education & vaccines

as increasingly parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children according to the CDC’s recommendations, i have heard more and more complaints by others–some parents themselves, some not. the chief complaint being that not vaccinating one child puts other children at risk. it puts adults at risk. some of these individuals go so far as to say parents should be forced to fully vaccinate their children or face additional fines/punishments.

while i may not agree with that sentiment, i think the conversation is healthy. i just hope it is extended to other parts of society. such as education. when we remove our children from public schools and place them in exclusive, prestigious, incredibly expensive private schools are we not only thinking of our own child? is the child who does not get the boost private education can provide now at increased risk? do these decisions not affect society as it undermines the public school system?

herd immunity is an important concept and does not only relate to infectious diseases.