With flu season well on its way, vaccinations have sparked quite the controversy between parents and schools. Vaccinations for diphtheria, a highly contagious, bacterial disease; tetanus, a bacterial disease that causes spasms and pertussis, also known as whooping cough, are required five times between student’s seventh and twelfth grade years in order to attend Oklahoma public schools.

Many anti-vaccination parents argue that personal medical choices should not be interfered with by the government. Others argue that vaccinations are just a way to for large pharmaceutical companies, such as the FDA, to make money.

However, one of the most controversial arguments is that one or more ingredients in mandatory vaccinations cause autism. Despite scientific evidence by the Center of Disease Control supporting that there is no link between vaccinations and autism, this myth still evokes fear in many parents.

Whenever the guardian of a student does not require an adolescent to get their vaccinations, they are putting every student at their school in danger. This can be very hazardous for teachers, students, and faculty who may not be sheltered against the virus the vaccine protects against.

All youth should be vaccinated against diseases in order to keep school systems in Oklahoma safe and healthy.

Carlee Clark