Vaccinations and their

Importance in the Modern Age

Katie Zezyus
English 138T, Section 003

Introduction
The first confirmed case of the coronavirus disease emerged in Wuhan,

China in December of 2019. A mere ten days after this patient zero, the virus

infected over fifty more and claimed its first fatality. Twenty days later, the

then-mysterious virus began to spread around the globe, first hitting the United

Kingdom with Africa, France, and Italy quickly following suit. At which time, the

death toll surmounted 3,000 and the disease was given a name: Covid-19. On

Day 72, with 125,875 confirmed cases and 4,615 casualties, the World Health

Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a global health emergency.1

Over a year later, Covid-19 has claimed the lives of nearly three million

individuals. That is three million parents, children, spouses, grandparents, friends,

coworkers, and neighbors. In response to this urgent global crisis, governments

sprung into action, pouring time, energy, and resources into researching the

illness and developing a vaccine. In under a year, the seemingly impossible feat

was accomplished as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted

authorization for a vaccine created by Pfizer-BioNTech.2 Now that this

preventative medication is made widely available, however, another problem is

steadily on the rise: people are refusing to get vaccinated.

Since the start of the current pandemic, the anti-vax movement has

gained increasingly more momentum in the media, as news articles and cover

stories continuously revolve around all things concerning the global health crisis.

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With reasoning often founded in conspiracies, myths, and inaccurate data,

anti-vaxxers have the potential to undermine the great effort made to control and

eventually eliminate Covid-19, as well as other highly infectious and

life-threatening diseases of the past and future. Vaccines are a crucial invention

that help prevent wide scale health disasters and the loss of life; all people who

are medically able should get vaccinated to protect both themselves and the

public at large.

A Brief Background of the Anti-Vax Movement

While vaccine hesitancy and the anti-vax

movement has become a polarizing topic due to its

recent upsurgence in the current pandemic,

anti-vaxxers have existed as long as vaccines

themselves. The first recorded instance of large scale

vaccine hesitancy occurred in the 1800s during the

smallpox pandemic in England and across the United

States.3 The reasons behind this opposition spread

across a wide variety of positions, spanning from

religious beliefs to philosophical values. A commonality

between all of these reasons, however, was fear and

uncertainty, which still acts as a pillar for the movement

today.

Many misconceptions and myths fuel the anti

vaxxers in their ideology and attitude towards the

preventative medicines. A common myth often used as

evidence for the anti-vax argument is that vaccines

cause autism in small children. This belief, which holds

no merit, stems from a 1998 article published in The Lancet,

2
a respected medical journal, which featured research suggesting a link between

the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the developmental

disorder.4 The author, former physician Andrew Wakefield, conducted his study

unethically by manipulating medical records to fit his desired narrative.

Wakefield’s falsified claims were subsequently debunked by 18 proper studies,

which were conducted in seven countries on three continents and examined

hundreds and thousands of children, proving the claims were indeed false.5

Another misconception held by a large portion of those who oppose

vaccinations is the belief that diseases are eliminated through better sanitation

and hygiene, not vaccines.6 This is greatly disproven by the fact that many

previously eradicated diseases are resurging as a result of the anti-vax

movement and a decrease in vaccination rates. In April of 2019, outbreaks of

measles, a highly contagious and serious disease that was believed to be

eliminated in 2000, spread across the United States, leading to 314 reported cases

in 15 states.7 Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s

Hospital of Philadelphia, specifically mentioned that “[t]he reason measles is

coming back is that a critical number of parents have chosen not to vaccinate

their children.”8 According to a recent 2018 study published by the medical

journal Pediatrics, it was found that up to 40 percent of American parents are

either delaying or forgoing vaccinating their children.9 Another example of an

outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease is tuberculosis, or TB, a bacterial

disease that plagued the nation during the 1900s. While incidences of

tuberculosis have been steadily decreasing, dropping by 0.7 percent between

2017 and 2018, the United States, unlike most other countries, does not regularly

administer this vaccine, which plays a significant role in allowing the fatal disease

to live on and resurge every year.10

For many anti vaxxers, the “believed” risk of getting a vaccine simply

outweighs the benefits, even though in reality the likelihood of one having an

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adverse reaction to a vaccine is extremely low. A study conducted by the U.S.

government found that only 33 people out of a total 25 million vaccinated

between 2009 and 2011 experienced serious allergic reactions known as

anaphylaxis; none of these individuals passed away as a result of getting a

vaccine.11 Even though the associated risk is miniscule, with the probability of one

becoming sick shortly after getting vaccinated being a microscopic 0.00000132

percent, it is important to recognize that risk, though tiny in numbers, still exists.

