Lauren Spoehr

HL 440

Should Vaccines Be Mandatory?

Opinion Editorial Piece
The controversial topic of mandating vaccinations has been a cultural
conversation for years now. Especially with new mothers trying to put their children
in schools. I chose this issue because I have a personal experience with vaccines in
my family health history. My younger brother has a dual-diagnosis of Down
syndrome and autism. Being born with Down syndrome, this genetic disorder
causes for poor immunity and overall health throughout their life. Not to mention
the other parameters that come with the disorder from social to physical and
mental disability. I have been raised as "pro-choice" being the moral compass of my
life, so to let the government mandate what will go into my or my family's body is
something that I cannot fathom to justify. I have always felt this way since I was
able to understand what those "scary shots" at the doctor were, but I wanted to
explore the science and evidence behind the matter.
There are many facts and evidence from the National Vaccine Information
Center along with many doctors and health professionals that have helped me
confirm my stance on mandated vaccines. I sincerely believe that vaccines

cause more harm to the health of the individual than the protection and
benefit they are proclaimed to provide. I am passionate about sharing the
information I have unearthed because I have seen first- hand how it can
completely change the behavior of a child and wreck the immune system.
Deciding whether or not to vaccinate yourself or your child is one of the most
important decisions you will make. It is my sincere hope that people will take
the time to educate themselves before injecting their family with unknown
toxins.
I oppose the one-size-fits-all public health policy imposed by states and
implemented by physicians for all children. Vaccination is the only medical
procedure in which family history of reactions is ignored.
I oppose a healthcare system that does not allow choice, and does not give
fully informed consent over an injection that can cause a life time of illness,
and even death.
I oppose a system that forces parents to make decisions based on fear.
I support the freedom to refuse any medical procedure, including the right
to refuse a vaccination, and I am willing to fight to defend that choice. I
believe people should be allowed to make a choice regarding which risk they
are willing to accept.

I support true informed consent, which means a person hears the full
spectrum of pros and cons regarding a medical option and then is given the
choice to refuse this therapy.
I am pro-information. Most of the information given to the general public
by physicians and from public health officials is incomplete, even deceptive.
Vaccination needs to be questioned and debated. A discussion cannot occur
without allowing information that shows problems associated with vaccines
to be openly shared.