What would you do in the face of mandatory vaccination?

[heathergirl67]

(Just to start out with, please note that I am not advocating mandatory vaccination in any way)

If all of the states/provinces in your country began demanding mandatory vaccination, what would you do? If you would move- where to?

Since the proof is in the pudding, I'll make up some consequences. Let's say that your country decides that it's children must be vaccinated. Anyone who does not comply will face the following: no public or private schooling (only homeschool), and when the yearly taxes are levied it will be $2000/per child/per month for anyone who cannot provide up-to-date vax records for their children or a medical exemption from each individual vaccine. And let's say that vaccines are free to every child in said country.

This scenario is not without precendence in the USA. As for other countries, I'll admit that I'm not sure. But I do wonder: how big of a concern are vaxes to you? Really think about it. If you're morally/ethically/scientifically opposed to some or all vaccines, would you give up your home, jobs, and proximity to friends and family so that your children could go unvaccinated?

I only ask because I've been recently thinking about what mandatory vaccination would look like, and the decisions families would have to make.

[fruitfulmomma]

We homeschool, so at this point it isn't an issue, although legally we are required under homeschooling laws to keep our exemption or records on file if we ever get investigated, so under your scenario, I don't know. I would probably just lay low and keep doing what we are doing. But if it came to it, yes we would move and I don't know where, it could be a matter of going "underground" in the area we are already in.

Due to reactions in my husband from multiple vaccines plus my children's own health issues I believe that they are at increased risk of complications from vaccinations and would do everything I could to keep them from receiving any. I am more interested in protecting my children's health than playing nice with the state and we already do/believe lots of things that may force us to go underground at some point in the future anyway, so yes I am willing to give up what few ties we have in order to do what I believe is best for my children.

I think there is enough dissent in the medical community over the issue that you may be able to find a doctor who would be willing to forge records as well and I wouldn't be opposed to that.

[ma2two]

In your scenario, if I had to pay $48,000 every year for not vaccinating my children, and I'd have to home school, I don't think I'd be able to afford to stay in the U.S. But in your scenario, a medical exemption would be allowed, so that's what I'd get. I'm sure, if faced with the alternative of leaving the U.S., I could find a doctor who would give my kids a medical exemption.

Your scenario seems pretty far-fetched, but it was fun answering.

[heathergirl67]

fruitfulmama- It seems like with your family history  of poor vaccination reactions you would have an easy way to get a medical examination. Have you not found that to be true?

[fruitfulmomma]

I don't need one so I've never tried, but I was under the impression that medical exemptions were harder to get and only if the child themselves had reacted.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by heathergirl67 

fruitfulmama- It seems like with your family history  of poor vaccination reactions you would have an easy way to get a medical examination. Have you not found that to be true?

 Family history of reactions is not a contraindication for vaccination. The vast majority of provax doctors would not dole out a medical exemption for a family history of reaction. Even doctors that are a bit more open minded about vaccine reactions would most likely not sign a medical exemption for family history since doing so draws attention to their practice from state government. Most docs (even if they support parental choice) will not go out on a limb with signing a medical exemption except when it is a cear cut reason (prior severe reaction like anaphylaxis).

To answer original question, I don't really know what I'd do. The thought makes me ill. If something like that ever happened here in the US, I would do everything I can to move to a country that valued the rights of it's citizens. Does a place like that exsist??

[nia82]

Since I have German citizenship, I'd just pack my bags and go home - hubbie can easily get a "green card" back home. I partially vaccinate but would never agree to vaccinate my children with vaccines I do not believe in. I'd rather move across the ocean back home where there are no mandatory vaccination laws at all. To sum it up, punishments like those to make me vaccinate would only result in my family fleeing the country.

[boomer78]

If there was a fine that we could not afford to pay yearly, or was just simply not acceptable to us, we would move elsewhere.  Where?  I'm not exactly sure. 

[ema-adama]

In all seriousness I would do what I can to stay under the radar to avoid the vaccines. If that were not possible, we would move. It is important to me to be left free to choose vaccines that I want on a schedule that I am comfortable following. 

I am not opposed to vaccines per say. I definitely think families should have the ability to choose which medical interventions they accept, and which they deny.

I would be very uncomfortable being on the receiving end of an ever increasing vaccine schedule that is forced on me and my children, with no power to influence which vaccines are on that schedule. 

