Use of Vaccinations in Humans and Animals

USE OF VACCINATIONS
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Introduction to Biology SCI120

Use of vaccinations
Vaccinations are an effective way that helps in preventing infection and other serious
health outcomes that are caused by pathogens. The process refers to the administration of
antigenic materials, commonly referred to as vaccines, which stimulate the immune system of
an individual for developing adaptive immunity to pathogens. Vaccines are useful in
ameliorating or preventing infectious diseases. Vaccinating a sufficiently large number of
people often results in herd immunity or indirect protection from communicable diseases
(Rubin et al., 2013). Vaccinations among humans are responsible for the eradication of
smallpox and reducing the prevalence of measles, polio, and tetanus, on a global scale.
Vaccinations are quite different from the process of inoclulation that focuses on the
administration of unweakened live pathogens. In other words, injection of killed microbes
for stimulating the immune system against specific microbes or pathogens help in preventing
the onset of particular infectious diseases (Nazarko, 2013). This essay will elaborate on the
use of vaccinations in humans and animals and will present views, both in favour and against
the process.
Background
The process of inoculation was primarily used by the Chinese in the 10th century and
the earliest documented mentions of vaccinations are obtained from China and India.
Powdered scabs were initially used for protection against small pox. The procedure was first
established by Edward Jenner, who introduced materials from cowpox vesicles into the arm
of a boy, who later on after being inoculated with smallpox did not develop the disease
(Plotkin, 2014). Vaccination campaigns are found all around the globe, and are also
prescribed by several regulations and laws. This promoted the use of vaccines against a range
of diseases such as, rabies and anthrax. Successful vaccines were also developed by Maurice
Hilleman for treating mumps, measles. Hepatitis A and B, pneumonia, chickenpox and

influenza. With the aim of eliminating risks of outbreaks, several governments gave adopted
policies that makes vaccination mandatory for all people (Pace, 2015). A law enforced in
1853 promoted universal vaccination against smallpox in Wales and England, and imposed
fines on people who failed to adhere to the policy (Murdoch, 2015). Contemporary vaccine
policies formulated in the US also state that children should receive the set of recommended
vaccinations, before they enter public schools. However, countries with restricted financial
resources have limitations in their vaccination coverage and lead to greater mortality and
morbidity, due to the spread of communicable diseases (Hajj Hussein et al., 2015). In
addition, a range of vaccine controversies have existed prior to the introduction of the terms
vaccine and vaccination. Despite their efficacy in preventing spread of infectious diseases,
there are several uncorroborated panics regarding their safety.
Opposing viewpoints
Vaccination has been described as one of the major achievements of public health,
during the 20th century by medical and health scholars. Yet, there are several opposition to
vaccination that began with the criticism that the practice of variolation faced during the early
years. Vaccinations protect children from a range of complications and vaccination-
preventable illness (Hajj Hussein et al., 2015). Other views that made parents and key
stakeholders propose the practice of vaccination focus on the fact that all vaccines are made
to undergo careful and long review by the doctors, federal government and scientists, to
ensure their safety (Loucq, 2013). One major controversy is associated with the fact whether
mandatory policies on vaccination are responsible for violating the religious principles or
civil liberties. Initial opposing views were based on religious arguments against vaccination
that made the theologists state that diseases were sent to punish sins and any attempts to
prevent those diseases would be a form of diabolical operation. Unless some form of