Dr Oz makes me furious

[RedRoses]

I must say that sounds surprising coming from a free country. Mandatory vaccination takes away any responsibility for one-selves. Taking kids away from school basically is a path to self-destruction. Children won't get educated at home about vaccination, so that their children will also not learn to have their children vaccinated, etc.

When such things get obligated in such a vice-like way, there must be a reason to it. Makes me wonder: what is it?

And I hope the answer won't be "because it's the easy way" Thoughts that come to my mind: when logic would compel us, yet we refuse, a major cause is usually because people are either ignorant or very scared. And both are too often caused by a lack of understanding. Is there a lack of understanding? Which would automatically lead to: is there a lack of comprehensible information? A lack of representatives and advisers? And if there is sufficient: is there a lack of trust in the quality of the information given? And why? Or is there some higher power that over-rules it all? I take it this can't be only religiously in a country where medical interventions are so normal, that even unnecessary (plastic) surgery doesn't seem to scare people... Just my train of thoughts

[EvilEvilKitten]

Now now you're confusing public health with freedom and that simply will not do. You can endanger your own health as much as you like but you aren't permitted to take everyone else down with you. That's the position. Yes, we make the shots mandatory and then permit exemptions.

Schooling is mandatory but how it is achieved is subject to debate & documentation. Parents are given 3 options, home-schooling, private schools and public schools. Regardless of which option you select, you will still pay the taxes that support public schools. These taxes are paid by everyone whether they have children or not on the basis that everyone receives the benefit of an educated populace. The argument is sound even if the results are subject to debate.

Which brings us to why a parent would refuse to vaccinate their children against diseases that can kill them and would kill them given half a chance - because such parents truly believe thay are doing the best for their kids. The reason they can continue to believe this is because they do not understand science.

You always have to remember that 85% of any/every population is "average and below".

[RedRoses]

I know about the 85% average and below. But they are here too. Just the same.
Yet 95% of all children do get vaccinated here. Out of free will

Well at least; their parents' free will and there's effort put in making it comprehensible for kids too.
Ask a child in primary school and there's quite a good chance (s)he will know the basics of the science of vaccination.
And may I add: over 99% of all children here are in public schools.

Hence my surprise, followed by my train of questions

[EvilEvilKitten]

Most children here are vaccinsted as well. But those who refuse do tend to be very vocal.