Persuasive Essay on Michigan’s Vaccine Laws Should Stay the Same

“Variolation was forbidden by Act of Parliament in 1840, and vaccination with cowpox was made compulsory in 1853. This, in its turn, led to protest marches and vehement opposition from those who demanded freedom of choice.”(The Jenner institute 283). In the past, compulsory vaccination has been considered a violation of freedom of choice. As a result citizens fought and advocated for their right to make their own healthcare decisions repeatedly. In Michigan the state requires children to be vaccinated before starting public schools but offers both health and personal belief exemptions. Michigan’s vaccine laws should stay the same because they enforce that politicians are not authorized to make medical decisions for citizens, personal beliefs and medical circumstances are relevant when deciding if you want to opt out in taking a vaccine and vaccination can sometimes do more harm than good. 

Politicians are not authorized to make medical decisions for an individual, there is a doctor to patient relationship that is necessary when deciding if you want to be vaccinated. Vaccination is not a political subject, it is a personal freedom that everyone should have the right to accept or decline. Dr Sears, a pediatrician once stated “If you would rather make your own medical decisions within the sacred confines of the doctor/patient relationship, then let Sacramento know now. If you would rather give politicians the power to make medical decisions for you, then give them your support. “ (Dr.Sears pg 290) His quote portrays the idea that a politician is not qualified to make any medical decision for citizens, the decision is for one to consult with a doctor. Politicians have no idea how becoming vaccinated will affect some of the population; they don’t know the possible reactions for one’s body type.  Politicians didn’t go to medical school and have no authority to assume what is best for citizens. The decision should never fall into the law’s hands.

Personal beliefs and medical decisions are valid when deciding if you want to opt out of a vaccination. Every citizen has equal rights to formulate their own opinion, whether that opinion is to become vaccinated or decline society must respect it. If one feels that vaccinations are necessary, by all means go ahead but if one refuses, they deserve the same respect. Dr Sears declares “The American Medical Association describes informed consent as a patient’s right of self-decision and a basic policy in both ethics and law that physicians must honor.”(Dr sears 290) . His quote depicts the idea that vaccination is a choice and should never be mandated. Mandating vaccine laws would violate society's 1st amendment rights The main ideal that is admired in the u.s is citizens being able to choose, regardless of the reasoning. Changing Michigan vaccination laws would cause major dysfunction and breach the fundamentals of the U.S. 

Vaccination can do more harm than good, everyone reacts differently to vaccinations. Some citizens believe that vaccinations are not worth the risk of a complication, as there have been many reported incidents within vaccinations. Dr Sears disclosed“About 2,000 severe reactions are reported to the CDC each year which result in prolonged hospitalization, permanent disability, or death. Most reactions aren’t even reported, so the true number may be even higher. Yet, because they can’t be proven, the medical community denies that they can happen.” (Dr sears pg 290) His quote portrays that when citizens hear the possible risks, they don’t know how their bodies will react to it causing them to play it safe and stay unvaccinated. Becoming vaccinated is not guarenting that you won’t catch the sickness, along with seeing the possible risks and statistics of vaccination side effects gives society the authority to make a choice. 

Some may say that vaccinations are completely safe and everyone should become vaccinated but, they have no clue how every single person would react to it or if it will even better equip them to battle the sickness. Dahl lost his daughter to measles when a proper vaccine wasn’t developed yet, he said  “I should think there would be more chance of your child choking to death on a chocolate bar than of becoming seriously ill from a measles immunization. So what on earth are you worrying about? It really is almost a crime to allow your child to go unimmunized. ( Dahl pg 288). Dahl’s logic is that ever since his daughter didn’t have the opportunity to be vaccinated, which would have cured her, everyone else is obligated to. Everyone’s body reacts differently to foreign substances, being vaccinated can possibly make others even sicker. The solution for one does not mean that it will apply for another. 

As expressed before, Michigan's current vaccination policy that allows citizens to choose is a fundamental right from the constitution. Mandatory vaccination will cause disorder in society, as one’s rights will be fractured. There is no guarantee of how becoming vaccinated will affect an individual, as long as Michigan’s laws stay the same, the choice is in one's hands.