Should Vaccinations be a Choice?

Upon school officials realizing that more than 2,000 students in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, did not have the required vaccinations, parents were ordered by a judge to appear with their children at the courthouse to be vaccinated on the spot, or to provide proof of vaccination or risk going to jail.  Parents also had the option to offer an explanation as to why their kids had not been vaccinated.

Children who lack immunizations can be expelled, causing their parents to be brought up on truancy charges, which can also result in a 10-day jail sentence for a first offense and 30 days for a second.

Should parents be put behind bars for not complying with school vaccination requirements?

In the midst of the debate over whether or not vaccines cause Autism and other medical problems, the State of Maryland has taken the enforcement of its immunization policy to a new level.  After trying for two years to get parents to comply with state law, with little or no success, the new get-tough policy resulted in 172 more students being brought into compliance, including 101 students who received vaccinations at the courthouse and 71 whose records were updated.

Do you think it's right for parents to be strong armed into doing something against their better judgment? 

Does the end justify the means?

~Contributed by Venice

Comments

[Ahsha (Brenda)]

I think parents should have a choice. Having said that, they do not have the right to expose other children to diseases either. So if one chooses not to vaccinate, the child should be home schooled. Yes, there would be contact with others, but on a much less basis. This is not a perfect scenario, but perhaps a compromise.

[Venice]

Until this fear over vaccinations is resolved, your idea, Brenda, is the only thing that makes sense. I really don't see any other solution or compromise that would work.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if parents were given the choice of vaccinating their children or homeschooling, they'd choose vaccinations.