The Anti-Vaccination Movement
“Vaccines save lives; fear endangers them," Jeffrey Kluger said in Time Magazine. Vaccinations-- what do we know about them? They keep us safe; they keep us healthy. For most of us, this is just about all that we know about them. We often do not look into the ingredients that they contain. We dread shots, but we know that they're for the best--but are they really? They are meant to protect us from deadly diseases, but many think that they make people susceptible to even more disease. Research shows that much of this new way of thinking and refusal to vaccinate, appropriately called the "anti-vaccination movement," is made up of fear- mongering and poor science. People have blamed vaccinations for many illnesses. Many people blame the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine for their children being diagnosed with autism, but extensive scientific study has disproved this theory. Senior, Leah J, has said about the decision to withhold vaccinations, "Because I don't have any kids of my own, I can't fully understand either perspective, but I want to respect them both." Yes, vaccines have their risks, as do any medical procedures, but the benefits have been shown to outweigh the risks. We, therefore, continue to strive to understand both points of view as we study the positive and negative effects of vaccinations.
