Thesis Statement: Putting children at risk because of parents’ view, when there is a solution

for humanity is equivalent to taking away their right to live.

Body1: Some parents think that vaccines are too much for an infant’s immune system to
handle and subtsances inside vaccines can contain toxins that will harm
Body2: One of the most common reasons parents prefer to not to vaccinate their children
stems from their religious beliefs
Body3: Other reasons is whether vaccinate children is necessary or not.
Body4: Parents express for their refusing vaccinations for their children are concerns about
the safety of vaccines.
Body5: Some families have blind confidence in vaccines are cause to autism on children.
Body6: Some parents think that it is sufficient to give breast mik until the age of two, rather
than giving many vaccinations to babies in the first two years
Body7: Some families believe that natural immunity is better for their children than immunity
acquired from vaccinations

Body8: Some parents do not vaccinate their children, on the grounds that they are hesistant
about whether the vaccine has been tested enough or not.
Body9: Parents’ negative experience in childhood or someone’s bad experience about
vaccination can influence the decision making of parents
Body10: Some families think that they will wait before vaccinating their children then, decide
based on results whether they vaccinate them or not.
Body 11: Some parents abstain their child from vaccines because of its side effects
Conclusion: It should not to be forgotton that science knows much more than humans do.
 Hesitations of Parents about Vaccination
       Vaccine or immunization is a way to prepare a body’s natural immunity to an illness
before someone gets sick. Thanks to this, the risk of getting and spreading disease is reduced.
In history, Smallpox was the first disease that people tried to prevent by vaccination, and the
smallpox vaccine originated in China in 200 BC. At that time, there was hesitation about
whether this vaccine could be given to children, and families were worried. However, as a
result of the campaign initiated by WHO in 1996, smallpox vaccination was made in all
countries of the world, including children, and this disease became invisible. Even, Mary
Worthley Montagu researching smallpox disease in Istanbul vaccinated her children by taking
a liquid from people previously in the mild stage of smallpox disease. (Wikipedia, 2020).
Today, there are lots of viral diseases affecting both children and adults. The best way to
prevent these diseases is to be vaccinated. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates
that vaccines save 2 million to 3 million lives each year. But some parents are hesitant about
they want their children injected. Immunization rates are dropping in many countries, and
vaccine-preventable diseases still cause big outbreaks, even in the developed world. (Science,
2017 Apr. 27). If there is a solution, it should be applied to everyone, regardless of being
children or adults. As Nelson Mandela said, ‘’Life or death for a young child too often
depends on whether he is born in a country where vaccines are available or not.’’ (Mandela,
n.d.). Today, most advanced science indicates that children need to be vaccinated to protect
them from many life-threatening diseases. Putting children at risk because of parents’ views,
when there is a solution for humanity is equivalent to taking away their right to live.

Some parents think that vaccines are too much for an infant’s immune system to handle
and that substances inside vaccines can contain toxins that will harm them. For this reason,
they avoid their babies to vaccinated. But this is a rumor. Every day, babies are exposed to
millions of bacteria and viruses. Over time, their body learns how to deal with these bacteria
and viruses. Therefore, their immune system can handle much more than what vaccines give
them. Some vaccines contain substances that could be harmful if they are used in large doses.
These include formaldehyde, aluminum, and mercury. However, the amounts used in the
vaccines are so small that the vaccines are completely safe. After all, infants have 10 times as
much formaldehyde naturally occurring in their bodies than what is contained in a vaccine,
and the toxic form of mercury has never been used in vaccines. (familydoctor.org , 2022).

One of the most common reasons parents prefer not to vaccinate their children stems
from their religious beliefs. When it comes to religion, changing people’s views is difficult
and risky. Because they generally depend on the core beliefs of the parents, therefore, it is
very difficult to dissuade them from views against immunization. Imdat et al conducted a
study in New York and found that the rate of school vaccination exemptions due to religious
reasons between 2000 and 2011 increased sharply. (National Library of Medicine). A most
common explanation for why certain vaccines oppose religious principles involves the
components of vaccines. For instance, gelatin derived from animals used in producing some
vaccines as well as the human fetus tissue used in the rubella component poses the largest
concerns in terms of religion. However, if there is a cure that will protect and benefit
humanity, and if no one taking advantage of it, or being prevented by their families, then it is
wrong according to most believed religions in the world.
 Another reason is whether vaccinating children is necessary or not. In the past, and even,
with the COVID-19 disease, which has been recently seen all over the world, some people
may be heard and observed that the disease is less severe in children. Most of the parents got
vaccinated themselves. Nevertheless, they worried about vaccinating their kids for fear that
the vaccine could do them harm. They argue that if COVID-19 is relatively harmless in
children, then why not simply let them get sick and recover. (McGill). A study published in
the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases (2020 April 27), analyzed homes with confirmed cases
of COVID-19 in Shenzhen, China. It was found that children younger than ten years were
most likely to be infected, but less likely to experience severe symptoms. (Özdoğan, 2021
Mar. 27). This result is remarkable and terrifying. Because it suggests that children can get the
infection inconspicuously. This means, that an infected child can carry the virus to the elderly,
who may be at higher risk of complications from diseases, and people with chronic medical
conditions like lung, heart, liver, kidney disease, or diabetes. For this reason, parents should
not put other people’s lives in danger while worrying about their own children. (Caring For
Kids.cps.ca)

