Arguments Against Immunizations

Between 1924 and 2013, vaccinations prevented 103 million cases of polio, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, diphtheria, and pertussis (Bailey). Vaccinating is “the process by which pathogenic cells are injected into a healthy person in an attempt to cause the body to develop antibodies to a particular virus or bacterium—successful creation of antibodies is referred to as immunity to the disease caused by the particular pathogen” (Introduction to Should Vaccinations be Mandatory). Popular conflicts regarding vaccination include the worry that this form of immunization isn’t natural, the idea that vaccination schedule for children in the U.S. takes away parents’ rights to make decisions for their children, and the concern that vaccinations aren’t safe for all children. Most doctors and scientists advocate for vaccinations in the name of herd immunity, protection against foreign diseases and prevention against pockets of disease outbreaks. Vaccinations should be mandatory for all children in the United States for who they are deemed safe and effective.

Despite significant progress in the fight against preventable disease, millions still die needlessly each year. According to UNICEF, originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a vaccine preventable disease is responsible for 2 million fatal infections worldwide each year. About 75% of these deaths occur in children under five years of age. (N) In more vivid terms, UNICEF notes that vaccine-preventable diseases kill a child every 20 seconds. (D) Due to high rates of childhood vaccination, the United States has experienced a dramatic reduction in such deaths. A comparison of the years 1950 and 2010 clearly illustrates the benefits of vaccinations. During this 60-year period, deaths from diphtheria reduced from 410 to 0, tetanus from 336 to 3, pertussis from 1,118 to 26, and polio from 1,904 to 0. Measles deaths dropped from 468 in 1950 to 0 in 2008, the last year a United States death rate was recorded. It’s not surprising that vaccinations have been touted as one of the top ten health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Throughout history people have seen many public health innovations. Numerous advancements were made between 2001 and 2010. These advancements include “tobacco control, motor vehicle safety, public health preparedness and response, and occupational safety.” (Ten Great Public Health Achievements --- United States, 2001—2010) One of the most important innovations was vaccine preventable diseases. Many people believe that it is right for the government to necessitate children to be vaccinated. Others think it is wrong and that the parents should decide what is best for their children’s health. It is beneficial for the United States government to require young children in the United States to get vaccinations including hepatitis A and B,

Vaccines have had an undeniably positive impact on society, and are considered to be one of the most effective ways of protecting oneself and others from harmful diseases. Due to vaccinations, smallpox has been officially eradicated since 1980 and polio has been reduced to scarce singular incidents (Bt.cdc.gov, 2007; Immunise.health.gov.au, 2015). Similarly measles has been eliminated within Australia since 2014, however the

For years, the topic of mandated vaccinations for children has been a highly debated topic among health professionals, educators, parents, and government officials. Currently, the Center for Disease Control recommends that children between the ages of zero and six years should receive twenty-eight doses of ten different vaccines (ProCon.org, 2014). Although there is no federal law that requires that children get vaccinated, all fifty states require certain vaccinations for children before entering public schools (ProCon.org, 2014). These requirements often vary from state to state. All states in the United States allow for medical exemptions to the mandated vaccinations, while forty-eight allow religious exemptions and nineteen allow philosophical exemptions (ProCon.org, 2014). Mandated vaccination has remained a highly controversial topic as it questions whether a person should be able to make choices about his or her own body or if rules can be imposed that mandate vaccinations for the potential greater good of the public’s overall health.

It is estimated that vaccinations have prevented more than 100 million cases of serious diseases (Gostin, 2015). Presently, all 50 states mandate that children age 5 and older be vaccinated prior to enrolling in school, however many states have exemptions to those laws. These include exemptions for medical contraindications, religious exemptions and in 20 states there are exemptions for personal philosophical reasons (Gostin, 2015).

By age 6, the majority of children in the United States receives inoculations for as many as 15 potentially life threatening or life crippling diseases. (cit2) As children are more prone to spread diseases due to immature hygiene knowledge and practice, all 50 states in our nation mandate children the age of five or older have completed vaccination series before entering into a public day care or school system. This requirement stems from a continued desire to contain and thwart many of these dangerous diseases from resurfacing into our society. By authorizing this law, the government hopes to protect the vast majority of our population and prevent dangerous outbreaks of deadly diseases occurring.

