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?
Measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox usually confer permanent immunity; the child will rarely contract these ailments again. In contrast, vaccines provide temporary immunity; protection is incomplete, requiring booster doses. Vaccinated children are still susceptible to the disease. Studies also indicate that childhood diseases can have a favorable effect on the child’s immune system. When children overcome illnesses on their own, their immune systems are stimulated: they build resistance to other diseases in later life. For example, several studies show that women are less likely to develop ovarian cancer if they have had mumps in childhood.
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