A vaccine is termed as a biological preparation which generally provides what can be termed as active acquired immune; thus against a particular harmful disease. Most vaccines are created from weakened as well as killed forms of a disease causing microorganism while others are made from either its surface proteins of toxins (World Health Organization, 2018). These vaccines work primary by stimulating the human immune system to launch massive attacks against the agent, when this occurs, antibody-producing cells termed as lymphocytes remain highly sensitive or rather retain a “memory” of the disease causing agent. As a result, the agent is attacked upon entry into the human body (World Health Organization, 2018).
In some instances, the vaccine provides passive immunity to the human body against a disease primarily by providing either lymphocyte or antibodies created by either an animal or even a human donor. There are various ways in which the vaccine is delivered into the human body, regarding this, many vaccines are usually administered by method of injection also termed as parenteral administration; however, some vaccines are given orally while others are applied to an individual’s mucosal surfaces.
Over the years, the debate on mandatory vaccination particularly among children as emerged as a very controversial issues which has sparked contentious debates among healthcare professionals, policy makers, researchers, scientists, the policy makers, as well as the general public. Concerning this, while the advocates or rather proponents of mandatory vaccination argue that vaccines save lives, they are safe, and have numerous economic benefits, the opponents’ arguments against mandatory vaccination are based on the side effects of vaccines, infringement of religious rights, as well as freedom of choice. This paper strongly advocates for mandatory vaccination by exploring some of the arguments for, against as well as their counterarguments.
Brief History of Vaccines
The use of vaccine as a protection against diseases such polio, and measles among others is usually traced back to the 18th century particularly in 1796 when Edward Jenner inoculates a young boy which with what is termed as a vaccine virus/cowpox virus, and as a result demonstrated immunity to the smallpox disease after which the smallpox was developed later in 1798 (Plotkin, 2014). Following this, Edward Jenner is widely recognized as the founder of vaccinology among the Western nations. Edward Jenner’s discovery led to the systematic implementation immunization; this against smallpox consequently, culminating in its global eradication of smallpox over the 18th and 19th centuries. Other key personalities in the development of vaccines include Louis Pasteur who spearheaded the development of live attenuated vaccines against cholera as well as inactivated vaccines against anthrax (The Immunization Advisory Centre, 2017).
Over the past few decades, the application of what is commonly referred to as molecular genetics, genetic engineering, as well as increased insights and knowledge in microbiology, immunology inclusive of genomics has enabled researchers/scientists to apply them to vaccinology (The Immunization Advisory Centre, 2017). Following this, some of the recent successes include the development of vaccines against the recombinant hepatitis B, molecular genetics to a great extent has also set the scene for a brighter future which generally includes the development of new vaccines including DNA vaccines, and viral vectors as well as vaccines against diseases such as HIV.
Argument for Mandatory Vaccination
Vaccines saves Lives
One of the major arguments that supports and strongly advocates for the implementation of mandatory vaccination particularly among children is based on the fact that vaccines help in reducing diseases, disability and also death; hence, they saves lives since they offer protection against a significant number of diseases some of which are life-threatening (Orenstein " Ahmed, 2014). Currently, in the US, children are vaccinated against more than 16 diseases among them smallpox, following this, according to research, some of these diseases have been successfully reduced by approximately 90% while others have been either been reduced by 99% or eliminated (Orenstein " Ahmed, 2014).
Further, reports by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention indicates that approximately 732,000 young children have been saved; thus from death over the last two decades, death resulting from measles has also been reduced considerably by 74% (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Moreover, research also indicates that approximately 322 million cases of illness have also been prevented over the course of the last two decades. According to the Shot@Life which is a partner organization of the United Nations Foundation, on an annual basis vaccines save more than 2.5million children from diseases that are preventable (ProCon.Org, 2018). A recent analysis regarding the effectiveness of vaccines in protecting individuals against 13 diseases also found out that, for a single birth cohort, vaccines prevented more than 20 million cases of disease and over 40,000 deaths (Zhou et al., 2014). These statistics to a great extent reflect on not only the importance but also the need to implement mandatory vaccination as these vaccines save children from not only illness and disability; such as in the case of polio, but also death. Hence, it is critical to ensure that children receive their basic fundamental right to life, which is protected through vaccination.
Vaccination Greatly Promotes “Community Immunity”
Another benefit or rather argument supporting the implementation of mandatory vaccination is based on the fact that it protects the immunity of the larger population, commonly termed as “herd/community immunity”. Concerning this, when a particular population is vaccinated against a specific disease the likely of outbreaks occurring is reduced significantly as a result all members of a community are protected (ProCon.Org, 2018). This is especially important in community which children who unfit for vaccination due to various factors such a age and poor and deteriorating health particularly those whose immune systems are heavily compromised such as in the case of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Generally, some of the recent cases that have shown the importance of vaccination; thus in relation to protecting “herd immunity” are such as the 2008 measles outbreak that occurred in San Diego whereby, approximately 48 young children were placed under quarantine since they not only too young to be vaccination but also could not entirely rely on the community immunity to protect them (Barskey et al, 2010). Moreover, mandatory of children vaccination is also critical in preventing outbreaks, which could be fatal especially for population with special health problems or those that are prevented from undergoing vaccination due to age.
