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Are vaccines safe? Are vaccines safe?
Vaccines are safe Vaccines are safe
Vaccines are unsafe Vaccines are unsafe
We cannot say whether vaccines are safe We cannot say whether vaccines are safe
Vaccines save millions of lives Vaccines save millions of lives
Vaccines undergo extensive testing Vaccines undergo extensive testing
"Safe" is a relative term "Safe" is a relative term
Vaccines cause herd immunity Vaccines cause herd immunity
The claim of a link between vaccines and autism The claim of a link between vaccines and autism
Vaccines aggravate existing illnesses Vaccines aggravate existing illnesses
Vaccines have side-effects Vaccines have side-effects
Vaccines overwhelm the immune system Vaccines overwhelm the immune system
Vaccines contain known neurotoxins Vaccines contain known neurotoxins
The passing of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act suggests that vaccines are inherently unsafe The passing of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act suggests that vaccines are inherently unsafe
The link between vaccines and sudden death syndrome The link between vaccines and sudden death syndrome
Witholding vaccines from some for a trial is unethical Witholding vaccines from some for a trial is unethical
Parents should choose whether to immunise their child Parents should choose whether to immunise their child
Vaccine hesitant parents are alienated by society Vaccine hesitant parents are alienated by society
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Are vaccines safe?
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Vaccines are safe

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"Safe" is a relative term

Vaccines are the safer option when confronted with a choice between leaving a child vulnerable to disease or vaccinating them.
Seth Berkley Bishop Edward Scharfenberg
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Context

For accurate information on the efficiency of vaccines, consult the WHO website.[1] Among communities that face infectious diseases on a daily basis, where the benefits of vaccines are most visible, there are fewer fears over vaccine safety. This is because, relatively speaking, vaccines are "safe". The risks of not being vaccinated far outweigh the risks of being vaccinated. When we deal with medication and treatment, relative safety should be the only thing that matters.

The Argument

The fiercest sceptics of vaccine safety are from the higher-income countries of Western Europe and North America. This is because these populations do not have to face the deadly consequences of the infectious diseases that ravage places like Bangladesh and Rwanda, where there is almost unanimous support and trust of vaccinations.[2] The only reason the safety of vaccines is widely discussed is because people in the West have not directly experienced the horrors of whooping cough or polio. Vaccines, even if they are not perfect, are far safer than leaving children exposed to these diseases.[3] The risk of a very serious reaction to a vaccine is extremely rare — 1 in 1 million doses, according to the CDC.[4] Seizures after vaccines are also very rare. In contrast, the risk of a child with measles contracting pneumonia is 1 in 20. Around 1 in every 1000 children with measles may develop encephalitis, a swelling of the brain that can cause deafness or intellectual disability, and for around 1 or 2 of every 1000 children, measles is even fatal.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Vaccinating a child is safer than leaving them vulnerable to a deadly disease. [P2] Therefore, vaccines are safe.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.who.int/topics/vaccines/en/
  2. https://twitter.com/wellcometrust/status/1141314688845832194/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1141314688845832194&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2F2019%2F6%2F19%2F18681930%2Freligion-vaccine-refusal
  3. https://www.vox.com/2019/6/19/18681930/religion-vaccine-refusal
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0424-immunization-program.html
This page was last edited on Monday, 23 Mar 2020 at 14:27 UTC

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