Up until 18 years old, there are about 30 required vaccines every person should take.In Ontario, students are required to be immunized for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella. There are plenty of parents concerned about which children aren’t vaccinated, and there are also parents who think that the requirement isn’t necessary, and that they should be the ones in charge of making those decisions
Most people that don’t stand for mandatory vaccines don’t think that they’re 100% bad for you, they just don’t think the benefits outweigh the setbacks. A recent study shows that around 40% of Canadian adults believe that parents should be able to decide whether or not to vaccinate to their children.
One of the most common reasons why parents choose not to vaccinate their children is their religious beliefs. Since the beginning of time, there has been prayer and meditation. While that may be common knowledge, most do not know the effects prayer and meditation have on the human mind and body. Many people may regard these practices as useless and archaic, however many also believe they have powerful effects; such as stress relief, and improvement of mental and physical health and even brain growth. Although it may be a controversial subject, there are many studies on the effects of these practices. In the end, the actuality of these affects remains a mystery.
Zen Salimi, a local pharmacist, had this to say when asked about why he thinks people turn down free vaccinations.
“Individuals who follow a belief normally also believe in the power of prayer. Nowadays, there is more scientific evidence that a lot of physiological systems are linked to our mental state. Regardless of how we attribute this mental state, there is a relationship between your mental health and physical health.”
Another argument used by non-vaccinators is that the immune system is weakened over time by vaccinating our children early.
“It’s definitely not mainstream evidence that supports that. If anything, you want to be exposed to as many things as possible as long as it’s not overwhelming on your immune system. It’s a lot like breastfeeding, babies who aren’t breastfed tend to have a lower immunity.”
The consensus of the medical community is that vaccines are a safe and integral part of public and individual health, however, if you feel like you are still not sure on the issue, here is some advice. It’s important to know your rights, and you have the right to refuse any vaccination. As for children, exemptions for medical and religious reasons are usually available if they are having troubles at school. You can also always talk to your pediatrician about your concerns.
