What I need to know:
The world today has evolved from the centuries before us. new technology, inventions, medical sources, and chemical compounds have helped us understand more of the diseases in our world. For my project I chose to research vaccinations and how they affect our world. By researching the different opinions and types of vaccines, it helped open my mind to conflicting outlooks on vaccines world- wide. I needed to find statistics and insight into the contribution of immunizations in the world and how it affects the spread of disease. I knew there was a great debate surrounding the topic of immunization and as I dug deeper into the topic, I found myself immersed in the most microscopic portions of medicine. I originally had set my essential question to involve the growth of the world population, but I found that subject almost impossible to thoroughly answer. The effects of the population based on vaccines is hard to accurately calculate. Many countries do not have access to modern day medical techniques such as vaccines. This led me to change a bit of my essential question to one involving the spread of disease compared to population statistics. With no lack of resources, I just had to find the right ones that spoke to me.
What I know or assume:
Before I conducted my research on the topic of vaccines, I was aware of the debate as well as arguments from both sides of the spectrum. Some believe autism can be directly linked to vaccines. Although vaccines may cause side effects, it is not definitively known if autism is in connection to them, although there is no proof that connects vaccines to any form of autism. Vaccines help contain the spread of disease which leads to death and disability. Going into the project, and even now, I am biased towards vaccines. I believe we should all be vaccinated, if not for our own health, than the health of babies and others who are not as lucky to have access to vaccines. The spread of vaccines has helped eradicate some of the most deadly diseases on earth. Without them we would all be carriers of some of the worst diseases ever seen. If there is a way to prevent the outbreak of a disease, why not make use of it? I see the downfall in vaccine usage as potentially deadly. Why not prevent what could be widespread death?
The search:
As I conducted my researched, I came across more statistics and logical opinions than I would have thought. I read that the links between autism and vaccines have been proven wrong and that vaccines have been proven 90-99% effective in preventing childhood diseases. My first step of research began with an interview of Laraleigh Windom, who is a LPN. (See full interview under the "Interview" page.) As an aspiring nurse, it was great to sit down and talk to Windom about the journey of her career path and what led her to choose nursing. As a nurse, she, as well as many others, believe highly in the working effects of vaccines. I agree with this. The spread of vaccines help decrease the spread of harmful pathogens. I used my three sources as well as what I had learned at the office to form an even stronger opinion of vaccinations. I tried to use unbiased sights for the most part, but always found myself leaning on the pro- vaccine side. In a quote by Noel Merino, it depicts the need for a vaccines, specifically Hepatitis B. “"Every year about 5,000 people die soon after being infected with hepatitis B virus. In addition, about 10,000 people every year suffer severe liver damage (called cirrhosis) or liver cancer caused by hepatitis B virus" This was one of many matters and examples touched on by my sources. Our world is in need of protection against vaccines, and although there is controversy, the benefits really do seem to outweigh the risks. The more I researched, the more I came to terms with my initial opinion that vaccines are needed.
What I discovered:
After conducting my research, I have even more reason to believe vaccines are vital to every part of our world. They contribute to our nation by preventing deadly outbreaks and protecting us from potentially harmful disease. Without vaccines, deadly diseases like polio and plagues would run rampant through our world. I have realized that with opinions on vaccines come opinions on every subject matter in medicine. I came into this research project with a pretty good idea on where my opinion stood, and now I have more research and reason to believe that vaccines are vital to our nation and to our health. Although there are several different opinions, you cannot argue with the health of a nation.