Like all other medicines, vaccines have side effects, which are evident in the

existence and use of the “National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program…and

reduced liability for pharmaceutical companies through that program” as well as

“a special arm of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (the Vaccine Court) to settle

claims of vaccine injury” and Vaccination Information Sheets, which are

mandated by the federal government to inform parents and vaccine recipients of

possible reactions.12 According to many credible scientists, medical professionals,

and focused research, however, the benefits of getting vaccinated not only

outweigh the risks exponentially in quantity, but also in quality, as getting

vaccinated protects individuals from illnesses that may have a much more

damaging and life threatening effect on the body than possible reactions. In

many cases, fact and logic take a backseat to fear, as for some even the small

possibility of being harmed by a vaccine is enough of a deterrent.

The Importance of Vaccines

Despite the myths and controversies surrounding them, vaccines are an

important and highly beneficial medical marvel that are key contributors in

preventing illness and saving lives. The WHO cites that globally vaccines have

prevented at least 10 million deaths between 2010 and 2015 alone, while also

protecting millions of others from illness.13 Vaccinations are especially important

in times of a deadly pandemic or other widespread debilitating illnesses. While

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many claim that it is a personal choice to decide whether or not to get

vaccinated, it is really an issue of public concern. In order for vaccines to work as

they are intended to, it is essential that the majority of the population receive

them to reach herd immunity. Herd immunity is defined as the point at which

enough people, a percentage that varies from disease to disease, are immune to

a specific illness; in this situation, there are fewer high risk people overall, so the

entire group has greater protection.14 It

may be argued that a group can naturally

reach immunity overtime, as when a great

deal of people recover from a disease and

develop antibodies, or proteins that detect

and counteract against the disease, the

population also earns greater protection.15

Artificially acquired immunity is more

ideal, however, because it greatly

minimizes the risk of damaging and

sometimes fatal health complications that

may arise as a result of letting a sufficient

number of people get infected and have

an illness run rampant through a

population. This natural infection method also has a

drawback in that it is still unknown if certain viruses,

such as Covid-19, make a person immune to future

infections and how long said immunity would last if applicable.16

Herd immunity is also extremely beneficial in protecting those who are

medically unable to get vaccinated. Because each vaccine consists of a unique

set of substances, including preservatives, stabilizers, antigens, and adjuvants,

vaccines can affect people differently based on their age, underlying health

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conditions, and allergies, among a variety of other factors.17 A correct match

between any number of these components would warrant an individual medically

unable to be vaccinated, as the vaccine can potentially do more harm than good.

Reaching herd immunity would give vulnerable people, typically composed of

newborn babies, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems,

greater protection.

The anti-vax movement and lack of people opting to be vaccinated in

general has the potential to greatly jeopardize this effort and put many people at

risk for further infections, debilitating symptoms, and, in the most extreme cases,

death. According to a study conducted by the Center of Disease Control, it was

found that in September only 39.4 percent of adults in the United States were very

likely to get the Covid-19 vaccine, with that number rising to just under half by

December.18 These projected values are still below the herd immunity threshold,

between 70 and 85 percent, that scientists believe is needed to suppress the virus

and proceed towards the transition back to ‘normal’ life.19 It is important to note

that these statistics include both those who are completely opposed to vaccines

and some who are just hesitant about receiving the Covid-19 vaccine specifically.

This accumulated hesitancy, which roots in uncertainty and misinformation, was

in part motivated by the media’s heavy portrayal of the anti-vax movement and

false claims perpetuated in the media by political leaders, celebrities, and other

people of influential status.

