Vaccines were developed so inoculated individuals of all ages would develop immunity against infectious diseases and be protected if they were so unfortunate to become infected. However, in recent years, a now retracted study linking immunizations and autism in children by Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s group and support from outspoken celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy have led to parents questioning if
they should vaccinate their children. Released in the last few days, this worldwide map of preventable infectious disease resurgence shows the impact of omitting scheduled and recommended vaccinations.
From a biotech/pharmaceutical point of view, these vaccines have been tested thoroughly and follow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines prior to being commercialized. Potential side effects are reported because everyone’s response to any kind of medicine is different. Unfortunately, research is expensive and takes time, so not all detrimental effects can be determined until many years later (some symptoms may not even be apparent until then either). I understand the hesitation of new parents in vaccinating their newborn baby. It is a terrifying thought to test your baby’s immune system by having them vaccinated against diseases they may never encounter, when as a parent, the main priority is our children’s safety and health. But in my opinion, a more important question to ask yourself is despite the belief of herd immunity (when one non-immunized individual does not get sick because the rest of the group is immunized), what is the right decision for the greater good of my community? How would you feel if your non-immunized child fell sick because of one of his classmates, whose parents also chose to avoid immunizations as well, or vice versa?