Impact on Society

The greatest impact on society is the added risk for preventable disease. The Center for Disease Control’s vaccine compliance goal for children two-years-old is 70% for Hepatitis B and 90% for all others (Center for Disease Control, 2013). How can vaccine compliance be improved? One study concluded that the best way is for clinicians to properly educate parents and inform them of necessary vaccines (Darden et al., 2013). 

There are obvious consequences for a population of unvaccinated. At some point, it becomes a matter of legal liability. Sure, you have the ability to choose to vaccinate yourself and your children, but should you then be responsible if it leads to the spread of a preventable disease? One article suggested that it could and seemed to infer that it should (Caplan et al., 2012). What if a child that is too young to receive the MMR vaccine comes in to contact with an un-vaccinated older child who has measles. Should the parents be held responsible for the consequences of their choice not to vaccinate?

As the law is now, it is up to the court to decide whether or not parents of the unvaccinated are liable for damages but parents should be educated on the possible consequences of vaccination refusal (Caplan et al., 2012). Parents are also responsible for isolating their child in the event that they suffer from an outbreak. The legal “loop-hole” lies in the fact that it is scientifically impossible to link with absolute certainty the source of the virus. However, if experts in the field were called to testify, it is likely that the point of origin could be traced back. If the time of exposure supported the time of outbreak as well as other physiological signs that could be confirmed by lab tests it would not be a difficult theory to prove. This article suggested that in the future, it is likely that laws will be created that make it easier to prosecute the unvaccinated.