Compulsory Vaccinations

In the world of public health and anatomy, few debates elicit as much fervor and controversy as that surrounding compulsory vaccination. Proponents argue for its necessity in safeguarding communities against preventable diseases, citing the undeniable benefits of herd immunity. Yet, dissenting voices like mine urge a critical reevaluation of such mandates, challenging the ethical, medical, and societal implications they entail. As children across the globe are being mandated to receive vaccination such as Tdap,MMR, and Pneumococcal to be eligible to attend school, there is a question that perpetually plagues millions of minds. “Is the increased demand for immunizations decreasing breakouts, or is that increase causing a decline in health?” There is so much evidence to explain why vaccines are negatively affecting the population. However the citizens of the United states must become more aware. 

Vaccinations are widely notorious for safeguarding individuals from perniciousness but also saving the rest of society from contracting avoidable diseases. One of the most well known childhood vaccines/shots taken around the world are Tdap. Tdap is the combination of three vaccines that protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, which explains the name. The bacterial illness tetanus, commonly known as lockjaw, damages the muscles and nerves in the body. Bacteria that cause the respiratory illness diphtheria can clog the breathing tube. We often are oblivious of the severity of the sickness we are avoiding by consuming vaccines at a young age. This statement is true with others such as MMR, which is a vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. Along with pneumococcal, this can be described as an antibiotic for any infection caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus.

Ordinary citizens globally receive these three vaccines routinely, largely without questioning, as they adhere to the established norm. It is said that vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chicken pox, meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others are still seen across North Carolina. As well as the fact that "Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective and successful means available for preventing disease and death."(World Health Organization: WHO, 2019) In some doctors' opinion getting vaccinated “prioritizes” your child's health in many ways. Vaccinations not only protect you from harm but also save the rest of your society from cultivating avoidable diseases. 

However, despite widespread scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of vaccines, unsubstantiated claims persist linking immunization to various health issues. Such claims include associations with sudden infant death syndrome, pediatric asthma, autism, inflammatory bowel disease, and permanent brain damage.(Vaccination and Its Adverse Effects: Real or Perceived, n.d.) Additionally, recent research from the United States suggests a potential link between vaccinations administered after twenty eight days of birth and the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus in susceptible individuals. It is believed that these immunizations can induce certain diabetes and early deaths. This new finding has lowered confidence in the regularity of childhood immunization and there is evidence supporting this.

After strenuous efforts and a multitude of research I was able to locate personal experiences and research on vaccines. As the number of anti-vaccinators are increasing, there seems to be less information available to the public. Could this hint at secrecy within government powers? However this is neither here nor there, when looking at children having poor reactions to vaccines it is commonly overlooked. This is because doctors and physicians are using a risk benefit analysis. In other words if there are more children around the world reaping suitable benefits from these vaccines then why focus on the 10, 20, or 30 who are getting deathly sick. Parents are expected to allow their children to experience these negative outcomes in hopes to preserve growing communities.

The vaccine MMR has a 1 in 3000 chance of causing children to have seizures, and people overlook this because it is not anaphylactic shock. (Jubilee, 2019) But these children would develop seizures after every vaccination that they would be mandated to consume.  Seizures can reduce oxygen in the blood causing it to be life threatening and parents are supposed to take this risk for the benefit of others. Society is saying that “yes we are aware that your child is at risk of dying, but everyone else's health is more important.” They are supporting what is called herd immunity. This is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.

But is there really a benefit to herd immunity? When someone is unvaccinated it does not mean that they are actively carrying measles or pertussis ready to unleash on everyone who surrounds them. The risk could possibly be higher with the citizens who have been vaccinated. If you're vaccinated and you're carrying a part of the sickness you can get someone else sick. This has become very apparent through Covid 19. You may be asymptomatic but someone else is in the hospital for the  strain of this sickness that you have passed along to them. 

