Friday, December 17, 2010

Baby Immunizations

This is link is to a video my partner found for our child psychology project. This video explains the importance of baby immunizations against various illnesses, such as Hepatitis B. From this video and my project, I have learned how important it is to vaccinate children. It is also important for people our age to be vaccinated as well for various illnesses. Some parents are afraid to have their children vaccinated because of the horror stories they have heard. These stories are rare, but they are big reasons parents choose to avoid vaccinations. If more parents choose to refuse vaccinations for their children, then epidemics could occur, and nearly non-existing illness may reappear, such as polio. Shots like the MMR vaccination frighten parents because of the stories that this vaccination causes autism; however, this is untrue because this vaccine does not cause autism, it brings out the traits that the child already possessed. Most side effects are merely slight fevers and redness around the area. I believe parents should consult their doctors before deciding to immunize the child. Parents need to research different vaccinations before jumping to conclusions about the vaccines based on rare side effects and faulty sources. If everyone began to choose certain vaccinations while avoiding others equally as important, or more important, then our world would be in danger. People need to understand that immunizations are important for the general and individual health of the nation and the entire world. If you were the parent of a child under three years of age, would you choose immunizations on your own, or would you consult your doctor to ensure the health of the baby before dismissing any vaccinations? Are vaccinations vital to our world?