This controversy calls into question the greater good of the
community versus the personal endeavors of an individual’s beliefs and choices.
New York law requiring vaccinations for child to attend school, college’s
requiring vaccinations to attend or live in dorms. Do these actions violate
autonomy? Without them how would our society differ?
According to the CDC and the National Institute of Health, the MMR
vaccine has shown 99.9% decrease in the efficiency of preventing the diseases
measles, mumps, and rubella. The cases that still occur today occur in isolated
outbreaks of unvaccinated individuals. With this in mind, if more people do not
vaccinate their children, if vaccinations were not mandated, how would these
statistics be likely to change?
I think it is interesting to hear different individuals' arguments
justifying their refusal to vaccinate themselves and their children, claiming
that it is their decision how to take care of their children and they are
looking out for their child's best interests. This is the reason why there is
not a 100% decrease in cases of measles, mumps, and rubella which will all take
the opportunity to target unvaccinated individuals for the simple purpose of
survival of the virus. Viruses, while not living, still act in the same way of
natural selection, that in order to "survive", they must continue to
infect individuals and replicate their genes to infect another individual. If
only 2 people are not immune to a particular virus out of 2,000 individuals,
the two become optimal prey for the virus. With this in mind, if the two become
infected and share this with an unvaccinated infant (or an infant undergoing
typical childhood immunizations but not completely finished) then the innocent
infant will suffer the consequences as a result of the actions of the
unvaccinated.
I personally was raised in a country with much less strict rules
and tools for vaccinations. As a result, I personally experienced mumps and
many other preventable viruses throughout my childhood I was sick on a regular
basis before the age of ten, and I often gave my mother a scare because of
these health problems. However, in my former country, this was not completely
uncommon. This may be why I am such a strong advocate for vaccines, because I
have personally experienced what life is like without the option of vaccines.
If a mother or father knew how painful, dangerous, and stressful life would be
having a child experience measles, mumps, or rubella on a first hand basis,
their position against vaccines may change. Another twist to this dilemma is
that unvaccinated women, if infected by rubella during pregnancy, can
experience miscarriage or severe birth defects in the child, possibly even a
still born child. This, for a parent who is so keen on protecting and choosing
how to protect the safety of the baby, may also be reason to change their mind.
Referring to the book Bioethics the Basics,
Utilitarian views would take the position of protecting the lives of the many
over the beliefs of the few. This is a principle that when the greater safety
comes into play, one individual cannot be valued more than the lives of all.
Without vaccinations being properly administered, there is no hope for
eradication of the deadly diseases that have previously plagued society. The
paternalistic or parental nature of mandating vaccines is to protect society
from the apathetic members who willingly disregard the dangers of the lack of
vaccinations.
1.What percent decrease in measles, mumps, and rubella has occurred as a result of the MMR vaccine?
2. T/F Vaccinated individuals can still die from vaccines.
3.T/F Vaccines cause autism.
4. What would Kant likely say about mandated immunizations?
5. Following the MMR vaccine, measles outbreaks occur amongst whom?
6. What does MTSU require you provide in order to stay in their dorms?
Discussion Questions:
1.Should private and government organizations be allowed to mandate vaccinations?
2.If it is the role of the government to enforce protection of the citizens' greater good, should more governments mandate vaccination?
3.Should schools have mandated vaccination and disease education?
4.Should there be fees for individuals who do not get vaccinated?
5.Should there be fees for individuals who do not vaccinate their children?
6.Are vaccinations optional for newborn individuals regardless of current mandated vaccinations?
I think it would be interesting to hear more about your views personally on this subject. Maybe not view the vaccinations as mandatory by the government, but explore how they can be greater regulated. This is a very interesting topic, especially given how controversial vaccines are in light of the false Dr. Wakefield's experiment falsely claiming that the MMR vaccine caused autism. I am also curious as to where you think would be the best areas to start this type of initiative to mandate vaccines. Do you think this is possible on the large scale in the United States? Would it work best in rural or urban areas?
ReplyDeleteDiscussion question #2: I think the government should have the right to mandate vaccine. That is a domestic threat to public safety. This falls under the same lines as should individuals with STDs be held legally responsible for telling their sexual partners of their disease before subjecting their partner to undue risk. If an individual were recklessly drinking and driving and this results in harm to another individual, the drunk driver would be held responsible. I believe the same theory applies in this scenario: if another individual is at risk of a preventable infection because an unvaccinated individual spread it, the unvaccinated individual should be held responsible. I especially believe, though, that individuals in healthcare settings should not be allowed to work in the facility without proper immunization, for the safety of the patients and the healthcare individual him/herself.
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