HEALTH WEEK
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 23
Vaccines
Aboriginal rights
Artist
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particularly vulnerable because they cannot make
healthcare decisions for themselves, but instead rely
on the judgment of their parents, and at the same time
are particularly susceptible to communicable diseases.
Parents do, in fact, have the right and responsibility
to make decisions for their children, so the interest
of an individual child is often not enough to compel
vaccination. However, allowing the vaccination rate
to fall below the levels required for herd immunity
puts those who cannot be vaccinated for medical
reasons at increased risk. Again using measles as an
example, there is considerable overlap between those
who cannot receive the vaccination and those who
are most at risk of measles complications (specifically
infants less than twelve months old, pregnant women,
and people with compromised immune systems due
to cancer, AIDS, or immunosuppressant drugs). In
passing this vaccine legislation, California gives the
public interest priority over individual rights, and the
Courts have given indications that they will uphold
the law in the face of First Amendment challenges.
in part because the Six Nations Band supported D.H.’s
decision. Unlike Makayla’s case, for the first time in
Canada, the hospital brought an action against the
CAS pursuant to the Child and Family Services Act to
force chemotherapy on J.J. The hospital asserted that
D.H.’s decision to discontinue chemotherapy placed
J.J. at a medical risk and, thus, as a child in need of
protection pursuant to section 37(2) (e)’s definition of
a child in need of protection, which reads as follows:
Status of the Artist Act is similar to that of Ontario,
Saskatchewan, and Quebec. The importance of the
artist is outlined including their impact to Nova
Scotia’s culture and provincial identity, as well as the
rights artists’ hold to join artist organizations.
Meanwhile, in Canada…
Ontario is one of only two provinces that make
childhood vaccinations mandatory for children
entering school, but exemptions for philosophical
reasons can be obtained by filling out a form.
Otherwise there is a fine for up to $1000. So far there
is no indication that any government in Canada is
seeking legislative measures to increase childhood
vaccination rates. With measles vaccination rates
below fifty percent in some Toronto schools, it may
only be a matter of time before an outbreak turns into
an outcry.
One final note on the flu vaccine
I know, no one wants a reminder that winter is
coming, but it’s time for a friendly public service
reminder. Influenza is a rapidly changing virus, which
necessitates generating a new vaccine every year.
There are multiple strains and it is difficult to predict
which strain may be most prevalent in any given
year, so the efficacy varies but is generally lower than
other vaccines. Even with lower efficacy, a high rate
of vaccination will still decrease transmission, which
ultimately helps to protect those most vulnerable to
complications such as infants and the elderly. So show
your grandma and infant niece that you love them—go
get your flu shot! ◆
TV L Rev
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Best