Many childhood diseases can now be prevented through the use of vaccines. Should parents be made by law to immunize their children against common diseases or should individuals have the right to choose not to immunize their children? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

The field of medicine has advanced in leaps and bounds over the past century, and the modern technology available today only accelerates new discoveries and research when it comes to drugs and diseases. As our population is infected by new virus strains, the world's leading scientists are able to create effective

vaccines

in a matter of months, preventing

further

spread and decreasing deaths. Despite that, I believe parents should not be made by law to immunise their

children

against common illnesses.

Firstly

, manufacturing

vaccines

requires high time and capital investment, so

consequently

, the selling price of the vaccine will be expensive.

Additionally

, the pathogens inducing common diseases,

such

as seasonal flu or food poisoning, are always evolving and mutating as people recover from the ailment. As

such

,

vaccines

will have to be made and injected as often as the virus or bacteria changes. If a parent is obliged by law to immunise their

children

,

this

could regularly incur high costs, making it difficult for parents who cannot financially afford

such

frequent medical treatment for their

children

. Immunising against common illnesses will

also

jeopardise the development of a

child

's immune system. In order to build a strong immune system, the

child

's body must become accustomed to fighting against various foreign pathogens, like viruses or bacteria.

However

, using

vaccines

will allow the

child

to have immunity while skipping over

this

essential step,

thus

leaving the

child

at a disadvantage in the future should a different disease infect them because their immune system is insufficiently developed. In conclusion, vaccinating

children

against common infections is expensive and will impair the growth of their immune systems.

Therefore

, I believe that parents should have the right to decide not to immunise their

children

against certain diseases.