While most research currently aims to demystify the risks of vaccination, some ingredients used to make vaccines are still in question regarding potential effects on individuals. Thus, for example, the group of mercury-based preservatives, especially as far as thimerosal is concerned, might have some adverse long-term effects on the human body. In one of the most recent studies, the researchers found evidence in favor of the hypothesis that thimerosal might have long-term reprotoxic effects, which means that vaccine, in some cases, may catalyze reproductive issues (Ijaz et al., 2020).
The overall group of mercury-based preservatives is a separate topic for discussion, as the human response to mercury exposure is known to have adverse effects on one’s immune system, cardiovascular system, CNS, and kidney function (Ijaz et al., 2020). Hence, it becomes evident that vaccines containing preservatives, recognized by such authority organizations as the World Health Organization, are still in question regarding people’s long-term exposure to this ingredient.
Another important issue to consider when dealing with vaccines is the notion of latex as one of the vaccine components. According to Sampath et al. (2021), natural latex is used in a variety of common vaccines, including Hepatitis A and B, Influenza, Meningococcal, and Rotavirus. However, natural latex is a common allergen, which means that in some cases, a vaccine that contains this ingredient may lead to urticaria and anaphylaxis (Sampath et al., 2021). The latter is an extremely severe and life-threatening response to allergens. Hence, having considered the aforementioned aspects, it becomes evident that vaccination, while encouraged as a means of health promotion, may become a significant hazard to an individual’s health. In order to introduce mass vaccination as an obligatory endeavor, it is critical to look into the risks people take when exposing themselves to life-threatening chemicals and allergens.
References
Ijaz, M. U., Batool, M., Ashraf, A., Siddique, M. H., Zafar, S., Muzammil, S., Ayaz, F., Samad, A., Al-Ghanim, K., & Mahboob, S. (2020). A study on the potential reprotoxic effects of thimerosal in male albino rats. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 27(10), 2798-2802. Web.
Sampath, V., Rabinowitz, G., Shah, M., Jain, S., Diamant, Z., Jesenak, M., Rabin, R., Vieths, S., Agache, I., Akdis, M., Barber, D., Breiteneder, H., Chinthrajah, S., Chivato, T., Collins, W., Eiwegger, T., Fast, K., Fokkens, W., O’Hehir, R., … & Nadeau, K. C. (2021). Vaccines and allergic reactions: The past, the current COVID‐19 pandemic, and future perspectives. Allergy, 76, 1640-1660. Web.