General Discussion

Avalux

(35,015 posts)

65. Very true for MMRV.

Mon Feb 2, 2015, 12:30 PM

Feb 2015

Are you saying the influenza vaccine shouldn't be mandatory? Influenza infects tens of thousands in the US with a variable mortality rate depending on severity and duration of each year's outbreak; it's estimated there are between 6K and 49K deaths yearly but probably much more than that because of under-reporting. It's the 8th leading cause of death in the US.

The efficacy of the vaccine won't provide herd immunity, but it does help in preventing the spread of influenza; there are numerous benefits associated with that. Preventing death associated with influenza, even if limited, is a good reason to make it mandatory.

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Compulsory vaccinations: Where do we draw the line? [View all] YarnAddict Feb 2015 OP

Gardisil and maybe flu shots should be optional. HappyMe Feb 2015 #1

Even chicken pox? YarnAddict Feb 2015 #4

Yes, even chicken pox. HappyMe Feb 2015 #6

Chicken pox can be fatal. MineralMan Feb 2015 #9

When my kids had it YarnAddict Feb 2015 #15

Go learn about it: MineralMan Feb 2015 #18

i had a guy who worked for me melm00se Feb 2015 #88

Since the chicken pox vaccine was only introduced in 1995 Ms. Toad Feb 2015 #96

In the early 90s Pediatrician said to let my daughter catch chicken pox HockeyMom Feb 2015 #38

A lot has changed YarnAddict Feb 2015 #47

Other children got brought over to catch it from me thecrow Feb 2015 #82

I got German measles too. I would rather have had a shot. Jamastiene Feb 2015 #93

Total lifelong immunity is not guaranteed. I had mumps twice. uppityperson Feb 2015 #101

Your Grandma must have been very old to catch that HockeyMom Feb 2015 #127

did that Pediatrician throw chickenpox parties for his patients? pstokely Feb 2015 #124

Mine had very high fevers (105) thecrow Feb 2015 #83

The flu can be fatal, too. WillowTree Feb 2015 #25

Yes, it can. MineralMan Feb 2015 #27

From personal experience its not fun.... Historic NY Feb 2015 #80

It's not only about the kids that would die without the vaccines. Trillo Feb 2015 #106

How about you going to look to see how many people die each MineralMan Feb 2015 #107

It's difficult to determine where the truth lies. Trillo Feb 2015 #108

My mom nearly died from it loyalsister Feb 2015 #121

HPV vaccines save lives and are essential for young people before they are exposed. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #109

Both of my daughters had the HPV vaccine SickOfTheOnePct Feb 2015 #114

Oh I see you have a moral objection. Sex is involved. Icky. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #115

Please seek a refund for your mindreading certificate SickOfTheOnePct Feb 2015 #117

Except something with a high rate of sexual transmission is "easily communicable". Spider Jerusalem Feb 2015 #118

Correct, not through casual contact SickOfTheOnePct Feb 2015 #119

The HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer. HappyMe Feb 2015 #123

I don't believe I ever said it was only about sexual contact SickOfTheOnePct Feb 2015 #128

Oh, I am not at all opposed to that. HappyMe Feb 2015 #122

Can we agree on the dangerous diseases like measles and smallpox? hack89 Feb 2015 #2

But, many more YarnAddict Feb 2015 #7

Because many more get the flu than measles. hobbit709 Feb 2015 #12

That is because measles was nearly eradicated in America due to vaccinations hack89 Feb 2015 #13

That comparison is faulty Orrex Feb 2015 #17

I don't know that there are cases to cite YarnAddict Feb 2015 #22

I'm sorry, but I'll need something more concrete Orrex Feb 2015 #26

Here you go YarnAddict Feb 2015 #33

Okay, but you made it sound like a longterm and ongoing trend Orrex Feb 2015 #69

Love your response!!! YarnAddict Feb 2015 #73

I've read the threads enlightenment Feb 2015 #44

Such over-the-top rhetoric YarnAddict Feb 2015 #60

Our opinions differ, obviously. enlightenment Feb 2015 #74

Without taking all necessary steps to prevent infection, yes it is abuse... Humanist_Activist Feb 2015 #85

"But, many more people die of the flu than die of measles." NCTraveler Feb 2015 #52

I agree, Parents Should have fredamae Feb 2015 #3

I agree with you. YarnAddict Feb 2015 #8

No they should not have a choice. alarimer Feb 2015 #16

But, which vaccines? YarnAddict Feb 2015 #20

Gardisil. Now there's a good example. MineralMan Feb 2015 #31

Gardisil YarnAddict Feb 2015 #34

Really? So, they should wait until they're 18? MineralMan Feb 2015 #45

I didn't say 18 YarnAddict Feb 2015 #51

Uff da! MineralMan Feb 2015 #53

Norwegian? YarnAddict Feb 2015 #54

Norwegian by marriage only. MineralMan Feb 2015 #56

No actually that is too late. Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #116

It's for boys, too! Not just for daughters... Phentex Feb 2015 #41

Absolutely. Boys should get the shot, too. I didn't mean to leave that out, MineralMan Feb 2015 #48

I let my sons know that they should look into getting the Gardisil shot. HappyMe Feb 2015 #58