Parents who express their refusing vaccinations for their children are concerned about the
safety of vaccines. Particularly, they don't trust new vaccines developed for new diseases and
the treatments of these diseases. Nearly three-quarters of responding pedestrians noted an
increase in parental concerns and refusals compared with ten years ago, with 62% noting an
increase in the last five years. (Public Health Rep. 2011). However, today, vaccines are safe
thanks to advanced technology. Before a licensed vaccine is approved for use, it is rigorously
tested through multiple trial phrases and regularly reassessed. Also, today there is a National
Vaccine Injury Compensation Programexternal icon (VICP), which uses scientific evidence to
determine whether a vaccine might be the cause of an illness or injury, and provides
compensation to individuals found to have been harmed by a vaccine. (Vaccine Safety, 2020).

Some families have blind confidence in vaccines are causing autism in children.
However, it is nothing more than a rumor that has been proven the opposite over and over
again. The debate began in 1998 when British researchers published a paper stating that the
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine caused autism. In 2010, the General Medical
Council declared that the paper was not only based on bad science, but was deliberate fraud
and falsifications by the head researcher, Dr. Andrew Wakefeild, and revoked his medical
license. Investigators learned that a lawyer looking for a link between the vaccine and autism
had paid Wakefield more than £435,000. Also, in 2004, The Immunization Safety Review
Committee of the Institute of Medicine published a report on whether there is a connection
between autism and vaccines or not. The group looked at all the studies on vaccines and
autism, both publish and unpublished. It released a 200 page report stating there was no
evidence to support a link between vaccines and autism. (WebMD, 2020. Jun. 2).

Some parents think that it is sufficient to give breast milk until the age of two, rather than
giving many vaccinations to babies in the first two years. Because they believe that breast
milk protects the baby from infection thanks to the ingredients inside it. World Health
Organization (WHO) approved that it is scientific fact that breast milk protects against
infections. Even, physicians define breast milk as the baby’s first vaccine. However, some
families overlook the fact that breast milk alone is not enough for diseases. In response to
these claims, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine professor doctor, Alpay Azap said:
Without vaccines, breast milk alone cannot protect against deadly diseases such as
measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria. Moreover, these diseases are not only seen in
the first two years of life, so they are not just childhood diseases. If an unvaccinated
child does not get these diseases until adulthood, he will definitely catch them in
adulthood. Breast milk does not provide full protection and its protective effect
disappears as soon as it is stopped. However, the effect of vaccines (provided that
additional doses are made in certain vaccines) continues for life. (Azap, n.d.)

Furthermore, The Ministery of Health of the Republic of Turkey has officially responded to
these statements:
Breastfed babies get antibodies through breast milk. Breast milk provides important
protection against some diseases such as respiratory tract infections and diarrhea until
the baby's immune system develops. However, these antibodies are not long-lasting
and do not protect against all diseases. ( Aşı portalı)

There are groups of families who see some benefit from giving their children some
preventable diseases. Some families believe that natural immunity is better for their children
than immunity acquired from vaccinations. They think that if a child’s body fights the virus
itself, then it will strengthen their immunity. (Fredrickson et all, 2011). There are T cells and
B cells, two basic cell types that form the memory of the immune in the human body, and
which vaccines target. These cells are regularly renewed and produced in the human body.
However, the most important point in this production stage is that each of the cells is
specialized against a molecule with a unique signature, that is, against microorganisms that
cause disease. In other words, when a new T or B cell is produced, the structure it will
recognize is already clear at the beginning. When someone is vaccinated, they are likely to be
protected against the targeted disease. (World Health Organization). Therefore, as Alper
Kurşunel cited in the website Teyit, ‘’Adaptations of our body’s immune system cells to
foreign environments and organisms do not weaken us, they strengthen us. The role of
vaccine consists of introducing the structures that are possible to enter the body or that can
lead to chronic consequences, by converting them into a harmless form to the immune system
and strengthening the system.’’(Kurşunel, 2020 Feb. 17).

