No Jabs, No School
May 12th, 2008 by SocProf and tagged Health, Health Care, MMR Immunization, Politics, religionSeems like a great idea to me, via the BBC,
“Children who have not received all their vaccinations should not be allowed to start school, a Labour MP has suggested. Speaking in the left-wing Fabian Society magazine, Mary Creagh said the move would increase the uptake of the controversial MMR vaccine. In the same article, public health expert Sir Sandy Macara suggests linking child benefits to vaccinations. The government says it has no plans to introduce compulsory vaccinations. (…)
Public confidence in vaccination, and in MMR particularly, fell after research raised the possibility that the jab may be linked to an increased risk of autism. The research has since been debunked, and a string of studies have concluded that the triple vaccine - which protects against rubella and mumps as well as measles - is perfectly safe. But immunisation rates are still well below the 95% needed for so-called “herd immunity” and are particularly low in London.”
As a result of parental stupidity, there have been outbreaks of the measles in the UK already. And the vaccination rate is at 85%, below the desired 95% rate. But here is what bothers me:
“Ms Creagh said primary schools should be compelled to demand proof that children had been given the full range of routine jabs - including MMR - before they could register. (…) She also said there would be exceptions where children could not be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.”
Why? Why should there be exceptions for religious reasons? I have no problem, of course, with medical reasons and they would probably fall within that 5% acceptable range. But religious reasons? No way. Public health first, religion is not a priority. People can have whatever ridiculous beliefs they choose but they should not be allowed to endanger the health of the larger population.
So far, vaccination is likely to remain voluntary. But please, can we not let the idiots damage the one public health policy we know is an unmitigated success?
Posted in Health, Health Care, Politics |
