Anti-vaxxers are the Grim Reaper’s latest recruits.
People are welcome to observe whatever rituals, beliefs, superstitions they want. If those practices endanger themselves, so be it. But when it comes to harming others, you have to draw a line. When it comes to endangering children, sorry, you do not have a right to practice your religion at the expense of danger to your children.
And it is not just your own children. The anti-vax extremists who fail to vaccinate their children are not only putting their OWN children in danger, they are also endangering other children, adults and infants who have legitimate medical reasons preventing them from getting vaccinations and now run the risk of being exposed to highly contagious diseases because of some religious or anti-science nut job.
If someone from a primitive tribe wants to offer their child as a human sacrifice to ensure a bounteous harvest, or someone comes from a religion or country that allows polygamy, we don’t allow a religious exemption.
If a Jehovah’s Witness wants to deny their underage child a life-saving blood transfusion, we don’t allow a religious exemption — child medical advocates can obtain a court order to overrule parental rights.
If a Christian Scientist wants to deny their underage child life-saving chemotherapy, we don’t allow a religious exemption.
There is no reason we should allow a religious or “personal belief” exemption that puts not only the parents’ own child(ren) at risk, but others as well.
Anti-vaxxers are the Grim Reaper’s latest recruits.
People are welcome to observe whatever rituals, beliefs, superstitions they want. If those practices endanger themselves, so be it. But when it comes to harming others, you have to draw a line. When it comes to endangering children, sorry, you do not have a right to practice your religion at the expense of danger to your children.
And it is not just your own children. The anti-vax extremists who fail to vaccinate their children are not only putting their OWN children in danger, they are also endangering other children, adults and infants who have legitimate medical reasons preventing them from getting vaccinations and now run the risk of being exposed to highly contagious diseases because of some religious or anti-science nut job.
If someone from a primitive tribe wants to offer their child as a human sacrifice to ensure a bounteous harvest, or someone comes from a religion or country that allows polygamy, we don’t allow a religious exemption.
If a Jehovah’s Witness wants to deny their underage child a life-saving blood transfusion, we don’t allow a religious exemption — child medical advocates can obtain a court order to overrule parental rights.
If a Christian Scientist wants to deny their underage child life-saving chemotherapy, we don’t allow a religious exemption.
There is no reason we should allow a religious or “personal belief” exemption that puts not only the parents’ own child(ren) at risk, but others as well.