Patterns in Opposition to Mandatory Vaccines
Public
opposition to mandatory vaccination has increased when potential side effects are dangerous. In the
1970s, the pertussis vaccine was though to cause sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS). In the late 1990s, some studies linked the MMR vaccine to autism. This publicity spurred controversy over mandatory vaccination, even though
later studies showed that vaccines did not cause SIDS or autism.
"These data show that DPT vaccination may be a generally unrecognised major
cause of sudden infant and early childhood death, and that the risks of immunization may outweigh its potential benefits. A need for re-evaluation and possible modification of current vaccination procedures is indicated by this study." --William C. Torch, M.D., Director of Child Neurology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Nevada School of Medicine -from vaclib.org |
"The public is surely entitled to convincing proof, beyond all reasonable doubt,
that artificial immunization is in fact a safe and effective procedure, in no way injurious to health, and that the threat of the corresponding natural diseases remain sufficiently clear and urgent to warrant mass inoculation of everyone, even against their will if necessary. Unfortunately, such proof has never been given." --Richard Moskowitz, M.D., Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, March 1983 (76:7) -from vaclib.org |
From Youtube (Vaccination Information Network)
When the perceived benefit of a vaccine as small, people oppose mandatory
vaccination. Chickenpox is usually a mild disease, so parents argue that
the vaccine should not be mandatory. As diseases appear to be eradicated, mandatory vaccination is unnecessary. For example, smallpox
is eradicated, and the vaccine is no longer mandatory.
"One patient summed it up in a very interesting way that I had never thought about. She said that she chose to vaccinate her children, she would be actively taking a risk. She would be purposly deciding to take that 1 in 2600 chance. If one of her kids suffered a bad side effect, it would be because of something she did. If, on the other hand, she didn't vaccinate, she would be taking a passive risk; she would be taking a chance that something (a disease) would not happen. She's leaving it up to nature, or chance, or God. If her children suffer a severe course of a disease, it won't be because of something she did. Rather, it will be because of something she didn't do. She said she would rather live with that type of choice."
-Paul Offit, The Vaccine Book
-Paul Offit, The Vaccine Book
Mandatory
vaccines are controversial when people can avoid the disease through
their behavior. For example, people have opposed mandatory vaccines for hepatitis
B and HPV because they are contracted from risky behavior.
History warns us that forcing people to vaccinate children can provoke a backlash from a substantial minority of the population. This backlash will be driven not only by those who do not want their children to be vaccinated but also by libertarians who oppose governmental interference in family life.
-Carwyn Hooper, Lecturer in Medical Ethics and Law at St George's, University of London, from The Conversation
-Carwyn Hooper, Lecturer in Medical Ethics and Law at St George's, University of London, from The Conversation