Vaccine Exemptions:
Another contributing factor that can thwart vaccination efforts is

exemptions. In the United States, every state has laws requiring students to be

vaccinated for certain illnesses before starting school or progressing from one

grade to another. However, parents could have their children exempt from the

vaccination requirements on medical, religious, or philosophical grounds by

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appealing to their states’ exemption process. These protocols and the

acceptable exemption types vary by state, but a commonality shared by all 50

states and the District of Columbia is the permittance of medical exemptions.20

Making the exemption process more difficult and limiting acceptable exemption

types would greatly increase the amount of vaccinated and protected students,

as high exemption rates have been linked to outbreaks of diseases such as

measles, mumps, and pertussis, or whooping cough.21 In one study conducted, it

was found that a “5 percent drop in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine

coverage led to a threefold increase in measles each year” because even

vaccinated children may be at a small risk if there is one child in the immediate

community that has contracted the disease.22

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Mandating Vaccines:
One possible solution to the vaccination problem that plagues the United

States is mandating certain vaccinations for deadly and extremely contagious

illnesses, requiring that all medically able members of society get vaccinated.

This would help to quench new illnesses as soon as possible and prevent the

resurgence of dangerous diseases that were previously eradicated. In both

instances, mandated vaccinations would greatly minimize the portion of the

population that contracts illnesses, need to be hospitalized, and pass away from

complications. While some may view this as an extreme infringement on

individual freedom, it is not as far fetched as one would think. Among the

European countries, eleven, or 35.4 percent, have mandatory vaccinations for at

least one of the following diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B,

poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, and

varicella.23 In Italy, specifically, recent laws passed to mandate vaccines have

shown promising results, as polio immunization increased by one percent,

measles immunization increasing by 2.9 percent, and nearly one third of

previously unvaccinated children born between 2011 and 2015 have now received

all the appropriate vaccinations.24 Mandated vaccines are also not a new

concept to the United States. In fact, in 1902, following a deadly outbreak of the

smallpox disease, the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts mandated that all city

residents be vaccinated. This directive was met with opposition, and one case in

particular, that of an anti-vaxxer named Henning Jacobson, made it to the

Supreme Court. In this ruling, which was the first U.S. Supreme Court case

regarding state’s power in public health, it was found that in the event of a

dangerous transmittable disease, states were allowed to enact compulsory laws

to protect the public.25

Despite these details, mandating vaccines brings up an important debate

on what is more important: personal freedoms or public safety. This issue has

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been applied to other scenarios with public safety usually taking precedence, for

example regarding mandated airport security checks after the tragedy on 9/11.

How does vaccination differ? Unlike getting your personal belongings rummaged

through and body scanned in an airport, mandated vaccines are slightly more

polarizing as it involves injecting a foreign substance in the body. The issue of

public safety, however, reigns supreme, as the government is legally able to

impose restrictions on rights afforded by the Constitution in times of a health

crisis. To appease those worried about the risks of getting vaccinated and protect

those whose solution can be made with the caveat that people receive a proper

diagnosis from a medical professional deciding if it would be in their best interest

to get the vaccine.

Mandated vaccines would also ensure that all members of the population,

no matter their socioeconomic status or situation, have the ability to receive a

dose of the medication. In the same breath, however, this is a potential drawback,

as the government budget must be accounted for to make an allowance for this

expense; this would mean axing or decreasing funding in other programs or

systems that are beneficial to the public. Throughout the past year, however, the

United States has witnessed firsthand the great and damaging effects a

pandemic and widespread illness has had on the country. From public health to

issues in the economy, it would be in the government’s best interest to implement

a system of distributing vaccines free of charge, as to keep the nation running

smoothly without the unnecessary loss of life.

Vaccination Education
Another less invasive approach that would increase immunization rates

and subsequently protect against the spread of harmful and debilitating diseases

is educating the public on vaccines. Because the anti-vax movement largely

relies on misinformation and inaccurate research, providing educational means

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to teach the public about how exactly vaccines work, what vaccines are made of,

and other logistics of the medical devices is necessary in eliminating the many

inaccurate claims that have been perpetuated for years despite being proven

false. This would require that vaccine manufacturers and the government be

transparent as to regain trust and a feeling of competency needed to make

vaccine education both helpful and successful. The main drawback to this

approach is that people may simply refuse to agree with and take the information

to heart, as the anti-vax movement is already clouded in a mistrust of science.

This can potentially be solved by having the information be delivered in a more

personable and specialized manner, as opposed to education in the form of

traditional classes or online programs. This may include required vaccine

education during patient conversations with physicians, as the healthcare worker

may already be aware of one's hesitancy and mistrust and therefore, be able to

deliver the accurate information more successfully.

