Vaccines:
Do parents have
the right to vaccinate their child?
Introduction:
As children, we
are taught that we have the right to decide what happens to our bodies. That we
have control over the decisions made regarding them. So, with this being
taught, isn’t it rather hypocritical that others are able to make the decision
to vaccinate us without our consent?
Historically speaking why vaccinations
saved lives:
Throughout
history, outbreaks of now, curable diseases, saw many lives lost. Diseases such
as measles, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, polio, whooping cough and
rubella swept throughout countries taking the lives of both adults and
children.
From 429BC, it
began to be noted that people who had once had a disease, if they recovered, where
not likely to be re-infected by the same disease.
This theory began
to develop further throughout many centuries, and in 1796, Dr. Edward Jenner
discovered that immunity to diseases could be created through the use of
variolation. The act of variolation was to allow people to be infected with the
disease. Once infected, they were nursed back to health, and were more likely
to be immune to that particular infection.
Historians have
recorded that the towns and cities that trialled this particular scheme, were
less likely to have major outbreaks of diseases, that once caused catastrophic
loss.
Variolations, now
known as vaccinations, became compulsory in the late 1800’s.
Questions of
civil rights arose.
Why vaccinations are not beneficial these
days:
However, now that
many of these diseases are not present in our society, do we really have the
need to vaccinate ourselves against them?
Diseases mutate,
and therefore, each strain of the disease will not remain the same for a long period
of time before it develops.
The preservatives and chemicals used in
vaccines these days are harmful to our bodies:
“The only way to
acquire lifetime immunity is to catch the disease and recover from it”
- Autism and Asperger’s links.
- Allergy links to injections to young.
- The drug companies.
The child’s rights (Abuse):
Vaccinations can
be seen as child abuse. If you do vaccinate your child, you can be seen as
taking away their right to deciding what chemicals go in to their body. However,
not vaccinating your child is also seen as form of abuse, as if the child was
to become infected with a preventable disease, then the parent would become
liable for not having taken the available precautions.
However, should
the blame be put on the parent? It is not their body, why should it be their
fault?
-the 2005 and
2006 child rights act of violation.
Conclusion:
Yes, as children
we may not be fully aware of why vaccinations are given, but that shouldn’t
mean that others should be allowed to make the decision on our behalf. Parents
and guardians normally aren’t fully informed with the pros and cons of
vaccinations either. The act of the violation of ones body is a form of illegal
abuse. So why isn’t the act of violating ones body with vaccinations that they
may not need or want a form of abuse?
