The state of California is working to pass a bill that would require nearly all children in daycare or school in the state to be vaccinated. As of June 25th, the bill has been approved by a majority of the state Assembly, and will return to the Senate. The legislation was initially introduced by Senator Richard Pan of Sacramento, a pediatrician, and Senator Ben Allen, son of a polio survivor. The introduction of the bill came amidst the aggressive measles outbreak at the DisneyLand theme parks in Anaheim. This has been a big step for the state, and the country as a whole, as the debate over vaccinations has reached the forefront of American society.
Vaccination laws have been a hot topic in the country for the past few months. Those opposed to vaccinations claim that the vaccines are merely profit grabbers for pharmaceutical companies, lead to disabilities in youths, or their necessity is only a byproduct of bought over politicians. However, as more and more outbreaks of mostly eradicated diseases have sprung up throughout the nation, anti-vaccination supporters are beginning to lose their leeway.
While anti-vaxers claim immunizations to be an unnecessary evil, the recent increase of measles and whooping cough cases beg to differ. These illnesses, previously thought to be essentially stomped out, have been making a surge in the past few months, and the only cause for explanation can be the decrease in vaccinations against these diseases, as well as others.
Vaccinations are not only of benefit to the patient receiving the treatment, but they also bring a positive externality to the community. When one child is vaccinated, it prevents him or her from contracting the illness, and thus sharing it with someone else, leading to a community-wide immunity known as “herd immunity.” The necessity to vaccinate your child is not only in the best interest for your child, but in the best interest for your whole community.
In New Mexico, the Albuquerque and Santa Fe school districts have mandated vaccinations for students. Exemptions are available for religious or medical reasons. The system is being taken advantage of, however, and stern anti-vaccinators are finding ways to pass their children through the cracks, exposing others to potential illness. The state is looking for ways to avoid this issue, by only allowing students with a notarized exemption from their doctor or religious official to excuse them, not to restrict a parent’s control, but to keep the community safe for all children.
While misinformation and pseudoscience has become popularized in anti-vaccination culture, vaccinations remain the best way to protect your loved ones from unnecessary and preventable diseases.
