Question for the Pro-Vaccinate Crowd

[Maritime Q-Scout]

… to which I'm one.

If you want to debate or question whether or not we should vaccinate the thread to do that is here: http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=100212


My question is:

Should vaccinations be mandatory in Canada?

Obviously there are medical reasons some people cannot get vaccinated and this must rely on herd mentality.

However, given the universal nature of our healthcare system, should we as a society be on the hook for the negligence of our citizenry? Is it fair to ask the Canadian people to pay for the treatment of a preventable disease?

For our American friends, the question could be phrased as denying health insurance coverage if you or your child is not vaccinated.


Perhaps mandating isn't feisable or appropriate. What about paying for medical services that could have been prevented?

Taking criminal action against parents who don't vaccinate?

[cancer man]

Society has changed.When we brought our children to the docs we were never asked if we wanted them vaccinated they just did it.Yes it should be mandatory.

[Nage Waza]

Yes

[edn88]

Yes

[Nyah]

I'm generally not one to agree with the government making laws about the decisions people can and cannot make in terms of their health & bodies - but in this case: absolutely yes. When someones bad, uninformed decision could effect others in a negative, potentially dangerous way I think there needs to be some legislation in place.

[rotten42]

yes

[Maccalus]

I think it really needs to be done on a case to case basis.

Vaccines that have a proven effectiveness of nearly wiping out a disease eg. measles, smallpox (when it was around), etc. should be mandatory.

A vaccine such as the flu, that while it is effective, may not be effective in the year, administration should be up to the person outside of key positions such as health care. Vaccines do have side effects, and when the effectiveness certainty is below a certain level, it should be personal choice as the effects of side effects may outweigh the total health gain.

[Schraderbrau]

Yes

[fundmark19]

You have to remember the people who don't vaccinate their kids make it dangerous for kids who are allergic and can't vaccinate. If you want public services like day cares and schools & childrens programs you should have to be vaccinated

[Regulator75]

Yes.

[psicodude]

Yup. IMO, it's akin to seatbelt and no smoking laws. Sometimes people are just unable to make the right decision and it has to be done for them.

[MarchHare]

Yes.

[19Yzerman19]

[TorqueDog]

I see the side of the argument that says no; getting a needle is invasive. I've said this when arguing against drug testing for welfare. But there's a significant difference between protection of tax dollars (the practice is an utter failure anyway) and the protection of the lives of others.

Failure to vaccinate can result in illness or even death for you and potentially others, especially those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. For this reason alone, it's unethical to not be vaccinated unless it is not possible. And let me be clear that I mean not 'medically' possible - there should be no hiding behind religious belief on this one.

So yes. Absolutely yes.

[Maccalus]

This is also one area where even most libertarians can agree. By taking away this personal right, there is significant benefit for the whole. By not taking away the right there is potential harm for the whole. I wish the world could get together on more vaccine ready diseases like we did with smallpox and wipe them out.

[troutman]

People have to wear seatbelts, because it saves lives.

[rubecube]

Yeah, I'd say so. Another interesting thing I was thinking about was whether doctors, nurses, and other medical staff could deny treatment to anti-vaxxers on the grounds that it puts them that risk, say especially if the doctor was immunocompromised.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

I think it really needs to be done on a case to case basis.

Vaccines that have a proven effectiveness of nearly wiping out a disease eg. measles, smallpox (when it was around), etc. should be mandatory.

A vaccine such as the flu, that while it is effective, may not be effective in the year, administration should be up to the person outside of key positions such as health care. Vaccines do have side effects, and when the effectiveness certainty is below a certain level, it should be personal choice as the effects of side effects may outweigh the total health gain.

Yeah, I agree. I never question getting my kids scheduled vaccinations. But man, the pro-vaccine crowd is starting to annoy me. The movement is starting to move into the territory of the extreme animal rights activists. In both cases, I am generally in favour of their causes, but the approach is so extreme, it makes me feel like I should be against them.

I feel like I am going to be publicly shamed like someone who lets their dog poop on a grave if I don't accept that every vaccine ever made, or that ever will be made is awesome, and that they will never have any side effects or adverse reactions.

I fully accept whatever my doctor recommends for vaccines for my kids are safe enough that the risks of the disease are far greater than the risk of the vaccine. There are definitely some vaccines that probably should be mandatory. But if we are going to go down that path, there really needs to be some guidelines that the disease is a serious threat and the vaccine has been around for a number of years, and side effects are minimal.

[FlamesAddiction]

It depends on the vaccine.

[burn_this_city]

Yes for the major illnesses, no for the seasonal flu vaccine.