By Gabrielle Martin, Staff Reporter.
A new trend is sweeping across the United States. This trend is the unnecessary cause of death for many people, most of whom are children– not getting vaccinated. According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million children under the age of five died from vaccine preventable diseases in 2008.
As reported by MLive, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) stated that Michigan has the fourth highest rate in the country of parents refusing to have their children immunized. Michigan is one of only 19 states that allow for both philosophical and religious exemptions from immunizations. 48 states allow for religious exemptions -only West Virginia and Mississippi do not, allowing only exemptions that are medically based.
According to the Michigan Department of Community Health , 845 cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) were reported in Michigan alone in 2012, an increase from the 691 reported cases in 2011. Among those 845 people was 3-month old Francesca McNally who died of whooping cough because her mother had declined to be vaccinated during her pregnancy, giving the baby no protection against the disease.
I believe that all of the states should follow the lead of West Virginia and Mississippi- no philosophical exemptions, no religious exemptions for immunizations. Many vaccine-preventable diseases are now on the rise because people are refusing to be vaccinated.
Of course there are reasons for not being vaccinated, such as certain immune system disorders. However, if everyone around these people is immunized, then they have what is referred to as “herd protection.” Even though they were not vaccinated themselves, because everyone around them was, their chances of contracting the disease drastically falls.
Now, I understand that religious freedom is one of our nation’s most valued freedoms; however, I do not feel that children should suffer from a disease because of their parent’s religious beliefs. Nor do I believe that religious freedom supersedes the right of those around you to be protected from disease.
Another reason that people have allowed this trend of refusing vaccinations is because of faulty “science” that was done in 1998. The “research” (and I put it in quotations because the research was not sound) showed that vaccinations are linked to autism. I have two arguments against people who use this “science” to back their reasoning for not receiving vaccinations for themselves or their children.
The first is that the article written that stated vaccinations are linked to autism was only in reference to the Measles, Mumps, Rhubella (MMR) vaccine. Also, the journal that published this “research,” The Lancet, retracted it and said that the author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, had acted unethically in his research. If the medical journal that published the information said it was wrong to publish it and then retracted it, I think we should be able to accept that it has no firm basis and we should disregard it as well.
The organization Autism Speaks published an article stating that more recent studies have been done that look at the possibility of a link between autism and vaccinations containing thimerosal, particularly the MMR vaccination. According to the article, “These studies have not found a link between vaccines and autism.”
My second argument against these people is this: even if vaccinations could be linked to autism, is autism really so bad that you would rather have your child be hospitalized or possibly die than see him/her with autism? Many times people with autism grow to lead fulfilling lives and can indeed function well in society. Children who contract whooping cough can die.
As a child, I received all of my vaccinations. Did I complain? Yes. Am I thankful that I didn’t die of an easily preventable disease? YES! I think that those 1.5 million children, including Francesca McNally, who died before their fifth birthday would have had the same opinion.
