Essay On Mandatory Vaccinations

Mandatory vaccinations have been hotly debated in the United States for over two centuries, making the argument almost as old as the country itself. As early as 1809, Massachusetts became the first state to mandate the world’s premiere vaccine. Authorities recognized the life-saving benefits of the smallpox vaccine. They chose to require inoculation to protect the community from further outbreaks. Public outrage ensued as some community members feared the new vaccine and believed they should be able to choose if they wished to receive it. The most vocal protestors formed anti-compulsory vaccination groups and were successful in getting laws overturned in many states. However, even the United States Supreme Court has upheld states’ rights to require immunization. (A) Vaccinations should be

The state of Florida has a selection of laws in place regulating vaccinations and vaccination exemptions, but what drives them? Vaccines against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis are mandatory for enrollment in the K-20 public education system. An individual enrolled in any postsecondary institution who will be residing in on campus housing must provide documentation of these vaccinations. A majority of parents argue that its unethical to force someone else’s child to be immunized, in any situation. There is a request that can be made for religious requirements, and must be presented to the facility or school on the Department of Health’s Religious Exemption from Immunization form -DH 681 Form-. The DH 681 Form is issued by county health departments and is only for a child who is not immunized because of their family’s religious practices. (nvic.org) The vast majority of parents are so strongly opinionated on whether vaccinations will positively or negatively impact their children, but no one takes into consideration the parents who differ in opinions themselves.

According to the Center’s of Disease Control and Prevention (2012), there are no federal requirements for childhood immunizations. While the CDC (2012) provides recommendations, each state sets their own rules and exemptions for schools and childcare attendance. On June 30, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown of California made history by eliminating the exemption from immunizations due to personal beliefs for children in public or private schools; however, medical exemptions initiated by a DO or MD will still be allowed (Royce, 2015; California Department of Public Health, 2015a). In 2013-2014, there were nearly 17000 personal belief vaccination exemptions in California (Almasy, 2015). Throughout the history of vaccinations very strong opinions for or against immunizations have existed,

I am passionate about this issues. I have worked as an immunization nurse for several years in the state of Maryland. In Maryland there are strict requirements for vaccinating children for school entry. I worked for Prince George’s County and Baltimore County Health Department. In the state of Maryland many children each year are out compliance and therefore are not allowed to attend school until the requirements are satisfied.

The power of the school district is intended to protect the students in the school. However, this does not mean mere physical protection. The school district has a responsibility to protect the rights of students also. They should avoid requiring parents that object to having their children vaccinated to have them vaccinated. Nevertheless, though I disagree, the current precedent is that the schools do have the authority to require students to receive vaccination (Essex, 2012).

Idaho code 39-4801, immunizations required, was passed by the Idaho legislature in 1978. Policy number 39-4801 states that you must have proof of vaccinations to go to school. There were many things necessary after this law was put into place. When vaccines were discovered, they saved many lives, and stopped the spread of illness. Some issues that are common with this law are religious issues. One of the most important organizations for the spread of vaccines is the national center for immunizations and respiratory diseases. In 1979 the law was redesigned to allow religious exemptions. Every state has different laws when it comes to vaccines, because not everyone believes in vaccines for religious or personal reasons. While many people agree with vaccines, some people believe that they should not be required. One recommendation would be to change the policy to be the same as California’s law.

In the United States, the law states that vaccinations are required for children entering school unless they have a valid reason that prevents them from receiving the vaccinations. Starting when children are born, they begin the regimen of vaccinations that continue throughout their adolescent years and adulthood. Each year children receive a variation of shots to protect them from the illnesses they will encounter in the world, especially once they attend school. The most common reasons parents forego getting their children vaccinated are religious beliefs, medical exemptions, and personal beliefs. Due to the rising number of parents declining to get their children vaccinated, the number of outbreaks of preventable diseases has increased. The question is now should parents/guardians be forced to vaccinate their children?

