Child vaccinations play a vital role in reducing the prevalence of many childhood infectious diseases. Examples of these diseases include measles, diphtheria, smallpox, and polio (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, January, 9, 2015). Mandatory vaccinations in the United States have led to the elimination of some of these diseases, notably smallpox and polio. They have also contributed to the present situation whereby it is rare for children to face serious threats of deadly disease outbreaks that were once a common occurrence in the United States. Unfortunately, there are also some risks that are associated with childhood vaccinations. Vaccines are medications, and like any medicine, they can sometimes be beneficial and in some rare occasions a threat to human health.
Despite their higher level of effectiveness, not all vaccines are perfect in terms of disease prevention and safety for all individuals. Some people experience mild, albeit short-lived, side-effects after vaccination. However, the risk that comes with vaccinations is significantly lower than the threat of an outbreak of the infectious diseases that they are designed to prevent. Still, there are many parents who request that their children be exempted from vaccinations for philosophical and religious reasons and sometimes due to fears of negative health effects. The resulting increase in the number of people who have not been vaccinated against highly infectious diseases increases the risk of an outbreak of those diseases due to a reduction in the level of “herd immunity” (Bradley 330). This is one of the main reasons why some medical professionals and policymakers insist subjecting everyone to vaccination is the best way of guarding citizens against outbreaks of preventable diseases. This paper argues that childhood vaccinations should be mandatory in all countries as a way of promoting public health and eradicating highly infectious diseases that are preventable.
Vaccinations are beneficial because they prepare the child’s body for future viral or bacterial attacks (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, January, 9, 2015). Vaccination programs are largely responsible for a drastic reduction in the number of deaths from infectious diseases in different parts of the world. Consequently, the burden of infectious disease has greatly been lessened in terms of both mortality and morbidity (Bradley 330). Conversely, rates of infectious disease prevalence increase considerably whenever there are disruptions to immunization programs. Although outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases such as measles no longer occur, the pathogens that cause them continue to exist. The few cases of such diseases that continue to be reported in the United States are attributed to unvaccinated foreigners visiting the country or unvaccinated Americans returning home from a visit in a foreign country that has a higher prevalence of the said diseases (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, January, 9, 2015). Such sporadic cases are constant reminders of the need to make childhood vaccinations mandatory.
Individuals can derive many benefits from immunization, for example, through a reduction in the possibility of developing mortality/morbidity from a disease before immunization (Bradley 330). Communities can also benefit from various child vaccination programs if enough people are vaccinated to bring about a rapid decrease in the possibility of developing an infectious disease. Conversely, epidemics can easily ensue in areas where no immunization programs have been introduced. Based on this understanding, many health care workers across the world feel obliged to promote the idea of mandatorily vaccinating all children. In situations where the risk of harm to a child is significant, the health care workers may choose to override refusal by a parent for philosophical or religious reasons. Since the intention of these workers is to protect the best interests of the child, parents should not reject the idea of childhood vaccination programs for whatever reason (Bradley 333). Making childhood vaccinations mandatory without any exemptions is an excellent way of helping health care workers overcome the dilemmas they face whenever they are compelled to make a decision on the morality of vaccinating a child without parental permission.
In embracing vaccination, humanity should learn to see the bigger picture, whereby the long-term benefits of vaccination outweigh the isolated cases of negative outcomes. In many cases, the severe adverse effects of vaccinations tend to be less life-threatening and rarer than the disease outbreaks against which the vaccines are designed to protect humanity. Moreover, mild side-effects such as swelling, appetite loss, inflammation, and fever should not be a basis for parents’ refusal to have their children immunized. Although some people may attribute the growing prevalence of respiratory problems, chronic autoimmune problems, behavioral problems, and chronic conditions to widespread vaccinations, there is no empirical evidence to that effect. Moreover, parents are at liberty to enquire about the pros and cons of all the vaccines that are contained in an immunization program. Seeking such information is an excellent way of dispensing with myths and rumors about the negative effects of such programs. The pursuit of such information should lead them to the realization that it is naïve to expect the integrity of their children’s immune system to be their greatest shield against disease outbreaks (Romm 54). Indeed, people who understand the kind of havoc that has been wreaked on humanity by outbreaks of diseases such as polio, measles, and smallpox would strongly encourage parents to take their children to the nearest health care facility for vaccination.
Many parents who object to mandatory childhood vaccinations argue that they have a right to rear their children in accordance with their preferred individual standards (Bradley 330). What these parents tend to forget is that members of the community also have a right to protection from infectious diseases that can be prevented through vaccines. Every individual in society has a responsibility to ensure that herd immunity is not weakened. Skeptics also argue that there is too much emphasis on vaccinations as the leading cause of a drastic reduction in disease prevalence. In their view, other factors such as improvements in hygiene, nutrition, water quality, sanitation, and living conditions have made equal (if not greater) contribution in the outbreaks of highly contagious diseases (Romm 21). In fact, Romm argues that vaccines may just be a secondary factor in regards to protection from disease (21). The intention of this argument, it seems, is to create the impression that the idea that vaccinations are primarily responsible for disease declines is nothing more than a belief and a customary assumption. Romm also provides an example of situations where disease prevalence tended to increase in areas extensive vaccination programs were being implemented (22). However, these arguments do not discredit the efficacy of vaccinations as effective sources of immunity against highly infectious diseases.
Some medical practitioners advise parents to delay certain childhood immunizations and forego others altogether. This advice is based on the proposition that alternative vaccine schedules may be more beneficial than the conventional ones being promoted by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In an interview with Stacia Lansman, founder of Pediatric Alternatives, a healthcare facility that promotes alternative vaccine programs, Butler found out that a major concern in the medical fraternity is that childhood vaccinations may be linked to the recent increase in the number of autoimmune disorder (March 30, 2014 Web). Many of these concerns have metamorphosed into rumors and myths about the negative effects of vaccines. These rumors have prompted a continued increase in the number of parents who opt to refuse to have their children vaccinated. The outcome of this situation is that many life-threatening childhood diseases have started making a comeback (Vantine-reichardt, Prevention, November 3, 2011). However, these fears have not yet been backed up by empirical evidence either. Neither do they provide justification for the use of alternative vaccine programs. This may be a major reason why the American Academy of pediatrics routinely discourages parents from choosing alternative vaccine schedules.
In conclusion, the benefits of childhood vaccinations by far outweigh the risks involved, and thus the vaccination programs should be made mandatory for all children without any exemptions. Although parents as well as some healthcare practitioners are concerned that childhood vaccinations may have a negative impact on humans in the short run via side-effects as well as in the long run via autoimmune disorders, they remain an effective tool in the fight against highly infectious diseases such as measles and polio. Without these vaccinations, the world would possibly have encountered many deadly disease outbreaks. Thus, childhood vaccinations should be mandatory.
Works Cited
Bradley, P. “Should childhood immunization be compulsory?” Journal of Medical Ethics, 25 (1999): 330-334.
Butler, Kiera. My Interview with a Pediatrician Who Thinks Vaccines Are “Messing with Nature”: Is she right? March 30, 2014. Web.
Romm, Aviva. Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent’s Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives. Rochester: Healing Arts Press, 2001. Print.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Vaccines for Children – A Guide for Parents and Caregivers. January, 9, 2015. Web.
Vantine-reichardt, Julia. “Vaccine Fears and Facts: What you should know–and do.” Prevention, November 3, 2011. Web.