The Pros and Cons of Vaccines

The vaccine debate, fueled by the recent measles outbreak, has risen to a highly publicized level. It seems many headlines and even social media posts are arguments for either side of the debate. So how do you know which side is right when both sides are so passionate and yet so different?

What is a vaccination?

Vaccinations are immunity boosting doses of liquid in the form of a shot or nasal spray. They aim to protect you from specific diseases by inoculating your immune system with very small dosages of the virus. When your body comes into contact with the virus from the vaccination, your immune system identifies it and learns how to react when the virus later presents itself in full form.

The Vaccine Debate

There is the group who believe that vaccinations are a personal means of health care to prevent illness in ones’ self. Another group asserts that vaccination is a community responsibility that if undertaken effectively will produce the herding effect – eliminating disease potential from the vaccinated herd (community). In essence, if one member of the herd or community goes unvaccinated then they become a carrier and endanger those who cannot be vaccinated (another area to extend the argument).

A second variable in the debate is the specific vaccine.  Scientific history and discovery is necessary to advance this aspect of the discussion. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s look at the measles vaccine. The original vaccine was licensed in the United States in 1963 and over the course of 12 years 19 million people were vaccinated1. Since Measles, Mumps and Rubella were viewed as ubiquitous a combination vaccine was introduced in 1971 and stands as the fundamental standard for today for this disease cohort.

Each vaccine is formulated differently and each contains different additives to stabilize the serum, increase the efficacy, or prevent cross contamination. Following is a list provided by the Centers for Disease Control:

  • Aluminum gels or salts of aluminum which are added as adjuvants to help the vaccine stimulate a better response. Adjuvants help promote an earlier, more potent response, and more persistent immune response to the vaccine.
  • Antibiotics which are added to some vaccines to prevent the growth of germs (bacteria) during production and storage of the vaccine. No vaccine produced in the United States contains penicillin.
  • Egg protein is found in influenza and yellow fever vaccines, which are prepared using chicken eggs. Ordinarily, persons who are able to eat eggs or egg products safely can receive these vaccines.
  • Formalde hyde is used to inactivate bacterial products for toxoid vaccines, (these are vaccines that use an inactive bacterial toxin to produce immunity.) It is also used to kill unwanted viruses and bacteria that might contaminate the vaccine during production. Most formaldehyde is removed from the vaccine before it is packaged.
  • Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and 2-phenoxy-ethanol which are used as stabilizers in a few vaccines to help the vaccine remain unchanged when the vaccine is exposed to heat, light, acidity, or humidity.
  • Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative that is added to vials of vaccine that contain more than one dose to prevent contamination and growth of potentially harmful bacteria.

There isn’t a federal law that makes vaccinations mandatory in the United States. Currently, all 50 states require vaccinations for children who are entering public schools. But currently the CDC estimates that over 732,000 American children have been saved due to their vaccinations.

To learn more about the pros and cons of vaccinations, visit ProCon.org