Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Immunizations/Vaccinations

Health & Wellness over the Life Span

Karyssa Costagliola

October 9, 2014

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Abstract

This paper is to inform the reader the benefits and current controversy in regards to

immunizations. In today’s society there are many people that do not believe in shots do to

religious reasons or belief of being harmful to their children and their own bodies. Currently it is

optional to get vaccinated, but as time goes on it is becoming a requirement for most jobs unless

exempt because of religion or a doctors excuse. After reading this paper the reader will better

understand when immunizations began and what immunizations are out there and why some

people do not get them and the consequences that come with that decision. It is a growing issue

that a lot of research is being conducted to help support both sides of the argument as to whether

to get or not get vaccinated which this paper is going to lay out.

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Immunizations/Vaccinations started in 1796 by a man named Edward Jenner living in

England. The first world vaccination he created was for smallpox which he took pus from a

lesion from a cowpox sore and injected it in a young child who showed immunity weeks later

even with exposure to the disease. His experimentation with the cowpox lesion to be used to

give immunization of smallpox started the groundwork for what we study today in regards to

vaccinations. Jenner continued to spread his knowledge in his studies of immunizations that by

1800 100,000 people were vaccinated in Europe alone and had even begun to spread throughout

the United States. At first it was just state regulated and a choice to have these vaccinations it

soon became required to be able to attend public schools which still remains in effect today.

When Edward Jenner was performing these vaccinations his experiments were, “carried out in a

pre-germ theory that lacked modern methods of quality control and sterilization”

(http://www.content.healthaffairs.org/content/24/3/611.full). These forms of experimentation

lead to a lot of risks of contamination which made people apprehensive of contracting something

else by getting the vaccine. The study of immunizations have come a far way and are being

closely monitored as compared to years ago when they first begun. Some vaccines were taken

away due to the fact they were causing the illness it was supposed to prevent in some cases

killing children. There is still a lot of research that goes into developing these vaccines and new

vaccines coming out to prevent newly surfaced diseases. Even with the newer technology that is

in medicine now compared to when Edward Jenner started this trend it is still a risk and some

people feel the risks of getting a vaccine for themselves or their children is not worth it.

Immunizations that are out today and currently being used from birth through adulthood

is Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, Diphtheria, tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus

Influenza, Pneumococcal conjugate, Inactivated Poliovirus, Influenza, Measles, Mumps,

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Human Papillomavirus, and Meningoccoccal. The first dose of

the Hepatitis B vaccine is given at birth and then between the one and two month mark. The

third dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine is then given between six and eighteen months in the

beginning of life. For this specific vaccine it is recommended especially to health care

professionals to get their titer checked and possibly another Hepatitis B vaccine shot at beginning

of employment. Hepatitis B is one of the biggest diseases contracted by health care workers do

to the exposure risks involved in the field. It is highly recommend receiving this vaccine to

ensure immunity especially when dealing with blood and or other potential contaminants.

Rotavirus is a two dose and can be a three dose vaccine which begins at approximately two

months of age to six months. The Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis or DTaP shot is

given starting at age two months for the first dose. The second does is given at four months and

the third does is given at six months of age. The fourth dose is then given at approximately

fifteen to eighteen months of age. It is currently recommended that new mothers and people that

work close to young children receive the TDaP which is the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular

pertussis vaccine to prevent the spread of Bordatella Pertussis also known as “whooping cough”.

Haemophilus Influenza type b is a five dose vaccine. It is first given at two months of age and

then at four months to six months of age the second dose is given. At and the final two doses are

given between twelve and fifteen months. The Pneumococcal conjugate is a four dose vaccine

first given at two months of age. The next two doses are given at four months and six months of

age. The final does is given between twelve and fifteen months. Inactivated poliovirus is given

in four doses starting at two months old. The second dose is typically given at four months old

and then the third dose is given between six months and eighteen months. The fourth does is

then given between four and six years old typically before entering kindergarten. The influenza

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

vaccine is an optional vaccine that can be given from six months through adulthood to help

prevent or lower the effects of the seasonal flu virus. This is recommended especially to health

care workers, young children, and the elderly, but some people choose not to get it. Measles,

Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is given first at approximately twelve to fifteen months old.

The second dose of MMR is given between ages four and six usually before starting school. The

Varicella vaccine is given in two doses the first given at twelve to fifteen months and the second

being given between four and six years old typically before the start of kindergarten. Hepatitis A

is a two dose series vaccine that both doses are given between twelve and twenty-three months

old. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a preventative shot that is given in a three

dose series starting at eleven years old or when a child male or female are sexually active. This

shot prevents genital warts and in girls cervical cancer. It is not effective for all types of HPV,

but is used as a form of preventing this STD. The Meningococcal shot is given to high risk

groups like teenagers and pre-teens it is usually given at eleven to twelve years old and a booster

is given typically between sixteen and eighteen years old. It is said that, “adolescents who

receive their first dose of meningococcal vaccine at or after age sixteen do not need the booster

dose” (www.cdc.gov). This is a list of the main immunizations given from birth through

adulthood which for most are required to be able to go to public school, but some parents fight to

be exempt for religious reasons or other beliefs.