Above are a list of vaccinations that “must” be administered before entrance into a public school in Ohio. However, the administration of these vaccinations can easily be stopped if a parent/guardians religious, or moral views contradict their child receiving the vaccination.

However, even with the evidence, there continue to be citizens who fear vaccinations and refuse to inoculate their children. Currently, in the state of Ohio, any minor child, through the child’s parent or guardian can provide documentation based on religious or philosophical reasons to not receive the vaccination (CDC 2010). That child is then considered exempt from the Ohio law 3313.671. This law states that” no pupil at the initial entry as the beginning of each school year, to an elementary of high school …. shall be permitted to remain in school for more than fourteen days unless the pupil presents by a method of immunization approved” (Ohio 3313.671). However, in section four, the law has allowed declination of vaccination based on reasons of conscience (Ohio 3313.671) The law does not mandate

Yes, there are three: medical, special education and homeschooling or independent study. Young children and students may obtain a written medical exemption to vaccinations from a licensed physician. The reason for the medical exemption may include family medical history.

Alysa Poindexter from Fox43 News, explains the mandatory school vaccination requirements issued by the state of Pennsylvania. For children attending any school in Pennsylvania they need to be vaccinated for specific diseases, which are broken down into doses (Poindexter). The doses are issued throughout the school year, the first dose is required before the child's first day of school (Poindexter). New changes have been made requiring students that will be entering the 12th grade to get vaccinated for pertussis and meningococcal vaccine (Poindexter). Statistics show in Pennsylvania's schools approximately 5,4000 students were exempt from getting immunized in 2013-2014 (Wenner).

Likewise, some people should not receive vaccinations. These individuals should not receive vaccinations due to their age, health conditions, among other factors. These other conditions are independent depending on the type of vaccination received. “They can range from an individual who cannot swallow, to a pregnant woman, to a person with a life-threatening allergy, to a component in the vaccination” (Hales 543). A small percentage of individuals do not respond to a particular vaccine. ”All states provide medical exemptions, and some state laws also offer exemptions for religious and philosophical reasons” (State Vaccination Requirements). “Some religions even prevent certain parents from vaccinating their children because of their belief that the disease is a naturally occurring thing and humans have no right interfering with it” (Hales 544). However, most state laws establish vaccination requirements for school children. These laws apply to public schools, private schools, and day care centers. “State laws also establish mechanisms for enforcement of school vaccination requirements” (State Vaccination Requirement). “Vaccines save

Today, more and more parents are making the decision not to vaccinate their children because they believe that vaccinations are unimportant or ineffective. In just the past five years, two year olds’ up-to-date rates in Oregon have dropped up to 5% for some vaccines. In Multnomah County, only 72% of female adolescents have received at least one human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and only 54% among males. Unlike the HPV vaccine, the tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is required for attendance at school above 7th grade in Oregon. However there are ways to be exempted from such requirements, and many parents are doing so (Oregon Health Authority). Diseases or disease-causing bacteria are still found in the United States and

Childhood immunizations, such as measles, chicken pox, and polio, are mandatory for school-aged youth and

When attending public school ideally, by the time your child is ready to attend kindergarten, they will have received all three hepatitis b vaccinations, tetanus vaccine, acellular pertussis vaccine (DTap), diphtheria vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (pcv), inactivated poliovirus vaccine (Ipv), haemophilius influenzae type b vaccine (Hib), mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. These are the mandatory requirements to attend public schools in the United States. Many schools even require proof that your child was vaccinated, and may not even admit your child/children in school if vaccinations have not yet been given. I personally believe that mandatory vaccinations should be received by all children, before they began school, during school, and even if they don’t attend school at all. A few reasons being, vaccinations can save your kids' life, by being safe and effective, protecting others you care about, also protecting our future generations. Some parents feel as if their child/children should not receive any of these mandatory vaccinations do to their own beliefs. Such as purported medical reasons or religious or philosophical grounds.