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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at VCU chapter.

The modern age of medicine has done amazing things for society such as provide safe, effective and life-saving vaccinations for diseases that are known to have killed millions of people. Would it not be foolish to voluntarily go against something that could save your life? Let’s discuss.

 

History of Vaccinations

The first ever successful vaccination was created by Edward Jenner in the 1790s for smallpox. Smallpox is a disease that causes about 30 percent of deaths to those infected. This infectious disease has symptoms of vomiting, fevers, sores and rashes that form fluid-filled bumps on the skin. Although the origin is unknown, it has been dated back to the third century BCE.

     During the time period which Jenner created the vaccine, there were similar concerns by the public that are still prevalent today. These concerns include a fear of the ingredients in the vaccine or not accepting the vaccine due to religious reasons. Jenner created a pathway for the basis of vaccinology, but with this enormous success came the anti-vaxxers.

 

Anti-Vaxxers

 

By now, we should all be aware of what an anti-vaxxer is; a person that’s opposed to vaccination. These individuals choose to not go through vaccination recommendations and typically pass along this ideology to their children. Their reasons to not vaccinate include but are not limited to:

  • Believing that vaccinations are a part of a government controlled scheme.
  • Some vaccinations can cause harmful side effects and contain harmful ingredients, and some believe that they are not worth the benefit of being vaccinated against the disease.
  • Believing that vaccinations go against religion.
    • For example, Megan Redshaw’s article for “Living Whole, God Does Not Support Vaccines,” explains that some Christians believe that God created humans in perfect form, therefore for humans to have to add vaccinations and “alter” God’s creation is a sin. Additionally, some vaccinations require stem cells, which goes against the Christian belief of being pro-life.

Anti-Vaxxers gained traction when a false scientific article was posted claiming that the Polio vaccine gave those vaccinated the HIV virus. Edward Hooper, the individual that made this false claim, has had this study debunked plenty of times by the scientific community. However, this claim was enough for the public to begin to question other vaccinations as well.

 

The Result of The Anti-Vaxxer Movement

 

Although there have been multiple disease “comebacks” as a result of the Anti-Vaxxer Movement, a prominent disease that is back is the Measles. This disease has no cure but does have a vaccination. There were “17 outbreaks and 372 cases in 2018 alone,” according to Michigan Radio. Current outbreaks are in New York, Texas, California and other states. All it takes is for one unvaccinated individual to travel to an outbreak area in order to become exposed to the disease and bring it back to the individual’s original community.

 

Measles is the most deadly childhood rash/fever and is one of the most contagious diseases with a 90 percent infection rate. The disease can lead to brain damage or even death according to Vaccines.Gov. Although the number of measles cases in the United States has dropped by over 99 percent, the recent outbreaks are quickly spreading.

What’s the best way to avoid contracting this deadly disease? Get vaccinated. It’s important to be aware of the benefits of vaccinations, as it’s not just beneficial to you but to the community that surrounds you. By vaccinating and encouraging those around you to do so, you create a “herd community,” which protects those that genuinely cannot get the vaccination for serious reasons, such as those with poor immune systems or children not old enough to get vaccines.

 

Get Real, Anti-Vaxxers

 

Anti-Vaxxers have been known to spread lies and propaganda about vaccinations, encouraging others to not vaccinate themselves or their children. The thing about vaccinations is that you’re unaware of the diseases that you might’ve been exposed to, so it is hard to know just how beneficial they are. However, to support anti-vaxxer’s conspiracy theories is to put society as a whole in danger of another outbreak or plague.

 

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Picture Credit: 1

Gabriela is a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia. She is pursuing a degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing. Communications has always been a passion of hers as she believes that there is value in every interaction. Aside from writing for Her Campus, she is also the President of Muevelo, the only Latinx/Hispanic Influenced Dance Organization at VCU. Her goals in life include owning multiple businesses in order to fund an animal sanctuary. She believes in equal rights, women empowerment, and corny jokes.
Keziah is a writer for Her Campus. She is majoring in Fashion Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising. HCXO!