Where do we draw the line between social responsibility and parental choice?
___
There was a time in our nation when as a people and as local communities we rallied to protect one another. To be certain, there is an aspect of rose colored glasses when using hindsight, but we took social responsibility seriously. We took public health and safety seriously and watched out for the most vulnerable in our communities. At some point over the last couple of decades, we’ve undergone a dramatic shift to valuing our own opinions over the safety of others. Outbreaks of once rare diseases have recently shined an unflattering light on this societal blight. The anti-vaccine movement has not only grown but has based its arguments on flawed and often debunked science. Rather than inflame an already contentious debate, let me show you why I chose to vaccinate my children and why I continue to strongly advocate for mandatory vaccination.
This is Abbi Brown, my hero and friend. Abbi suffers from a genetic mitochondrial disorder that compromises her immune system. She relies upon herd immunity to keep the truly nasty diseases, such as measles, from infecting her circle. Until recently, there was little danger to taking her out in public other than normal, everyday exposures like the common cold. Twice in the past few years she and her family, people I consider an extended part of my own family, have been to Disney World. There, she came into contact with thousands of people. If only one of them had been a carrier, the potential for her to decline quickly and perish would have been tremendous. The primary cause would not have been a lack of medical care or negligence on the part of her parents. She’d have died because a parent declined to vaccinate their child and endangered the herd immunity Abbi relies upon to stay healthy. Abbi’s father, Chris Brown, had this to say:
While Abbi has had her vaccinations, she is still at risk due to her compromised immune system. Ironically enough Delicia (my wife) is at risk for MMR as well. Her body does not build up the titer that is needed to be considered immune. She had received the shot three times (with each pregnancy) and has not been able to test immune. Formerly, the herd immunity has kept people like my wife and daughter covered. That isn’t the case anymore as seen by the Disney outbreak of measles. People need to understand the herd immunity concept. Their decisions not only affect them.
In California, Carl Krawitt’s son suffers from Leukemia. He has requested that the school bar children who have not received the MMR vaccine citing similar fears. The Palm Desert High School responded by ordering those unvaccinated children to stay home until February 9. In my opinion, they’ve made the right call.
It isn’t merely the immune-compromised who are at risk either. Since no vaccine is 100% effective, a single carrier endangers everyone. In areas with confirmed cases, allowing un-vaccinated children access to the greater population is an issue of public endangerment, especially in confined spaces. Precisely where do we draw the line between fulfilling a social contract and allowing parents choices in the medical care of their children?
In 2000, homegrown measles was considered eradicated in the United States. Thanks to the growing anti-vaccination movement, the disease has returned. Each year, more confirmed cases occur, and unless vaccination levels return to pre-hysteria levels, the outbreaks will become more frequent and widespread. If the issue at hand was just measles, it would at least be manageable.
To put it succinctly, if there was the tiniest of links that existed between vaccines and autism, which would ultimately be worse: an autistic child or a dead one?
|
However, whooping cough and diphtheria have also made recent returns—both previously considered so rare that young doctors had never seen a case. Now, in hotspots where vaccination levels have fallen, doctors are once again required to become well versed in the recognition and treatment of these formerly forgotten diseases. With vaccine-preventable diseases on the rise, many of which are deadly, the body count will continue to rise.
The anti-vaccine movement has its roots in a fraudulent paper published in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield. This report, while debunked hundreds of times over, not only caused Wakefield to lose his license to practice but also created the premise that vaccines as harmful. Science has proven there is no link between Autism and vaccinations, yet the rumor persists. Wakefield continues to defend his research with claims the pharmaceutical industry has initiated a smear campaign to ruin his reputation, but there is no reputable science to back him up.
It is my opinion that the CDC recommended courses of vaccinations become compulsory, not voluntary. Exclusions for personal belief should hold no weight when considering the greater public health. Medical exemptions such as a compromised immune system are the only valid reasons to keep your children or yourself from receiving the basic vaccinations. To act in any other manner is counter-productive and irresponsible. As a collective society, we have a responsibility to help protect those less fortunate around us. To put it succinctly, if there was the tiniest of links that existed between vaccines and autism, which would ultimately be worse: an autistic child or a dead one?
For more perspective on this topic, check out the following articles:
Some doctors refuse to treat unvaccinated patients
Rand Paul says he’s heard of vaccines leading to “profound mental disorders” in children
Anti-vaxxer doctor leaves public health to others: ‘My child is pure’
Thank you for posting this article. The Anti-VAX is totally out of hand.
“It is my opinion that the CDC recommended courses of vaccinations become compulsory, not voluntary. Exclusions for personal belief should hold no weight when considering the greater public health. ”
So the argument that its “your” body only applies to reproductive issues. Good to know there is a principle level of consistency at the core.
I wonder what other things we can force upon people in the name of “social responsibility.”
We mandate helmets for motorcycles and kuds on bicycles, seat belts in cars, and basic nutrition for kids that must be met. Your argument holds no water. If you refer to reproductive rights, it becomes a different subject and argument altogether. Abortion choice and birth control have little bearing on society as a whole. (Both of which I support wholeheartedly). Please debate with relevancy, though I truly appreciate your input. Thank you for reading.
“Exclusions for personal belief should hold no weight when considering the greater public health.”
You’re exactly right. These exclusions are the reason we’re now dealing with previously forgotten diseases in 2015. Nice post.