The numbers of children that are vaccinated are increasing, but there are still many

parents that choose not to get their child vaccinated. In Pennsylvania alone 79% of children ages

19 to 35 months are immunized. The state that has the highest rate of parents filling out

exemption forms for certain immunizations is in Washington State at 6.2%. While the numbers

are growing of children that get their full range of vaccinations there is a small number that is

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

continuing to grow of parents that choose not to vaccinate. These parents choosing not to

vaccinate in fact can risk the lives and well being of children that are vaccinated and is being

researched on its effects. Some parents feel that the risk of vaccines can be life threatening and

not worth the risk, but it is stated that, “No vaccine is 100% risk free, but the chances of major

side effects from a shot are minuscule compared to the potential damage of your child’s health if

he or she contracted the disease itself” (www.parents.com/heath/vaccines/facts/vaccination-

facts/?page=2). The parents that do vaccinate feel that their child is taken care of and they don’t

really worry or think about the kids that do not. In fact the people that are unvaccinated can host

a lot of infection and can pass on the infection not being sick themselves, but harming the

children that are not fully immunized yet or that didn’t take to a vaccine. It is proven that,

“Children under one year old who are exposed to measles, mumps, and other vaccine-

preventable diseases before they have been immunized are much less likely to survive”

(www.parents.com/health/vaccines/facts/vaccination-facts/?page=2). Another misconception is

people feel that the diseases that have not been seen here in centuries there is no reason to

vaccinate against it. In fact it is proven that if more vaccinated people go down the rate of the

disease increases even in the rarest disease. The world is increasing in people traveling to

underdeveloped countries, adoptions, and other vectors that can bring these old diseases back to

the states and will infect many children. One other vaccine that parents feel is not a big deal to

get is the vaccination for chicken pox. Most parents feel it isn’t that severe of an infection when,

“Chicken pox is actually responsible for the death of one child every week in this country”

(www.parents.com/health/vaccines/facts/vaccination-facts/?page=2).

There is a lot of belief that vaccinations actually cause things like SIDS for example, but

in this instance there is not enough factual information that can support this claim. Another

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

illness people feel is caused by getting your child vaccinated is Autism. There have been a lot of

studies done and at one point they felt the preservative thimerosal could be responsible for the

increase in children with autism, but it was removed since 2001 and they continued to study the

effects and concluded it was not responsible or linked to the cause of Autism. The continued

studies stated that there was a slight possibility that a vaccine can trigger the onset of Autism, but

it was only in children that had that disease underlying in their genetic code. It will always be a

continued concern of parents especially fearing that vaccinations will cause their children to have

Autism, but here aren’t enough hard facts or information to support this claim.

As most research has supported that if a child is vaccinated the benefits outweigh any

risks. In recent news there is a growing concern of the Enterovirus that is spreading across the

nation. This new virus has no known or developed vaccine, but it seems to not have affected any

unvaccinated child. All cases of children that have the virus are all vaccinated and or updated on

their vaccines. This information can make a lot of people think that if their child is vaccinated

why are they getting it and not the children who are not vaccinate? This is a question that really

cannot be answered as this infection is so new and unknown. They started to look into the health

of children and the health of children who are not vaccinated. Some studies have actually shown

that children who are vaccinated have a higher risk of eczema, ear infections, asthma,

hyperactivity and other chronic infections. A study has shown that, “There was a ten-fold

increase in the incidence of tonsillitis in the children who were vaccinated”

(www.thesleuthjournal.com). In multiple studies show different sides of the spectrum as far as

getting vaccinated and not to get vaccinated which in most cases it is up to the parent to do that

for their child.

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

The main concern with vaccinations and parents when it comes to their young child is the

risk it is going to pose on their overall health. In theory everything has its risks, but in most

cases these risks are minimal compared to not getting vaccinated. In most public school systems

this is not a choice and their child needs to be vaccinated before entering. It comes into question

when do the rights of the parents that do not want their child to be vaccinated end and the ones

that do get vaccinate rights begin. The risks that are posed to the community if a person is not

vaccinated is a very concerning topic to parents especially. In the United States it is a country

that respects freedoms and choices to be made up to the individual, but in the case of

immunizations it can be a very controversial subject. For now there is still ways out of getting

your child immunized especially if it is chosen to homeschooled or something along those

measures, but with the increase in newer diseases spreading and once dormant diseases now

surfacing again it is a topic that is going to be closely looked at. With the rise of international

business and the high rate of travel to other countries it seems to be almost necessary to take the

step to get vaccinated in hopes to become immunized against the harmful disease or at least

alleviate the intensity of the symptoms. The only exemption that is as of now recognized in the

United States is if the child is immune-compromised, allergies to the vaccine, or a religious

exemption. In West Virginia and Mississippi are one of the only states that do not recognize

religious reasons to not get vaccinated which might continue to spread throughout the states

depending on the growing concern of newly developed health concerns and preventable diseases.

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

References

Heusel.C. (n.d.). Vaccination Facts. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from

http:/www.parents.com/health/vaccines/facts/vaccination-facts/?page=3&2

Stern, A., & Markel, H 9n.d.). The History of Vaccines and Immunization_ Familiar Patterns,

New Challenges. Retrieved October 3rd, 2014, from

http://m.content.healthaffairs.org/content/24/3/611.full

Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons age 0 through 18. (n.d.). Retrieved October

9th,2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent/html

Blanks, W. (2014, March 24). TheSleuthJournal-Real News without Synthetics. Studies:

Unvaccinated Children Far Healthier than Those who are Vaccinated. Retrieved October 9th,

2014, from www.thesleuthjournal.com

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Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014

Immunizations/Vaccinations Karyssa Costagliola October 9th, 2014