Economic Benefits
Another reason why vaccination of children should ultimately be mandatory is as a result of the economic benefits generally associated with vaccination. In relation to this, according to a study conducted in 2014 indicated that routine childhood immunization generally results in an estimated savings of approximately $ 13.5 billion and $68.8 billion in direct and societal costs respectively (Zhou et al., 2014). Generally, some of the direct costs associated with failure to vaccine children include hospitalization costs, costs associated with outpatient visits, and costs incurred in outbreak control. Indirect costs include costs associated with days missed at work by the parents, disability related costs. From a societal perspective, the research discovered that for a program costs of about $ 7.5 billion, routine vaccination saves a total of approximately $ 76 billion in both direct and indirect costs; hence, a total net saving of approximately $ 69 billion (Zhou et al., 2014). This therefore means that for every single dollar that is spent on vaccination at least 10 dollars is saved.
Further, in accordance to research by the “International Vaccines Access Center” failure to vaccinate children also results in lifetime productivity loss as a result of disability which is about $ 6.2 billion and more than $55 billion due to loss of productivity caused by death (ProCon.Org, 2018). Given these statistics, it is clear that vaccination among children is important; hence, should be mandatory for all children.
Vaccination Promotes Eradication of Diseases
Another major reason why children should be vaccinated is based on the fact that it promotes the overall eradication of diseases. Concerning this, in the contemporary world, children are no longer vaccinated against diseases such as smallpox since it does not exists primarily due to the development of vaccination against the disease. In relation to this, some of the last cases recorded of smallpox in the US date back to the mid-20th century with the last case among global nation being that of Somalia in 1977 (ProCon.Org, 2018). According to research, while they were more than 16,316 and 29,004 cases of deaths resulting from polio and smallpox during the 20th century in the US, there were no reported cases of these diseases in 2012 which indicates that vaccines are critical in eradicating some disease; hence, should be mandatory (ProCon.Org, 2018). However, despite this, not all disease that can be prevented through vaccination have been eradicated , therefore, it is important for all children to be vaccines in order to eventually eradicate other diseases present today.
Arguments Against and their Counter Arguments
Infringements upon Freedom of Choice
Perhaps one of the major arguments against mandatory vaccination of children by its opponents is the fact that it not only infringes upon what can be termed as personal medical choices. Regarding this, the opponents of vaccination argue that all medical related decision concerning children should ultimately be left; thus to either their caregivers or parents. They also argue that if the government through mandatory vaccination can force parent to have their children vaccinated “to a great extent there will be on limit to the government’s ability to take away people’s individual freedoms” (Paul, 2002). Therefore since “freedom over one’s physical person exists as the most basic freedom” a modern day free society should ultimately be sovereign; thus over their own bodies.
Infringement of religious freedoms.
Another major argument against mandatory vaccination of children is that several religions strictly oppose the use of vaccinations. As such most people argue that some teachings of the church to a great extent unequivocally affirm that inoculations or rather vaccination are a major violation of biblical teachings. Moreover, the opponent also argue that mandatory vaccination tends to infringes upon people’s religious freedoms which are protected by the US constitution.
Counterarguments-
while it is true that implementing mandatory vaccination for children to a great extent limits their parent’s freedom of choice with regard to personal medical choices, mandatory vaccination among children also protects or rather preserves their right to life and good health and a perfectly normal life free from disabilities caused by preventable diseases. In relation to this most childhood diseases such as polio, mumps, diphtheria, and measles among other can cause death or even disease, therefore, since they can be prevented it is ultimately the government’s role in protecting this population as it is the future generation at all costs. Moreover, the right to life ultimately surpasses or rather supersedes that of the parent’s right to choice in personal medical choices. Likewise the child’s right to life also surpasses a parent’s religious freedom, moreover, this right to life is also considered important and valuable by practically all religions; hence, it should come first before anything; children should be prevented from dying and growing up with disabilities.
Vaccines Cause Fatal Side Effects
Another major argument is that vaccines tend to have cause serious as well as fatal side effects among children. Some of these side effects include life-threatening allergic reactions, intussusception, coma, long term seizure, as well as permanent brain damage among others. Another argument is that these vaccines also contain or rather are made by harmful ingredients such as Formaldehyde which causes serious health effects such as cardiac impairments. Other harmful ingredients used include Glutaraldehyde; commonly used in DTaP vaccinations, which also causes serious problems such as asthma and other respiratory complications (ProCon.Org, 2018).
Counterargument-According CDC, like all other medications, vaccines can cause a number of side effects, however, these side effects to a great extent are only mild as compared to the effects of vaccine-preventable diseases which are not only serious but also can turn deadly. Moreover, cases of serious allergic reaction to vaccines have been rare, and today there are well trained health professionals to deal with such problems. With regard to use of harmful ingredients, vaccines have been found to be safe by numerous organizations such as “Food and Drug Administration, American Medical Association (AMA), World Health Organization, as well as American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and UNICEF” all which have approve them as safe (ProCon.Org, 2018).
Conclusion
In conclusion, mandatory vaccination requiring all parent to vaccinate their children should be implemented. This is because vaccines have been proven to save children from diseases, lifetime disability as well as from death. Moreover, mandatory vaccination is also important as it reduces the economic costs associated with outbreaks of preventable disease, promotes community immunity; hence, protecting the vulnerable populations that are unable to take vaccines, and also because vaccination leads to eradication of diseases. Furthermore, although mandatory vaccination infringes upon people freedom of religion and choice, the right to life of these children it of utmost importance, therefore, children should be required to be vaccinated.
References
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Paul, R. (2002). Government Vaccines- Bad Policy, Bad Medicine. Retrieved from; http://www.24hgold.com/english/news-gold-silver-government-vaccines-bad-policy-bad-medicine.aspx?contributor=Ron+Paul"article=2274672472G10020"redirect=False
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World Health Organization. (2018). Vaccines. Retrieved from; https://www.who.int/topics/vaccines/en/
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