The first vaccinations were created when Edward Jenner effectively used cowpox material to create immunity to smallpox. Childhood vaccinations have continued to advance throughout the years as medical advancements were made. Vaccines were created to stimulate antibody production and give a sense of immunity against most diseases. In the last twenty years there have been an increase in the number of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children because, they are scared of how these vaccines are made, and fear the most unlikely outcome is going to happen to their child (Glanz par. #5). So the question is should parents have the choice whether or not to vaccinate their children. Vaccines are made of a small percentage of the dead or weakened virus so the body can build up immunity to the infecting organism. Due to this process those parents who are not vaccinating are second guessing the doctors and medical professionals who are pushing for vaccines because, in a small percentage of patients who are vaccinated the vaccine can actually cause the disease it is supposed to be protecting you against (Glanz par. #2). 

This specific area of research interests me because my aunt is a nurse practitioner and this is an issue she deals with everyday. I also want to go to medical school and this is one of the leading causes of childhood illnesses. The number of children not receiving vaccinations on the recommended schedule is alarming and is decreasing the protection of the entire community. This has allowed diseases like the measles and influenza B to pop up and infect communities. When these diseases pop back up we are not automatically immune to them and the unvaccinated children ultimately become infected and some end up dying. I feel really strongly about this area of research because I know kids who were not vaccinated as children and some, were completely fine, but others had to be taken out of school every time some sort of illness or even just the common cold broke out. This in turn caused those children to miss days and sometimes even weeks of school. I have researched this topic before for a project back in high school, so I have some background research to go off of. 

For my first source I used a pamphlet from the Center for Disease Control, which lays out all the risks, and responsibilities that the parents who decide not to vaccinate their children will face. This source outlines that is extremely important to let all medical professionals know about a child's vaccine status when they are brought into the doctors office or a hospital. This is vitally important because there is a chance that the child could have a vaccine-preventable disease and the doctors will take precautions like isolating the child (The Center for Disease Control Par. # 3&4). The pamphlet also lists the proper precautions to take when a vaccine preventable disease breaks out in the community. According to school regulations the children who are not vaccinated will be asked to leave their schools, childcare facilities, and sometimes even organized activities. Unvaccinated children may have to be isolated for several days or sometimes even several weeks, to ensure their safety and the safety of the community (The Center for Disease Control Par. # 4). This article was written by the Center for Disease Control a government agency that conducts research, prevents disease outbreaks, informs the public about safety tactics, and strives to create overall better public health for our nation. This makes the CDC a credible source and eliminates bias because it is an informative source that does not give an opinion. 

For my second article I used an observational study published in the medical journal "Vaccine."  This Observational Study researched the safety of modern day vaccines and the vaccination schedule as a whole. A large Majority of parents in the United States do in fact vaccinate their children. There is a small percentage though that have chosen, and continue to choose not to vaccinate their children and this study shows the potential danger facing the kids who were either under vaccinated or simply not vaccinated at all (Glanz par #1). The researchers who conducted the study concluded the study should be repeated due to bias, but they felt confident in the results leading parents to believe it is better to vaccinate you children instead of putting them at risk (Glanz par #4). 

My third source was an article published in the "CURRENT: Diagnosis & Treatment" edition 4e that pulls all the information about routine childhood vaccinations. This article goes through every disease we are supposed to be vaccinated for ranging from the flu to HPV, and gives a detailed explanation of why we should be vaccinated, when we should be vaccinated and also reactions that could potentially occur (Middleton par #1). This article gives the statistics of who could potential be effected by each virus and the risks of not being vaccinated (Middleton par #4). This article was written by: Richard Kent Zimmerman and Donald B. Zimmerman, two MDs with M.P.H's in epidemiology. 

This research question is arguable because parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children and not only putting their child at risk but putting their community at risk by lowering herd immunity. It is also one of the leading controversial issues in childhood medicine, and some parents believe that they will always know what's best for their child even if their research is outdated and their reasons are selfish.  Most of my sources are in stasis and agree that it is important to vaccinate children not only completely but also on schedule. This is important because it backs up my own argument and will make it easier to prove my point. These sources shouldn't affect my own opinion, if anything they strengthen my opinion that all children should be vaccinated. I think I may change the wording of my research question to be more along the lines of should parents have a choice, rather than just should children be vaccinated.

