"Parents who do not vaccinate their children should go to jail"

[Bunyip]

...

You clearly don't know the intricacies Biological Weapons handling.

As it happens, I know rather more about than you assume. Mistakes can, do and have happened. It is 2015, Siberia is no more than a flight away from anywhere.

In Russia, the only state other than America with relevant reserves of Weaponized(or any) Smallpox, these facilities are in Siberia. The only possible place more destructive to the Variola virus would be Antarctica. Even if it were somehow taken out of the concrete, ICBM-shielded bunkers, it would die a swift death in the Siberian Tundra.

Not if it were on the clothes, or in the body of a person. Or in an aircraft, on a boat, a truck.

In America, these samples are kept in the desert, normally in areas used previously for nuclear testing. Why? Because the latent radiation adds another layer of protection against any samples that try to escape.

Russia might be **** at keeping their nuclear weapons under watch, but Bioweapons are a completely different thing. There are very real possibilities that if a sample was released, well, who would be most harshly affected first? In both the US and Russia the labs are designed to keep that **** in, and if all else fails, to burn.

I understand what you are saying, but the military worldwide are terrible at keeping things locked up.

 

[dawny0826]

I'm more concerned with the parents who have opted to allow their children to die to easily battled illnesses because they claim faith healing. Or the numerous children who have died due to the lack of blood transfusions because certain Jehovah's Witnesses didn't believe in such based upon their religious beliefs. Or the numerous other atrocities allowed by societies based upon a demand of respect of religious beliefs.

I have concerns regarding the type of parent that will not listen to reason and allow their child to succumb to an illness too.

I also have concerns with the medical community dismisses the feedback and requests of the religious without considering alternative therapies, when reasonable.

In example, blood is often given in emergencies when not the only option available. Sometimes, volume expanders may work as efficiently. If it's possible to use volume expanders vs. blood products on a Jehovah's Witness patient, why shouldn't it be considered?

I support reasonable accommodations and feel that this mindset aligns with the rights delineated in the Constitution.

You don't understand.

The argument that a select group of people in a society be allowed an exemption due to their religious belief, or even their cultural belief, absolutely demands a reasonable argument to support it. You have not stated one bit of evidence in this thread to argue against it and that is a fact.

Please address the argument that those who possess a religious belief should be granted over others.

Why should people who hold a "religious belief" receive an exemption over those who demand the same exemption but do not argue a "religious belief"?

The reasonable argument in my opinion, is that science suggests that 95% of those immunized against measles are effectively protected against three strains in a single dose. Regardless the reason that parents may choose not to immunize their children against measles, statistics and science suggest that their own children are at greater risk than immunized society. Perhaps current events will sway those in opposition?

Considering that measles was eradicated in the United States up until recently (introduced from outside of the country), there's been no logical reason to deny parents the ability to seek an exemption based upon religious or other reasons.

If current events change, I may reevaluate my stance.

 

[dawny0826]

Certain choices don't belong to parents. For example, education is mandatory. Vaccination ought to be as well.

No religion actually prohibits vaccination. Those who claim exemptions on religious grounds have no scriptural or doctrinal basis for doing so. They just pull the religion card and say "Go ahead, I dare you to prohibit my 'free exercise thereof'". It's an abuse of the concept of religious freedom, and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

And until it's pretty much eradicated in the world (like smallpox), US children should continue to be vaccinated for it.

Choosing not to vaccinate weakens herd immunity, putting vaccinated people at risk as well.

Like yelling fire in a crowded theater, I don't believe anyone has a right to put anyone else in danger.

Up to date immunization records for my children when enrolling them in school, have never been approached as optional. They've always been communicated as mandatory and my girls' records are audited. They'll be sent home if immunization deadlines aren't met.

You can seek an exemption, but, I had to research it to find it. It's not readily offered or provided as an option in my state.

Health/Immunization Requirements for School Entry

In my part of the world, we're not doing too bad with immunizations.

Few children in Virginia are unvaccinated | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Knee-jerk reactions do not solve problems like this. Education, patience and accommodation when feasible is the way to go, in my opinion.