Mandatory Flu Vaccines for Children

The conspiracy-theory generation of parents in New Jersey are in an uproar over a new rule requiring all preschoolers to receive the flu vaccine prior to enrolling in a preschool or day care center. (Read the article here). This is just another example of baseless fear leading to irrational thinking. Really, people are far too worried about things they have nothing to worry about and not worried enough about the things that could really be harmful to children(like trans fat and violent movies).

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends annual influenza immunization for all children, both healthy and with high-risk conditions, aged 6 months through 18 years. This recommendation was based on the results of extensive research on the safety and efficacy of these vaccines in children. What are the objections of these parents based on?? Unsubstantiated rumors. Personally, I'd trust the pediatricians.

I heard one parent interviewed for a news piece on this story say something to the effect of, "What does getting my kid vaccinated have to do with anyone else's kid? It's illogical to me" (i.e. if I want to risk my child getting the flu, what business is it of yours?) Obviously, this guy thinks he knows more than all of the doctors and public health officials who promote vaccination. If it doesn't make sense to him, it mustn't make sense at all. Having taken an introductory course in epidemiolgy, I can tell you that it is perfectly logical that the decision of one parent not to vaccinate his child will affect other children. This is because when people are vaccinated, they can't get the disease, and more importantly, they can't spread the disease to others. It's called "herd immunity." Smallpox wasn't eradicated because every person in the world got the vaccine. It was eradicated because enough people got the vaccine that it simply could not pass from person to person anymore.

There is more risk in not vaccinating children than there is in vaccinating them. The consequences of flu in young children range from seemingly minor annoyances such as increased doctor visits and school absenteeism to hospitalization and death. Either way, the costs in terms of money, time, and suffering are high. There is simply not sufficient justification for refusing to immunize children, even against seemingly innocuous illnesses like the flu.

The CDC has some good, credible information about vaccines here.