Is It Cruel To Not Vaccinate an Animal?

The dilemma is this; some people for a variety of reasons choose not to vaccinate children or pets.

Some fear reactions. Some fear the number of insults an immune system gets with a series of concurrent vaccinations. Some believe “natural” immunity is better than that attained with “artificial” vaccines. Others simply believe the benefits are overstated to perpetuate the vaccine production industry.

Typically such firmly held beliefs and fears are perpetuated by information that may or may not be complete, accurate, and developed by a reliable source. Washington State, where I work, has the highest rate of unvaccinated children.

Here, in some enclaves, parents routinely drag their kids to a “chickenpox party,” in order to expose them to the virus, develop the disease, and somehow acquire a “more natural” immunity. At what point does intentionally exposing a child to a virus such as chickenpox that will live in their nervous system the rest of their lives become a child protection issue? Ask your physician that question and watch as their eyes glaze over and they change the subject.

How about veterinary medicine? What about the person that acquires a puppy from that cardboard box outside the local grocery store and doesn’t get it vaccinated only to have it break later on with parvovirus? Is that cruel? Or is it neglect? Or is it an individual’s right to choose in spite of any consequences?

Taking this a step further, when does not vaccinating a child for a contagious disease to ensure they become infected, thus shedding pathogenic microorganisms, a public health concern? Think back to your old herd health lectures. With certain zoonotic agents intentionally infecting someone can even be classified as an act of terrorism.

This all seems to me to be a big field of grass waiting for attorneys to make hay.