Immunization of Children in the United States

¶ … Immunization of children in the United States [...] full detail why the immunization rate of children in the U.S. is high, and the validity of the reasons why some parents choose not to immunize their children. It will also explain if those children will be protected by "herd immunity." Most children in the United States receive immunization from a variety of diseases when they are toddlers. Yet, some parents choose not to immunize their children for a variety of reasons. The question remains, are these children protected adequately, and do they pose a danger to other, already immunized children?

IMMUNIZATION IN THE U.S.

Most people take immunization of children in the United States for granted. Everyone immunizes his or her children, right? Well, not exactly. In the United States, laws in all 50 states require child immunization before a child can enter school. Vaccinations may include:

vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (lockjaw), Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and hepatitis B Some states have added varicella (chicken pox) vaccination to the list of required vaccines. Smallpox vaccination was once required, but the disease has been so successfully eradicated that this vaccination is no longer needed (Editors).

Parents who disagree with vaccinations for religious reasons may request a waiver from immunization in 48 of the 50 states. (Mississippi and West Virginia do not offer these waivers.) There are also medical exemptions available for those who might have allergic reactions or other medical conditions associated with certain vaccinations (Editors). Additionally, in fifteen states parents can file for a waiver if they disagree with vaccinations on philosophical grounds. Most health professionals agree that immunization is a critical factor in controlling a wide variety of contagious diseases in our country, and around the world, as the measles outbreak in 1989 clearly indicates.

Immunization campaigns have proven to be effective in reducing communicable diseases, yet gaps in immunization coverage among segments of the population leave communities at risk for outbreaks of communicable diseases. The measles epidemic of 1989, with 18,000 cases and 41 deaths, resulted from incomplete population immunity (Horner and Murphy 121).

Most people who immunize their children do so because they believe in the validity of the claims of the health profession that immunization saves lives, and because it is required before their children can enter school. There are also dire warnings from doctors and the health community regarding not immunizing children. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) web site notes: "Parents should be aware that withholding vaccinations leaves their child vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases in the event of an outbreak" (Editors). Recognizing there are barriers to many children receiving their vaccines, including lack of knowledge, lack of funds, and fear, a nationwide initiative was created in 1993 titled the Childhood Immunization Initiative (CII), which had a goal of inoculating 90% of two-year-old children. The campaign was extremely successful. "Nationwide there was 91% to 95% coverage achieved for individual vaccines" (Horner and Murphy 122). Today, immunization remains at about 95% of the children in the United States vaccinated by the time they enter school (Editors).

Some of the theory of the success of immunizations relies on the "herd" principle of immunity, which states that if the major percentage of people in a country or state are inoculated, then the entire population will be protected from infectious diseases. It is one of the reasons many medical experts cite vaccinations are necessary, but not everyone agrees with the validity of the herd immunity theory.

It's called "herd" immunity, and it means that if enough members of a population are vaccinated, everyone will be "protected." Even though epidemiological studies have proven this theory to be false, this argument is trotted out again and again by political medicine to justify mandatory vaccination programs (James 46).

However, those other five percent represent some children of parents who simply do not understand the immunization laws, or feel they cannot afford the immunizations, and those children whose parents refuse to have their children immunized for various reasons. Walene James of Virginia is one of those people, and she wrote a book about her experiences entitled "Immunization: The Reality Behind the Myth." In it, she describes her legal and moral fight with the State of Virginia to maintain her right to refuse immunization for her grandchild, Isaac. She writes:

It's tough to argue with ubiquity, especially when it is armed with the police powers of the state. If a parent objects to his child being vaccinated, officialdom assures him that the benefits outweigh the risks. If he persists in his refusal, he is told he is putting his child in jeopardy. Finally, if pressure doesn't work, coercion often will. If "right" is obvious and unequivocal, then forcing the right on others is doing them and society a service (James 6).