Compulsory vaccination for children - yes or no
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325758)
Rockingham, Australia
December 18, 2018 6:17pm CST
The latest controversy in Australia involves the vaccination of young children against some very dangerous diseases including polio, whooping cough, diphtheria, measles and tetanus. Before the days of vaccination, parents lived in fear of their young children dying from these diseases The introduction of vaccinations was seen as a wonderful life-saving thing. However, little is remembered of the epidemics which often resulted in a row of small graves and sad headstones.
A small percentage of today’s parents do not want their children vaccinated. Now, the Australian government, in an effort to encourage parents to have their children vaccinated, has now ruled that unless young children are vaccinated, they will be refused entry into preschool and child care facilities. In addition, welfare payments for unvaccinated children will be reduced. There is a backlash now and not just from parents. Child educators are saying the social and educational development of children will be curtailed by these measures. Do you have a strong opinion either way?
Photo of small friends playing in a garden
24 people like this
26 responses
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
19 Dec 18
I grew up and my kids grew up being vaccinated too. Except for the Dengue Vaccine which I am very thankful I did not have it for my kids as they are having problems now with that.
I think most of those earlier diseases you mentioned, those are well studied by the doctors so I think it is safe. For new vaccines, that is riskier.
4 people like this
@marguicha (215428)
• Chile
19 Dec 18
If a vaccine has to be checked more, we must wait. But polio and other vaccines that have decades are important.
2 people like this
@Beatburn (4287)
• Philippines
22 Dec 18
We recently had problems with measles as many didn't get vaccinated as an after effect of the dengue issue.
I think the dengue vaccine is not the problem. For sure pharmaceutical companies did multiple tests before putting it out in the market.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
19 Dec 18
I am very much in favor of vaccination, I even insisted that my children be vaccinated against smallpox which isn't generally done anymore.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
21 Dec 18
@JudyEv Even in those days 45 years ago I had to argue with the doctor to get it, they had already stopped compulsory smallpox vaccination but I didn't want to take any chances.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 18
@BelleStarr If we go overseas there are extra vaccinations we have to have depending on where we are travelling too. I don't think smallpox is one of them though. When I was at school I know all the migrant kids had small circles where they'd had their smallpox injections.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306234)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Dec 18
The controversy is here too. I heard one lady with small children who came to my lady's brunch a couple weeks ago say she doesn't vaccinate and her child was refused daycare. She needs to find another daycare that will accept her child. Personally, I'm in favor of vaccination. I remember some of the outbreaks when I was a kid, and I was vaccinated against polio. I didn't get one of the vaccines, it wasn't available until later and my children got it for measles, mumps, and rubella. I had the measles as a kid but never had the mumps, though my siblings did.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
19 Dec 18
I go for pro vaccination for all those dreaded diseases which are safe. But every day a new vaccination comes in market and I am not comfortable with all. My dad was a doctor and he did go for only a few vaccines in the list for me and my brother. Even I skipped a few on list for my daughters after consulting my doctor in my family.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85305)
• Bangalore, India
19 Dec 18
@JudyEv And not all of them are for universal population.
1 person likes this
@youless (112113)
• Guangzhou, China
19 Dec 18
I think it is necessary to have some certain vaccination for children. As some disease can be deadly for them. A simple vaccination will protect children from these disease. Although there may be very little children who will have the side effects after that, but most cases are still helpful and useful. In this way, it is reasonable for the government to make the compulsory vaccination for children. Here it is the same. I always let my son have the compulsory vaccination. If it is not a necessary vaccination, I will just ignore it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
I think so too. These diseases are now rare because much of the population has been vaccinated against them.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
19 Dec 18
Though i'm in favor of some vaccines to be compulsory but there are few that shouldn't be force given. We also experienced the dengvaxia scare in my country-- a vaccine given to fight dengue.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
Someone else mentioned the dengue vaccination too. Has there been some bad outcomes with it?
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
@ilocosboy That is very sad. That is what parents are worried about here mostly but an epidemic of say, polio, would be devastating too.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
19 Dec 18
Yes, some deaths to children are being pointed to the dengvaxia vaccine, though its still under investigation.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
19 Dec 18
The government has strong measures on vaccination here too but it's mostly voluntary for the people to go.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
19 Dec 18
@JudyEv same here,there are special drives
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (6697)
•
19 Dec 18
We don't vaccinate. And we homeschool. Thanks for their mandatory vaccinations. We're doing just fine without their medical and economic (Centrelink) intervention. :-)
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (6697)
•
21 Dec 18
@JudyEv Yes, thank you. :-) We've chosen right for our family. The government uses our tax money we pay on Medicare and mandatory vaccinations. It's disappointing that our tax money does not return to us, through Centrelink. Thankfully, we've been well and healthy that we don't ever go to the doctors. :-)
1 person likes this
@thedevilinme (3904)
• Northampton, England
19 Dec 18
I think its only the Muslims that have an issue with that
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
It certainly isn't just the Muslims in Australia. Very few decisions here are religion-based.
@thedevilinme (3904)
• Northampton, England
19 Dec 18
@JudyEv Muslim clerics tell people not to be inoculated
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 18
@thedevilinme I think it might be the same with Jehovah Witnesses.
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
19 Dec 18
Maybe the photo is not there yet Judy..I will check again it does that sometimes.
Well I wish I had not gotten my son vaccinated I had to as well here and it nearly killed the poor little soul.
For him it was poison and some permanent side effects.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
19 Dec 18
I am usually not at all interested in the government getting into any affairs concerning my body. But the stats are simply inarguable. Vaccinations work. And many fewer people suffer many debilitating illnesses (like polio) that were once very common. In many third world countries, even, tuberculosis is still a thing. In the United States it is so rare you are shocked to hear anyone suffers it, and personally I have never known a single person who has ever had it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
They are doing that here now too and turning children away if they don't have it.
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
19 Dec 18
Definitely a yes.
One issue is with immigration. When I was a teenager most of us were vaccinated against TB. They don't do this anymore because the risk of getting TB became practically non-existent. However, increased immigration brings with it increased risk, and we now hear tales of people contracting it.
My biggest argument in favour is children with low immune systems. They often can't be vaccinated because their bodies may not cope. Why should they have to worry that their friends at school are going to contract and pass on some disease which could kill them?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 18
Certainly there are arguments against immunisation. And yes, TB might be almost non-existent but only because the majority of people have been immunised against it. And, as you say increased migration brings increased risks.
@Deepizzaguy (94528)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20 Dec 18
There is an old saying that goes "Government is the problem." Since I do not have any children, I can only suggest trust your heart to make the right decision.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Dec 18
Our children were immunised and we will not be having any grand-children. Having said that, I would be having my children immunised.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
19 Dec 18
I don't like the government forcing medications on a human but the consequences are dire if people are careless or afraid. I vaccinated mine because the risk of disease was greater than the risk of the vaccination.
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