Mentor/s
Dr. Mark Jareb
Participation Type
Poster
Abstract
Vaccines are among the most effective tools available for preventing infectious diseases, and the complications that accompany them. Vaccines contain the same antigens that cause disease however, these antigens are weakened or killed to the point that they no longer cause disease. The purpose of a vaccine is to make the immune system produce antibodies that lead to immunity. According to the CDC, if an unvaccinated child is exposed to a disease germ, the child’s body may not be strong enough to fight the disease. Before vaccines, many children died from diseases that vaccines can now prevent, such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. Those same germs exist today, but because babies are protected by vaccines, we don’t see these diseases nearly as often. Many schools and daycares require their students to get vaccines before starting in order to keep them, as well as others safe. Some may argue that the requiring of vaccines is dangerous and an invasion on their human rights. Parents also use medical, religious, and philosophical beliefs as justification not to vaccinate their children. Vaccinations are put in place in order to stop “outbreak” of diseases that wouldn’t be around if vaccines were given. They are used not only to protect the vaccinated person but also to prevent others from getting vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines help prevent diseases like whooping cough, measles, and influenza and the HPV vaccine prevents different types of cancers. In the United States, policy interventions, such as immunization requirements for school entry, have contributed to high vaccine coverage and record or near-record lows in the levels of vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite the possible infringement on one’s rights, vaccines should be required because they are for the greater good of not only the vaccinated individual but overall public health.
College and Major available
Nursing BSN
Location
Digital Commons
Start Day/Time
5-5-2021 1:00 PM
End Day/Time
5-5-2021 4:00 PM
Poster
Mandating Vaccines for the Greater Good
Digital Commons
Vaccines are among the most effective tools available for preventing infectious diseases, and the complications that accompany them. Vaccines contain the same antigens that cause disease however, these antigens are weakened or killed to the point that they no longer cause disease. The purpose of a vaccine is to make the immune system produce antibodies that lead to immunity. According to the CDC, if an unvaccinated child is exposed to a disease germ, the child’s body may not be strong enough to fight the disease. Before vaccines, many children died from diseases that vaccines can now prevent, such as whooping cough, measles, and polio. Those same germs exist today, but because babies are protected by vaccines, we don’t see these diseases nearly as often. Many schools and daycares require their students to get vaccines before starting in order to keep them, as well as others safe. Some may argue that the requiring of vaccines is dangerous and an invasion on their human rights. Parents also use medical, religious, and philosophical beliefs as justification not to vaccinate their children. Vaccinations are put in place in order to stop “outbreak” of diseases that wouldn’t be around if vaccines were given. They are used not only to protect the vaccinated person but also to prevent others from getting vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines help prevent diseases like whooping cough, measles, and influenza and the HPV vaccine prevents different types of cancers. In the United States, policy interventions, such as immunization requirements for school entry, have contributed to high vaccine coverage and record or near-record lows in the levels of vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite the possible infringement on one’s rights, vaccines should be required because they are for the greater good of not only the vaccinated individual but overall public health.
Students' Information
Morgan Bryant, Junior Nursing major, Honors student, Expected graduation May 2022
Honorable mention, Dean's Prize: Davis and Henley College of Nursing 2021 award.