Some parents do not vaccinate their children, because they are hesitant about whether
the vaccine has been tested enough or not. In a 50 State COVID-19 survey conducted by a
professor at the School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University Katya
Ognyanova et al noted that the most cited major concerns of parents were whether the vaccine
was tested enough or not. (Ognyanova et al, 2021 August.) Every batch of vaccines is tested
for quality and safety. Once a vaccine is authorized or approved, it continues to be tested. The
company that makes the vaccine tests batches to make the sure vaccine is Potent (works as it
is supposed to), Pure (Certain ingredients used during production have been removed), and
Sterile (It does not have any outside germs). Then, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
reviews the results of these tests and inspects the factories where the vaccine is made. After
all these processes, the vaccine is presented to humanity. Numerous tests are conducted to
present a vaccine, which is overseen by well-established organizations, such as FDA. This
helps make sure vaccines meet the standards for both quality and safety. (HHS.gov).

Parents’ negative experiences in childhood or someone’s bad experience with vaccination

can influence the decision-making of parents. Even, they can be influenced by the stories they
read on social media about vaccination. For this reason, they fear that their children will have
the same bad experiences. A study conducted by Dr. Michael Workman, associate professor
of technology management, found that social media can affect bias. Workman said, “We
found that when people are seeking new information about a topic, social media can change
people’s minds,” ( Workman, n.d). So, families must do research from safe sites and look
critically. If they give importance to well build organizations such as WHO and FDA, they
will realize the benefit of vaccination.

Some families think that they will wait before vaccinating their children and then, decide
based on results whether they vaccinate them or not. According to a survey conducted by
Kaiser Family Foundation (FFD), only %27 parents of five to ten years old are willing to
vaccinate their children against COVID-19, whereas 30% said they definitely will not
vaccinate them. One-third of parents said they will ‘’wait and see’’ before deciding how to
proceed. Pediatrician Paul Offit, a member of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
said, ‘’ Uptake will be slow and low’’ ( Offit, n.d.) Paradoxically, some concerned parents of
five to ten- years old are vaccinated themselves to protect their children against infection.
(JAMA Network, 2021 Dec. 15). There is irrationality. Families must rely on today’s
knowledge and science for the sake of their children. No matter how much deprive them of
vaccines, in order not to put their children at risk, they should keep in mind the possibility that
it may cause them to suffer serious diseases and even die. For the favor of their children and
people, humanity should take action, without waiting.

Some parents abstain their children from vaccines because of their side effects. However,
clinical trial results published by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) demonstrate
the vaccine’s safety in young children. They found no serious vaccine-related side effects
among 1517 fully vaccinated five to ten years old children. (JAMA Network, 2021 Dec. 15).
Mass measles vaccination campaigns and a global increase in routine measles vaccination
coverage saved an estimated 20.3 million young lives between 2000 and 2015, according to
UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Unicef, 2018 Nov. 10). For instance,
today, measles continues. However thanks to vaccines, it is under the control. Families must
regularly vaccinate their children to protect them against measles, regardless of side effects
that the doctor does not consider significant. Because side effects wear down neither the
family nor the child as much as the possible tragic consequences of not vaccinating. Dr. Jean-
Marie Okwo-Bele, director of WHO’s Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and
Biologicals said, ‘’ It is not acceptable that millions of children miss their vaccines every year.
We have a safe and highly effective vaccine to stop the spread of measles and save lives.’’
(Okwo-Bele, n.d.)

In conclusion, some parents avoid vaccinating their children for some reasons they believe.
While they think they are doing a favor for their children they are harming both them and all
humanity. They should be conscious of science and health. Understandably, they are worried
about their children, but they must realize that they are putting their children at risk. Of
course, no one should trust every vaccine called safe, but families should not deprive their
children of vaccines approved safe by organizations like World Health Organization (WHO)
and the government. Thanks to social media, people can not only have wrong pieces of
information about any topic, but also follow the articles or speeches of successful professors,
doctors, and scientists. It should not be forgotten that science knows much more than humans
do. Therefore, families should not ignore this, when they are worried about their children.
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