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Final Draft - Review Essay
Final Draft - Review Essay
Elizabeth Ren
ENGL 1301.5IN1
July 7, 2018
In an article by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) written during the
2015-2016 flu season, it was disclosed that less than half of the American population reported
having received the flu vaccine, at a startling 39%. An array of reasons serve as possible
explanations for this low vaccination rate. Some groups of the population hold firm stances
against vaccinations, claiming that vaccines can lead to long-term health complications such as
autism. On the other hand, there are people who simply question the effectiveness of the flu
vaccine and whether or not it is truly necessary to receive on a yearly basis. The flu vaccine has
been proven to be safe and highly effective in preventing illnesses based on various case studies,
which have revealed that they function like they are intended to, they are subject to quality
control measures which ensure that certain ingredients are removed before production, and that
hospitalization and in extreme cases, death, unsurprisingly appear in people who are
unvaccinated. During the 2012-2013 flu season, the CDC estimated that 105 pediatric deaths
occurred as a result of the flu. Out of those 105 deaths, 90% of them were a result of being
unvaccinated. Only 52% of children had received the vaccination by the end of the season.
Similarly, more than 1,419 Americans died in 2014 as a result of contracting the flu, and around
47,449 Americans were hospitalized in the United States alone. This is to be expected, seeing as
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only 47.1% of the total population was vaccinated. On the contrary, those who did receive the flu
vaccination were less likely to contract the influenza virus. According to the CDC, getting
vaccinated reduces the chances of acquiring the flu by approximately 50-60%. During the 2012-
2013 flu season, the vaccine was proven to be 49% effective. If the occasion arises in which an
individual is infected by the flu despite getting vaccinated, the vaccination lessens the severity of
their sickness. For instance, in 2017, a study reported that the flu vaccination reduced both deaths
and the duration of hospitalized flu patients. The flu vaccination was shown to be 48% percent
effective against the virus during the 2015-2016 flu season. The CDC estimated that if an
additional five percent of Americans had gotten the flu shot, 500,000 illnesses could have been
prevented along with 230,000 medical visits and 6,000 hospitalizations. Nonetheless, 2.5 million
medical visits along with 70,000 hospitalizations were prevented with the assistance of the flu
shot, and 3,000 deaths were halted. Thus, the flu vaccine meets the requirement of functioning
properly.
During the production of the flu vaccine, many ingredients are used in the process such as
egg protein, stabilizers, polysorbate 80, and formaldehyde. However, before dosages of the flu
vaccine are shipped off to hospitals and clinics to be commissioned for use by nurses and
doctors, formaldehyde is removed completely. Yeast proteins and latex are also removed upon
production so that the vaccine can be deemed suitable for use on patients. Removing these
being required to adhere to strict guidelines and rules set by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Therefore, since the flu vaccine removes certain ingredients that are harmful if left to
remain in the final product, they meet the utmost standards of purity.
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and prevent bacteria and fungi from rapidly multiplying. Antibiotics such as neomycin and
gentamicin are also added into the vaccine in small amounts to ward off any foreign bodies and
bacteria from contaminating the final product. Glutaraldehyde, which is a disinfectant, is also
used in the vaccine to deactivate toxins from bacteria used in the vaccine. Consequently, the flu
Although vaccines are not proven to be 100% effective due to the ever-changing viruses
such as Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 or Influenza B, they have still reduced the chances of
contracting these strains by a noteworthy margin. During the 2015-2016 flu season, the CDC
reported that the vaccine was proven to be 41% effective against Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and
55% effective against Influenza B. Therefore, the flu vaccination has still demonstrated its
In the final analysis, flu vaccinations have proven to be effective in the lives of everyday
Americans. Those who choose not to be vaccinated are more susceptible to the flu regardless of
whether their health is in perfect condition. Not only are they more likely to contract the flu but
they also have a higher chance of dying from it as well. In contrast, those who do choose to get
vaccinated have a smaller chance of getting the flu. Flu vaccines are also made safe prior to
production through the removal of particular ingredients while also containing elements that
prevent contamination. An amalgamation of the findings discussed throughout the course of this
essay evaluating the overall safety and effectiveness of the flu vaccine has been exhibited by the
disease prevention success rates among those who have received the flu shot, the removal of
certain ingredients prior to production, and that the flu shot is aseptic.
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Works Cited
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MacMillan, Amanda. “The Widespread Flu Has Killed 30 Children.” Time, Time, 22 Jan. 2018,
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www.vaccines.gov/basics/safety/index.html.