The primary goal of this research paper is to investigate the potential dangers involved with childhood vaccines. The research looks at the benefits and drawbacks of pediatric vaccine management. However, the essay's main goal is to raise awareness about child welfare in order to change the lives of adults. Exploring the effects of multiple vaccinations is essential in recognizing various views of infant vaccination. As a result, the article will examine this in separate paragraph sections, as seen below.
The Misunderstanding of Infant Vaccines
The infant vaccine is becoming more misunderstood and out of date. Lernout et al. (2014) argue that observing timeliness during the administration of vaccines is imperative as it significantly helps in reducing risks of disease infection in infants. Lernout et al. (2014) explain that a delay in vaccination causes disconnection between maternal immunity and various vaccine immunities hence posing risks to the infants. But the vaccines protect the children from diseases despite late administration. However, contrary information regarding vaccines has been made worse from time to time by websites and social media with traditional beliefs playing an essential role in misinforming the adults. According to Wallace et al. (2014), misinformation is based on assumptions that infant vaccination is characterized by severe effects. And as a result, many infants succumb to illness leading to increased mortality rates. Yih et al. (2014) argue that despite the benefits, infant vaccinations have various side effects on infants as described below.
Side Effects of Infant Vaccination
The administration of infant vaccination just like other medicine has side effects and causes adverse reactions in infants. According to Maron (2015), a significant side effect of the vaccine on children is the rise of mild swelling and redness that clear up after a short period. Maron (2015) explains that after successful administration of measles-mumps immunization, only 1 out of 3000 infants develops seizure as compared to rubella vaccination where the seizure is less severe. However, there is minor and infrequent side effects of treatment since the infant vaccines are safer. Several medical bodies such as advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) provide guidelines on how the infant's body should receive vaccines to significantly avoid side effects. This leads to the decline in misguiding information that the infants' body cannot adequately respond to various antibodies through their immune systems. This contradicts the potential benefits that occur as a result of vaccine administration in the shape of the infant who responds and recovers well from a given disorder. According to Wallace et al. (2014), despite the minor side effects, the implementation and use of infant vaccination have outstanding benefits than risks and side effects.
Benefits of Infant Vaccination
Infant vaccination is characterized by many benefits that outweigh the risks and side effects. The primary advantage of infant immunization is the successful prevention of diseases hence more significant reduction of the infant mortality rates. Evidently, infant vaccination prevents 32,000 deaths in the United States and about 3,000,000 deaths across the globe (Ni et al., 2016). Moreover, Ni et al. (2016) argue that individuals born before Hepatitis B vaccine is administered to them test positive for the disorder as compared to those children who are born late and test negative. This shows that vaccination reduces the rate of hepatitis B infection in infants and diseases associated with the illness. In addition to a decrease in mortality rates that result from particular disease. Yih et al. (2014) explain that HBV immunization for Hepatitis B viruses offers protection against the infection immediately after the birth of an infant through to the adulthood life. The shield continuous throughout the experience despite the already existence of the virus in adults. This makes it significant in ensuring consistency during the implementation of the HBV infant vaccination. However, infant's immunization has significantly helped save lives in most nations such as Gambia and Zimbabwe where the HBV program has not officially been implemented (Peto et al., 2014).
Impact of Rotavirus Vaccine
Current statistics show rotaviruses as the vital cause of gastroenteritis in infants across the globe. But with the recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that many nations have implemented the use of rotavirus vaccine (Yih et al., 2014) efficiently. This has reduced infection in infants in many countries and helped saved lives. Since the introduction of the infant vaccination, there has been an essential result in a reduction of mortality rates, gastroenteritis, and diarrhea. With the presentation of universal infant rotavirus vaccine program (UIRVP), there is increased prevention of several preventable diseases such measles, polio, and hepatitis. According to Sanford et al. (2015), infant vaccines not only save lives of children but also protect the future generations and their families against exposure to various viruses. As a result, experts and medical professionals encourage parents and medical caregivers to implement and embrace infant vaccination. Sanford et al. (2015) explain that using infant immunization reduces medical cost and the rate of infant exposure to risks. The vulnerabilities occur faster thereby failure to administer vaccination makes children more vulnerable to diseases especially in cases where infants are sick or too young to be immunized. This essay considers infant vaccination worth the risks hence the government should support and facilitate the vaccination programs.
Conclusion
Infant vaccinations save lives, prevent risks to diseases, and reduces mortality rates. However, despite the potential benefits, infant immunization is characterized by minor side effects. The side effects are preventable using better vaccines. Based on the research review and literature, the essay proves that infant vaccinations are worth the risks.
References
- Lernout, T., Theeten, H., Hens, N., Braeckman, T., Roelants, M., Hoppenbrouwers, K., & Van Damme, P. (2014). Timeliness of infant vaccination and factors related with delay in Flanders, Belgium. Vaccine, 32(2), 284-289.
- Ni, Y. H., Chang, M. H., Jan, C. F., Hsu, H. Y., Chen, H. L., Wu, J. F., & Chen, D. S. (2016). Continuing decrease in hepatitis B virus infection 30 years after initiation of infant vaccination program in Taiwan. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 14(9), 1324-1330.
- Parashar, U. D., Cortese, M. M., Payne, D. C., Lopman, B., Yen, C., & Tate, J. E. (2015). Value of post-licensure data on benefits and risks of vaccination to inform vaccine policy: The example of rotavirus vaccines. American journal of preventive medicine, 49(6), S377-S382.
- Peto, T. J., Mendy, M. E., Lowe, Y., Webb, E. L., Whittle, H. C., & Hall, A. J. (2014). Efficacy and effectiveness of infant vaccination against chronic hepatitis B in the Gambia Hepatitis Intervention Study (1986–90) and in the nationwide immunisation program. BMC infectious diseases, 14(1), 7.
- Sanford, C., Langley, J. M., Halperin, S. A., Zelman, M., & Maritime Universal Rotavirus Vaccination Program, M. U. R. V. P. (2015). A universal infant rotavirus vaccine program in two delivery models: Effectiveness and adverse events following immunization. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 11(4), 870-874.
- Wallace, A. S., Mantel, C., Mayers, G., Mansoor, O., Gindler, J. S., & Hyde, T. B. (2014). Experiences with provider and parental attitudes and practices regarding the administration of multiple injections during infant vaccination visits: lessons for vaccine introduction. Vaccine, 32(41), 5301-5310.
- Yih, W. K., Lieu, T. A., Kulldorff, M., Martin, D., McMahill-Walraven, C. N., Platt, R., ... & Nguyen, M. (2014). Intussusception risk after rotavirus vaccination in US infants. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(6), 503-512.
