The War on Unvaccinated America

Three children per thousand (0.03%) in the United States are completely unvaccinated.  Yet, the rise in anger and hostility toward these children and their families is becoming louder then ever before.[*]

If you are reading this, then it is safe to presume that you’ve been in some type of discussion or debate regarding vaccination status.

While we may all agree that selecting any medical intervention or medicine is a personal choice, it seems at the mere mention of vaccination every Tom, Dick and Harry has conjured up an opinion on the subject in a no-holds bar brawl.

In vaccine debates, you’ll most commonly witness juvenile name-calling and low blow attacks or criticism. Parents who choose an alternative schedule will be called ‘self-centered’, ‘stupid’ or ‘anti-doctor’ for not following the advice of their respected physician. [*]

Some will go on to suggest that people who are unvaccinated be somehow labeled to distinguish them out amongst the group or advocate for schools to reveal the vaccine history of their students. [*]

More will suggest that exemptions be revoked completely or at the very least become much more difficult to obtain – requiring an approval and signature from a licensed medical practitioner. 

Others offer more radical opinions (if the above wasn’t radical enough), suggesting Child Protective Services be contacted if a parent chooses to decline vaccines…or that children should be placed in someone else’s care in hopes for better medical care and attention.

It can also be observed where physical harm was wished upon parents or their children if they refuse to vaccinate.

"Fine, so long as these parents are forcibly exposed to the illnesses themselves. And if their children either die, or are permanently injured, criminal charges should be laid. Then we'll see how much they still believe in their voodoo-science......"[*][*]

Does the majority of trepidation and fear expressed against the small group of the unvaccinated stem from the various theories of herd immunity or does it go further than that …is it because there is a group that exists that does not believe, think, dance and act the same as the majority group does?

It's an issue I have with you, parent of the unvaccinated, not actually with your child. It's a feeling that you're not doing your part here; not holding up your end of the bargain. Vaccine efficacy depends, in part, on "herd immunity," and by choosing not to inoculate your child, you are failing the herd. I hold you responsible for the unnecessary illness of babies who were too young to yet be vaccinated. I definitely blame you for your own child's sickness - and I just have to remind you that it was preventable.[*]

A Moral Principle

No human being should view another person as being a means to an end, no matter how desirable that end may seem to be. [*][*][*]

The hazard of having an ideal such as forcible vaccination (barring acute medical reasons) and/or being combative (emotionally, mentally, socially, and physically) to those that resists such beliefs devalues the life of every human being.

The logic of sacrificing a few individuals (without consent) for the greater number of society is nothing novel.  Because of this, we must be diligent to consider the devastation and revolting crimes that was born when such ideals were accepted as truth.[*][*]

Voluntary consent married with adequate comprehension of each medical intervention is exceptionally fundamental as modern-day medicine develops and progresses.

A human body should never be perceived as a weapon in the arsenal of medicine against the war on viruses, cancer, or disease.

What Can be Done?

Whether you decline (or become selective of) vaccination or if you decide to administer all of them according to the current recommended schedule, there should be some development of responsibility in the participation as well as progressive education in your (or your child’s) health.

That should be the underlying principle pressed on parents – NOT mandatory vaccination, specifying vaccine status, public broadcast of vaccine records, contacting government agencies of neglect, or wishing ill of these children/parents.

I like to believe all parents are doing the best they can (am I in the minority?) – choose what works best for your family while honoring the rights of others to make that same choice.

This post reflects the research and concern that I have about vaccination.  I am not a medical professional. It does not represent my opinion of people who choose to vaccinate or not.  Please know that, while my family has made this decision, we respect the rights of all parents to choose to vaccinate if they feel this is best for their child.  I do not have all the answers.  Most of us don’t.  We’re all in this together and we need to make the best decision we can with the information we have.

This post contains some subject matter that was summarized by NVIC’s publication ‘The Moral Right to Conscientious, Personal Belief or Philosophical Exemption to Mandatory Vaccination Laws’ which was published May 2, 1997.

Other references are noted throughout post and marked with an asterisk with corresponding link following that paragraph.