Conclusion:
Disease is one of the biggest killers in modern times, with many diseases

and viruses able to be controlled and eliminated through the widespread use of

vaccinations. It is up to all members of society to become aware of the risks of

remaining unvaccinated and make meaningful changes that would protect

themselves, as well as everyone else in their community. This may include taking

the steps to become more educated on aspects of vaccinations they are unsure

of, helping others find accurate and researched evidence, writing to local

politicians to encourage the implementation of mandated education courses or

encourage mandated vaccines. Especially now, in the current Covid-19

pandemic, it is apparent that vaccinations are the key to ending the unnecessary

loss of life and widespread illness that has spread across the globe.

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Notes
1
Seán Clarke, How coronavirus spread across the globe - visualised, The
Guardian,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2020/apr/09/how-coronavir
us-spread-across-the-globe-visualised (April 7, 2021)

2
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, How did we develop a COVID-19 vaccine so quickly?,
Medical News Today,
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-did-we-develop-a-covid-19-
vaccine-so-quickly (April 7, 2021)

3
Danielle Moreau, A (brief) critique of anti-vaxxer reason, Overland,
https://overland.org.au/2019/09/a-brief-critique-of-anti-vaxxer-reason/ (April 7,
2021)

4
Aaron Kandola, What is an anti-vaxxer?, Medical News Today,
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/anti-vaxxer (April 20, 2021)

5
Children’s Hospital of Philidelphia, In the Journals: Do Parents Still Believe
Vaccines Cause Autism?,
https://www.chop.edu/news/journals-do-parents-still-believe-vaccines-cause-
autism (April 20, 2021)

6
Amy Boulanger, Understanding Opposition to Vaccines, Healthline,
https://www.healthline.com/health/vaccinations/opposition#not-new (April 20,
2021)

7
Jorge L. Ortiz, Anti-vaxxers open door for measles, mumps, other old-time
diseases back from near extinction, USA Today,
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/03/28/anti-vaxxers-open-do
or-measles-mumps-old-time-diseases/3295390002/ (April 20, 2021)

8
Ibid.

11
9
Hyacinth Mascarenhas, The Black Death is back, and so are these other
diseases you thought were gone, The
World,https://www.pri.org/stories/black-death-back-and-so-are-these-other-di
seases-you-thought-were-gone (April 20, 2021)

10
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/03/28/anti-vaxxers-open-d
oor-measles-mumps-old-time-diseases/3295390002/

11
Mary Elizabeth Dallas, Life-Threatening Vaccine Reactions Rare: CDC, WebMD,
https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/news/20151015/vaccines-rarely-cau
se-life-threatening-allergic-reactions-cdc (April 20, 2021)

12
Bernice Hausman, Stop telling anti-vaxxers they’re insane for questioning
vaccines | Opinion,
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/anti-vaccine-vaxxer-movement
-parents-judgment-20190328.html (April 20, 2021)

13
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/anti-vaxxer

14
WebMD, What Is Herd Immunity?,
https://www.webmd.com/lung/what-is-herd-immunity#1 (April 20, 2021)

15
Ibid.

16
Ibid.

17
Amy Boulanger, Vaccines: Who Should Avoid Them and Why, Healthline,
https://www.healthline.com/health/vaccinations/immunization-complications
(April 20, 2021)

18
Berkeley Lovelace Jr., Biden’s next fight: Anti-vaxxers jeopardize plans to protect
U.S. against Covid, CNBC,
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/10/biden-covid-vaccine-anti-vaxxers-us.html
(April 20, 2021)

19
Ibid.

12
20
WebMD, What Are the Rules on Vaccine Exemptions?,
https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/what-are-the-rules-on-vaccine-ex
emptions (April 20, 2021)

21
Ibid.

22
Ibid.

23
Elena Bollaza, Mandatory vaccinations in European countries, undocumented
information, false news and the impact on vaccination uptake: the position of the
Italian pediatric society, BMC,
https://ijponline.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13052-018-0504-y (April 21,
2020)

24
Ibid.

25
https://overland.org.au/2019/09/a-brief-critique-of-anti-vaxxer-reason/

13