Government and Immunization: Can We Do That?

Vaccinations are a controversial issue among new parents and the government. There are many disputed facts about vaccinations causing other diseases. This discrepancy is partially derived from celebrities coming out against vaccinations, claiming they can lead to autism. Vaccines have the support of years of research, which led to the elimination of diseases like polio. However, there have been movies, articles, and personal opinions that have incited paranoia and kept people from getting vaccinations, regardless of the overwhelming majority of doctors who have stated there is no causal relationship. Due to these false narratives concerning vaccines, many lawsuits have been filed against public schools and their immunization requirements. Most of the time, case law points to only a waiver for religious exceptions, except when there is an outbreak of a disease. However, courts tend to lean towards public health over religious exemptions. The power of what exemptions and vaccinations require lies within the states. Based on the following research, it is a sound argument that individual states are constitutionally allowed to require vaccinations for all people during an outbreak, regardless of religious beliefs.