For a long time, mandatory immunizations on populations have been debatable with respect to public health law in the United States. One argued topic is whether the level of authority to administer such mandates resides at the federal or state or state level. An analysis of the United States Constitution provides some clarity. The role of the Federal Government is somewhat limited with regards to public health, and its role marks a clear distinction from state and local authority over health matters. The Commerce Clause, within Article I of the United States Constitution, gives federal jurisdiction over certain public health issues. It states that “Congress shall have the power to regulate commerce with foreign nationals, and among the several states. (CITE CONSTITUTION). This limited authority allows federal agencies to introduce and administer regulations to prevent the spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries and between the states, as in quarantine. However, “no mandatory vaccination programs” or “regulations regarding the implementation of a mandatory vaccination program” exist at this level. (CITE SWENDIMAN p.7). The 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution provides the authority by which states draft and implement public health policy and effort. It states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 732,000 American children have been saved from death and about 322 million from vaccine-preventable diseases. The US Department of Health and Human Services states that vaccines are among the most effective healthcare innovations ever created (Vaccines ProCon, 2018). Vaccines are also much easier and cheaper to manufacture than it is to treat infectious diseases. There are 48 antigens give in 34 injections from birth to age six to prevent children from contracting these diseases (Welch, 2014). The usual state-mandated vaccines for children entering public school are for mumps, measles, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and varicella (chickenpox). All 50 states require children entering public school to be vaccinated; however all allow medical exemptions with 47 offering religious exemptions (except for California, Mississippi, and West Virginia), and 19 for philosophical reasons (Vaccines ProCon,

“Vaccines are the most effective tool we have to prevent infectious diseases” (mandatory vaccinations) As a result, in the future, if the body is exposed to the same virus it will be able to create the antibodies, and fight it off. The government allows competent adults to decide whether they would like to vaccinate themselves or their children. However, in certain situations, there are mandatory vaccinations. Mandatory vaccinations are when, “Public health benefits overcome strong individual rights protections” (Orenstein, 100). This is mostly for diseases, that in the past have caused mass fatalities. In 1905 the supreme court ruled, in the case Jacobson vs. Massachusetts that vaccination requirements are within the power of the state if

The routine U.S. childhood immunization schedule (from birth through age six) consists of vaccines for hepatitis B, diphtheria/ tetanus/pertussis (DTap), rotavirus (RV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcus (PCV), polio virus (IPV), measles/ mumps/rubella (MMR), varicella (also known as chickenpox), and hepatitis A. Since the introduction of these vaccines, mortality rates caused from these diseases have drastically decreased and what

The recent measles outbreak occurring at Disneyland in December 2014 became widespread news and rekindled an ongoing debate of childhood vaccination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is the United States government agency responsible for the protection of Americans from health threats, there were 159 measles incidents arising from this occurrence (“Measles” 373). Considering this outbreak, it is not unexpected that the role of vaccination would come to the forefront. The CDC is presently advocating 29 vaccinations for children through the age of six years old (“2016 Recommended Immunizations” 1). However, each state respectively establishes the laws for vaccination and corresponding exemptions. For comparison purposes, in the early 1970’s, only three vaccinations were recommended (The Merck Manual 1462). This growth is a 314% surge in the number of vaccinations encouraged by the CDC. Thus, the subject of vaccinations and exemptions is contentious, divisive, and widely debated. Indeed, some believe that childhood vaccinations should be mandatory in order to protect every individual from preventable diseases (Gostin 1100). Instead, vaccination should be an informed parental choice, not mandated by the federal government, because vaccine safety is questionable, diseases being vaccinated against have fundamentally disappeared, and parents should have the right and freedom to nurture their children.

Vaccines are thought to be some of the most effective preventative tools against highly infectious disease processes and their complications. Routine vaccinations in the United States have led to drastic declines in vaccine-preventable diseases (Omer, Salmon, Orenstein, DeHart, & Halsey, 2010) such as mumps, rubella, polio, smallpox and diphtheria. These diseases are occurring at less than 1% of what they were during the pre-vaccine era, especially in higher income countries. Vaccination requirements can be traced back to 1855, when United States schools began requiring immunizations for school entry. As a result of this requirement, vaccine coverage levels have resulted in widespread immunity throughout the population, thus significantly

Legislature plays a crucial role in protecting the interest of public health, although no vaccination policy exist at a federal level, each individual state has compulsory laws that mandate certain vaccines for children (Escobar 268). Escobar describes, three types of vaccine exemptions that may be offered by the state, according to their own stipulations, which include medical, philosophical, and religious exemptions. Medical exemptions are granted to immune-compromised children, in which vaccines can pose a danger of illness, and or adverse reactions if vaccinated (268). Philosophical and religious exemptions are not considered detrimental and may or may not be granted. The controversy in these exemptions, are related to increasing the

Even when diseases seem to no longer exist, outbreaks can still occur if children are not vaccinated. In Boulder, Colorado, fear over possible side effects of the whooping-cough (pertussis) vaccine led many parents to refuse vaccination for their children, causing Boulder to have the lowest school-wide vaccination rate in Colorado for whooping-cough, and one of the highest rates of whooping-cough in the United States as of 2002 (ProCon.org, Children Vaccinations, Pro).