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Adora Svitak
Mrs. Harned
WAVA-HS
described as a hardcore radical. At the time she visited, she was on a strict diet that involved raw
meat, unpasteurized cheese, and sixteen uncooked eggs a day. She doesn’t watch TV, thinks
microwaves are dangerous, and believes the government is trying to brainwash you. But one of
her most rigidly held beliefs is the idea that nobody should get vaccinated. From my stubborn
opposition to Naomi’s beliefs came the realization that vaccines are one of civilization’s greatest
defenses in the war against disease. I believe that everyone should get vaccinated against the
sicknesses which threaten their community. After all, vaccinations are easily accessible; they
reduce health costs overall; and they are crucial for your health and that of the general public.
Some people cite the inaccessibility of vaccines as a reason they don’t get inoculated. But
the truth is that, in general, vaccinations are easily accessible. Some employers, such as
Microsoft, may offer seasonal flu vaccinations on campus; vaccines are usually available at your
doctor’s office or pharmacy. Government outreach programs make vaccines for widespread
diseases available for low cost. Although it is true that quantities of the H1N1, or “swine flu,”
vaccine, were originally in short supply, it is now easy to find vaccines near you through
Graded Assignment ENG203A/204A: Literary Analysis and Composition II | Unit 8 | Lesson 6: Writing the Persuasive Essay I
Flu.gov, a government website established to prevent the spread of influenza. I was able to find
seven locations near me that offered the H1N1 vaccine, all less than an hour’s drive away.
My older sister will tell you that I can be tight-fisted with money, but I think it’s
important to keep track of costs. You don’t have to be a statistician to know that getting
vaccinated keeps down healthcare spending. For instance, one dose of an H1N1 flu shot may
cost 0-20 dollars. According to the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, each flu
hospitalization will cost on average more than 13,000 dollars. Costs were even higher for “the
19% of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). These more seriously ill
patients had total costs of $39,792,” as the institute’s publication, the LDI Brief,
related. Costs on such a level can bankrupt a family without health insurance.
When, or if, hospitals or governments pick up the tab, costs can begin to add up
for taxpayers. Would you rather pay 0-20 dollars or 13,000-39,000 dollars—and
United States. It was a harsh disease. PBS’s “A Science Odyssey” website said
on polio, “This infectious viral disease attacks the nerve cells and sometimes the central
nervous system, often causing muscle wasting and paralysis and even death.” Although most of
polio’s victims were children, no one was exempt—Franklin Delano Roosevelt caught it at the
—they had no way to stop polio from spreading. After scientist Jonas Salk developed and tested
a polio vaccine, millions of people were able to safeguard against polio. According to the
Graded Assignment ENG203A/204A: Literary Analysis and Composition II | Unit 8 | Lesson 6: Writing the Persuasive Essay I
website of Washington D.C.’s Academy of Achievement Museum, “In countries where Salk’s
vaccine has remained in use, the disease has been virtually eradicated.” Today, children are
vaccinated against polio, ensuring that future generations will be able to grow up without the fear
of a terrible disease.
As overwhelming evidence suggests, there are many reasons to get vaccinated. With the
growing accessibility of vaccines, you can no longer use “It’s too hard to get vaccinated” as an
excuse. The difference in cost between getting inoculated and a hospital stay are staggering. To
preserve your own financial well-being, and that of your country, getting vaccinated is the
economically sensible thing to do. But most importantly, the vaccine is the public’s most
powerful weapon for protection in the unceasing battle against sickness. So join the fight—get
vaccinated.