preview

Mandatory Vaccination Research Paper

Decent Essays

Should Vaccination of All Children be made Mandatory by Law?

A vaccination is when an inactive version of a disease is introduced into the body, so that the body can become immune to the disease. Vaccines have assisted in the eradication/rapid decline of diseases such as smallpox, diphtheria and polio, but there is still wide-spread apprehension about the possible side effects of vaccinations, which can prove fatal. There is debate about whether vaccines infringe upon personal and religious choices, and if it is right for the government to force parents to vaccinate their children.

Vaccines prevent hospitalisation, suffering and death. They save the lives of millions of people annually, particularly those of children and the elderly. An …show more content…

Almost every injection may cause fever, redness/swelling at the site of injection, headache, tiredness and/or nausea. However, in rare cases, major side effects can take place, affecting the lives of innocent people and the lives of their families. These side effects may include may include seizure or life-threatening allergic reaction, or even a possible lead to mental illness. The devastating stories of these people are almost never publicly broadcasted, so many parents vaccinating their kids accept vaccination as a normal part of life, without thinking too much about possible consequences. The government should not infringe on personal and religious medical choices. Medical decisions for children should be left to the parents or caregivers. Ron Paul, MD, former US Representative, in an October, 2011 article stated, "Intimately personal medical decisions should not be made by government… Freedom over one’s physical person is the most basic freedom of all, and people in a free society should be sovereign over their own bodies." Several religions also oppose vaccines and mandatory vaccinations. The First Amendment of the US Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an

Get Access