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THE DAILY RECORD—WEEKEND OPINION
Should childhood vaccination programs be compulsory?
A recent study released by the American Medical Journal found that uptake of childhood vaccinations has steadily declined over the last decade. In some American states the coverage is now below 85%, leading some government officials to push for mandatory vaccination of all schoolchildren.
This move is being viewed by some as an attack on human rights, while others are applauding the decision. There are no official figures available in relation to the uptake in Ireland. We spoke to leading pediatrician Dr. Marcus Geraghty about his views on the future of the Irish vaccination programs.
“The main worry is the uptake figures. If the number of people availing of the vaccinations falls below 90%, the whole program is at risk,” he said.
“Nobody likes the term ‘herd immunity,’ we don’t like to think of our kids as cattle. The reality is that if you have a large number of unvaccinated children, outbreaks become more common and prolonged. You end up with a situation where very young babies who haven’t yet had their shots end up infected, and so the program fails.”
When asked if he felt children’s vaccinations should be mandatory, he said:
“That is a very difficult question to answer. I think education of parents is key. We have to ask, why are some people deciding against vaccination? I think the emergence of often false information via the internet has a lot to do with it. Parents have come to me and said they have read about vaccinations causing autism and a myriad of other complications. These anecdotal stories are unsubstantiated and they cause undue stress to parents in much the same way as my self-diagnosing the cause of a headache using Google. Invariably it will tell me I have everything from cancer to a brain tumor.
“The reality is that for many years these vaccinations have saved children from serious diseases that have been proven clinically and medically to cause suffering and death. We put warm clothes on our kids in winter so they don’t catch colds, we apply sunscreen to stop them getting sunburn and melanomas. We make them wear helmets on their bikes and scooters. If you have it in your power to protect, you should do so. Should vaccinations be mandatory? No.
“Should people vaccinate their children? Absolutely yes.”
We then quizzed Dr. Geraghty about the medical reviews—namely that of Dr. Andrew Wakefield—that had drawn links between autism and the MMR vaccination, to which he replied:
“I’ve read the review you’re referring to. It has been totally debunked and indeed retracted by the author. Unfortunately, it’s caused some serious doubts among parents that we need to address, and again it goes back to the education issue.”
Finally, we asked Dr. Geraghty about the recent high-profile legal action pertinent to the vaccination debate and currently pending in the Irish courts.
“I will not comment on individual cases as it would be unfair and reckless. I do hope, however, that the little girl involved makes a fast and full recovery. I’d also hope that it enables parents to see the real and present dangers of the very diseases we are trying to eradicate.”
So what’s your view? Should the decision be taken out of parents’ hands? Or should it remain an individual choice?
Poll: Should childhood vaccinations be mandatory in Ireland?
O Yes
O No
O I don’t know
Comments:
Hunny Bunny: Of course they should be compulsory. I’m anti-Nanny State, but we can’t let the tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorists put our kids at risk.
Sallymander replied: I tip my tinfoil hat to you, Hunny. The last government that rolled out compulsory injections were the Nazis and we all know that didn’t end well.
Bally replied: Your gas, Sally. Not.
5LeafClover replied: It’s “you’re gas.”
Cherylturf: Jeez, how did we get from vaccination to two types of Nazis—real ones and grammar ones? I voted yes. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to mine because of a decision I’d made based on internet rumor.
BillyBray replied: Cheryl, could you live with yourself if one of yours developed complications because of a vaccination? Google HPV side effects and educate yourself.
Cherylturf replied: Billy, thanks for your concern for my education. I never said I thought vaccinations were 100% safe, but I also happen to know these diseases, including cervical cancer, are no barrel of laughs.
PS: I fear for you if you think being able to type something into a search engine is “educating yourself.”
Papajim: Can’t believe how much like sheep people are! Seriously, let the government and Health Service take full responsibility for me and my family? People do realize these people kill as many as they save every year. If mandatory vaccination happens you’ll find me at the airport with my family.
J Adams replied: Papajim, can you post a link to where I can read about all these doctors killing their patients? Also being a responsible citizen and parent is not sheepish behavior, it’s what grown-ups do every day. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Debs415: I do feel sorry for the parents of kids with health issues that prevent them being immunized. A girl in my daughter’s school has some blood disorder meaning she can’t have the jabs, yet there are serious complications for her if she catches measles or chicken pox like that girl in the news at the moment. She depends on the diligence of other parents not sending their kids in sick. There are a few mothers in that school that value their girls’ brunches and morning coffees more than staying at home with their sick children. It’s a Catch 22 really, but I think mandatory jabs might be the way to go. Far more people will be harmed than be affected by side effects if these diseases are not kept in check, IMO.
Johnny B replied: Do you trust the government and big pharma companies though? When you sign consent to have your child vaccinated you are also indemnifying the pharma companies—why? The answer is because their product comes with risks attached. What happens if these vaccines are mandatory? Do me and my family have the right to go after these multibillion-euro industries if something goes wrong, even though we’ve no say in the matter? I very much doubt it. This alone is reason for giving people the right to choose, otherwise it’s a slippery slope.
DollyDo: There should be a mandatory course teaching common sense for people with kids. The amount of loonies not getting their kids vaccinated like that idiot Mummy Blogger on TV is mind boggling! Do people want to go back to medieval times when vast swathes of the population were wiped out by the very diseases that modern medicine has all but eradicated? Until these know-it-all conspiracy theory loudmouths came along. Here we have people turning their noses up at expensive to produce, yet freely available vaccinations that prevent dangerous diseases. A little knowledge in the wrong hands is a truly dangerous thing.
RubyD replied: +1 DollyDo. The mother of one of my daughter’s school friends made a big fuss about the MMR booster shots. Keeping her girl out of school that day in case someone would sneak a jab into her kid’s arm. The same one won’t even allow the kid a treat like the rest of the class on Fridays, and sends us all texts not to allow her daughter sweets or other junk food when she’s over for playdates. She seems to think sugar is the enemy, but allows her kids out into the world with no protection from things far worse than a packet of gummy bears...