http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vaccine-politics-for-2016/
2016 Presidential candidate hopefuls are weighing in on the vaccine issue. People such as Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and President Obama have all been quoted saying that vaccines do far more good than harm, and not vaccinating kids is dangerous for everyone. They all maintain that the science is good and that vaccines work. Rand Paul, however, surprised people by saying that he'd actually heard of kids developing mental diseases because of vaccines, a position that the medical community heartily disputes. What's even more surprising is Rand Paul actually has a medical degree. Many politicians do agree that parents should have the freedom to raise their kids how they want, but vaccines are vital to keeping communities healthy. This has opened up discussions about mandatory vaccinations and whether or not such a thing would be legal.
The vaccination issue is probably what makes me the most angry out of the current issues we face as a country. This is because vaccinations are based firmly in science which, as Neil Degrasse Tyson as said, "works whether or not you believe in it." Things like gay marriage and abortion come with moral and constitutional elements, but this does not. The fact that parents are letting totally preventable and nearly eradicated diseases COME BACK because of some misplaced sense of "well I'm just protecting my kids from autism!" pisses me off so much. It has been said over and over again that the study that said vaccines cause autism was skewed, and it discredited a while ago, but mother STILL refuse to get their kids a very simple shot that almost NEVER causes complications (except in very, VERY rare cases.) I can't even begin to articulate just how STUPID this issue is. This should not be an issue! It's science, and it works. End. Of. Story.
I SO AGREE WITH YOU! As someone who gets sick a lot because of my asthma, I'm put in danger by those around me who aren't vaccinated-- even something like the flu shot. (Your common cold can give me pneumonia. For the 7th time.) All medical practices have risks, but it's FAR riskier to not protect your child with vaccinations than to let them build up immunity by contracting every disease!
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I agree with both Abbey and London! If a parent is concerned about the effects of vaccinations they should conduct research and not base it off of a discredited theory. I don't understand why parents vaccinate their children especially when it puts their child and others at risk!
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