The key thing is to get it before becoming sexually active. MineralMan Feb 2015 #61

Yeah, the 'not my kid' thing gets old. HappyMe Feb 2015 #70

I cannot understand it... Phentex Feb 2015 #79

I agree that people are stupid about public health issues, but.... missingthebigdog Feb 2015 #105

Nobody? HockeyMom Feb 2015 #50

+1,000,000 ... 000 HuckleB Feb 2015 #111

Smallpox vaccinations are no longer needed. Do you know why? MineralMan Feb 2015 #5

What about flu? YarnAddict Feb 2015 #10

The flu vaccine is variable in its effectiveness. MineralMan Feb 2015 #14

We never used to get the flu shot YarnAddict Feb 2015 #19

You know, if you skip the flu vaccine for you and your family, MineralMan Feb 2015 #21

Nope. You never know. YarnAddict Feb 2015 #24

our immune systems are exercising all the time, which is why we rarely get sick. uppityperson Feb 2015 #46

If you believe the 2012 CDC statistics HockeyMom Feb 2015 #68

I was pleasantly surprised at my last tetanus booster to not end up with the stiff shoulder uppityperson Feb 2015 #72

Your immune system DOES get exercise when you get a shot. progressoid Feb 2015 #126

The fllu vaccine is currently too strain specific. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #28

It's 'strain specific' because of the high mutation rate of the influenza virus. Avalux Feb 2015 #49

Oh I agree, but that means the efficacy of the current vaccine is too low to provide herd immunity. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #55

Very true for MMRV. Avalux Feb 2015 #65

You make a compelling case for it to be mandatory. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #75

Thank you. Penalties would be extremely difficult to enforce. Avalux Feb 2015 #78

Influenza mutates very quickly and there are too many strains to vaccinate against davidn3600 Feb 2015 #90

I wrote this in 2005. Avalux Feb 2015 #92

Actually, minor nitpick: a smallpox vaccination still does exist, but isn't available to the public. NuclearDem Feb 2015 #64

I stand corrected. MineralMan Feb 2015 #67

Measles could probably be wiped out also. But not if we listen to the Chris Christie's. yellowcanine Feb 2015 #77

When those diseases are no longer a public health concern. hobbit709 Feb 2015 #11

We have a winner! Erich Bloodaxe BSN Feb 2015 #29

The smallpox vaccine hasn't been given in decades. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #23

All vaccines should be mandatory according to the current CDC guidelines tammywammy Feb 2015 #30

I wonder where the insurance companies are in this conversation. oldandhappy Feb 2015 #32

The ACA mandates preventative care come with zero cost to the patient. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #35

I was wondering if the insurance companies would oldandhappy Feb 2015 #39

The ACA ended all co-pays with vaccines MohRokTah Feb 2015 #42

Gardisil: rgbecker Feb 2015 #36

No one gets the Smallpox vaccine anymore, there is no need for it. I'm over 50 and I only got one Bluenorthwest Feb 2015 #37

I got mine at age 5 in kindergarten. MineralMan Feb 2015 #57

I got one as a child. MohRokTah Feb 2015 #63

I have mine smallpox too. Avalux Feb 2015 #91

I got mine five years ago. NuclearDem Feb 2015 #103

Public health is far more important than you think. MineralMan Feb 2015 #40

If the clinical data shows the vaccine is effective, YES. Avalux Feb 2015 #43

The reason is ignorance, pure and simple. MineralMan Feb 2015 #59

When elected officials start jumping on the anti-vax bandwagon, it's disturbing. Avalux Feb 2015 #71

That's scary as hell. BeanMusical Feb 2015 #94

we should blood test minors for signs of parental neglect reddread Feb 2015 #62

Hmm . . . Sarcasm? n/t YarnAddict Feb 2015 #66

Do you have children? n/t Avalux Feb 2015 #76

no reddread Feb 2015 #86

Good to hear. Avalux Feb 2015 #89

yeah, science is good, please convince Congress. reddread Feb 2015 #95

The only reason to opt out of vaccines are valid medical conditions and reactions... Humanist_Activist Feb 2015 #81

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2015 #84

Uhm, have you ever read about or heard about how bad many of those Jamastiene Feb 2015 #87

As it is now, everyone should have a choice and the freedom to decide whether they dissentient Feb 2015 #97

So it's ok for them to choose to put everyone else at risk? HuckleB Feb 2015 #113

There is no longer a need to be vaccinated from smallpox Marrah_G Feb 2015 #98

Thank you - that is the kind of discussion we should be having Ms. Toad Feb 2015 #99

RV--rotavirus? YarnAddict Feb 2015 #100

Yes. Ms. Toad Feb 2015 #102

"Where do we draw the line?" questions irritate me. Orsino Feb 2015 #104

The recommended vaccines for infants through early grade school should be mandatory. HuckleB Feb 2015 #110

Do you know why there is no risk from polio in this country? Warren Stupidity Feb 2015 #112

When my children were young the small city I lived in had a mandatory meningitis vaccine one year Marrah_G Feb 2015 #120

We shouldn't make policy based on right wing conspiracy theories AgingAmerican Feb 2015 #125