Vaccines
Emily Herrera
Claim
Vaccines should be mandated for everyone in order to keep the general public safe from contracting avoidable diseases.
Google form results
click on the pictures
Map of what states allow vaccine exemptions (except for the grey states)
According to the map only 3 states do not allow any form of exemptions (except medical) out of 50. Others allow religious, philosophical, or both.
"One study found that children exempt from vaccination requirements were more than 35 times more likely to contract measles and nearly six times more likely to contract pertussis than vaccinated children (1)”
Amy Pisani who is the Executive Director of Every Child By Two describes that kids who are not vaccinated are way more likely to contract the disease. That could lead to an outbreak if other child (even if they are vaccinated) are exposed to the infected child.
"Since 2010, there have been between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year... 10 to 20 babies, many of which were too young to be fully vaccinated, died each year. ...others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia... To help keep them safe, it is important that you and your children who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized (2)."
Are you against vaccines?
As you could see, everyone agreed that vaccines are good. I am surprised there aren't any people who are against vaccines.
Should vaccines be mandatory to attend school?
76% of people agreed vaccines should be mandatory to go to school and I think a lot of their thought process has to do with the idea of herd-immunity.
Have you ever heard of herd-immunity?
72% of people knew what herd-immunity was but unfortunately nobody gave an explanation. I believe many people are for making vaccines mandatory because unvaccinated kids could endanger others.
How many states do you think allow NO exemptions?
A lot of people guessed higher than what it actually is.
Should these exceptions be accepted?
Many people disagreed philosophical reasoning should be accepted but there were more people who believed religious reasons should be accepted. Despite some accepting these exceptions most did not agree with there being ANY exceptions at all (except health related issues).
“In a 2006 study, states with loose exemption policies had approximately 50 percent more whooping cough cases than stricter states (1)”
Works Cited
Lemons, Jane Fullerton. “Vaccine Controversies.” CQ Researcher by CQ Press, 2016, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2016021900.
“Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child.” Vaccines, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, www.vaccines.gov/getting/forparents/fivereasons.
“Are Vaccines Safe?” Australian Academy of Science, 2019, www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/science-booklets/science-immunisation/4-are-vaccines-safe.