That said, I think a country that decides to enforce a mandatory vaccine schedule on it's population is not a country I would want to be living in. The power imbalance between government and the people is something that would worry me.

[Laur318]

Originally Posted by ema-adama 

In all seriousness I would do what I can to stay under the radar to avoid the vaccines. If that were not possible, we would move. It is important to me to be left free to choose vaccines that I want on a schedule that I am comfortable following.

I am not opposed to vaccines per say. I definitely think families should have the ability to choose which medical interventions they accept, and which they deny.

I would be very uncomfortable being on the receiving end of an ever increasing vaccine schedule that is forced on me and my children, with no power to influence which vaccines are on that schedule.

That said, I think a country that decides to enforce a mandatory vaccine schedule on it's population is not a country I would want to be living in. The power imbalance between government and the people is something that would worry me.

This exactly.
You know, the warmth of Mexico always appealed to me ...

[MittensKittens]

Originally Posted by heathergirl67 

(Just to start out with, please note that I am not advocating mandatory vaccination in any way)

If all of the states/provinces in your country began demanding mandatory vaccination, what would you do? If you would move- where to?

Since the proof is in the pudding, I'll make up some consequences. Let's say that your country decides that it's children must be vaccinated. Anyone who does not comply will face the following: no public or private schooling (only homeschool), and when the yearly taxes are levied it will be $2000/per child/per month for anyone who cannot provide up-to-date vax records for their children or a medical exemption from each individual vaccine. And let's say that vaccines are free to every child in said country.

This scenario is not without precendence in the USA. As for other countries, I'll admit that I'm not sure. But I do wonder: how big of a concern are vaxes to you? Really think about it. If you're morally/ethically/scientifically opposed to some or all vaccines, would you give up your home, jobs, and proximity to friends and family so that your children could go unvaccinated?

I only ask because I've been recently thinking about what mandatory vaccination would look like, and the decisions families would have to make.

We live in a country where both vaccinations and public schooling are mandatory, yet we have opted not to do either. I am not opposed to vaccinations, and I would choose to vaccinate in some situations. I am not an extremist, and I am not willing to give up anything for the choice not to vaccinate, and not to participate in the appallingly inadequate local school system. There are penalties for both, first monetary followed by jail time. But the state doesn't care, is slow, and corrupt. I will not move, I will not try to change the law, and I will not follow the law. That has worked just fine for us so far, because we live in what is commonly called a banana republic.

Does that answer your question? :)

[ema-adama]

To put this in perspective well my perspective anyway.

I cannot imagine a law being passed that made it mandatory for all women to breastfeed their babies. The science is there to support breastfeeding as being protective against numerous diseases in infancy, and yet it would be political suicide to suggest that women do not have a choice in how they feed their babies.

I also cannot imagine a law that makes it mandatory for children to play outside for x number of hours every day. We know that the fresh air, sunshine and exercise promote health, but it would just be silly to try and force parents to enforce outside time for fear of breaking the law.

I do understand that vaccines are addressing infectious diseases. But to have worth for society (and not just the individual) they need to prevent transmission and not be replaced by other bacteria/viruses that cause disease instead of them. They are not the simple solution they are presented to be.

So, am I willing to accept a dose of Al that no one can assure me is safe for my particular child? Am I willing to accept annual doses of Hg in my influenza vaccine? And am I happy to receive vaccines for myself and on behalf of my children as some government official sees fit to mandate - as in the ballooning schedule. With no one to ask whether all those vaccines are actually needed and whether they are actually improving the overall health of children? 

I know how hard it is to leave friends, family and work behind. However, if that was what was necessary to keep my family safe, I would have to do it. In my estimation, the CDC schedule (and they are the trendsetters for other countries) is not necessarily in the best interest of every child, or even society at large. Even if I did the whole schedule, but wanted HBV at 12 years instead on day 1 - I would be really angry that that choice was being taken away from me.

I would guess that a government that supported *mandatory* vaccination (as in every person living in the country is on the exact same schedule barring those who are on chemotherapy or otherwise medically fragile) would probably have other issues with regards to civil liberties.

[Arduinna]

I have no minor children, but the law could effect my future grandchildren. I don't know if they will be HS'd like my kid was but I'd support that anyway, and I'd help pay the tax if they needed assistance.