VaccinesBy: Iman Pegus

A vaccine is a biologically prepared substance that produces immunity from diseases. They are administered through needle injection, by aerosol, or by mouth. A vaccination is “is the injection of a killed or weakened organism that produces immunity in the body against that organism”. Vaccines have been proven to not only be effective, but also essential to human beings as we come into contact with harmful diseases over the course of our lives. People of all ages should receive vaccinations in order to protect the health of our future generations.

Abstract

Who and When? Pros and Cons Which Diseases Need Vaccinations? Stats and Facts

Subtopics

Infants, children, and teens (ages 0- 18 years) are of the most important age groups to get vaccinated. People among this age group are at a much higher

risk of complications when diagnosed with certain diseases.

College students and young adults (ages 19 years to 24 years) are prone to certain diseases as well. College students living in dorms are extremely

susceptible to meningitis, HPV, and tetanus, and the seasonal flu.

Who and When?

Adults, ages 24 – 65 years, are most commonly suggested to get vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, influenza, and MPR. Even as adults, our bodies are not immune to many

diseases unless there is evidence of previous infection.

Seniors, ages 65 years and older, are at high risk for death when they are diagnosed with certain diseases. Shingles, influenza, and pneumonia are dangerous

and can be fatal to older adults if they have not been vaccinated.

Who and When? (cont.)

Why should you get vaccinated? (Pros) Vaccines save lives and are 90-99% effective in

preventing dangerous and/or lethal diseases. Major medical organizations such as the Food and Drug

Administration, American Medical Association, and Institute of Medicine have stated that vaccines are safe.

Side effects or adverse reactions to vaccines have been proven to be extremely rare.

Vaccines prevent large outbreak of contagious diseases or epidemics.

Vaccines protect future generations, and save the current generation time and money based on treatment costs.

Pros and Cons

Why shouldn’t you get vaccinated? (Cons) Although rare, side effects from vaccines can

sometimes be fatal. Some physicians believe that the ingredients in

vaccines are not safe. Many people believe that the government should

not have a say in our personal medical choices. Religious freedoms may be compromised due to

mandatory vaccinations. Vaccines are considered to be unnatural.

Pros and Cons

Anthrax Cervical Canc

er (Human Papillomavirus)

Diphtheria Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Haemophilus

influenzae type b (Hib)

Human Papillomavirus (HP

V) Influenza (Flu

) Japanese enc

ephalitis (JE) Measles Meningococc

al Mumps Pertussis Pneumococca

l

Polio Rabies Rotavirus Rubella Shingles (Her

pes Zoster) Smallpox Tetanus Typhoid Tuberculosis (

TB) Varicella (Chi

ckenpox) Yellow Fever

Derived from: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/vpd-list.htm

Which Diseases Need Vaccinations?

Although there is no federal vaccination law, all public schools in all 50 states require vaccination require vaccinations before enrollment.

“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination.”

Vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy are crucial to the health of the mother and the unborn child.

More than 2.5 million deaths are prevented each year due to vaccinations.

Small pox has been eradicated due to vaccines. Polio is close to being eradicated.

Stats and Facts

How Vaccines Have Positively Changed Our Society

Visual derived from: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm

My Vaccine Protects You, Your Vaccine Protects Me

Visual derived from: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm

http://www.vaccines.gov/who_and_when/index.html

http://vaccines.procon.org http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/vpd-

list.htm https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-

about-vaccines

http://www.sabin.org/updates/blog/forbes-how-vaccines-have-changed-our-world-one-graphic

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm

Literature Cited