They are hailed as medicine’s greatest triumph, conquering smallpox, diphtheria, polio and more. If you look at vaccines over the past 100 years, they have increased our lifespan by 30 years. But in recent years, some Americans have rejected vaccines, afraid they cause chronic disorders from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder to autism. But the personal choices of parents to not vaccinate their children is putting public health at risk. Mississippi, West Virginia, and California are the only three states that do not allow parents to skip vaccinations for their children for nonmedical reasons. All other states offer either a personal belief exemption, a religious exemption, or both. The anti-vaccination movement has caused an increase
…show more content…
But with almost no religions objecting them, why is there a religious exemption? Christian Scientists and the Dutch Reformed Church are the only two religions that could possibly have opposing stances on vaccines. Christian Scientists believe diseases can be cured through prayer but they do not have an official stance on vaccines. The Dutch Reformed Church believe that vaccines interfere with their relationship with God because it makes them less reliant on God. But another sect of the Dutch Reformed Church claim vaccinations are a gift from God. Some may claim the Catholic Church has objections but this is another misconception. The Catholic Church opposes fetal cell research that has been used to develop vaccinations not the vaccinations themselves. Jehovah’s Witnesses famously cannot have blood transfusions because they view one of the commandments of the Bible as meaning to abstain from blood. But non of this really matters in the vaccine debate because when an individual files a religious exemption to vaccines they do not even have to be religious. In Florida, for example, no proof of religion is needed just the child’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number. Other states that have religious exemptions have similar forms to
But with almost no religions objecting them, why is there a religious exemption? Christian Scientists and the Dutch Reformed Church are the only two religions that could possibly have opposing stances on vaccines. Christian Scientists believe diseases can be cured through prayer but they do not have an official stance on vaccines. The Dutch Reformed Church believe that vaccines interfere with their relationship with God because it makes them less reliant on God. But another sect of the Dutch Reformed Church claim vaccinations are a gift from God. Some may claim the Catholic Church has objections but this is another misconception. The Catholic Church opposes fetal cell research that has been used to develop vaccinations not the vaccinations themselves. Jehovah’s Witnesses famously cannot have blood transfusions because they view one of the commandments of the Bible as meaning to abstain from blood. But non of this really matters in the vaccine debate because when an individual files a religious exemption to vaccines they do not even have to be religious. In Florida, for example, no proof of religion is needed just the child’s name, date of birth, and Social Security Number. Other states that have religious exemptions have similar forms to