Should Children Be Required to Get Vaccinated?
Vaccinations have helped children stay healthy for more than 50 years and have been proven safe and effective. The primary benefit of vaccination is that it prevents disease. Immunization is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Scientists and medical professionals both agree that immunization is key to staying healthy. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all strongly support protecting children with recommended vaccinations. While the diseases parents vaccinate against have declined, they have not disappeared. This is why parents still vaccinate against diseases that are no longer seen in the U.S. All it takes is one infected traveler from another country where a disease has not been eliminated to spark an outbreak. Therefore, all children in the United States, except for those who have a compromised immune system, are allergic to the vaccine, or are too young to receive a vaccination, should be required to get vaccinations of all preventable …show more content…
Religious groups feel that vaccinations go against their beliefs. Political libertarians believe that mandatory vaccinations violate their civil liberties. Self-maximizers believe that they can make their own decisions based on their knowledge of the facts. Some anti-vaccinationists may also argue that vaccines can cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. However, the number of children who experience these side effects is very small compared to the number of children who benefit from vaccines. “Protecting the larger population by allowing mandatory vaccinations is an attempt to ensure public health and welfare.” (Tolsma) The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the
Vaccinations have helped children stay healthy for more than 50 years and have been proven safe and effective. The primary benefit of vaccination is that it prevents disease. Immunization is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Scientists and medical professionals both agree that immunization is key to staying healthy. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all strongly support protecting children with recommended vaccinations. While the diseases parents vaccinate against have declined, they have not disappeared. This is why parents still vaccinate against diseases that are no longer seen in the U.S. All it takes is one infected traveler from another country where a disease has not been eliminated to spark an outbreak. Therefore, all children in the United States, except for those who have a compromised immune system, are allergic to the vaccine, or are too young to receive a vaccination, should be required to get vaccinations of all preventable …show more content…
Religious groups feel that vaccinations go against their beliefs. Political libertarians believe that mandatory vaccinations violate their civil liberties. Self-maximizers believe that they can make their own decisions based on their knowledge of the facts. Some anti-vaccinationists may also argue that vaccines can cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. However, the number of children who experience these side effects is very small compared to the number of children who benefit from vaccines. “Protecting the larger population by allowing mandatory vaccinations is an attempt to ensure public health and welfare.” (Tolsma) The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the