Hepatitis, Diphtheria, Rubella...Each year millions of children are vaccinated in order to prevent potentially fatal illnesses like these. But should schools be able to mandate vaccines? Some parents see them as vital lifesavers, but others fear serious or perhaps even debilitating risks. How much authority should schools have in determining your child’s health?
In the United States, healthcare authorities, pediatricians, and school officials use coercive tactics to increase vaccination rates. Parents are intimidated and their children threatened with removal from school if vaccines are not “up to date.” Other countries recommend fewer vaccines and do not require them for school entry. For example, in Australia medical intervention is not compulsory, free will is honored, yet epidemics do not occur. In fact, disease case and fatality rates are lower in many countries than in the United States. Many Americans would be shocked to learn that the U.S. has the greatest number of mandatory vaccines yet the 42nd worst infant mortality rate in the world. Outbreaks of common ailments are manageable without requiring vaccines for school entry.
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