Public Health or Freedom of Choice

By: Alex Tolman

What are the benefits or drawbacks to government immunization
programs?
What are Vaccinations?
Almost everyone has had a vaccination, otherwise known as a shot or
injection, from a nurse. Most of us just remember that there was a list of
these shots to get before we were able to start the new school year as a
child, yet why do we need vaccinations and why does the government
require that we receive them?
Vaccines are created from weakened, dead, or parts of the disease for
which they will be treating. When the vaccine is introduced into the body
through an injection, the body is then able to build a resistance against
whichever disease it was meant to immunize against as explained by the
image on this page ("Vaccines for Children"). There can be side effects of
any vaccination. Side effects are usually just a sore spot at the site of
injection; however, they can also lead to a severe allergic reaction and even
death. In cases where more adverse effects are more likely, the patient may
be exempt from that immunization. These types of exemptions are legal in
all states. All fifty states in the United States have state laws that require
immunizations even though there is no federal law requiring it. All of these
states allow medical exemptions, 48 allow exemptions for religious reasons,
and 19 allow exemptions for philosophical reasons (Vaccines). However,

there are many people that believe that government should not determine
whether or not we should receive vaccinations. There are several benefits
and drawbacks of regulated immunizations.
The Benefits of Government led Vaccination
Programs
Polio and Smallpox are both debilitating and
can even be deadly, both of these diseases have
been eliminated due to successful immunization
programs. Government led immunization
programs to diseases such as these have helped
vaccine
protect the United States from major harmful disease outbreaks. It is
graphic.
important that children be required to receive immunizations because it
protects them at a younger age, prevents disease from spreading, and is
more easily tracked if children are going to school. When requiring
vaccinations the government is able to protect the people who cannot
receive certain vaccinations. This is accomplished because if most people
are immune to the disease then the disease will not be passed on to the
people who could not be immunized. Vaccinations help lower death rates
and health complications due to disease by defending them against these
vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, the measles is highly contagious
and can cause complications including swelling of the brain, pneumonia, and
even death. With the use of vaccination programs the government is able to

help prevent measles. Although there can still be outbreaks, they are much
less likely because of immunizations.
Both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recommend that parents be properly educated with
each vaccination as well as its benefits and side effects. In addition, they
both ensure that each ingredient is safe and effective. If a vaccine is not
safe for a patient they will not administer that vaccine to that specific
patient. The goal of the CDC and FDA is to make sure that there is a high
quality of public health and they can do this by implementing immunizations
in order to protect people from dangerous diseases.
How Government Immunization Programs can have a negative effect
Part of the first amendment to the constitution of the United States
says that we have freedom of religion. There are certain religions that do not
approve of immunizations. Advocates for optional vaccination believe that
these people should not have to be vaccinated because it contradicts their
religious beliefs. Even though this puts public health at risk, there are not
enough people that have religious exemptions to dramatically alter the
effects of government immunization programs. Many also believe that if the
government required these people to receive vaccinations there would be
political unrest because their individual freedoms would be encroached upon.
Another effect is that more people may support more anti-vaccination
movements which would negatively impact protection of public health
(Salmon).

Not only can required immunizations inhibit individual freedoms, they

also could pose a serious health risk and infringe upon parental autonomy.
Although severe complications, allergic reactions, and even death are rare
they can pose a threat to people that receive vaccinations. When my
grandmother was a child she received an immunization that put her into
anaphylactic shock. It was a generally required immunization and the
doctors didnt think twice about administering the vaccination because
harmful side effects had been so rare. The FDA says that parents should be
aware of the risks that these injections pose on their children and be able to
make that decision for their own children.
Conclusions
In conclusion, required vaccinations are widely accepted. People are
mostly troubled with how much the government should regulate
immunizations and the different types of exemptions for these regulations.
There is substantial proof that immunizations improve public health. They
have nearly eradicated several life-threatening diseases and help prevent
serious diseases from spreading. On the other hand, government required
vaccination programs can trespass our individual freedoms as citizens of the
United States. Also, some argue that required immunizations would not
allow parents to make decisions about the possible side effects that could
affect their childrens health. These reasons previously listed make many
wonder how much the government should regulate vaccinations.

Works Cited
Salmon, Daniel A., et al. "Public Health And The Politics Of School
Immunization Requirements." American Journal Of Public Health 95.5
(2005): 778-783. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
"Vaccines." ProCon. ProCon, 16 Feb. 2016. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
"Vaccines and Immunizations." CDC. CDC, 8 Jan. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
"Vaccines for Children - A Guide for Parents and Caregivers." FDA. FDA, Aug.
2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
Vaccine Graphic. Digital image. FDA. FDA, Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.