ProCon.org Injects New Research into Mandatory Vaccine Debate

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's leading provider of free pro and con research on controversial issues, ProCon.org (online at www.procon.org), has published new information and resources in the debate over whether vaccines should be mandatory for children. The pro and con vaccines information is available online at the free nonpartisan website vaccines.procon.org.

In response to the core question, "Should any vaccines be required for children?," ProCon.org researchers have presented: an extensive background; 19 pro and con arguments (citing 130+ sources); 31 quotes from authoritative sources including the American Association of Pediatrics (pro), the World Chiropractic Alliance (con), Centers for Disease Control (pro), Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (con); and other resources designed to stimulate critical thinking about the mandatory vaccines debate.

Proponents say that vaccination is safe and one of the greatest health developments of the 20th century. They point out that illnesses, including rubella, diphtheria, smallpox, polio, and whooping cough are now prevented by vaccination and millions of children's lives are saved. They contend adverse reactions to vaccines are extremely rare.

Opponents say that children's immune systems can deal with most infections naturally, and that injecting questionable vaccine ingredients into a child may cause side effects, including seizures, paralysis, and death. They contend that numerous studies prove that vaccines may trigger problems like autism, ADHD, and diabetes.

The vaccines research project features "Did You Know?" information including:

1. All 50 states require vaccinations for children entering public schools even though no mandatory federal vaccination laws exist. All 50 states issue medical exemptions, 48 states (excluding Mississippi and West Virginia) permit religious exemptions, and 19 states allow an exemption for philosophical reasons.
2. Between 1989 and July 1, 2014, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) – a federal forum created to handle vaccine injury claims, dispense injury compensation as appropriate, and shield physicians and vaccine manufacturers from vaccine injury liability – made 3,645 compensation awards, amounting to over $2.7 billion in awards and $113.2 million to cover legal costs. VICP also dismissed 9,786 claims, of which 4,925 dismissed claimants received $62.8 million to cover their legal costs.
3. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented between 1994 and 2014 due to vaccination.
4. About 30,000 cases of adverse reactions to vaccines have been reported annually to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) since 1990, with 10-15% classified as serious, meaning associated with permanent disability, hospitalization, life-threatening illness, or death.
5. In 1855 Massachusetts passed the first US state law mandating vaccinations for schoolchildren, followed by New York (1862), Connecticut (1872), Indiana (1881), and Arkansas (1882).

Other vaccine-related resources available at http://vaccines.procon.org include:

State Vaccination Exemptions for Children Entering Public Schools - All 50 states require vaccines for diseases such as polio and measles, but exemptions are available for medical (50 states), religious (48 states), and philosophical (19 states) reasons. Find all the state's laws on our updated chart.

State-by-State: Vaccinations Required for Public School Kindergarten - Connecticut requires the most vaccinations (10) while Montana requires the least (3). Find out which vaccines are needed to enter public school kindergarten in your state.

Vaccine Histories and Impact on Diseases - Do disease cases and deaths drop once a vaccine against the disease is introduced? How and when were vaccines discovered and developed? What does the CDC recommend? What is the vaccination rate for childhood vaccines? Find the answers to these questions about diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, Hib, and varicella.

ProCon.org President and Managing Editor, Kamy Akhavan, commented: "Many parents are confused about whether or not to vaccinate their children because they hear conflicting information about the safety of vaccines. Their doctor is often pro, while some of what they read online is con. ProCon.org presents both sides of the vaccines debate so parents can read the best research, think critically about the issue, and make informed decisions for themselves and their children."

For more information about whether or not any vaccines should be required for children, please visit http://vaccines.procon.org

About Us
ProCon.org (online at www.procon.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity whose mission is promoting critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship.  Information is presented on 50 different ProCon.org issue websites in subjects ranging from alternative energy, gay marriage, and medical marijuana to the death penalty, illegal immigration, and Obamacare.

ProCon.org websites are free of charge and require no registration.  The websites have been cited dozens of times by 21 international governments, 29 US state governments, and nine federal agencies reference ProCon.org.

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CONTACT: Kambiz Akhavan, 310-587-1407, [email protected]

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SOURCE ProCon.org