Or are compulsory vaccines the best political policy the Tories have ever come up with?

[HollyGoLoudly1]

In the news today, Tory health secretary is investigating compulsory vaccinations for school children.

Before I don my hard hat, for background I have a close family member who is immunocompromised. He has had multiple hospital admissions over the years for simple viruses and other illnesses that most of us wouldn't even need to stay off work for. If he catches something like measles it could be fatal.

To be honest, even disregarding this family member, I am very, very pro-vaccine and would support this policy no matter what. Even if it is from the Tories (who I definitely do not support).

puts on hard hat

I think its a good idea, but i do wonder what happens to children who can't have them, not because the vacine would affect them, but because of sn.

Surely the whole point is to protect children who can’t have them for medical reasons. They would certainly not be prevented from attending school

It’s an excellent idea.

Totally fair point. As long as rates are above 95% herd immunity kicks in so anyone who genuinely can't get them would be protected. I would include SEN kids under that umbrella. MMR rates are only in the 80% range in some areas.

I am opposed to this.

But would support a policy (like Australia) of reducing/cancelling family benefits for unimmunised DC, unless valid exemption certificate.

I wonder how many would change their stance if they had to put their money where their mouth is?

I agree with this

An old acquaintance of mine recently put together an utterly heartbreaking article, which was on FB, in which she outlined the risks to her severely immunity-compromised child of other people choosing not to vaccinate against childhood illnesses. And I read it, and I cried. But even with that degree of empathy for her, I cannot stand on the side of compulsory vaccination. I cannot agree that the Government has the right to compel parents to put substances into their children’s bodies that they actively believe are harmful. It violates the basic principle of bodily autonomy in matters of medical treatment.

I think it's a good idea and will save lives.

Samcro I am sure some children will be exempt for medical reasons that will include sn.
I get the reluctance but I would support this

Absolutely! Who really wants autonomy over their own body anyway?

I totally agree. Aside from those who are genuinely, medically exempt, the unvaccinated should be ineligible to access public funded schools or healthcare.

I would support it as herd immunity is so important especially to the vunerable. However if the child has medical reasons for not being vaccinated then as long as doctor certified then should be allowed at school as presume high intake otherwise would take it over herd threshold which I think is 90-95%

I do support the idea in principle, but it does worry me that people who lead chaotic lives or are abusive to their children are more likely to ignore immunisation programmes, and their children would then be denied an education, which could also mean they don't have a safe place to escape to during the day. A lot more needs to be done before this could be implemented.

I think it's a very good idea (it's not often I say that about Tory policy). People will be lining up for vaccination if polio comes back, or the measles situation continues to get worse.

I'm really not sure about this despite being pro vaccination. I don't agree it should be linked to benefits - that just means only the wealthier get to choose and the poor don't.

How would people feel about adult vaccinations being compulsory?

It's a great idea. I still would never vote Tory though. There are far bigger issues to focus on.

compel parents to put substances into their children’s bodies that they actively believe are harmful.

They might actively believe it but I don't accept they are correct. Vaccine injuries are a risk but are Incredibly rare. Most of the anti-vax info I have read is quite misinformed and often ignores the very real risk that low vaccination rates poses to the most medically vulnerable in our society.

My view would be that if the parents want the benefits of living in a society (e.g. free schooling) then they need to adhere by rules that benefit society.

I am pro vaccine and nothing will ever change my stance on this, but I have to be pro personal choice too.

They are saying they are considering making vaccines a condition on being admitted to school. Home education is growing as it is, this will only increase it.

Not that HE is a bad thing, I HE my DD, but it should be a choice made for education purposes, not to avoid vaccination! I have to question the quality of the education received if it is a choice made purely to not vaccinate.

It's a good idea. I think the anti vax movement is dangerous.

Seaweed, fine if you don't want the government "forcing substances" dramatic much? into children. Why should those children then go into state schools and endanger the health of others?

@BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil

Do you have an actual argument to put forward or just sarcasm and emojis?

I'm for it. I don't get the 'parental choice' thing, if parents are stupid and make dangerous choices that can bring back diseases that kill people, they should be over ruled. The 'I decide what's best for my child based on my opinion', for me, is also irrelevant because it's a fact that for all children, its best for the vaccination rate to be 90pc+. What those people are actually saying is that they want everyone else to take the 1 in 1 million chance of vaccine damage, so that their own children dont need to and won't catch anything either.
If you don't want to contribute to herd immunity, you don't get to be part of the herd.
I think something needs to be done, otherwise, children will die from completely preventable diseases, and how is that ok just because their parents watched something on YouTube and believe some bullshit about autism?

Children have a right, enshrined in law, to an education.

Irrespective of any medical choices made on their behalf by their parents. I do not think it is right that the state makes access to school contingent on vaccination.

Cutting family benefits would send the same message of unacceptability, I'm sure it would lead to change in behaviour, and yet it would cost an individual family less than the expense of private education or removing a parent's form the workforce to HE

How would people feel about adult vaccinations being compulsory?

I would be totally for it to be honest. It makes more sense to focus on school children though so they don't spend most of their lives unprotected and easier to track through school registers etc. I would imagine.

I do not support this, I jave worked professionally with vaccine damaged children/young adults and to be clear I am not alludimg to those affected by autism.
Vaccines are not risk free for those with certain genetic constitutions and that information is in the public sphere via the package informatiin inserts.
I wish to retain the ability to risk assess all vaccines offered to my children and to proceed accordingly.
Mandatory vaccination makes me extremely uneasy.

I also agree with this, I have worked with adults who have contracted mmr, TB ect and the effects can be devastating. One person, a perfectly healthy twenty year old man who spent a year in a coma and is now paralysed from the waist down and spent another year in a nursing home for rehabilitation. It was devastating for him and his family.