Ron Paul on the Vaccination Debate

[planosteve]

If I were still a practicing ob-gyn and one of my patients said she was not going to vaccinate her child, I might try to persuade her to change her mind. But, if I were unsuccessful, I would respect her decision. I certainly would not lobby the government to pass a law mandating that children be vaccinated even if the children’s parents object. Sadly, the recent panic over the outbreak of measles has led many Americans, including some self-styled libertarians, to call for giving government new powers to force all children to be vaccinated.

Those who are willing to make an “exception” to the principle that parents should make health care decisions for their children should ask themselves when in history has a “limited” infringement on individual liberty stayed limited. By ceding the principle that individuals have the right to make their own health care decisions, supporters of mandatory vaccines are opening the door for future infringements on health freedom.

If government can mandate that children receive vaccines, then why shouldn’t the government mandate that adults receive certain types of vaccines? And if it is the law that individuals must be vaccinated, then why shouldn’t police officers be empowered to physically force resisters to receive a vaccine? If the fear of infections from the unvaccinated justifies mandatory vaccine laws, then why shouldn’t police offices fine or arrest people who don’t wash their hands or cover their noses or mouths when they cough or sneeze in public? Why not force people to eat right and take vitamins in order to lower their risk of contracting an infectious disease? These proposals may seem outlandish, but they are no different in principle from the proposal that government force children to be vaccinated.

By giving vaccine companies a captive market, mandates encourage these companies to use their political influence to expand the amount of vaccine mandates. An example of how vaccine mandates may have led politics to override sound science is from my home state of Texas. In 2007, the then-Texas governor signed an executive order forcing eleven and twelve year old girls to receive the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, even though most young girls are not at risk of HPV. The Texas legislature passed legislation undoing the order following a massive public outcry, fueled by revelations that the governor’s former chief of staff was a top lobbyist for the company that manufactured the HPV vaccine.

The same principles that protect the right to refuse vaccines also protect the right of individuals to refuse to associate with the unvaccinated. Private property owners have the right to forbid those who reject vaccines from entering their property. This right extends to private businesses concerned that unvaccinated individuals could pose a risk to their employees and customers. Consistent application of the principles of private property, freedom of association, and individual responsibility is the best way to address concerns that those who refuse vaccines could infect others with disease.

Giving the government the power to override parental decisions regarding vaccines will inevitably lead to further restrictions on liberties. After all, if government can override parental or personal health care decisions, then what area of our lives is off-limits to government interference? Concerns about infection from the unvaccinated can be addressed by consistent application of the principles of private property and freedom of association. Instead of justifying new government intrusion into our lives, the vaccine debate provides more evidence of the need to restore respect for private property and individual liberty.

Ron Paul's weekly column

[John in Plano]

Old Ron should understand the difference is how an STD is spread and how an airborne communicable diseases like the measles and the risks they each pose on society. Sadly he, like other yappers in the media, blur the facts to suits their agenda.

Its been a long time since my kids went to public school I do recall the need for certain immunizations before they could enroll/attend.

[planosteve]

Old Ron should understand the difference is how an STD is spread and how an airborne communicable diseases like the measles and the risks they each pose on society. Sadly he, like other yappers in the media, blur the facts to suits their agenda.

Its been a long time since my kids went to public school I do recall the need for certain immunizations before they could enroll/attend.

So, you would force parents to have whatever vaccines are mandated by the govt. for their kids to attend school?

[John in Plano]

Would you stop all gov mandated immunizations ?

[planosteve]

Would you stop all gov mandated immunizations ?

You can't answer a question with a question.

[Red Oak]

Here is what I fail to understand about the recent Vaccination debate.

If you have your kid vaccinated, why worry so much about it ? After all you kid should be immune ? Assuming the Vaccine works.

Do I think you should vaccinate you kid against Measles ? Yes I do.

Should it be required before they attend Government Schools ? Yes I am OK with that, although if my Kid is vaccinated why worry so much ?

Should you be sent to Jail if you don't want the vaccination ? No, not in my opinion.

[ralph]

I think that the southern borders should be closed so that disease carriers can't enter the USA to then be dispersed by the federal government throughout the USA to spread disease .

[Red Oak]

Which is the higher purpose of the Federal Government ? Control entry of aliens into the Country, or force Vaccinations ?

[ralph]

thing is that this new Measles outbreak can be traced to all those disease carriers that recently ran over the southern border and are now going to American schools with American kids all over the USA , IMO . Just my guess but a Measles outbreak is a good excuse to take more authority from parents and give [madate] that authority to fed gov .

[John in Plano]

thing is that this new Measles outbreak can be traced to all those disease carriers that recently ran over the southern border and are now going to American schools with American kids all over the USA , IMO . Just my guess but a Measles outbreak is a good excuse to take more authority from parents and give [madate] that authority to fed gov .

Where is Measles a concern according to the Canadians;

USA
Brazil
Philippines
Vietnam
China

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/noti ... .php?id=98

[millergrovesue]

Which is the higher purpose of the Federal Government ? Control entry of aliens into the Country, or force Vaccinations ?

The current administration would vote forcing vaccinations and forcing everything else on their agenda. I'm sorry there are parents who choose not to vaccinate but it should be their choice and none of the government's business.