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I. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................313
II. HISTORY OF VACCINATIONS.......................................................................315
A. The Medical History of Vaccinations.....................................................315
B. The Legal History of Vaccinations.........................................................318
1. An Overview......................................................................................318
a. The three opposition groups............................................................319
I. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.......................................................................319
II. POLITICAL LIBERTARIANS............................................................319
IN. SELF-INTEREST MAXIMIZERS......................................................320
b. Outbreaks and the legal system.......................................................321
2. The First Vaccination Laws...............................................................321
3. Judicial Challenges: The Police Power..............................................324
4. Judicial Challenges: The First Amendment.......................................328
5. Judicial Challenges: The Fourteenth Amendment.............................329
III. THE CURRENT CLIMATE.............................................................................329
A. Current Medical Climate.........................................................................329
B. Current Legal Climate.............................................................................330
C. The Autism Debate.................................................................................332
IV. ANALYSIS...................................................................................................334
A. Herd Immunity.........................................................................................334
B. The Anti-Vaccinationist Argument..........................................................335
C. The Solution............................................................................................337
V. CONCLUSION...............................................................................................339
I. INTRODUCTION
Measles outbreaks across the United States are rising in number.* 1 In the first eight months of 2013, "[t]here were 159 cases of measles. ... If that trend continues, there will be more cases in 2013 than in any year since 1996, when some 500 cases were reported."2 The largest concentrated outbreak is linked to a large church in Texas where church leaders have openly questioned vaccinations.1 * 3 As a result, twenty-one" people were infected, including a fourmonth-old infant.4
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is also on the rise.5 One notable outbreak occurred in 2010 in California.6 Nine thousand, one hundred and twenty people were reportedly infected with whooping cough.7 Additionally, among those infected, ten infants died because babies are below the minimum age requirement to receive the pertussis vaccination.8 Researchers were able to link the outbreak in whooping cough to California residents refusing vaccinations using state statutory personal belief exemptions.9
The increase in preventable disease outbreaks can be linked to a distrust of vaccinations.10 * Religious and personal belief exemptions in state statutory immunization requirements allow members of recognized religious organizations to waive the vaccination requirements for children entering public schools." Additionally, according to a licensed physician, to be enrolled in Iowa public schools, a note from a medical doctor is required stating vaccines are not required for medical contraindication or religious reasons, and specific religion must be recognized and specifically prohibit immunizations. 12 This same physician also attests: "I know that every community has a doctor that will sign an exemption."13
One of the benefits of necessitating vaccinations for the vast majority of the population is known as herd immunity.14 This "is a form of immunity...