The Quest to Find Balance Between Public Health and Religious Freedom

Marie Thompson

English 252

magine that your son comes home from school

one day with a slight cough. The cough worsens
through the night and by morning he struggles to

catch his breath between coughs. You take him to the

doctor and he is diagnosed with whooping cough.
Whooping cough? I know he was vaccinated! you say
and the doctor informs you that probably someone in
his class may not have been vaccinated. Even though his
case may be mild by comparison to someone who has
not been vaccinated, he is miserable and says that when
he coughs, he tastes blood (Damp, 2014). This actually

The decision to
vaccinate should
rest with the parents, in concert
with their pediatrician, which vac-

happened to a boy I know.

A recent outbreak of measles has occupied headlines in the United States and brought to light the importance of vaccinating children. In fact, the measles
outbreak spawned the creation of California Senate Bill
277 which requires all children to be vaccinated prior to
entering kindergarten and overrides any personal or re-

ligious beliefs. Notwithstanding the importance of being

adequately vaccinated to protect all, the decision to vaccinate should rest with the parents, in concert with their
pediatrician, which vaccines their child should or should
not receive; not with a government agency.

Quest for Balance - 1

cines their child

should or should
not receive; not
with a government
agency.

THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINES

Vaccinating against disease has proven to be successful at almost eliminating many childhood diseases

and many parents feel that no longer do they need to

immunize their child. In fact in the year 2000 measles
had been considered eliminated in the United States

Unfortunately, as
effective as vac-

(cdc.gov).
Unfortunately, as effective as vaccines are, there
is no guarantee that a child will not contract a disease,

cines are, there is

no guarantee that
a child will not

contract a disease,
the vaccine will
only help ease the
symptoms of the
illness.

the vaccine will only help ease the symptoms of the ill-

ness. For example, the boy at the beginning who contracted whooping cough had already been vaccinated,
yet he caught the virus.

Though he felt miserable, his

symptoms were much lighter than had he not been vaccinated. In todays global society the importance of being adequately vaccinated cannot be stressed enough.
Measles outbreaks still occur in other parts of the world

and are brought into the United States by those who are
either visiting or returning to this country.
The idea of vaccinating against contagious disease has been around for centuries. According to the
History of Vaccines, as early as 1000 AD the Chinese experimented with inoculation against smallpox. Not always did the people embrace the idea of vaccination

right away. Around 1718 when Lady Mary Montagu traveled to Turkey and discovered that the people in Turkey
were performing variolation every autumn, she determined that she would return to England and encourage
Quest for Balance - 2

the procedure there. People were hesitant to receive

the immunization against smallpox at first but it slowly

grew in popularity as word spread about the effectiveness of the vaccine (Timelines). As effective as immunizations have proven to be, only one disease, smallpox
has been completely eradicated (What Would Happen, par. 4).

Up to this point
parents could opt-

out of inoculating

CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 277

their child based

Enter California Senate Bill 277 (SB 277) which

amends the existing law requiring students to be immunized prior to entering public schools. Up to this
point parents could opt-out of inoculating their child
based on personal or religious beliefs or because of
medical reasons. Senate Bill 277 eliminates the personal
and religious beliefs exemption while maintaining medical exemptions (SB 277). Senators Pan of Sacramento,

and Allen of Santa Monica introduced the bill on Febru-

on personal or religious beliefs or

because of medical
reasons. Senate
Bill 277 eliminates

the personal and

ary 19, 2015 After an outbreak of measles in December

at Disneyland sickened 136 Californians (Krieger). According to the Mercury News on May 14, 2015 the bill

religious beliefs
exemption while

passed the Senate and is now getting ready to be voted

on in the State Assembly. Many parents were in an uproar over the idea of being forced to immunize their
child even if religious beliefs were their motivation to

maintaining medical exemptions

(SB277)

not vaccinate.
Because of the opposition to the Bill, amendments have been made to appease those concerns such
Quest for Balance - 3

