KEEP AMERICANS SAFE AND VACCINATE!

By Andrea Velasquez
In 1855 Massachusetts was the only states that mandated every
school aged child to have vaccinations. At that time smallpox was the
one and only vaccine available. Shortly after that other states began
to follow suit and more vaccinations were made and those became
mandated as well. The Vaccination Act of 1840s were enacted which ordered
mandatory vaccination for infants up to 3 months old. In 1867 the vaccination act
extended this age requirement to 14 years, adding penalties for vaccine refusal.
Today there is a lot of controversy and anti vaccination movements surrounding
vaccination laws. This controversy is nothing new. The controversy has been evolving
since vaccination laws came about in the 1800s . Citizens protested laws demanding
they have the right to control their bodies and those of their childrens.
(Historyofvaccinations.org)
Center for Disease Control (CDC) research shows the impact vaccines have had on
preserving health and preventing death and disabilities. This is just one statistic that
shows how the incidents of Hepatitis and Pneumococcal disease have been radically
reduced due to vaccinations. According to the CDC there is an 84% decrease of
morbidity as a result of vaccinations. If the government allowed people to have a choice
and not vaccinate the morbidity and mortality
rates would be significantly higher.
The thought that every person has a right to
choose and maintain control over their body is an
acceptable concept However, when we are
discussing communicable disease that infect
others and can wipe out communities effecting
thousand to millions of people. Should the

government be allowed step in and enact and enforce laws that protect the citizens of
this country?
Right to learn in a safe environment
My answer is Absolutely! Every child has a right to education in the USA. Just as much
as every child has the right to a healthy start. If a person chooses to attend a public
school they are required to obtain vaccinations in order to enroll. Currently all 50
states have legislation requiring documentation of vaccinations for all
public school students. This law varies
and is controlled from by the legislation
from state to state. However, there are 3
exemptions to the requirements. Medical,
religious, and philosophical views in which a
person does not have to provide proof of
vaccinations and is permitted to enroll in public
schools. Medical exemptions states that a person
with a compromised immune system or for any
other medical reason as long as it is permitted
with the
authorization of a Doctor. Religious exemptions state that the religious vaccine
exemption is intended for people who hold a sincere religious or spiritual beliefs
opposing vaccination to the extent that if the state forced vaccination, it would be an
infringement on their right to exercise their beliefs (NVIC.org). The philosophical
exemptions simply gives the parent the right to say they dont believe in the vaccine and
therefore their child becomes exempt and is allow to enter into public schools.

The Problem
These exemptions are considerably easy to obtain. People
think that because the US has been eradicated for polio there is
no need for the vaccination and it is putting their child at risk.
The truth is that there are no polio cases in the US because of
the laws that were passed making the polio vaccination
mandatory. Those who did not receive the vaccine were
considered safe by means of Herd Immunity as seen in the
last picture meaning that enough people have received the
vaccination therefore also protecting those who are not
immunized. Now just as herd immunity works to protect the public it also works the other
way. As illustrated in the first picture if most healthy people are not immunized and
become infected the results are a disease epidemic. An example
would be in more recent events the measles
out break we saw in California. This
disease was brought from an unvaccinated
carrier who traveled into the amusement
park. Due to the considerably large amount
of Californians who utilize the vaccine
exemptions and remain unprotected from
the measles, it allowed the measles outbreak to spread through out southern California.
As a result causing a measles epidemic which effected over 667 people spreading over 27
states.
The Solution
Vaccination requirements are the law and just like any other law they must be obeyed or
there is consequences. For example speeding is against the law. People must obey the
posted speed limits. When a person gets pulled over one may not use the excuse that it is

against their religious believes to drive the speed limits or that it is against their personal
belief that they can safely drive faster than the posted speed limit. Speed limits are
posted to keep orderly fashion of travel in a safe matter not only for yourself but
protecting the vehicles around you. The same could be said for vaccinations. I propose
that we take away the philosophical and religious exemptions. Vaccination not only
protects oneself but also protects those around you. As an unvaccinated person who
contracts a communicable disease you are the vehicle that transfers that disease affecting
others around you. When a parent chooses not to get the pertussis vaccination for their
child not only is this a very common communicable bacteria but also it is often easily
spread in close quarters such as a
classroom. This isnt fair to a child
who cannot get vaccinations due to
medical exemptions such as
compromised immune system of a
past leukemia patient. The child
with the compromised immune
system relies on healthy vaccinated
children to be in close quarters
protecting the health of the
Immunocompromised child. Just
as another driver relies on a person
to obey traffic signals in order to
have a safe travel to their destination.
The states should enact a law that fines parents for not having the proper immunizations.
Children and adults should not be allowed to enroll in schools without the proper
documentations. People should not be allowed to travel to other countries without the
proper vaccinations. Health is not an option. It is the civil duties of each person to
follow the laws and public health should be no exception. Vaccinations have proven
through time to be safe and effective with minimal adverse events therefore safety and
effectiveness cannot be argued. The benefits far out weigh the risk.

Support the vaccination movement, keep America healthy, keep America safe, keep our
future free of vaccine preventable diseases.

References:
4 Striking statistics about vaccination. (2015, February 15). Retrieved December 6, 2015,
from https://theimmunizationpartnership.wordpress.com/2015/02/19/4-striking-statisticsabout-vaccination/
National Vaccine Information Center - Your Health. Your Family. Your Choice. (n.d.).
Retrieved December 7, 2015, from http://www.nvic.org/vaccine-laws.aspx
Measles Cases and Outbreaks. (2015, November 18). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html
What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinations. (2014, May 19). Retrieved December
7, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm