Mandatory Vaccination

The history of vaccinations has changed drastically over the past several decades. Parents of the current generation received fewer vaccinations than their children. This has led a question to be posed by many. Do children need all of the new vaccinations? Should these vaccinations be mandatory? Today’s parents have turned out okay without the new vaccinations, so are they really necessary? Research done on both sides creates two sides to this issue. Some favor mandatory vaccinations while others do not support mandatory vaccination of children, yet both want what is best for chidren.
Several sources provide reasons to support the mandatory vaccination of children. According to Kip Randall, a professor at the University of Kansas School
Alesha E. Doan and Kellee Kirkpatrick, professors at the University of Kansas, do not support mandatory vaccination of children based on the grounds of ethics behind immunization companies. For example, the Gardasil vaccination. Merck, the company behind Gardasil, is pushing Gardasil to be a mandatory vaccination. “Experts predict that Gardasil sales could net Merck between $1.6 and $2 billion dollars annually (Smith, 2006). Making the vaccine mandatory, which requires injecting three doses per individual at a price of approximately $360 per dose, could increase those projected profits.” (301) Karin Gross and colleges the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, do not support mandatory vaccinations because immunizations are not natural, therefore, they can overload the child’s small immune system. For example, a mother experienced her child become sick from an immunization. “He reacted very strongly, he was afterwards constantly sick, well, he was permanently sick.” (4) Stephanie Cave, integrative medical practitioner at Cyprus Integrative Medicine, does not support mandatory vaccinations because vaccines contain harmful toxins that can lead to physical and mental problems. While Cave does state there is not a direct link between vaccinations and autism, she cites a study in which children with autism had higher concentrations of mercury in their teeth than children without autism.
The claim questioning company’s ethics, uses one situation to generally apply the claim to every company. While the Gardasil company may be pushing their product harder than they should, not all companies follow the same pattern. Gross’s claim states vaccines are not natural, therefore causing harm in the body. Not all unnatural material hurt the immune system just as not all natural materials are helpful for the body. Bacteria is present in the body and is essential in some levels for several processes in the body. However, too much bacteria causes harm to the immune system. Similarly, the claim stating vaccines contain harmful toxins to the body requires one to believe mercury content correlates with abnormalities in the body. The research does not substantiate a link between toxins in vaccines and autism, it only poses a question for further research. While the two stances on mandatory vaccinations attempt to create a black and white picture, both sides want to do what is best for children. Putting a child’s best interest as a first priority is the basis on which both sides arguments are based. They may not agree on one way to achieve this overreaching goal, but they recognize a common goal and strive to find a way to achieve