On Mandatory Child Immunization

Posted: 6/11/2017

Trigger

Recently read: Null Toleranz für die Impfgegner Das Verhalten der Impfgegner ist irrational und ideologisch. Freilich muss auch irrationales Handeln erlaubt sein, doch ihr Verhalten bedroht das Leben anderer. Da hilft nur noch Zwang. (Partial translation: Zero tolerance for immunization opponents … only government coercion can help)

It appears there are more efforts in some western countries by governments to enforce more strict childhood immunization programs, e.g. in the U.S. and Germany.

Voluntary Or Government Compulsion?

Presumably, most parents would voluntarily agree to have their children properly immunised for the love of their children. Only immunized children are protected, most parents probably understand this very well.

Presumably, only a minority of parents believe in exaggerated or false claims of vaccines being dangerous for their children. Here better education by private and government institutions would certainly help.

I would argue that there is no compelling reason for government mandated compulsion of child or any other group immunization unless a severe crisis presents itself. General Government compulsion is based on or exploits exaggerated fears.

Government forced immunization is totally outdated in the 21st century!

Herd Immunization

Apparently, not 100% of the population need to be immunized to prevent an outbreak of a contagious disease (see e.g. here, here). For e.g. measles it is reported that a 95% coverage of immunization would be sufficient.

However, a less than 100% immunization rate increases the risk that vulnerable members of the population (e.g. children, who for medical reasons cannot be immunized or older adults etc.) get infected. However, what is the probability?

Immunization Schedules For Adults

This could be indeed a neglected subject of public health. How many adults realize that they need to be vaccinated again?

More private and public education on this subject would not hurt!

Victim Of Their Own Success

Beautiful argument! It goes like this “Vaccines prevent serious infections so effectively that many parents mistakenly believe the diseases are no longer a threat in the United States” (source).

This would call for more and better education of parents by private and public institutions about the real risk that long, largely controlled child diseases could come back to haunt if childhood immunizations keep dropping.

This would also call for private and government efforts to spread more childhood immunizations around the world. Or to achieve complete eradication!

More Research To Defeat These Pathogens Once And For All!

Like with antibiotic resistance it is high time to devote more private and public funding to diagnose and defeat these pathogens as early and thoroughly as possible with least side effects. Finally, in the early 21st century, humans have the technological means to do it. Just do it! (pardon me Nike)

Where are Bill & Melinda Gates or other billionaires to step forward!

Big Disclaimer

I am not a doctor nor have I ever had any significant training in medicine! I am a lay person on medical topics.