State Mandated Childhood School Entry Immunizations: A Public Safety Issue

Diseases, like Polio, Pertussis, and Measles, are still endemic to certain areas of the world. It is important to understand that shifts in vaccination status among our children can have dire effects on the health of our country; or, as Salmon and Siegel (2001) state, “history tells us that such a shift can result in resurgence of disease and needless morbidity and mortality” (p. 294). These diseases can still be transmitted and infect those in this country. This paper will explain the importance of immunization in personal health as well as public health. It will also focus on why the state governments can, and should, step in to mandate that children are receiving the required immunizations to help protect themselves as well as those that are exempt for medical reasons. This is an important issue due to the increasing popularity of children who are not being vaccinated due to nonmedical exemptions