[Maritime Q-Scout]

In my mind the flu shot and other vaccines are separate. Mostly because the flu isn't as effective and has many strains, whereas the others such as MMR are extremely effective and do not require a yearly shot.

On the one hand there is the invasive nature of having a needle jabbed into your arm. Could there be a Charter issue with regard to Security of the Person?

On the other hand, there is not really an effective reason not to get vaccinated, and the benefits are huge. It could also be argued that a vaccine secures one's person as well as the country as a whole, so it may not violate the Charter provision, or in the alternative, be a justified invasion of one's rights in a free and democratic society.


What boils down to is if this is mandatory, what is the punishment for failure to ensure your child is vaccinated?

I don't know if an actual criminal charge is the right way to go. However, a review by Child Protective Services, and having CPS administer the vaccines could be a viable option.

This puts parents on CPS' radar, and depending on how the visits go, children may be place into a better environment to help ensure a safe upbringing. Really, is not feeding, or properly clothing your child that different from not ensuring their health via vaccination? If the first two things could trigger CPS intervention, then so should the third.


When I was a child, booster shots were administered at school. I think having a public health professional do this is a great way to ensure all children are receiving their shots.

Naturally if a child is unable to get vaccinated for medical reasons, then they will be excused. This is something that the parents should have an obligation to inform the school of, even today. They child is at a greater health risk than others, and if there is a health issue the school should know possible problems (same goes for if the child is diabetic, crones disease or any other illness).

Most children would be caught under the public education system. When registering your child you should have to provide proof that your child was vaccinated.

With today's technology we should be able to keep a record of child births in the country and a running tally of who is and is not vaccinated. Reminders can be sent out to parents to let them know that their child requires vaccination X by such and such a date. If my vet can do this with my cat, surely the government can do it.

I'm thinking aloud (errrr via keyboard) about how this may work. Obviously a better list of vaccinations needs to be put together other than "not flu".

I also don't understand or know the reasoning behind religious objection. I would be curious to hear that.

I will admit I expected more of a "it's a good idea, but don't make me" argument in this thread (and by more, I mean actually have read one by this point). I guess the problem was I made a general statement asking a question. I should have taken a hard nosed stance, they say if you want to find out the answer to something on the internet don't ask a question, make a statement you know is false, you will be corrected in seconds.