Equally important is the concern that vaccinations provoke or flare up arthritis. The National Institute of Health has said that “Cases of vaccine-induced arthritis have also been reported in the last two years, in patients with previously well-controlled rheumatism or adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), which relapsed after COVID-19 vaccination or in patients who had no medical history of joint disease or rheumatism but had new-onset.” (National Library of Medical, n.d.)There are young adults experiencing pain inducing forms of arthritis for without cause, the doctors simply say that there is no reason for them to be experiencing such intense pain at this age. And through data researchers were able to directly correlate one dose of the Covid 19 vaccination to a flare in dormant arthritis. Due to this information it causes a question to rise to the surface, “if vaccines cause effects on my joints, cartilage and tissue what else does it have an effect on within my body.”

Conveniently I also have personal experience and information that I would like to put forth. As the eldest in my family, I have three younger siblings. I can vividly recollect observing my now seven year old brother, persistently being ill while he was in the toddler stage. I would find this perplexing because he was not in daycare or any form of child care to be around any carriers of sicknesses. But one aspect of life that was consistent was the shots that he would receive. As time went on my family wondered why he was always so sick and we began to conjecture that something was wrong. But eventually this began to slow and their minds were at ease. As time went on my younger sister was now born and growing day by day. The difference with her is that my parents would not let her get vaccinations and not for any speculations about. Solely because it was Covid time and there was nothing compelling enough to cause them to leave the house.. But as they perceived that my sister was never sick they thought the shots could be attributable.

So time went out and she slim to never got any shots, and she continued to never be sick. And one could say “Oh maybe it's just because they're different kids.” But finally as my third youngest sibling was growing in her toddler stage, my parents took the same approach. I find it to be no coincidence in the correlation between being sick and getting shots. Although this is one personal experience there is much more that I have mentioned previously. 

I would like to continue with the fact that Bill and Melinda Gates are known to be avid vaccine supporters. They have reportedly given ten million dollars from their foundation to vaccine research. Melinda Gates said herself that “Vaccines are a miracle—with just a few doses, they can prevent deadly diseases for a lifetime,” and she also says" We've made vaccines our number-one priority at the Gates Foundation because we’ve seen firsthand their incredible impact on children’s lives.”(Bill and Melinda Gates Pledge $10 Billion in Call for Decade of Vaccines | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2010) This continuous support is very beautiful but opposes thought provoking questions. If this is the Gates family stand on Vaccinations, then why hasn't any of their children been vaccinated, or received any childhood immunizations? Questions to be answered later, and ideas to be pondered on.

On top of that, let's think about how lucky the United States is compared to many other parts of the world. We're not just talking about medical supplies; we've got access to so much more. Clean water, proper sanitation, advanced healthcare facilities – these are things many countries can only dream of. So, it's kind of mind-boggling why we have such strict vaccine requirements compared to other places. I mean, we're not living in poverty or struggling with basic necessities like some third-world countries. Yet, here we are, with a laundry list of vaccines we're supposed to get as kids and teenagers. It just doesn't add up.

In conclusion, the discourse surrounding compulsory vaccination is deeply nuanced and emotionally charged, reflecting the intersection of scientific evidence, personal experiences, and societal beliefs. While proponents argue for the necessity of immunization in protecting communities from preventable diseases, opposing voices call for a critical reevaluation of the ethical, medical, and societal implications of such mandates. The ongoing debate is fueled by unsupported claims linking vaccines to various health issues, collegiate against scientific consensus on their safety and efficacy. Personal experiences, such as witnessing the contrasting health outcomes of vaccinated and unvaccinated siblings, add layers of complexity to this discussion. Moreover, the support for vaccines from influential figures like Bill and Melinda Gates raises thought-provoking questions about the motivations behind such advocacy. As we navigate this complex landscape, it's crucial to approach the dialogue with open minds, acknowledging the diverse perspectives and experiences that shape our understanding of vaccination's role in public health. Ultimately, the pursuit of informed decision-making and evidence-based policy is paramount in ensuring the health and well-being of individuals and communities alike.