Smallpox Vaccine

The epidemic of smallpox is one of the most groundbreaking moments in medical history. It created the usage of vaccination to be extremely normal. Smallpox had manages to kill millions of people, which was a large part of the population at the time. So when a Edward Jenner came up with a vaccine that could treat it and doctors were easily able to diagnose people with it. It only took around fourteen year to see that smallpox was no longer something people needed to fear. A vaccine is defined as any preparation used as a preventive inoculation to confer immunity against a specific disease, usually employing a harmless form of the disease agent, as killed or weakened bacteria or viruses, to stimulate antibody production. Essentially a biological

This injection causes the body to build up antibodies against the disease without actually getting the disease itself. Since antibodies are now present in the body, if the body is invaded by the germs that actually cause the disease, the immune system immediately sends antibodies to destroy the germs. Getting immunized is the best way to prevent spreading diseases. Since their corresponding vaccines were introduced, deaths cause by diseases such as polio, measles and tetanus have been greatly reduced. Since it has been witnessed that smallpox has been completely eradicated worldwide it gives man hope that other disease will be eliminated as well. Vaccines have reduced and in some cases eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. Children are no longer required to receive the smallpox shot because the disease itself no longer exists. Another reason to use vaccinations is for the safety of those around you. Vaccines and immunization do have many benefits. Though Americans have the tendency to just get them because they have to rather than them needing them. Almost every child I know has been vaccinated because of school. All fifty states require vaccinations for children entering public schools. Schools have these requirements because they want to not only help the child with the vaccine but also the kids around you.

The number of people who choose not to immunize is steadily increasing, and has been on the rise since the 1980 's.Should children’s health be at risk for the greater good of community health? The news today is full of tragic stories about complications of vaccine use and there have been injuries from the beginning of vaccine use due to incomplete data on the side effects. The injuries have also brought about changes in the way vaccines are manufactured. The only way to get around the vaccine is to claim religious or medical exception. For either of these exceptions, one has to have a notarized affidavit for religious exception or a form from the medical staff as to the medical reason for the exception and if an outbreak occurs, exempted persons are not allowed to attend daycare, school, or their jobs. Is this taking away the rights of humans? Vaccinations are causing a major upsurge in childhood diseases and adult maladies. Every now and then an individual’s doctor calls telling them about the latest vaccine they should receive. The person immediately schedules a time to come in and get it done. But do they even give a second thought about it? Have they ever thought that maybe they do not need another vaccination? Many people have not taken the time to seriously think about the process of immunization. The truth is, there are many dangers that the average person