The Decision Should Be Yours Alone
A little bundle of joy turns six months old today. Just watch her sleep, so peaceful, and innocent; surely she is the brightest and most beautiful and baby ever. Hesitating to wake her at first, but knowing she has an early doctor’s appointment slowly Mom removes her from the crib. This morning started just like any other morning, feeding and dressing Sarah, and soon they were on their way to the doctor’s appointment. Ever so carefully, she is buckled into her car seat, as Mom remembered how much care she and her husband put into selecting just the right car seat. Carefully reviewing all the safety information, and finally deciding to purchase the more expensive model with better safety reviews. Nothing
…show more content…
Sadly, this is not true with vaccinations. In most instances, the new parents have no idea that a routine doctor’s appointment to vaccinate their child could become so life-changing. Or if they were aware, they never believed it would happen, to them. Vaccines pose dangers and should never be mandated, every individual has the unquestionable right to decide if they wish to take risks involved for a specific vaccine, no cohesion, no misrepresentation of the facts, no employer or government mandate, with the parent or guardian responsible making this decision for minor children.
The Nuremberg Code is a direct result of the medical experimentation conducted by Nazi doctor’s in concentration camps, during World War Two; it prohibits any medical procedure or treatment without the informed consent of the patient. Vaccine mandates violate the fundamental principles of the first point of the Nuremberg Code which states explicitly that “The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential” (Trials of War 181). In Vaccines a Reappraisal, Dr. Moskowitz stresses the right to free choice and informed consent of the participants, citing the first article of the Nuremberg code of 1947 to emphasize this importance (Moskowitz 39). Furthermore, the fourth article of the Nuremberg Code states “The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid
Vaccination is widely considered one of the greatest medical achievements of modern civilization (Harvard Law School, 2007). Childhood deaths from infectious diseases were commonplace less than a generation ago; however they’re now increasingly rare due to vaccines. In order to be effective at eliminating communicable diseases, vaccines must be administrated to a sufficient level of people in the community. However, there has been plenty of controversy over the morality, ethics, effectiveness and safety of immunization. It has been argued in the past whether laws should be introduced that render some vaccines obligatory for all children (Singer, 2009). These objections may lead to an unacceptably high number of exemptions, which can compromise vaccination programs and leave the population susceptible to outbreaks. Parents argue that it is they who should have the ultimate decision-making right on whether or not to vaccinate their children. Whereas nurses and health care officials oppose that view on the grounds that by making vaccination rates in children incomplete, we expose all children to contracting the vaccine-preventable diseases. The most recent Australian Childhood Immunization Register coverage report illustrates that 92.1% of children aged 12 to 15 months have been fully immunized in Australia (ACIR, 2014). A survey was conducted for the Mansfield community to analyze and identify the factors which prevents them from vaccinating their children.The
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?
Should parents have to right to say whether their child should be vaccinated or should it be automatically required? Many parents do vaccinate their children; however there are some that are against putting foreign substances in their child’s body. If parents choose not the have their child vaccinated then how do they go about getting them into school because most schools require students to have a number of vaccinations before they can even start kindergarten.
Childhood vaccinations in the United States has become a very controversial issue over the years whether it should be the parents’ rights or the governments right to require them. There are specific immunization schedules, all are important but the most important ones are the ones received during our childhood. Immunizations received during childhood have eradicated diseases such as measles and polio, they prevent outbreaks, contribute to the “herd” immunity and implications of future generations. Although, there are individuals who are against vaccinating their children due to not being properly educated on the safety of vaccines and believing in fallacious claims such as vaccination cause Autism and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Vaccinations are important for all ages but during childhood they are the most critical to the health of all individuals around the United States and the world. Childhood vaccinations are crucial to everyone, and it is important that children receive all scheduled immunizations.
Roughly over the last sixteen years, many parents have chosen to not vaccinate their children, putting other children at risk. This has been a huge debate across our country for many years now. Vaccinations should be mandatory and children should be completely up to date with all vaccinations before being allowed to attend school.
In today’s society, the parents have a right to refuse or discontinue treatment. However, when parental decisions are not in the best interest of the child and potentially dangerous to the child’s health, health care practitioners have a responsibility to advocate for the child and challenge those decisions, as is the case with vaccinations.
