Growing up I have always listened to my parents and physicians. I have never questioned vaccines or even thought about questioning them, everything was always properly explained and it seemed like a simple and logical decision to take the shot. I have come to understand that in this world we are living in, there will always be questions and criticizers on every topic. After weeks of research for this project, I have come across the many reasons that parents have for not immunizing their children. I have tried and tried to understand why any parent would think that it would be logical to abstain from vaccinating and protecting their child. These reasons range from religion, to safety, to lack of education about the vaccination, or even the efficacy of the vaccinations. This topic is something that I find extremely important. I feel that someone needs to be able to advocate for children who are not yet able to advocate for themselves. The science is simple, just one dose of an MMR vaccine is 93% effective in preventing measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Although vaccinations have proven to be extremely effective in preventing certain illnesses and diseases, there is still some controversy over whether or not they are safe for children. From my research, I can see that the reasons parents have for not vaccinating all range from religion, politics, safety concerns, and lack of communication with physicians.

I have seen that many parents are having “vaccine hesitancy” because of religious and personal beliefs (McKee, Bohannon). In my investigation on reasons why parents are becoming vaccine shy, I have seen that religious beliefs play a large role in this decision. The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics states that some parents believe that natural immunity is better than man-made immunity from vaccinations. The parents that think that natural immunity is the better course to take, can legally fill out forms to keep their children from having the required vaccines to attend school. Certain religions also believe that the body is sacred and it should not receive certain chemicals or blood/tissue from animals (College of Physicians of Philadelphia). In the past few years religious vaccine exemptions have risen (College of Physicians of Philadelphia). Essentially, these children could possibly become carriers for preventable diseases, and infect other children that are not yet old enough to be defended with immunizations. I understand that it is a very difficult decision to choose between what you believe to be morally right and what is beneficial for the population as a whole. However, in my opinion it is selfish and careless to not protect your child against something that is preventable. In 1990 there was a measles outbreak between children who were “unvaccinated members of fundamentalist churches that relied on prayer for healing” (College of Physicians of Philadelphia). This statistic shows that a preventable viral infection was able to spread because of people not vaccinating.

Another reason why many families are choosing not to vaccinate, is because of the lack of communication between physicians and parents. A study was done in Australia to understand the strategies that physicians and nurses use when they encounter parents who do not want to vaccinate their children. Communication plays an enormous role in the decision-making process for anything. If a parent does not feel well informed about something then generally the answer would be no in regard to putting it into the body of their child. It is the job of the physician and nurses to make sure that parents are well informed about the risks of not immunizing. In a study done in 2012 by BMC pediatrics it was seen that, “Five distinct parental groups were identified: the ‘unquestioning acceptor (30-40%), the ‘cautious acceptor’ (25-35%); the ‘hesitant’ (20-30%); the ‘late or selective vaccinator’ (2-27%); and the ‘refuser’ of all vaccines (<2%),” (Leask, Kinnersley). These numbers show that the majority of all parents have some sort of hesitancy when it comes to vaccinations. It has been seen that, “poor communication can contribute to rejection of vaccinations or dissatisfaction with care…A parent’s trust in the source of information may be more important than what is in the information,” (Leask, Kinnesrsley). 

Large pharmaceutical companies can essentially control our everyday lives. This means that capitalism could be cared about more than the safety and wellbeing of patients. Big pharma has been protected, “since the passing of the vaccine injury compensation act, drug manufacturers have been shielded from lawsuits by customers injured by their vaccines” (Vaxxed). Even though vaccines have proven to be extremely effective, it is still nerve-racking to know that if your child did have any kind of reaction or injury from a vaccination that big pharma companies would be protected. 

Healthcare has been a growing problem in this nation for many years now. After the passage of the Affordable Care Act, most Americans thought that everyone would have access to relatively cheap healthcare. Since then premiums have skyrocketed and coverage has dropped. Many families cannot even afford to pay for doctor’s office visits. 

With all of these factors in mind, it is now easier to understand why some parents are timid about vaccinations. Religion, politics, safety, and lack of communication between parents and health care providers are some of the many reasons that parents are having hesitancy. At the end of the day parents are responsible for making the decisions that best fit the health and wellbeing of their child. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of medical staff, law makers, and pharmaceutical companies to make sure that the public feels educated and safe with the products that are being pumped into our youth. Overall, vaccines benefit the public health of the nation and we benefit largely from them. So, the next time you are making a decision about immunizations, will you take the shot?
