In 2000, measles was eliminated in the United States. However, last year the number of cases skyrocketed, nearly tripling the highest number seen in the preceding 13 years. Outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable illnesses such as mumps have also been on the rise. While illness rates in the United States are still marginally lower than those in other nations, the escalating number of cases is unacceptable, and, in most situations, begins with children.

People choose not to get vaccinated, despite being healthy enough for immunization, because of fears regarding the safety of vaccines. This is not a valid concern. Study after study supports the safety of Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccinations. However, many still hold vaccinations responsible for childhood autism, a groundless accusation. Independent expert reviews have found no good evidence to link vaccines and autism. The study that insinuated vaccines were unsafe was retracted by the academic journal Lancet in 2010 and the researcher who published the study, Andrew Wakefield, was stripped of his medical license in Britain. Not only are vaccines safe, but they are also increasingly effective. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics show that the percent decrease in U.S. cases of deadly diseases range up to one hundred percent and average out in the high nineties.

Central to the issue of vaccination is a misunderstanding of the purpose of a vaccine. As a regular volunteer at the IU Health North hospital, I was give the opportunity to speak with some of the physicians responsible for delivering vaccines, who all encouraged people to get immunized. Vaccines are not limited to disease prevention; they are also responsible for stopping the spread of disease. For example, while measles was declared eradicated in 2000, vaccinations are necessary to prevent a resurgence from cases introduced from overseas. Many experts believe the recent outbreak in Disneyland was the product of a single visitor from abroad carrying the disease.

Furthermore, the act of getting a vaccine has an impact far beyond the individual alone. A significant portion of the population’s well-being depends on “herd immunity.” Herd immunity describes a form of resistance to diseases that occurs when the vaccination of a significant portion of the population provides a measure of protection for individuals who have not developed immunity. This protection is vital to those with compromised immune systems, like infants, the elderly and pregnant women and those suffering from certain types of cancers and autoimmune diseases. Herd immunity also relies entirely on high levels of vaccinations.

We make dozens of decisions on a daily basis that relate directly to our health such as choosing to wear a seatbelt or deciding not to put on a helmet. These choices affect us individually and directly, and we accept the risks of our own decisions. Deciding whether or not to get immunized is not among these decisions. The decision to get immunized could affect hundreds, possibly thousands of other people.

Choosing to get vaccinated is not a personal choice; it is a social responsibility. Studies have that the incredibly deadly diseases that are on the rise like the measles, mumps and whooping cough are entirely preventable. While we must continue to rely on health professionals to educate the general public on the benefits of immunization, we must also act as individuals to encourage those around us to get vaccinated.