Vaccination
Vaccination has strongly integrated into modern medicine, and several generations have grown up without being exposed to epidemics of measles, whooping cough, measles, etc. However, during the recent decade an anti-vaccine movement has emerged, powered by the complaints and claims of parents in Internet and videos related to supposed specific effects of vaccines. Many mothers opt not to vaccinate their children, or refuse from certain vaccinations. The purpose of this paper is to analyze video “The Vaccine War” which represents arguments of both sides in this dispute, consider different aspects of vaccination and potential effect of the reduction in the number of vaccinated people, discuss the idea of compulsory vaccination and to consider the appropriateness of TV program format for such issues as well as the impact of this video on personal viewpoint regarding vaccination.
Vaccine War
Public health officials and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide a recommended set of vaccinations for every child by the age of 6. These recommendations allow to minimize the risk of spreading for virus infections and help the kids to develop immunity against the vaccinated types of diseases. Vaccination allows to protect the child against many dreadful diseases, and when most kids are vaccinated, the so-called herd immunity is created. This form of immunity protects the whole society from the risks of virus outbreak, because the virus cannot be spread by vaccinated people. Thus, vaccination does not only protect individual health and helps to develop immunity, but also protects the whole community against potential outbreaks.
However, some activists of anti-vaccine movement decide not to vaccinate their children, and some of them choose alternative vaccination schedule for their kids. The former are putting the health of their children at high risk, especially in adult years, when people are more prone to traveling and changing locations (the...