CMV: It is the right of the people to decide if they want their children vaccinated

I think that the most common argument against forced vaccination of children is that it violates the body autonomy of children, and that parents have the right to choose whether they want to vaccinate their children.<br><br>While I believe that this is a legitimate argument, I think that there are a couple of reasons why it is not the most compelling one.<br><br>Firstly, if parents choose not to vaccinate their children, it does not prevent them from vaccinating them. It is still the parents' decision to vaccinate their children, but this decision has a consequence: children who are not vaccinated pose a health risk to other children who are vaccinated. So, why should we not allow children to be vaccinated without requiring other children to be vaccinated too? Why should the parents of the vaccinated children be required to risk their health and lives because they have not been vaccinated?<br><br>Secondly, if the parents choose not to vaccinate their children, it is not only the children who are affected. Vaccines are not only for children, but for everyone, and it is not just the children who benefit from them, but the entire society. If the children are not vaccinated, they can become sick and infect adults, who can become seriously ill or even die. And this is not all: when a large number of people are not vaccinated, a virus can become more contagious, making it easier to spread. This can lead to a pandemic, which can have devastating consequences for the entire society.<br><br>Finally, the argument that vaccination is forced and violates the body autonomy of children is not supported by science. Vaccination is not forced because parents have the right to choose whether they want to vaccinate their children. Vaccination is not forced because children are not required to be vaccinated, but their parents are required to vaccinate them. And vaccination does not violate the body autonomy of children because it is not a violation of their rights.<br><br>In conclusion, while I believe that the argument against forced vaccination of children is legitimate, I think that the most compelling reason to oppose it is not the violation of the body autonomy of children. Instead, it is the fact that the decision to vaccinate or not vaccinate one's children is not only the decision of the parents, but also a decision that affects not only their own children, but also their children's friends, family, and community.