alexander Fleming was a scientist in the 1920’s that was growing a bacterium on an agar plate that became contaminated with mold. The area where the mold had grown the bacteria that was originally on the agar had gone away (History of Vaccines). With this new knowledge it created a medication we use still today to help kill bacterial infections. This medication is known as Penicillin. Many scientist’s testing of scientific methods use testing of their methods in various ways. Scientific experiments take place on controlled groups. “Recording of the data is crucial during the testing phase. Failure to measure, observe and record the information accurately can distort the results of the test” (History of Vaccines).  Based on the data that is collected will determine if the experimental testing was a success or a failure of the hypothesis and if it is supported or not by the results. Just as Edward Jenner performed experiments of people using cow pox particles from sores to see if he could build immunity to Smallpox. Jenner had to test and observe a subject with the Cowpox infection first. He took the scrapings from a sore of a woman infected with cowpox and placed it in the arm of a young boy. The boy didn’t feel well for a few days but recovered fine. Next in Jenner’s experiment he would have to take the scraping of a sore from an infected person with smallpox and injecting the same boy to see if he would become infected with smallpox or if his body-built immunity from the cowpox. Both diseases smallpox and cowpox are in the same category known as the Orthopox virus which is caused by the Variola virus (Smallpox). Being one of the deadliest widespread diseases known in history, from the spread of droplets during close contact from person to person is how so many people were affected by this disease (Smallpox).  Jenner’s research and observational experiments were a success. Jenner’s vaccination against Smallpox spread and grew in popularity around the world.  According to the World Health Organization, Smallpox is the only disease that has been eradicated thanks to his discovery (Smallpox). 

Another scientific method was founded by Robert Koch who established bacteriology. Koch made many discoveries about disease- causing organisms. Koch’s postulates are the basic principles scientist use still today. “His method is 1) The microbe is present in each case of the disease. 2) The microbe can be taken from the host and grown independently. 3) The disease can be produced by introducing a pure culture of the microbe into a healthy experimental host. 4) The microbe can be isolated and identified from the host infected in step 3” (History of Vaccines).

 Pearl Kendrick developed the Whooping cough vaccine. Her scientific method was to do experiments on controlled group of children that had not yet received the vaccine (History of Vaccines). Having a controlled environment helped her to establish better turn outs of the effectiveness of the vaccine. Kendrick’s trial helped develop norms and expectations of future vaccine trials and has shown the efficacy of her vaccine to be successful. Another method is called the Double-Blind Randomized experiment.  Jonas Stalks’ inactivated Polio virus vaccine was used to experiment in the double-blind randomized experiment. This method was by randomly assigning children to a control group or an experimental group. Double blind means that no one, not the child, the parent, the person giving the injection or the person who assessed the child’s health knew whether they were given the vaccine or the placebo (a placebo is an inactive substance) (History of Vaccines). The only way to identify was by numbers that were encoded on the vial. Observations were taken, and results recorded telling whether the child developed the disease, which was Polio in this method. It also determined if the person was in environmental or controlled environment. Stalks trial was a success that proved the vaccine helped prevent Polio. It was a great discovery and has saved millions of lives from being paralyzed from this disease.

All these methods and solutions have been proven to work, although there may be some risk and trial and error along with it. New discoveries are made all the time and with all of them there would have to be some sort of method taken and testing to be able to get the successful discoveries we do gain. Our world would be a different place if we didn’t have the breakthrough of modern medicine, experiments and scientist. These methods are more regulated, stringent and controlled when researching and developing vaccinations. These solutions work because they have been proven over time with experiments, observations, data and research from various scientists, microbiologist and pathologist. It has been proven by the World Health Organization and the CDC that these vaccinations work to help prevent diseases we face still today. Vaccines help combat major life- threating diseases. For our communities to stay free of disease-causing epidemics it is vital that people take part in getting their immunizations as required. Some people have their own beliefs or standards as to why they prefer not to receive vaccinations, but they are putting others at risk like infants, elderly and immunocompromised individuals they may come in contact with. Some states have laws that don’t allow children into the schools unless they have the required immunizations. There are laws trying to be put in place against those that refuse because they are putting others at risk called the Tort Law (Goodwin).

So, if it is proven that these vaccinations work against diseases why take the risk of becoming exposed with a disease or put others at risk, seems absurd to me. Speaking of absurdity Camus’ beliefs could relate to this topic in some areas. Especially when it comes to the experimental aspects or the scientific methods. The experiments were very controversial because who would actually volunteer to put diseases into their body. I would think Camus’ would think that is absurd. I think Camus’ would consider that the experiments were absurd but necessary since he had Tuberculosis. I believe he would understand that in order to find cures and solutions tests and experiments have to be done. I believe that Camus would be pleased with the outcomes of my social epidemic. There have been some life changing discoveries and without them our society may look a lot different, if we were still alive to even witness it. Having these break troughs involving immunizations have been life changing. I know Camus’ didn’t see life as meaningful as others may have but I feel it is because of his upbringing.

With various scientific methods and solutions of data, experiments, and observations of many contributors over the history of Immunizations and how they became effective and proven to work for our society to control social epidemics. Immunizations are effective and needed in our society today with all the disease-causing organisms we continue to see evolving. I don’t believe that diseases will ever go away but that they can be contained or controlled with the help or immunizations. If the prevention of disease from our society that causes illness and disabilities and sometimes death can be prevented by and immunization, then why not be immunized. If scientific data has proven its effectiveness and safety and efficacy of these vaccines what is the harm (Goodwin)?  So, let's conclude with this quote by Eula Biss, author of immunity because it relates to my social epidemic and my belief that everyone should be vaccinated. “Imagine the action of a vaccine not just in terms of how it affects a single body, but also in terms of how it affects the collective body of a community” (Immunize).

Works Cited

“100 Years Later: Can the Government Stop an Epidemic like the 1918 Flu?” Life Sciences Journal, 14 May 2018, lifesciencesjournal.org/2018/05/100-years-later-can-government-stop-epidemic-like-1918-flu/.

“A Brief History of Vaccination.” Immunisation Advisory Centre, 4 Apr. 2017, www.immune.org.nz/vaccines/vaccine-development/brief-history-vaccination.

“History of Anti-Vaccination Movements.” History of Vaccines, www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/history-anti-vaccination-movements.

“Home - PMC - NCBI.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/.

“Immunization Schedules.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Feb. 2018, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html.

“Smallpox.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Aug. 2016, www.cdc.gov/smallpox/history/history.html.

“Vaccination.” Our World in Data, ourworldindata.org/vaccination.

“For Parents: Vaccines for Your Children.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Oct. 2018, www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html.

“History of Vaccines - A Vaccine History Project of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia | History of Vaccines.” History of Vaccines, www.historyofvaccines.org/.

“Immunize.” The "Too Many, Too Soon" Myth - The Immunization Partnership, www.immunizeusa.org/.

“Smallpox.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 2 May 2018, www.who.int/csr/disease/smallpox/en/.

Goodwin, Michele. “The Great Vaccination Debate Rages On: Is There Any Solution?” Bill of Health, 6 Feb. 2015, blog.petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2015/02/06/the-great-vaccination-debate-rages-on-is-there-any-solution/.