Everyone has experienced sickness at some point in their life. But luckily, there is a way to prevent contracting some of the most dangerous diseases: Vaccines. Most people have received vaccinations against many different diseases in their lifetime, and have not questioned it. Recently, however, at lot of controversy arose over the safety and benefits of vaccines. As a result, some parents have decided to not immunize their children. I believe, it should be required that children receive vaccinations because they effectively prevent diseases, the deaths of surrounding children, and epidemics.
This recent trend of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children has proven harmful. Measles, a deadly albeit treatable virus, was once very common in the United States. Thanks to the MMR vaccine, however, reported measles cases greatly declined, and according to the CDC, “measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000.” Unfortunately this would not last.
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This means that if you wanted to, your parents could tell the school they do not believe in vaccinations, and you would not have to receive the required vaccines. This needs to change. A parent should not possess the ability to put the entire school and the students’ families at risk because they do not want to vaccinate their child. What about that child with a compromised immune system that is medically unable to receive vaccinations? What about the little baby brother of a student at the school? The United States government should require all children to get immunizations, to better society as a whole. Evidence shows the benefits and effectiveness of vaccines. They play a vital part in the overall health of society, by saving lives and preventing outbreaks, and it is time we start utilizing them to the best of their