Vaccine policies should be enforced to protect all of us
The pandemic has brought forward an important topic that has been controversial for many, even before our current situation. The health policy of mandatory vaccinations has been an ongoing issue, putting those who oppose against those who approve. Enforcing and creating health policies that protect society is of vital importance, especially now during the pandemic. Mandatory vaccination policies should be enforced to protect the health and well-being of all in our society.
I have been a registered nurse for eight years with most of my career being spent in an intensive care unit (ICU). I have seen firsthand the impact that being unvaccinated has on the individual, their families and the community. Working in the ICU through a pandemic has been one of the most challenging and emotionally draining experiences in my life.
Watching people die alone at the beginning of the pandemic was horrifying and scary because we had nothing to prevent it from happening. Now, when people come into the ICU with a diagnosis of COVID19, the emotions are still just as high, but many ask if getting the vaccine would help. Unfortunately, by that time it is too late. We have seen individuals who were previously vaccinated improve and go home to their loved ones. The unvaccinated often do not make it out of the hospital.
Personal choice and freedom are privileges that we as citizens of the United States cherish. Mandating vaccines to some is considered un-american. Freedom of choice, though important, can negatively impact the health of a society. We have seen the positive effects of mandated health policies and laws passed in the past, such as wearing shirts and shoes in establishments, using seat belts and not smoking in buildings. Health care policies such as these protect society from the negative impact that can result from not following them. Yes, we have individual choices and rights. However, despite the need for freedom of choice and an individual’s liberty, the need to protect society from harm is essential to the health of society, therefore vaccine mandating policies outweigh an individual’s right to choose.
The individual choice to be unimmunized increases the risk of illness for that individual, but also weakens protection for the entire community and decreases the potential to reach herd immunity.
Many people continue to lack trust in vaccinations in general. This is even more of an issue with the COVID-19 vaccinations because of the emergency-use authorization. The general public and even some health care professionals have the impression that vaccines are not safe because they have not been thoroughly tested and were rapidly developed. However, according to Dr. Chris Beyrer of Johns Hopkins University, MRNA vaccines, such as those used against the COVID-19 virus, have been studied since the 1960s and already were used and developed against the Ebola virus.
Worldwide, mandated vaccinations have profoundly decreased the occurrence of several infectious diseases, with most childhood diseases declining by 99% and resulting in an all-time low transmission rate, according to Kevin Malone and Alan Hinman in “Law in Public Health Practice.” Teaching the public how vaccines have benefited the world, decreasing misinformation, and gaining trust in the public health care system, are some ways we can increase confidence in the use of vaccines.
Vaccine mandating is one of the most important and crucial ways that we can protect society from the negative effects of disease that affects not only an individual’s health but the health of our economy, our country and mankind as well.
Throughout history, mandatory vaccines have saved millions of lives. In fact, it is a very good possibility that because of mandatory vaccines, I am here to write this, and you are here to read it. Enforcing mandatory vaccine policies is one of the most important and effective ways we can protect everyone in society and the world.