Vaccinations: Parent's Right to Refuse; Children's Right to Stay Healthy Argumentative Essay by scribbler

Vaccinations: Parent's Right to Refuse; Children's Right to Stay Healthy
An argument that the need for vaccinations outweighs the right for parental autonomy.
# 152636 | 1,053 words | 7 sources | APA | 2013 | US
Published on Apr 08, 2013 in Medical and Health (Public Health Issues) , Child, Youth Issues (General)


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Description:

The paper discusses the arguments of the anti-vaccine movement and addresses the debated link between autism and the MMR vaccine. The paper explains how the anti-vaccine movement is a manifestation of a breakdown of the social contract and the greater, growing sense of obligation to individual rights over the rights of the community. The paper argues that although parental autonomy should be respected, receiving an education in the public schools requires a certain amount of deference to community standards and thus, the standard battery of recommended immunizations should be made a requirement to enter the public school system.

From the Paper:

"Thus not all concerns about all types of vaccines are invalid. However, overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccines (MMR) given in the developed world are safe, if they are given at ages 9 months and onward. Yet many activist groups decry the administration of vaccines. The rise in diagnoses of autism, "a serious, life-long developmental disorder characterized by marked impairments in social interactions; communication skills; and repetitive, restrictive, or stereotyped behaviors, interests, and activities" has been linked to children vaccinated with MMR (DeStefano, 2007, p.756). Although the cause is not widely known, genetics and associated neurological defects in utero are thought to trigger autism, although most scientists believe that autism is likely a multifactoral disorder. "Siblings of children with autism have a 2 to 7 percent chance of the disorder, at least 50 times the rate of the general population. The concordance rate is higher for fraternal (5-10 percent) and highest of all for identical twins (60-90 percent)" (Clements & Baker 2010). Proponents of the vaccine theory believe that generically predisposed children are more likely to be 'triggered' by environmental factors, including the components of vaccines or the nature of the 'combined' vaccination for three disorders."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Baker, Jeffrey & Dennis Clements. (2010). Do vaccines explain the surge in autism?Duke Health. Retrieved July 12, 2010 at http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/advice_from_doctors/your_childs_health/do_vaccines_explain_the_surge_in_autism
  • Baker, Jeffrey & Dennis Clements. (2007). Does the MMR vaccine cause autism? Duke Health. Retrieved July 12, 2010 at http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/advice_from_doctors/your_childs_health/mmr_vaccine_and_autism
  • DeStefano, F. (2007, October). Vaccines and autism: Evidence does not support a causal association. Statistics and Epidemiology, 82(6): 756.
  • Gever, John. (2010, June). California pertussis epidemic may be caused by vaccine refusal.Kevin MD Blog. Retrieved July 12, 2010 at http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/06/california-pertussis-epidemic-caused-vaccine-refusal.html
  • Knudsen, Kim Mark (1996 et al). Child mortality following standard, medium or high titremeasles immunization in West Africa. International Journal of Epidemiology. 25 (3).

Cite this Argumentative Essay:

APA Format

Vaccinations: Parent's Right to Refuse; Children's Right to Stay Healthy (2013, April 08) Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/argumentative-essay/vaccinations-parent-right-to-refuse-children-right-to-stay-healthy-152636/

MLA Format

"Vaccinations: Parent's Right to Refuse; Children's Right to Stay Healthy" 08 April 2013. Web. 25 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/argumentative-essay/vaccinations-parent-right-to-refuse-children-right-to-stay-healthy-152636/>

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