As the anti-vaccination movement sweeps North America and leaves
preventable diseases unaddressed, it’s critical parents learn how to protect their children.
Parents’ fears of vaccines are nothing new, but organized opposition against vaccinations is
on the rise due to extensive misinformation online.
Before Canada introduced the measles vaccine in 1963, there was a reported average of
53,800 measles cases annually. In 2015, there were only 195 cases.
Cancer patients, the elderly, and newborns too young to be vaccinated are at
risk of contracting diseases from unvaccinated people. If those people are surrounded by vaccinated individuals, diseases can be contained. Preventing outbreaks requires herd immunization, which is when populations are vaccinated at rates of 96 to 99 per cent
in cases like the measles, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
As vaccination rates decline, disease outbreaks increase. We can’t let misinformation regress our medical literacy.
But the impact of this disproven study persists, compounded by
distrust of modern medicine and movements prioritizing “natural” health remedies.
Hearsay has reinforced hysteria, as children exhibit early symptoms of autism around the same age as their first scheduled immunizations. This perceived correlation can lead to parents believing in the redacted study.
Ontario requires all children to be vaccinated to attend school, but parents and guardians may cite “conscience or religious belief” to excuse their kids from this rule. That’s how I passed through the entire education system vaccine-free.
Recently, Ontario implemented an initiative that ensures parents receive a
Vaccine Education Certificate before they excuse children from mandatory vaccines. This makes sure they can make informed decisions before they risk the lives of their children and other members of their community.
Parents who abstain from vaccinations may be trying to do what they think is best, but their choices must be guided by fact—not fiction.
Education is essential to promote trust in preventative medicine. Immunization science should be worked into public education early on. Widespread awareness campaigns must reach parents before misinformation can.
It’s time for parents to understand the consequences of their vaccination choices. They need to be educated before they further risk public health.
Amelia is The Journal’s Video Editor. She’s a third-year Fine Art major.