We live in a society full of fear regarding our health. Chemicals, no matter how good or bad, have become an evil thing to many people throughout the country, despite the ones that have helped our body. The fear of cancer, diabetes, even different mental disorders and illnesses will cloud the judgement of many Americans, especially those who are religious and those who stick to a “clean” lifestyle. There’s no better evidence of this fear than in the constant debate over vaccinations. Vaccines, responsible for the eradication of diseases like polio and the near-eradication of diseases like measles, chicken pox, mumps, and hepatitis, have faced controversy due to bogus studies. As of 2013, the CDC has reported that an “unacceptably low” number of Americans are getting vital vaccinations for themselves and their kids. The highest percentage in the report was 30% of women getting one or more of the HPV shots. Some of the reasons for not getting vaccinated can involve fear of chemicals, and now-debunked “studies” that tried to claim that vaccines could give your child deadly diseases like leukemia and non-deadly diseases like autism. Other people claim that it is a personal choice for their child, like choosing private vs public school.
The anti-vaccination movement raised controversy recently when measles, a disease that was thought to be eradicated, began infecting children in the United States. Linked to a case that began spreading at Disneyland, the CDC has warned of a “large outbreak”, with 102 cases and counting. In California, where the disease is the most prevalent, 30+ babies that have been exposed are in quarantine, since they were too young to get the measles vaccine. Health officials and confused doctors have tried to track the outbreak, protecting and quarantining anybody who may have been exposed to the disease. The people most at risk are the people who have not been vaccinated, including babies, the elderly, and many with medical problems who could not get the vaccine. In California, where the measles vaccine is an option to many religious children, one dad is finding that it isn’t safe to send his child to school. Scientists and health officials are debating over what to do with the outbreak, but they are all in agreement that this strain is directly linked to the anti-vaccination movement.
Choosing to vaccinate your kid is a drastically different choice than schooling options, breastfeeding vs formula, and so on. These decisions impact only the child and their health. However, vaccinations are important because the only way a disease can truly be eradicated is if everybody gets vaccinated so the disease is no longer a threat. For many people who physically cannot get vaccinated, their entire health rides on the security that every able-bodied person gets a vaccination. However, when people are able to go to school without vaccinations and claim “personal belief”, young children and their family members, including young babies, are put at risk. It is not a coincidence that California, a state that allows religious parents to not vaccinate their children, is the state is the worst outbreak of measles. In total, 48 states allow this same exception, which leads to a terrifying precedent and a promise that the disease will spread. Measles is a disease that can be painful for some and deadly for others, and before it was eradicated millions of Americans would get the disease, with 400-500 of them dying from it. Ending the anti-vaccination movement and ending laws that allow for the vaccine to essentially be an option can and will end the outbreak. This isn’t about religious freedom, government regulation, or “restricting freedom”. This is about protecting Americans, protecting people around the world, and protecting people who physically cannot be vaccinated.
In the end, this isn’t a debate about vaccinations vs non-vaccinations. It’s a debate of life vs death and health vs illness. Vaccinate yourself and vaccinate your children.
Politics with Ashley 