How much authority should the government have to mandate vaccines?

Question

Under what circumstances should the government be able to force its citizens to be vaccinated against diseases? What kinds of diseases should have mandatory vaccines? Airborne diseases? STD's? Any vaccines that are available?

Suppose there was a disease that would kill 10% of the public if nothing was done. A vaccine is developed which will prevent the disease most of the time, but causes death 1% of the time it is used. Should the government require everyone to get that vaccine in order to save 9% of the people, even if that means deliberately sentencing 1% of the people to death?

Answer 1

None whatsoever. The right of the individual to refuse medical treatment should be held inviolate.

Answer 2

This is a tough question. I never realized that it was such a controversial issue. Since Merck is the drug co. which was pushing this last one & they were the one who's last drug was removed after several people died, I think a lot more testing should be done on any new meds. There is a group pushing for further review on vaccinations who believe that they are tied to the increased rates of ADD among other things besides death. Also, there are religious groups who don't believe they should have to have their children vaccinated. It's a complicated issue. Just another thing we used to blindly accept, which we should look at a bit closer.

Answer 3

All depends on whether you believe the government has the authority, not from the people but from a higher source, to order people to live longer than they would have if the government had not intervened.

Answer 4

Afraid that is the way it is or at least has been for years. Except through what you just mentioned polio, smallpox, measels and the list goes on and on, desease would once again reach epidimic proportions. It's either a few or a for sure MANY.

Answer 5

NONE, it is NOT their damn business what I do or do not put in my body.