4 thoughts on “Problem Memo- Need for Mandated Vaccinations in the US”
In this case, I do not believe that the writer has made the best possible case for the seriousness of the problem. An issue such as the mandating of vaccinations in the United States isn’t simply a medical issue, but also an issue of civil rights, which has not been discussed. I cannot deny the many medical benefits of vaccinations and am in favor of them personally, but in a country founded on the belief that every individual has the right to his or her own life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, I can’t help but believe that mandating vaccines gets in the way of civilians having their own lives and liberties.
I think that if the writer had discussed the parameters in which the benefits of vaccinating an entire population outright outweighs the individual liberty of making the decision to or not to vaccinate oneself or ones children. Ideas such as this often correlate to other debates such as that smoking should be made illegal because it is known to have terrible effects on people’s health. Whatever decision a person wants to make regarding their life, is their decision to make; good or bad.
However, when vaccinating children the argument is different because children come into contact with other children at public schools, where they then share desks and other school resources.
In regards to this debate, I think a stronger argument could be made for mandating vaccinations for children attending public schools, the rationale being that parents who refuse to vaccinate their children have chosen a path that could lead their child to become diagnosed with a communicable disease as they grow older, which would be considered a threat to the safety of the children attending public schools, leaving parents who refuse to vaccinate their children with options such as private schools or home schooling.
Your memo was clear and organized, and conveys the seriousness of the vaccination issue. The most convincing piece of evidence that you presented was the paragraph about the ingredient in vaccinations that supposedly causes autism and then showing that the ingredient is not even used any longer. With this issue, you have also shown that it is a debate between scientific evidence and parents’ beliefs.
I almost picked this topic myself. You have done an excellent job of laying out the reasons for getting vaccines, debunking the argument against vaccines and showing the dangers involved when a large enough group of people doesn’t vaccinate. I am a big proponent of vaccines, and I think everyone should have them (with the exception of compromised immune systems and allergic reactions), but I’m not sure that pursuing a mandate would be your most effective method to achieving your goal here. I can foresee a lot of push back from libertarians and the “whole foods organic naturalists” crowd. There are many cases of parents making terrible decisions based on their religion (I can’t find a source but I remember reading about a little girl in Florida who died after her parents tried to pray away her diabetes). All of these things will cloud the issue. To achieve an effective herd immunity we only need participation from (somewhere between) 80 and 90 percent of the population. You mention in your memo how easy it is to get an exemption, could the solution be easier and still effective if we make it much more difficult to acquire an exemption? Then there is still an option for the religiously motivated, the libertarian, and the scientifically ignorant, while at the same time curbing the trend enough to get us back to acceptable levels of vaccination.
What an important and relevant topic! Though for the life of me I cannot understand why parents are opting out from vaccinating their children, this issue has again resurfaced for discussion.
I find it interesting that you directed the memo to President Obama. I think it’s smart to go all the way to the top when an issue deserves the utmost attention. However, I would have addressed the memo to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Center for Disease Control. With everything going on with the president, this topic may not receive the attention it deserves, whereas it is the CDC’s job to handle the spread of diseases.
I would also declare my view on the topic a lot earlier in the memo. It took me a while to figure out how you actually felt about the topic, and, were I in a position with power to do something about vaccines, I would want to know what you wanted right away.
I also think the Affordable Care Act may not have been the best example to use since there is so much that goes with it. Vaccines are actually mandated and children must have them up to date in order to start school. Another way to approach the argument would be to not allow parents the option of opting-out from vaccinating their kids.
I would focus on the missed school and work days due to preventable diseases or the number of deaths due to lack of vaccines. Ultimately, the president would like to know how this is affecting the country as a whole.
In this case, I do not believe that the writer has made the best possible case for the seriousness of the problem. An issue such as the mandating of vaccinations in the United States isn’t simply a medical issue, but also an issue of civil rights, which has not been discussed. I cannot deny the many medical benefits of vaccinations and am in favor of them personally, but in a country founded on the belief that every individual has the right to his or her own life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, I can’t help but believe that mandating vaccines gets in the way of civilians having their own lives and liberties.
I think that if the writer had discussed the parameters in which the benefits of vaccinating an entire population outright outweighs the individual liberty of making the decision to or not to vaccinate oneself or ones children. Ideas such as this often correlate to other debates such as that smoking should be made illegal because it is known to have terrible effects on people’s health. Whatever decision a person wants to make regarding their life, is their decision to make; good or bad.
However, when vaccinating children the argument is different because children come into contact with other children at public schools, where they then share desks and other school resources.
In regards to this debate, I think a stronger argument could be made for mandating vaccinations for children attending public schools, the rationale being that parents who refuse to vaccinate their children have chosen a path that could lead their child to become diagnosed with a communicable disease as they grow older, which would be considered a threat to the safety of the children attending public schools, leaving parents who refuse to vaccinate their children with options such as private schools or home schooling.
Your memo was clear and organized, and conveys the seriousness of the vaccination issue. The most convincing piece of evidence that you presented was the paragraph about the ingredient in vaccinations that supposedly causes autism and then showing that the ingredient is not even used any longer. With this issue, you have also shown that it is a debate between scientific evidence and parents’ beliefs.
I almost picked this topic myself. You have done an excellent job of laying out the reasons for getting vaccines, debunking the argument against vaccines and showing the dangers involved when a large enough group of people doesn’t vaccinate. I am a big proponent of vaccines, and I think everyone should have them (with the exception of compromised immune systems and allergic reactions), but I’m not sure that pursuing a mandate would be your most effective method to achieving your goal here. I can foresee a lot of push back from libertarians and the “whole foods organic naturalists” crowd. There are many cases of parents making terrible decisions based on their religion (I can’t find a source but I remember reading about a little girl in Florida who died after her parents tried to pray away her diabetes). All of these things will cloud the issue. To achieve an effective herd immunity we only need participation from (somewhere between) 80 and 90 percent of the population. You mention in your memo how easy it is to get an exemption, could the solution be easier and still effective if we make it much more difficult to acquire an exemption? Then there is still an option for the religiously motivated, the libertarian, and the scientifically ignorant, while at the same time curbing the trend enough to get us back to acceptable levels of vaccination.
What an important and relevant topic! Though for the life of me I cannot understand why parents are opting out from vaccinating their children, this issue has again resurfaced for discussion.
I find it interesting that you directed the memo to President Obama. I think it’s smart to go all the way to the top when an issue deserves the utmost attention. However, I would have addressed the memo to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Center for Disease Control. With everything going on with the president, this topic may not receive the attention it deserves, whereas it is the CDC’s job to handle the spread of diseases.
I would also declare my view on the topic a lot earlier in the memo. It took me a while to figure out how you actually felt about the topic, and, were I in a position with power to do something about vaccines, I would want to know what you wanted right away.
I also think the Affordable Care Act may not have been the best example to use since there is so much that goes with it. Vaccines are actually mandated and children must have them up to date in order to start school. Another way to approach the argument would be to not allow parents the option of opting-out from vaccinating their kids.
I would focus on the missed school and work days due to preventable diseases or the number of deaths due to lack of vaccines. Ultimately, the president would like to know how this is affecting the country as a whole.