Some people argue that the state does not have the right to make parents to immunize their children However, I feel the question is not whether they should immunise but whether, as members of society, they have the right not to. Immunization is a safe and effective way to prevent disease and save lives – now more than ever. Today there are vaccines available to protect against at least 20 diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza, measles and Covid -19. Together, these vaccines save the lives of up to 3 million people every year.
Preventative medicine has proved to be the most effective way of reducing the incidence of fatal childhood diseases. As a result of the widespread practice of immunizing young children in our society, many lives have been saved and the diseases have been reduced to almost zero. In previous centuries children died from ordinary illnesses such as influenza and tuberculosis and because few people had immunity, the diseases spread easily. Diseases such as dysentery were the result of poor hygiene but these have long been eradicated since the arrival of good sanitation and clean water.
Nobody would suggest that we should reverse this good practice now because dysentery has been wiped out. Serious diseases such as polio and smallpox have also been eradicated through national immunization programmes. In consequence, children not immunized are far less at risk in this disease-free society than they would otherwise be. Parents choosing not to immunise are relying on the fact that the diseases have already been eradicated. If the number of parents choosing not to immunize increased, there would be a similar increase in the risk of the diseases returning
Immunization is not an issue like seatbelts which affects only the individual. A decision not to immunize will have widespread repercussions for the whole of society and for this reason, I do not believe that individuals have the right to stand aside. In my opinion immunization obligatory.
When we get vaccinated, we aren’t just protecting ourselves, but also those around us. Some people, like those who are seriously ill, are advised not to get certain vaccines – so they depend on the rest of us to get vaccinated and help reduce the spread of disease. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Immunization continues to be critically important. The pandemic has caused a decline in the number of children receiving routine immunizations, which could lead to an increase in illness and death from preventable diseases. WHO has urged countries to ensure that essential immunization and health services continue, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19
Some
people
argue that the state does not have the right to
make
parents to immunize their
children
However
, I feel the question is not whether they should
immunise
but
whether, as members of
society
, they have the right not to. Immunization is a safe and effective way to
prevent
disease
and save
lives
–
now
more than ever.
Today
there are vaccines available to protect against at least 20
diseases
, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza, measles and
Covid
-19. Together, these vaccines save the
lives
of up to 3 million
people
every year.
Preventative medicine has proved to be the most effective way of reducing the incidence of fatal childhood
diseases
.
As a result
of the widespread practice of immunizing young
children
in our
society
,
many
lives
have
been saved
and the
diseases
have been
reduced
to almost zero. In previous centuries
children
died
from ordinary illnesses such as influenza and tuberculosis and
because
few
people
had immunity, the
diseases
spread
easily
.
Diseases
such as dysentery were the result of poor hygiene
but
these have long
been eradicated
since the arrival of
good
sanitation and clean water.
Nobody would suggest that we should reverse this
good
practice
now
because
dysentery has
been wiped
out. Serious
diseases
such as polio and smallpox have
also
been eradicated
through national immunization
programmes
. In consequence,
children
not immunized are far less at
risk
in this disease-free
society
than they would
otherwise
be. Parents choosing not to
immunise
are relying on the fact that the
diseases
have already
been eradicated
. If the number of parents choosing not to immunize increased, there would be a similar increase in the
risk
of the
diseases
returning
Immunization is not an issue like seatbelts which affects
only
the individual. A decision not to immunize will have widespread repercussions for the whole of
society
and
for this reason
, I do not believe that individuals have the right to stand aside. In my opinion immunization obligatory.
When we
get
vaccinated, we aren’t
just
protecting ourselves,
but
also
those around us.
Some
people
, like those who are
seriously
ill,
are advised
not to
get
certain vaccines
–
so
they depend on the rest of us to
get
vaccinated and
help
reduce
the spread of
disease
. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Immunization continues to be
critically
important
. The pandemic has caused a decline in the number of
children
receiving routine immunizations, which could lead to an increase in illness and death from preventable
diseases
. WHO has urged countries to ensure that essential immunization and health services continue, despite the challenges posed by
COVID-19