The Flu Shot Should Not Be Mandatory

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Recommended: Should vaccinations against influenza be made mandatory

Should the Flu Shot Be Mandatory?

Vaccines have been proclaimed by many people as one of the miracles of

modern medicine. Vaccines are credited with saving thousands of lives

and wiping out many contagious diseases. Recently, there has been a

tremendous debate whether annual influenza vaccines should be

mandatory. Influenza vaccines should be voluntary because people have

the right to examine data on vaccinations and make their own informed

decisions. Although people should have the freedom to choose to be

vaccinated, the public needs to be educated about the personal,

economical, and social benefits of receiving the influenza vaccine. In

addition, people who are at a high risk of contracting influenza as

well as health care providers should be encouraged to receive an

influenza vaccine in order to decrease the major health burden

associated with the disease.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a viral infection of the

respiratory system and it is characterized by abrupt onset of fever,

sore throat, and nonproductive cough. Influenza is spread from person

to person by inhalation of the droplets produced when a person

infected with influenza coughs or sneezes. In addition, it can also be

spread by contact with infected objects such as utensils. Current

influenza vaccines are about 70% to 90% effective in preventing

influenza in healthy adults. Since the vaccines are made of dead

fragments of influenza viruses, they cannot cause influenza. The

strains of influenza that circulate change every year and therefore,

it is necessary to make a new influenza vaccine annually. After

vaccination, the body's immune system produces antib...

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not be mandatory and should remain the choice of each individual.

However, people at a high risk of influenza as well as health-care

providers should consider receiving the vaccine. In addition, programs

educating people about the benefits of influenza vaccination should

become a priority among health officials. Ultimately, people should

trust their own judgment when deciding whether influenza vaccines are

right for them.

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[1] Essen, G. A., "The Socio-Economic Impact of Influenza".

http://www.eswi.org/Bulletin_October_1997.cfm

[2] Frayha, Husn. "Influenza Vaccination: A Call for Action"

http://www.kfshrc.edu.sa/annals/176/97-248R.html

[3] "Influenza".

http://www.caw.ca/whatwedo/health&safety/factsheet/hsfssubstanceno37.asp

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