General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: We got a letter from the government telling us our daughter should be vaccinated-we refused [View all]KellyW
(598 posts)Making pronouncements that they are and then saying end of discussion! does a great disservice to the professionals who do the very difficult job of determining what should be recommend and what should be compelled. We are entering a dangerous time when these decisions will be taken out of the hands of these professionals and given to politicians who will listen to people like yourself.
These professionals would admit that they are not always 100% right for all time. It is a constant evaluation of risks and benefits. As pnwmom @43 related in her personal story, In 1999 OPV was considered safe and effective and recommended for all children entering school- in 2000 it was determined that it was not. I dont bring up this case, as those from the No Never! camp would, to say see, scientists can be wrong, but to point out that vaccination policy is a constant recalculation of risk/benefit. That policy should be set by professional epidemiologist, that includes the decision of when some medical treatment should be compelled.
Should influenza vaccination be required of school children?
No, flu vaccine is not very effective (60% at best) and attempts to create herd immunity by vaccinating school children have failed to in other countries when it was tried.
Did I get a flu shot this year? Yes, and I specifically sought out a quadrivalent vaccine. If you got a flu shot this year, do you know if it was quadrivalent or trivalent? I chose quadrivalent because I travel all over the world and I wanted the extra protection from B/Brisbane/60/2008. Given that the 2014 North America vaccine turned out not to be effect against the most common A strain circulating this year, I went to my doctor and got a prescription for Tamiflu, which I carry in my travel bag. If I come down with the flu on a 14 hour plane flight, I can treat myself.
Virtually everyone I work with is vaccinated against Anthrax, but I am not. They were compelled to be vaccinated by their terms of service. I also carry Ciprofloxacin in my travel bag, in the event I was exposed to Anthrax, I could start treatment immediately.
Should school children be compelled to be vaccinated against Anthrax? Of course not !