Introduction and Literature Review Paper

Topic

The research proposal intends to establish whether the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. To determine this, the study will focus on different aspects related to the vaccine. It will consider aspects such as the safety, the efficiency, the cost, and the effectiveness of the vaccines. The study will also attempt to answer whether there is an alternative that can replace vaccine in preventing the diseases. To achieve this, the study will review different peer-reviewed articles as well as books related to vaccines. Based on the findings of the study, it will be easier to determine whether the benefits of the vaccine in preventing diseases outweigh the risks associated with vaccines such as the safety risks.

Controversy

As mentioned above the research proposal intends to establish whether the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. The goal of this study is prompted by the controversy surrounding the use of the vaccine. There has been a lot of controversies regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine. On one hand, vaccines are considered effective in preventing diseases. Several diseases that were epidemic can now be managed through vaccinations. An example of diseases that can be prevented through vaccination include polio, Ebola, hepatitis A and B. Yellow fever and many other diseases. Despite these, there has been a lot of risks and criticism related to the vaccines. For example, a study conducted by Satalkar, Elger & Shaw (2015) reveals that issues related to weak health systems, the politics of drug and vaccine development and the need for transparent and ethical criteria for the use of scarce local and global resources during public health emergency often makes vaccine inefficient. Similarly, the Cutter incident of 1955, where 89 of recipients of vaccine were paralyzed as a result of incomplete inactivation of poliovirus makes the effectiveness of vaccines questionable. Gidengil et al. (2012), on the other hand, reveals that the possible drawbacks of vaccines include higher prices, extra doses of vaccine antigens and increased minor adverse events. The controversy as to whether vaccines are good or bad is, therefore, clear. This means that a comprehensive study that takes into consideration all the benefits and risks of vaccine should be conducted. The study should subject the benefits and risks into a thorough review in order to determine whether the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks. Referring to vast information related to effectiveness of vaccines, the current proposal intend to solve the controversy and answer whether vaccines should be advocated and indicate whether there are other factors that must be considered in order to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Thesis statement

The study will be based on a thesis statement that a proven vaccine administered in the right way has more benefits than risks.

References

Satalkar, P., Elger, B. E., & Shaw, D. M. (2015). Prioritizing Healthcare Workers for

Ebola Treatment: Treating Those at Greatest Risk to Confer Greatest Benefit. Developing World Bioethics, 15(2), 59-67. doi:10.1111/dewb.12079

Gidengil, C., Lieu, T. A., Payne, K., Rusinak, D., Messonnier, M., & Prosser, L. A. (2012).

Parental and societal values for the risks and benefits of childhood combination vaccines. Vaccine, 30(23), 3445-3452. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.03.022

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