preview

Vaccination Of Vaccination And Vaccination

Good Essays

Vaccination is widely considered one of mankind’s utmost medical achievements. Diseases that were not long ago commonplace in society are now increasingly rare due vaccines. Despite this, the United States continues to allow vaccination exemptions for children on the basis of religious or philosophical beliefs. Today, the vast majority of states allow religious exemptions and a smaller, but still substantial, number of states permit the more troubling philosophical exemptions. The exemptions compromise vaccination programs and leave the population susceptible to outbreaks. Thus to stop the growing percentage of Americans claiming exemptions, the federal and state governments, could consider utilizing measures currently used in Australia and France that would further dissuade people from seeking such exemptions.

History of Vaccination and Vaccination Mandates Prior to engaging in an investigation of the modern vaccination laws and policies it is first helpful to briefly explore the history of vaccines. The history of vaccines extends back centuries. The first recoded inoculation occurred in China around 1000 A.D. The history of subsequent centuries is riddled with epidemics and outbreaks throughout the world. The outbreaks often involved diseases that today are treatable through vaccination notably smallpox, measles, and pertussis (whooping cough). Edward Jenner created the first “true” vaccine in 1796. Jenner’s vaccine treated smallpox and gave its recipients immunity

Get Access