Although California requires that children "must be up-to-date with their immunizations for polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B and chickenpox" (Katharine Mieszkowski, NY Times), there are loop holes and exceptions that allow children to begin school without their shots. The exception is that the parents or guardians can sign a form that would allow children to not take the vaccines because of a "personal-belief exemption." The percent of kindergardeners who are vaccinated in schools in the bay area is about 92%, which is good because 84-95% is the range that would be considered adequate protection, but there are certain areas where there is a significantly low percent of kindergardeners who have received all their vaccinations, and that poses a risk to the students. Only 12% percent of the kindergardeners at Sebastopol Independent Charter School have all their vaccines and only 29% of the kindergardeners at Anna Yates Elementary School have their vaccines. The low percentage of students who have gotten their shots poses a serious health risk to the children. If one kindergardener falls sick with whooping cough, all the other children who have not gotten the vaccination will be in danger of catching whooping cough as well. And in the case of Sebastopol Independent Charter School, that's 88% of kindergardeners. And, let's face it, kids are dirty. They don't wash their hands if there isn't someone telling them to, they cough and sneeze all over everything, including each other, toys and crayons, and they go on sharing their germs to other kids. Sharing is definitely not caring when it comes to these illnesses. "Marin and Sonoma Counties have reported the highest rates of whooping cough in the Bay Area this year, They also have the highest local rates of personal-belief exemption." Although whooping cough may not be fatal in children over the age of 1, whooping cough can lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections that are more serious. It's good that the state gives parents the choice to allow their child to be exempt from the vaccinations because of the "personal-belief exemption," but in this case, limiting this choice would be more reasonable because exempting children from getting the shots endangers the public health and safety.
4 comments:
I agree that it would be beneficial to have mandatory vaccinations for young children, especially because it is my belief that parents should not have sole control over their young children's health. Even though parents should play a big part in their children’s health, young children should be protected from the most deadly diseases regardless of their parents' beliefs, because they are entitled to a healthy life when they don't know better.
To branch off of what Peter said, I would also like to advocate that parents shouldn't have complete dominance over the welfare of their children. Parents are way too often misled by myth and spun into falsehoods. Sending a child to school without vital vaccinations is like sending a soldier into battle without armor or weapons to defend himself or herself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_uSgznnZac
To capitalize on what Dr. Naik said, there are three major benefits of vaccines. Vaccines save lives, improve the quality of our lives, and are very cost-effective. Dr. Naik brings up a good point that vaccinated-disease kill rates are drastically lowered in the post-vaccine era.
There haven't been any child deaths from vaccines in recent years; The most severe reaction would probably be an allergic reaction.
Personally, I completely agree that vaccinations should be mandatory. I believe that health should come before all else, especially when one person's choices affects those around him/her. But just to play the devil's advocate...
What would you say in response to a religious person who speaks out against mandatory vaccinations with the argument that, as religious activities are protected by the First Amendment, they have the constitutional right to refuse the vaccine?
Currently, religious exemptions are available. According to "K.N.O.W. Vaccines" (http://www.know-vaccines.org/exemptionFAQ.html), "A religious exemption is for anyone who has a sincere religious conflict with vaccination. A religious objection may be expressly implied by religious denomination or it may be based on an individual's own moral/spiritual conscience to live God's Word."
How can someone be denied of a fundamental right embedded in the First Amendment?
-Jessia Hoffman
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