The Importance Of Vaccination. Informative Essay Example

The United States should mandate vaccinations for those who are physically capable because they lower the risk of infection, help the government, and assure protection to citizens.

Because of the physically capable individual restraint of a mandated vaccine law, it would provoke religious, choice, and influence rights if established.  In many ways, the choice of vaccination retains the human right to choose. Exemptions of vaccines are possible, but they are likely only to those who are unable to receive them.  Those who are medically capable, yet religious, retain their freedom of religion, and the majority of states won't grant an exemption. Mandatory vaccine laws should never break people’s rights. According to NCSL, only 24 states willing to participate in mandatory vaccinations are allowing religious exemptions. That is almost 50% of all American states that would deny people's beliefs and their right to express them.  People have the legal right to deny their vaccinations, whether because of belief or physical status. 

However, mandatory vaccination laws are projected to have a much better effect on the community than harm, by increasing health and immunization. In countries that have already implemented these laws, they have seen great success in their communities. According to CNN, France set a mandated vaccination law in 2017, which boosted their immunization rates up from 87.3% to 91.8%. This led to Hepatitis B and Measles infection rates to decrease by 34%. This showed a record low infection rate among infants and continues to be used. If these laws were to be implemented, those who have medical or religious exemptions, for the majority, wouldn’t apply to them. These mandatory laws are only being established to protect the community and the country.

 Those who deny these laws who are capable of receiving them are the reason this law was thought of. According to Time Magazine, vaccine-preventable diseases have been returning. Diseases such as measles, which was thought to have been eradicated in 2002, have shown a comeback in 2008. Major outbreaks mainly affecting Ohio and New York, two prominent choices of vaccination and against mandated law states.  It is the personal choice of the people that lead to this outbreak returning. With mandated vaccinations, issues like these would likely happen rarely, as more immunized individuals decrease the chance of someone infected. Despite the positive effects of what a mandated vaccine law would do, the idea and institution of it have had a great impact on the American public.

The implant of a mandatory vaccination law affects aspects of the United States in personal and country related issues. Their economy, well being, and political standpoint is all going to be impacted if a law like this were to be placed. According to Berkeley Wellness, public health departments charge almost $10,000 a day for hospitalization, with extra for diseases. And the uprise in vaccine-preventable diseases has cost the CDC over $180,000 for just 18 days of prevention. These outbreaks have been seen to last over 3 months, depending on the population of the state. Especially vaccine-preventable diseases, such as whooping cough costing $27 billion in hospitalization costs. 

These prices overwhelm the American government and disease control centers, costing over $460 billion on average per year. Which is not accounted for hospitalization, payment of healthcare, medical professionals, and insurance which can add up to $1.88 trillion to the economy. With a mandatory vaccine law, the government is projected to save $1.38 trillion if a law were to be implemented. This could save money to support disease research, free hospital space, and provide extra funds for other aspects of the country. Ultimately, a mandated vaccine law impacts the government only positively. However, this law was created for the prevention of infection. 

The well-being and health of the American public are the biggest impacts this law would affect. According to the CDC, in 2019 the cases of measles per year have surpassed the total cases from 25 years ago.  As of 2019, 971 cases of measles have been reported and hospitalized the infected. Before the invention of the mass-produced measles vaccine in 1966, almost 400 to 500 deaths occurred per year. But in 2012, the first measles death occurred in almost 40 years. However, the most common disease that has been killing people this year, aside from COVID-19, is the flu. 

Vaccines for the flu have been administered less than normal according to the CDC. At least in cases of adolescence, ranging from 6 to 12 months of age, flu vaccines have not been administered as commonly. Ranging from 33% to 45% nationally. This has lead to 24,000-62,000 deaths of the flu, most of them toddlers to newborns. Despite the commonality of the flu and its easy infection rate, the number of deaths has been at an all time high. The CDC predicts with a mandated vaccine law, the infection rate of the common flu could drastically decline. With their hope to get the United States to a 75% vaccination rate nationally, the death rates could decline to the hundreds annually.

  The problem that mainly divides the implication of this law is how trustworthy the vaccines are. Side effects of vaccines, although rare, have a massive impact on physical health, even cases of death. According to the AAFP, when a mumps vaccine was distributed in 2000, a recorded 9 people died from its side effects. These included swelling, issues with the immune system, and if underlying diseases played an account, boosted them. However, the theoretical risk is at 2%, with mortality being .03%. These vaccines are relatively safe and are administered through hundreds of tests before distribution. And if side effects are present, they likely aren't lethal or threatening in any way. However, the political views of people, along with the health of the public are what decide the implementation of this law. 

As of 2020, anti-vaccination groups have risen more with the pandemic surrounding us, and they are trying to make massive movements to prevent this law. According to The Sacramento Bee, protestors from Facebook, Twitter, and social media sites began to protest and gather. These protests included anti-mask signs, chants of vaccines, and over 400 participants. These laws have caused disruptions in communities, for one is an example. According to ABC News, about 31% of Americans wouldn't receive a measles vaccination if they chose. Ross D Silverman, a professor of health policy at Indiana State University says “You can’t have a system that will result in us no longer being able to protect our communities from measles because we allow so much of the choice to occur that vaccine rates plummet”. 

 It’s two ideologies of pro-vaccination for the protection of others and anti-vaccination for protection of choice. Mandated vaccinations have caused more problems between these two ideologies more than ever now. And a proper reform to the system has to be implemented. 

For an ideal mandatory vaccination law to work with every aspect of the United States, it must be economically potent, apply to both sides of the argument, and still affect the health of individuals. The best law that could be established would be a law that requires medically capable patients to receive the vaccine, but religious and physical exemptions are only allowed. This law would adhere to both sides of the argument, allowing some restraint to the rights of an American citizen and provide safety to the community. For this law to be possible, many public places such as schools, workplaces, kindergartens, etc. would require a certificate of vaccination. For exemptions, they would require some form of a registered document stating the reason for the exemption and a signature, perhaps a card or an online form.  These would be an easily identifiable document, stating why you aren't vaccinated and who allowed it. Regarding freedom of choice for American citizens, that shouldn't apply. They have no reason not to vaccinate, and the attainment of religious exemptions is already doing better than 50% of all states. 

It is a middle ground that should be met with compromise. However, with the lack of choice, hospitals would require more vaccinations for the intake of patients. But the cost spent on the vaccines would make room for the hospital, and the government could save potential billions on hospital care and disease control.  With the lack of a choice in vaccines, the protection of the community would be increased. More people would be fully vaccinated and public areas would require paperwork to prove so. Making it much safer for the adults, and the more compromised such as the elderly and children.

 Economy saves potential billions, a plan for vaccination evidence and increased immunization, and a middle ground that finds a compromise. This would be the ideal mandatory vaccination law to be established for the United States. The impact wouldn't only just affect current America either. From the expected increase in immunization rates, future generations could be protected from modern diseases.  The government would continue to gain financial profit from the lack of need for hospitalization of disease, and at some ground, both sides are equal in the compromise. In conclusion, a mandated vaccine law would be a very good thing for America. The overall health of the country boosts, the economy and hospitals would be freed up, and the dispute of both sides would be settled one way or the other.