Vaccinations against diseases, including measles and polio, have been instrumental in the eradication of said diseases around the world. These diseases took lives in a multitude of numbers. An increase and acceptance of receiving vaccinations helped extinguish these diseases. These vaccinations are now required in a number of colleges and institutions for enrollments, in attempt to continue prevention of the illnesses. Parents are required to get their kids vaccinated and provide reports that they got vaccinations at specific ages, hoping to prevent diseases including tetanus and HPV in growing children.
Not everyone agrees with vaccinations. Some parents refuse to vaccinate their children, for reasons varying from religion to fear of side effects of the vaccinations. In recent years, the refusal to get children vaccinated has gained attention. There has also been an increase in sick children and the reappearance of deadly diseases. Vaccinations could rid the world of polio and measles, and anti-vaxx parents are responsible for the reappearance of these diseases humanity worked so hard to eradicate. A disappointing and surprising number of parents would rather risk their children get deadly diseases than raise a child with autism and be loyal to a religion. The argument that vaccinations cause autism has been proven incorrect. Parents still hold to it, using it as a reason to refuse to vaccinate their children.
In correlation with the increase of anti-vaccination advocates, there has been an increase in exclusion of unvaccinated children and families into public places. In an effort to reduce the cases of diseases once eradicated, schools, universities and even some spaces that are open to the public require attendees to have had vaccinations and ban those who have not. In retaliation, anti-vaxx advocates claim this impedes on the freedom and equality of them and their unvaccinated children. Some do not think it is fair to ban them from public spaces, especially those who claim their religion is the reason they do not vaccinate.
Despite the feelings of excluded unvaccinated citizens into places, the ban is appropriate and necessary for the good of the majority. Vaccinations helped to reduce and get rid of deadly diseases and increased life expectancies. Those who choose not to vaccinate are only putting the rest of the world in danger. Foreign countries do not want or need polio or American-native diseases destroying their populations. Colleges and elementary schools do not need to admit people if they are a threat. Public spaces are meant to be safe to those who decide to go to and enjoy them. Bringing an unvaccinated child to a public space, admitting them into a college or even letting them visit a foreign country offers immense threat to the population and health of citizens. America has seen a rise in measles and polio cases in the last 20 years – diseases which we eradicated in the 20th century. This is strictly the work of anti-vaxx parents and advocates. Reducing risk reduces cases and saves the population.
Photo from Skitterphoto via Pixabay
