Some people immunize their children without thinking twice. Others, however, feel that vaccines are harmful and linked to things like autism or don’t vaccinate for religious reasons.
Here is the Centers for Disease Control’s explanation for vaccinating:
“Most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person. If one person in a community gets an infectious disease, he can spread it to others who are not immune,” their website states.
“But a person who is immune to a disease because she has been vaccinated can’t get that disease and can’t spread it to others. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread. If one or two cases of disease are introduced into a community where most people are not vaccinated, outbreaks will occur. If vaccination rates dropped to low levels nationally, diseases could become as common as they were before vaccines.”
Well, lots of people in Oregan weren’t buying into this as a 2013 study found that Oregon was the “most vaccine-skeptical state in the nation,” according to The Oregonian.
Some schools even had a 75 percent population of students who weren’t vaccinated. The state of Oregon decided it would force parents to immunize their children or deny them entry to school.
They’ve been holding an annual Immunization Exclusion Day since 2015. That day is the deadline for parents to make sure their kids are up-to-date on their vaccinations. They are required to submit proof of vaccination or submit medical or non-medical exemption forms for their children.
If a parent fails to submit that paperwork to the school, their child is sent home indefinitely until the up-date-records are submitted. Redbook reports that more than 4,000 students were sent home from school after Immunization Day.
Vaccinations are required for DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis vaccine), polio, varicella (chicken pox), measles/rubella/mumps, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae), and hepatitis A and B.
This year Immunication Day was held on Feb. 21.
“It is very important for our students to be up-to-date with their immunizations to help protect their peers and prevent others from contracting illnesses, some of which could be fatal,” Maria Duron, a spokeswoman for the Hermiston School District, said.
Those who refuse to vaccinate their children will have to find an alternative school for their children unless they get a medical or non-medical exemption.
Non-medical exemptions require parents to watch an online education module and submit a certificate of completion.
Their other alternative is to talk to a health care provider who will sign a Vaccine Education Certificate. Not everyone is on board with immunizing their children or the idea of not having a choice in their children’s healthcare decision. Oregonians for Medical Freedom aims to educate the public on their choices and what the law allows.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
