THE EFFECTS OF FEAR VACCINE

The Effects of Fear Vaccine on Society

John T. Jensen

Salt Lake Community College

THE EFFECTS OF FEAR VACCINE

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to compare the findings of 5 published articles to explain

vaccine fear and the effects it has on society in the United States and possible

implications it has on society in the future. These articles study different aspects of

vaccines, from vaccine rates to perceived risks of vaccines and the opposite correlational

data against perceived risks. These studies suggest that autism and likened syndromes

have no causation due to vaccines, and that fear of these syndromes as a result of

vaccines are causing availability for harsh diseases like measles to be contracted and

spread through communities with low vaccination rates.

Vaccine Fear

Vaccine Fear, is fear from perceived risks or side effects from Vaccines. The large

majority of VF today is due to the whole cell pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine scare and the

MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine scare in England and Wales. Both of which started

after fraudulent publications were made claiming that these vaccines had causation of autism and

colitis. A study performed by Arch Gen Psychiatry showed that in California from 1995 to 2007

autism continued to increase, per the California Department of Developmental Services, even

though thimerosal was drastically reduced or removed from all vaccines in the same time. This

study shoes opposite correlation, and helps to disprove that vaccines have any cause in autism

(Arch Gen Psychiatry, 2008).

THE EFFECTS OF FEAR VACCINE

Effects of Vaccine Fear

The effects of vaccine fear are prominent in numerous studies are few of which are An

Outbreak of Measles in an Under Vaccinated Community (PEDIATRICS Vol. 134 No. 1 July 01,

2014) and Nonmedical vaccine exemptions and pertussis in California

(Atwell JE et al 2010). The recent trend in Nonmedical vaccine exemptions(NME) in California

has given way to the most amounts of pertussis cases, 9120, since 1947. (Atwell JE et al 2010).

The study also suggest that a larger ratio of the pertussis cases was reported in clusters of NME

children. Conclusions were made that NME clusters played a significant role in the pertussis

outbreak in California. Even when NME arent the case not following proper vaccine protocol

can increase the chance of disease outbreak. In Minnesota in 2011 there was a measles outbreak

exposing 3000 individuals and 21 contracting the disease (PEDIATRICS Vol. 134, 2014). The

source of the outbreak was a 30-month-old American born Somali that traveled to Kenya,

contracted the disease, and came back and spread the disease. Out of the 21 people that

contracted the disease 16 of them were not vaccinated, which isnt surprise because vaccination

rates amongst Somali children decreased from 91.1% vaccinated in 2004 to 54.0% vaccinated in

2010. Again, showing that at vaccination rates decrease regardless of intent or reason, risk of

disease out-break increases.

Discussion

Vaccines are a necessity in this world, its a fact. We need them to protect ourselves

against horrible diseases that have plagued thousands and thousands of people throughout time.

The studies that this paper discusses the effect of Vaccine Fear on society, and shows that we

need Vaccines to protect Herd Immunity.

THE EFFECTS OF FEAR VACCINE

At first glance, U.S. vaccination rates appear reasonable: coverage among children entering

kindergarten exceeds 90% for most recommended vaccines. A closer look, however, reveals

substantial local variation. In Washington State's San Juan County, for example, 72% of

kindergartners and 89% of sixth graders are either noncompliant with or exempt from vaccination

requirements for school entry. Only 52.5% of kindergartners and 4% of sixth graders were

adequately immunized against pertussis for the 20102011 school year.1 Not surprisingly, the

county also has one of the state's highest incidence rates of pertussis (Diekema, 2008)

Despite the need of Vaccines, I think Vaccine Fear is valid. Not in the cases of NME and

being noncompliant, but that people should be asking for research done on Vaccines. Rates of

cancer and autism have dramatically increased over the last 60 years, and I think seeking any

possible answers and solutions is valid. People fear the unknown, thats human nature, but the

fear of the unknown should not trump common sense that everyone should be vaccinated.
THE EFFECTS OF FEAR VACCINE

References

Bauch, C. T., & Bhattacharyya, S. (2012, April 5). Evolutionary Game Theory and Social

Learning Can Determine How Vaccine Scares Unfold. Retrieved April 21, 2017, from

http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002452#s4

Diekema, D. S., MD. (2012, February 8). Improving Childhood Vaccination Rates.

Retrieved April 21, 2017, from

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1113008#t=article

Gahr, P., DeVries, A. S., Wallace, G., Miller, C., Kenyon, C., Sweet, K., . . . Lynfield, R.

(2014, June & july). An Outbreak of Measles in an Undervaccinated Community.

Retrieved April 21, 2017, from

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/134/1/e220..info

JE, A., J, V. O., J, Z., K, W., K, H., DA, S., . . . SB, O. (2013, October). Nonmedical vaccine

exemptions and pertussis in California, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2017, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24082000

Psychiatry, A. G. (2008, January). Continuing increases in autism reported to California's

developmental services system: mercury in retrograde. Retrieved April 21, 2017, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18180424