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October 19, 2010

Should we abolish the religious exemption for mandatory vaccinations?

A thoughtful comment was sent to us recently by Kathleen Hoke

Dachille, an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of

Law. Professor Dachille wrote she agreed with our call to eliminate thephilosophical belief exemption for mandatory childhood vaccines, but

went on to say:

I think that some states adopted the standard because the religious

exemption issue created too many sticky First Amendment issues

when is a religion a religion; how do we know the exemptor (or hisparent) actual practices that religion in a manner than requires

exemption?

So my question to you is whether you believe that the religious

exemption should also be eliminated. I fear if that exemption is notalso eliminated, then the personal/philosophical exemptors will turn tothese so-called religions that form online and purportedly believe that

vaccines are immoral or against Gods will. And states will be facedwith blanket acceptance of religious exemption requests (which

basically happens in most states now) or lots of litigation on the First

Amendment issue. So I think the call should be for the elimination ofall but the medical exemption.

Interestingly, my law students and I recently engaged in this

discussion in class and there were a lot of serious arguments madeand also a lot of emotions displayed.

Dr. Ross responded:

I believe the philosophical exemption is a cover for those who fearvaccines, and since this fear is baseless, and is dangerous for those in

the vicinity of those exempted as well as for those who avoid thevaccine, it should be eliminated. I would not force those whose

religious beliefs prevent them from accepting vaccination to violate

those beliefs. I certainly understand the concerns of Prof. Dachille, and

even agree with them to some extent. But the solution to thoseconcerns is not to set goals which are unattainable, as the eliminationof the religious exemption would I suspect be, nor to generate

controversy and anger whose effect would be to impede the

attainment of the desired goal: elimination of the philosophicalexemption. Should doctors force Jehovah's Witnesses to accept a

blood transfusion, even to save a life? I don't think so.

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Let's take it one step at a time. After the superficial philosophicalexemption is removed, some may flee to the harbor of religious

exemption, some pseudo-religions may spring up to accommodatethem. Those issues will have to be dealt with in time. Not now.

Richard Diaz (October 19, 2010)Fear of vaccines is not baseless. All vaccine product inserts state very plainly that there

are risks. In fact, these risks are minimized by the medical profession until disaster

happens. If vaccines were risk free, why then does congress grant blanket immunity todoctors and the pharmaceutical companies that make them.

The issue of religious freedom and choice is not up for debate or negotiation. The historyof vaccines, their contents and the creators of the same are up for debate. If you were to

take the time to investigate, you would find that no scientific study has ever been done to

prove or even suggest that vaccines, any vaccine, is safe, effective and efficient. In fact,

the entire scientific study was performed by Dr. Jenner on his son and Dr. Jenner was not

an MD but a Barber/Surgeon. His development and treatment of the Small / Cow Poxvaccine, in fact created epidemics in France, Germany and Marlboro, Massachusetts.

His study was not a double blind study as is accepted today but a marketing effort to

create a cultural coma on everybody since before the 1800's.

You can say, over and over again that vaccines are safe and effective but you must prove

it beyond any doubt before entering into an edit of the Constitution.

Donna (October 19, 2010)

As far as religious exemptions go, what about vaccines containing, or originally created

with, human diploid cells? Human diploid cells are harvested from aborted fetuses.Would a religious belief against abortion, and therefore certain vaccines, not be enough

for you to believe we should still have a religious exemption? Religious freedom is

guaranteed in the Constitution, and that freedom includes not wanting to inject your childwith cells from dead babies.

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