According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the NFID, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the AAP, vaccinations have “prevented more than 100 million cases of serious disease in the US” and is considered “one of the top public health achievements of all time” (NFID). In the US, vaccinations have eradicated several diseases such as smallpox, a disease characterized by fluid-filled blisters, polio, a deadly illness presenting itself with paralysis, and rubella, often presenting itselves as a serious rash. Immunization programs have also limited the number of cases in tetanus, a fever and muscle spasm due to exposure through open cuts, pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, and many others. Staying up to date on vaccinations and following physician recommendations has prevented the unnecessary suffering and often death associated with these catastrophic diseases. Karen Klein of the Los Angeles Times …show more content…
These treatments “prevent their immune system from responding like it should” (Schaffner). If cancer patients were to contract any diseases, their immunity is suppressed due to treatment or their particular type of cancer. However, cancer patients may receive the pneumococcal and influenza inactive only vaccination. They cannot receive any live immunizations such as the influenza nasal spray or Shingles vaccinations as a live immunization could lead to infection. They also cannot be administered the Tdap or Hepatitis B vaccination. Similarly, organ transplant patients such as kidney dialysis transplant patients are limited and restricted on the immunizations they can receive. Transplantation patients can have the pneumococcal, Influenza inactive only, Tdap, Hep A and Hep B vaccinations after one year of transplant surgery and ending immunosuppression therapy. They cannot receive live vaccines such as smallpox, MMR, or the chickenpox/shingles vaccines. According to Steven Weinreb, a physician and certified oncologist and hematologist, as well as a leukemia patient himself: “We assist the infirm, pay our taxes, and donate to charity, and getting vaccinated- for the flu, for adult whooping cough, for pneumonia- is just another important societal responsibility.” It