as a grandfathering in those students whose parents

have chosen not to vaccinate because of religious be-

The list of immunizations that are required today has

grown considerably over the years.
According to the
CDC and the Amer-

liefs. Consequently, there is the potential that SB 277

might not go into effect until the year 2020 (Krieger).
One might question if SB 277 is necessary at all.
The list of immunizations that are required today
has grown considerably over the years. According to the
CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics the num-

ber of immunizations recommended is fourteen, given

at various stages of a childs growth. In 1970 the number
of recommended vaccines was seven. Including booster
shots, a child could receive up to 41 doses over an 18
year period with the first dose being received prior to

ican Academy of

leaving the hospital at birth. At a childs two-month well

Pediatrics the num-

check with the doctor six different vaccinations are now

ber of immuniza-

parents are either opting to not vaccinate their child or

tions recommended is fourteen, given at various stag-

es of a childs
growth. In 1970 the

recommended (Recommended...). No wonder so many

delaying some of the vaccines. Parents should have the
right to do what is best, in their opinion, for their child.
Medical exemptions will still be allowed. Medical exemptions could include allergic reactions to an ingredient in
the vaccine or the health of the child is such that the
vaccine might do more harm than good. These and other decisions are best left to the parents and the their
doctors.

number of recommended vaccines

was seven.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

One of the questions that are raised with the proQuest for Balance - 4

posal of Senate Bill 277 is if the government is overstep-

ping their bounds when it comes to personal and religious beliefs. Religious freedom is a basic right of all
mankind.

The First Amendment states in part,

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
(The First Amendment). This action of forcing parents
to immunize their children against their religious beliefs

does not sound in keeping with the First Amendment. If

SB 277passes, That would make California one of only
three states -- the others are Mississippi and West Virginia--that doesnt allow personal or religious exemptions to vaccine laws (Krieger).

No government
can exist in peace,
except such laws
are framed and
held inviolate as

Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have

recently raised a voice of warning regarding the importance of maintaining religious freedoms. Elder Robert D. Hales in quoting the 134th section of the Doctrine
and Covenants said, No government can exist in peace,
except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will
secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience...The civil magistrate should restrain crime, but
never control conscience [or] suppress the freedom of
the soul (Hales). The 134th section of the Doctrine and
Covenants was first revealed in 1835 and expresses the
Churchs belief of what civil government is for and how

members of the Church should operate within those

governments. As parents and citizens of the United
States we have the responsibility to stand up for what
we believe to be correct and true.
Quest for Balance - 5

will secure to each

individual the free

exercise of conscience(Doctrine
and Covenants
134).

At the end of April, 2015, Elder D. Todd Christof-

ferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at a

meeting in a Brazil Mosque regarding the need for
Vigilance and cooperation to resist threats to religious
freedom. He explains, A robust freedom is not merely
what political philosophers have referred to as the

A robust
freedom is ... a
much richer

negative freedom to be left alone, however important

that may be. Rather, it is a much richer "positive free-

dom - the freedom to live ones religion or beliefs in a

legal, political, and social environment that is tolerant,
respectful,

"positive freedom
- the freedom to
live ones religion

or beliefs in a legal,

and

accommodating

of

diverse

be-

liefs(Christofferson).
The oppression of religious freedom is not new
or exclusive to those of any one particular faith or culture. History has shown just how atrocious man can treat

his fellow man. After WW II, in 1948 the United Nations

adopted

the

Universal

Declaration

of

Human

political, and social

Rights (UDHR). The Declaration contains a Preamble

environment that is

and 30 Articles or statements of each persons rights as

a human being. Article 18 states: Everyone has the right

tolerant, respectful,
and accommodating of diverse beliefs(Christofferso

n).

to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this

right includes freedom to change his religion or belief,
and freedom, either alone or in community with others
and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief
in teaching, practice, worship and observance (UDHR).
Clearly, everyone has the right to live their religion and

practice it as they see fit. This includes making decisions

regarding health and well-being.

