Manditory Immunization in children reduce the risk of disease for everyone - Essay Example

Herd immunity – not a matter of personal choice The first reason I would like to put forward to support my argument is the reason of herd immunity. I would like to show an example how this issue affects the whole society. My mom is a teacher who has been in the profession for the last 20 years. Recently she had her spleen out and hence had a very vulnerable immune system. But she is now on a leave for three weeks without pay as advised by my family doctor and the responsibility of this suffering goes to a student who attended the class with a whooping cough.

Though my mother was not in direct contact with the child, she was victimized, and then, the fate of all other teachers and the students who were in close contact with the culprit is clear. Only cynicism would make someone argue that the parents of that child were unaware about, or, incapable of, immunizations. The point I would like to put forward here is of long lasting social consequences if not taken critically. The plight of immune suppressed people like that of my mother should be taken very seriously.

Those who have organ transplantation or autoimmune diseases are unable to take proper preventive measures and it is the responsibility of the society to see that these people are not infected. In addition, there is the category of health workers who are forced to work in close contact with the ill ones, thus a high risk group. Thus, in my opinion, it is not at all a personal decision to be taken but like Ottenberg, Wu, Poland, Jacobson, Koenig, and Tilburt (2011) say, it is right from the part of government to restrict individual liberties to promote public welfare, like traffic rules, sanitation laws and environmental regulations.

The right of children to lead a healthy life I think it is the responsibility of parents to immunize their children as children at that age are too naive and unable to take decisions. The present-day increase in whooping cough among children is the result of the lukewarm attitude of parents towards immunization. As they have not witnessed the seriousness of the diseases they are immunizing themselves against, people are losing their interest in the immunization programs leading to such incidents like the increase in whooping cough.

Thus, in my opinion, it is necessary to make immunization of children mandatory for parents. Otherwise, due to ignorance or negligence, they tend to avoid it. The increased number of travelers My third argument is related to the increased number of travelers moving in and out of the country. As we all know, though a disease disappeared from the country, it can reappear again through such carriers and if people are not immunized, it will lead to serious health problems in the country. Hence, in my opinion, people should not show a lethargic attitude towards immunization and should ensure immunization to their children.

Points against immunization- ignorance and superstition There are a large number of allegations made by people against vaccination. Those who are against the preventive measures have a lot in their repertoire. One serious allegation against vaccination is that mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (MMR) could lead to autism or Crohn’s disease (Borysiewicz). However, studies have proved that this allegation is baseless. Faras, Ateeqi and Tidmarsh (2010) have shown that MMR does not have any connection with the occurrence of Autism. In