Tag Archive for: Vaccination

Moving a Sofa – or a Nation

There is a long-running debate in America between those with a libertarian outlook, who believe it is every man for himself, and the rest of us. Neal Barkus cuts through the debate about individual versus collective rights at a moment’s notice by asking how important our objective really is. Is it moving a sofa or moving a nation? If our objective is hugely important – maybe existential – we know the answer. We have demonstrated time and again that the collective approach is the only way. After all, we are in this together.

Is Vaccination Policy Fair?

The Republican dominated legislature in West Virginia is trying to undo one of the successful health policy measures in the state. Vaccinations mandated for public school enrollment have largely kept WV from the wave of measles outbreaks in all our surrounding states. Republicans, including all six representing Jefferson County, have voted to weaken this mandate.

Making Sense of the Religious Exemption Dispute in West Virginia

West Virginia has traditionally been careful to protect school age children from transmissible childhood illnesses. It was one of only a handful of states that required childhood vaccinations as a requirement for attending public schools. Now some anti-vaccination people are arguing that this policy is in conflict with the Equal Protection for Religion act and are suing to allow for exemptions. Neal Barkus lays out the arguments and anticipates the harm that these exemptions will cause community health.