Quest for Balance - 6

Educating Parents

Education is the key to finding a balance between

the publics safety and maintaining personal and reli-

gious beliefs. Education about how quickly a disease can

spread among those who are not vaccinated and the
benefits of inoculation. For instance, according to
Vox.com in 2014 an Amish community in Ohio suffered
a major outbreak of measles when a missionary to the
Philippines returned, unknowingly carrying measles. All
of those who became ill had not been vaccinated, In
the 1990s, [Ivan] Miller, [a furniture store owner struck
by measles] explained, two Ohio kids allegedly got sick
after they took the MMR shot, which protects against
measles, mumps, and rubella. Rumors about vaccine

safety spread through the Amish community like a virus.

That put a scare in us and we quit, Miller says. This
made it incredibly easy for measles - the most contagious virus known to man - to move through this cluster
of unvaccinated individuals (Belluz).

Education is the

key to finding a
balance between
the publics safety
and maintaining
personal and religious beliefs ...

Not only education about the importance of vaccinating but, also education about the timing of vac-

cines, what ingredients are contained therein as well as

additional benefits of immunization. The CDC and The
History of Vaccines are just two examples of websites
that have Parent Information pages available. Which are
divided by topic and by the age level and include interactive demonstrations about how immunizations work
(CDC and Timelines). Doctors too, are always happy to
Quest for Balance - 7

field the concerns and questions of parents. They should

be the ones to assist parents in deciding which course of

action is best for their child in regards to when and what
immunizations should be given.

If more parents
chose the option to

Interestingly, there is an exemption clause in SB

277 that allows parents to not immunize their child, if
that child is enrolled in a home-based private

not inoculate and

school (SB 277). If more parents chose the option to

homeschool their

not inoculate and homeschool their child, the results of

child, the results of

Instead of protecting every child in the community,

SB 277 could be
the opposite of the
desired outcome of

SB 277 could be the opposite of the desired outcome.

more could be left unprotected if parents choose to
homeschool their child.
Vaccines have proven to be a wonderful invention in
helping prevent and in some cases eliminate disease.
With a world that seems to be coming closer through

every child being

protected by vaccines.

technology and transportation, the need for adequate

immunization is important, but not at the expense of
losing the basic freedom to exercise our personal and
religious beliefs. Those who are best suited in making
such personal decisions about a childs health are the
parents in consultation with their doctor, not a bureau-

cratic government agency.

Quest for Balance - 8

Works Cited
Belluz, Julia. How an Amish missionary caused 2014s massive measles outbreak,

vox.com. 29 Jan.2015. Web. 28 May 2015.

Christofferson, D. Todd A Celebration of Religious Freedom The Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints. 30 April 2015. Web. 23 May 2015.

<http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/a-celebration-of-religious-free
dom>.
Damp, Connor. Interview. 20 June 2014.
Hales, Robert D. Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom. Ensign May 2015:
111- 113.
Krieger, Lisa M.: Vaccine exemptions: California Senate overwhelmingly passes SB 277,

abolishing most opt-outs San Jose Mercury News, 19 May 2015. Web. 21 May
2015.<www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_28115461/vaccine-exemptions:-cali
fornia-senate-overwhelmingly-passes-sb-277-abolishing-most-optouts>.
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 18 years Centers

or Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
1 Jan 2015. Web. 23 May 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

schedules/

index.html>.
SB 277 Public Health: vaccinations. California Legislative Information. Official Cali
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<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub15-16/bill/sen/sb_0251-3000/sb_277_bill

_20150219.html>.
Smith, Joseph, Jr. Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter -day Saints, 1981. Print.

The First Amendment Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School, 2015. Web.
23 May 2015. <https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment>.
Timelines-The History of Vaccines An Educational Resource. The College of
Physicians of Philadelphia, 31 Jan. 2015. Web. 27 May 2015.
<http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/timelines/all>.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights [Official Document], in Children and Youth
in History, Item #139, https://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/primary-sources/139
(accessed 30 May 2015). Annotated by Kriste Lindenmeyer.
What Would Happen If We Stopped Vaccinations? Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 May 2014.
Web. 21 May 2015.<http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/
whatifstop.htm>.