Pro Choicers: Do Vaccinations Anger You?

Question

The pro-choice group says they are opposed to government telling them what they can do with their own bodies. I am very sympathetic to that argument (although I think the baby needs protection too).

But do you get angry when states pass laws requiring you to be vaccinated, and when they admit that the vaccines have mercury and may or may not be safe?

Answer 1

No. Compared with a pregnancy, a vaccination is a pretty minor deal. There really is not much case for vaccines being unsafe for most people. Generally concerns about the safety of vaccines (specifically their link with autism) are beliefs supported by people who do not know much about science or medicine. To the best of my knowledge, there is no scientific evidence that vaccines are dangerous (except in very rare cases.) If this changes, then of course everybody would say that getting vaccinations should be optional. As of now, though, that evidence is nonexistant and the public health benefits of vaccines are quite substantial.

If I am vaccinated, I might not be put in danger by your infection (but I also might - the more people who have a disease, the higher the chance that it will mutate into a form which is not prevented by the vaccine). But if vaccines became more optional, how many people would opt out? How many people wouldn't bother even if they don't have strong feelings one way or the other? A sudden reemergence of, for example, polio in society would be damaging to society as a whole, and so even those who are immunized (as the economy would suffer, more money would have to be paid for treatment, fewer workers would be available.)

Whereas abortion has very limited consequences beyond the people involved, public vaccinations influence the whole of society, so while one person's decision to forgo being vaccinated may have no consequences, many people's private decision to not get vaccinated could potentially damage all of society. That is a pretty strong argument to continue requiring vaccinations.

Answer 2

vaccines arnt just for the individual person they are for everyones protection.

Answer 3

Remember pro-choice includes basic female rights besides abortions such as fertility treatments, access to birth control and unbiased s*x education.

Answer 4

no I do not get mad because being required to have a vaccination is not just the government telling me what they think is good for me, and what I should do with my body.  it is the government saying that they care about the well being of all its citizens.  vaccination requirements benefit all people, because not only do they protect you from diseases but they also protect you from the idiots that think they don't need the vaccines, because those are the people that will continue to spread the diseases that the government is trying to protect us from.  vaccine requirements are equal to the allowing abortion, because it is the government looking out for the well being of its population.

there have been many studies as to the effects of mercury in vaccines, and yes mercury USED to be put in the vaccines as a anti-microbial, the studies have shown NO correlation between mercury containing vaccines and serious health conditions, like autism.

Answer 5

ah, blow it out your butt. Where you get this mercury stuff? I think you're fulla c**p. Prove me wrong. You're talking history.

Yeah, it was. It were. So what?

Answer 6

Vaccines are a matter of public health. Besides, they no longer contain mercury.

Sorry, no analogy.

Edit: Sorry, you are incorrect on both counts. Vaccines no longer contain mercury, except one type of full-dose flu shot.

Secondly, the way vaccines work is the majority needs to be vaccinated. People who are immunosuppressed can contract diseases even if they are vaccinated, so if you are carrying measles and standing next to a chemotherapy patient in the supermarket, you can kill him or her. Or a young infant who has not yet received the full dose of shots. If too many people are unvaccinated, small pockets of outbreaks start. Diseases can then mutate and go beyond what the public is vaccinated for.

Educate yourself.

Answer 7

Vaccinations are a matter of public health and extend beyond the individual and their own body. Vaccines that are "mandatory" are made so in the interest of humanity as a whole. The only mandatory vaccines that I know of are for hepatitis B and MMR, and children must be vaccinated before they enter 8th grade otherwise they are not allowed to enroll in public schools. Therefore, if you do not want to vaccinate your children it is your choice but they must attend a private institution. There may be risks associated with some vaccines such as mercury, the autism debate, etc. However, these are debatable risks and no hard evidence has been found to date. The risk against NOT getting vaccinated is a known, and a very real public threat.

Answer 8

Nobody is forced to be vaccinated. You can sign a vaccine waiver for medical, religious, or personal reasons. (In my state, at least.) The mercury argument is null and void. There is no mercury in childhood vaccines. They removed it in 2001. (except flu shots)

Answer 9

I'm not too familiar with mandatory vaccinations (except for some types of health insurance policies and public schools), but d**n straight I'm going to be the one to decide what goes into my body.

And if anyone doesn't like it, I will cough on them. I trust my body's natural immune system more than most people's.

Answer 10

No

Answer 11

You'd almost have to have an advanced degree in virology or microbiology to make a really credible argument on either side of the vaccination issue.  

I get ticked off when they are mandated for what I deem to be reasons of convenience, as opposed to matters of public health (ie, chickenpox vaccine).  

I get ticked off when they are offered as casually as the HPV vaccine without having completed longitudinal studies on effectiveness/need for boosters/ side effects.  Not to mention the down side to not vaccinating males (who are often asymptomatic carriers of HPV) at the same time.

Vaccines can be wonderful when used correctly, as was done with the smallpox vaccine and the polio vaccine.   But that does not mean that every newly developed vaccine will be as successful, and the medical community needs to really evaluate the benefit versus the cost in terms of money and  discomfort to the person receiving it.

Answer 12

I think people should have the common sense to vaccinate themselves when the situation calls for it. (Besides, who really gets rubella these days?) But that's one government regulation I'm fine with.