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In Lubbock, Texas, a six-year-old unvaccinated school child was hospitalized and passed away in early March. The cause of death? Measles, a disease that has not had any confirmed U.S. fatalities in a decade.
Lubbock is the epicenter of a measles outbreak, with over 400 confirmed cases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also reports outbreaks in four other states: New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Health officials say that West Texas is the epicenter of the current outbreak has to do with parents having the choice to vaccinate their children or not. The area has a vaccine exemption rate of 18%, compared to the national average of 3%. This has sparked debate about whether or not children attending public schools should be required to get vaccinated.
The Buzz asked St. Ambrose students if public schools should require vaccinations. Senior nursing major Audrey Pender says yes: “Kids should have to be vaccinated because in places like Texas, kids are dying of preventable diseases, and research shows that the benefits are far greater than the risks. Some kids have to rely on herd immunity to remain safe, so the majority of children being vaccinated is safer for everyone in a community.”
Senior biology and psychology major Sarah Priewe also referenced Texas in her response. “The side effects of the vaccines will never be as severe as an illness, especially like in Texas, where someone died. I feel like most parents would rather have their kid have a few side effects from a vaccine than die of a preventable illness.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, the measles vaccine is the only effective method of preventing measles.
In the wake of the outbreak, the newly appointed Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been criticized by those who say he is ignoring the outbreak. According to ABC News, Kennedy has also made contradictory statements about the measles vaccine, which has been largely successful at preventing outbreaks of measles since its invention in 1963. After the measles vaccine was introduced, cases and death rates fell, with the disease being declared eliminated in 2000. Instead, Kennedy has touted vitamin A and cod liver oil as effective preventive measures.
Kennedy, who is known for making several negative comments about vaccines, founded the anti-vaccine organization Children’s Health Defense, serving as the chairman of the organization for eight years. As secretary, he has stated that vaccines should be a personal choice, not one that parents are forced to make.
SAU sophomore, Michael Taylor, reflected on seeing his peers suffer from preventable diseases, “I’ve witnessed children who haven’t gotten certain vaccinations, such as meningitis, and then gotten meningitis. This affects their education as they are out of school and also potentially infecting those around them.”
According to the CDC, schools that have vaccine requirements in place have significantly lower rates of vaccine-preventable diseases. Every SAU student the Buzz interviewed expressed their support for vaccine mandates in public schools. Kate Henson, a junior elementary education major, said, “As a future educator, I believe that vaccinations ensure that all students can be safe at school.”
Another education major, senior Emily Henson, echoed the sentiments of her sister, “Just like anything, if parents don’t like what the public school is doing, they can choose to go to a private school.” SAU junior Samuel Gillham also referenced the idea that public schools in particular should require vaccinations, “Because schools are publicly funded, they should require vaccines to prevent disease. Schools are one of the dirtiest places.”
“I believe that children should be required to be vaccinated before attending school, otherwise they risk infecting other young children and their families, something that is easily preventable. Even if the vaccine carries risks, the risks are not greater than infecting others and getting sick,” adds Celia Cervantes, Junior Psychology Major.
Annaliese Bowser is a staff writer for The Buzz.