Vaccinations have been widely discussed and debated about whether or not people should vaccinate their children. “Childhood vaccines offer protection from serious or potentially fatal diseases” (The Mayo Clinic, 2014)”. Vaccinations prevent diseases that can affect a child with symptoms of a cold or in some cases, the disease can be much more serious and can cause disability and death. The problem is that parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children against them. With choosing against vaccinating a child becoming a common occurrence, diseases that have been eradicated from the United States, are now starting to show back up in society. If there are no strict requirements on vaccinations, then diseases that have been dormant for decades from the U.S. will become into an epidemic. There are many reasons why parents state that they choose not to vaccinate their children. Some include religion, philosophical, and the possible connection to autism. These reasons have been proven to not be strong enough against the threat of the serious disease that vaccinations protect against. There are new regulations going into place, making it an educational and training process to the parents if they choose to not vaccinate their children. In addition to this, there are laws and regulations regarding who is liable in these situations. A child could possibly sue their parents or a third party could sue because they or someone in their family was affected from an infected
As a parent, there are countless tough decisions to make. Parents are responsible for their child’s well-being, which is intense pressure. They are obligated to decide what they think is in the best interest of their own child. There is also pressure from the media, and other parents, on how people should raise their children and what decisions are actually in the child’s best interest. One of the tough decisions that parents must determine is whether to have their child vaccinated or not. There is excessive disagreement about whether vaccinating children is beneficial or detrimental. There are also restrictions put in place by the government that encourage vaccines, such as children must have vaccinations to attend public school. However,
Vaccinating children has become an issue many parents are taking personally and debating on a regular basis. Several parents vaccinate their children, but do they really know what they are vaccinating for? Most vaccines are necessary for children to gain immunity. Immunity from severe diseases that are part of our history, such as: Measles, Polio, Pertussis, and Diphtheria are essential to everyone. Vaccinating for these serious diseases is a must to keep children healthy. However, history of the vaccine issue has been an ongoing topic for many years. But, most parents have not questioned vaccines until recently. The issue has changed over time since people have become more easily persuaded against vaccines. This has parents wondering how effective they really are, and if they are safe enough to distribute to children. Not to mention, the childhood diseases in question have not been around in decades. Parents want to understand the importance of prevention in something thought to be long gone. Above all, the importance of vaccines is significant in this country, and to all who live here. Furthermore, avoiding vaccines will leave the United States vulnerable to serious diseases, in which were once eradicated. Vaccinations are crucial to the regulation and the annihilation of fatal infectious diseases, not to just the child receiving the vaccine, but to all in the community. Thus, vaccinations should be mandated for all children in the U.S.
According to The Guardian, everyday approximately 11,000 babies are born in the United States of America. From the time they are born, they are required to be immunized. In the first few hours of life, these newborns receive the Hepatitis B vaccine. There are parents however who are skeptical about the potential side effects of all the vaccines. They think that immunizations are going to harm their children by causing them to develop neurological deficits. Unfortunately, schools are putting pressure on the parents by creating mandatory vaccination requirements as part of the admission process. Although childhood vaccinations have proven to significantly decrease mortality rates, the parents
Ever since the invention of the first vaccine more than two centuries ago, there has been plenty of controversy over the morality, ethics, effectiveness, and safety of vaccination and immunization.
No person should be denied their right to choose what is right for their child, but there should be consequences for families who decide against vaccination. Many families have linked the diagnosis of autism to the vaccination of their child although this fact has been proven incorrect several times. Parents who refuse to vaccinate put not only their child but, other children and families at risk. Cases of preventable diseases have begun to make a comeback because of the lack of vaccination. Although parents shouldn’t be forced to vaccinate their children, they should have consequences for their choice.
Parents all across the United States have an issue with vaccinations for their children. Parents as of today do not have the option whether or not to immunize their children. These vaccinations are potentially harmful for children, but they also help and prevent life threatening illnesses. Parents should be allowed to choose to vaccinate their children because at times, the vaccine might harm the child, and because the parents simply just have right.
Across the United States, state policies determine which vaccination a child will need in order to attend school. Each state will also have different ways in which a parent can obtain exception from the vaccine requirements. The issue at hand is that as the exception climbs, so do the outbreak of vaccine preventable diseases which threaten children health. Parents need to understand that vaccinating or not, can have a tremendous effect of public health.
The leading reason children go unvaccinated is due to the number of parents that simply refuse to let their child get the immunizations. Some parents won’t vaccinate their child due to their own obtaining legally binding self-belief against the vaccinations. Although, some children do not get vaccinated because of allergies or a compromised