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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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Vaccines undergo extensive testing

Before any vaccine are made available they must pass many stringent safety tests.
World Health Organization (WHO)
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Context

For accurate information on the efficiency of vaccines, consult the WHO website.[1]

The Argument

Every vaccination must first undergo rigorous testing to assess its effectiveness and safety before it can be placed on the market. Once released, there are also extensive monitoring mechanisms that assess the continued efficacy and safety of the inoculation.[2] Western countries all have robust reporting mechanism for identifying side effects. These show minimal side effects from immunisation (e.g. a sore arm at injection site). These tests prevent unsafe vaccinations coming to market and protect the population at large. Very occasionally a faulty or defective batch of vaccines can reach the general public, however, these are individually tainted products of a vaccine that has already been proven to be safe to use.

Counter arguments

Ultimately, the nation’s business interests are put before safety. Vaccines generate US$25 billion in annual sales. At any one time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has 271 new vaccines under development. With this sum of money at stake, it is in the national economic interest to approve as many vaccines for sale as possible. In an environment where companies put profits ahead of patient safety, this leads to unsafe vaccinations reaching the market.[3] There are examples of pharmaceutical companies manipulating testing to get their products to market early. Stephen A. Krahling and Joan A. Wlochowski, two former Merk virologists, came forward and alleged that the firm faked efficacy tests for its measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.[4]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Vaccines are extensively tested to ensure they are safe. [P2] Only those that pass the tests can be brought to market. [P3] Therefore, the vaccines on the market are safe. [P4] If pharmaceutical companies only wanted to make money, infectious disease outbreaks would be a lot more lucrative.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Those that carry out the tests have a financial interest in the results. [Rejecting P2] This can sometimes lead to unsafe vaccines entering the market

References

  1. https://www.who.int/topics/vaccines/en/
  2. https://www.livescience.com/57488-vaccine-safety-numbers.html
  3. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/debate-over-vaccine-safety#5
  4. https://ahrp.org/former-merck-scientists-sue-merck-alleging-mmr-vaccine-efficacy-fraud/
This page was last edited on Monday, 23 Mar 2020 at 14:27 UTC

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