Vaccine Debate - Movement Artifact

Sydney Moody 

Dr. Brown

ENG 306

13 April 2016

Movement Artifact Rough Draft

     The Anti-vaccination movement may have gained so much traction in the United States because the core of the protest encompasses essential components of the American identity. The protests in California concerning the recent passing of Senate Bill 277 elicited the creation of new slogans in support of the anti-vaccination movement. The most coercive of which is the slogan “If there is a risk, there must be a choice.” This slogan has no clear author, but rings with American patriotism. Those who use this slogan are referring to the proposed risks involved with vaccinations, especially in children. This slogan is credible amongst American citizens, because in most risky circumstances, we are promised a choice. When it comes to smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol, for example, adult Americans are given the choice not to engage in these risky behaviors. Anti-vaccination protestors advocate for this same liberty to refuse vaccines that they believe come with unjustified risks. Those who profess this slogan are demanding that government officials intervene on behalf of concerned citizens who refuse to take part in what they believe to be a risky endeavor.

     When a law such as Senate Bill 277 creates this much public arousal and outcry, people tend to approach government officials pleading for an appeal. California resident, Laura Hayes, is one such individual. In open letter to California state senator, Ted Gaines, Laura Hayes wrote:

“SB 277 removes all non-medical exemptions for state-mandated vaccines. One need only back it up one step further to see that mandates in and of themselves are not in alignment with the U.S. Constitution, nor with the international code of ethics found in The Nuremberg Code, nor with the ethical practice of medicine which requires prior, voluntary, and informed consent.”

     The reference to the United States Constitution, a document that upholds many fundamental American values, represents a powerful use of ethos. To this day, American citizens regard the document with profound reverence. More than two hundred years after the creation of the Constitution (www.archives.gov), it means something to defend the rights that it promised. By referencing the Constitution, Hayes directly questions the legitimacy of Senate Bill 277.

     Also in Hayes’ statement, we see a key phrase of the Anti-Vaccination Movement previously discussed,  “informed consent” (Hayes). As a society, we place a great deal of trust in physicians and organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to make knowledgeable decisions about the healthcare that is made available to us. However, Hayes is claiming that a patient’s consent is just as vital to any medical procedure as it is when administering vaccines. Hayes also directly references the Nuremberg Code, which states that, “voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential” (hhs.gov). The inclusion of mandatory vaccination laws in states like California does not force parents to vaccinate their children, but newly implicated restrictions make it difficult to completely avoid vaccines.

     Hayes intentionally alluded to the Nuremberg Code and the U.S. Constitution to provide a source of ethos in her declaration against mandatory vaccination laws. Similarly, anti-vaccination campaigns use ideas fundamental to the idea of being American to market their opinions about vaccines.

                                         

Image credit: parentsrightscalifornia.weebly.com

     The image shown above was published on the website for the California Coalition for Vaccine Choice, known as parentsrightscalifornia.weebly.com. This artifact immediately directs reader’s attention to a sacred symbol of American patriots, the American flag. The flag itself is emblematic of American triumph and creates strong emotions. It was raised after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. It is flown outside the United States Capitol building and throughout Washington D.C. (house.gov). It distinguishes American citizens from athletes from around the world during the Olympics. The background chosen in the image above is an example of pathos, because the American flag has incredible sentimental value.

     Additionally, this image uses a word that is quintessential to the American identity –“freedom.” It is worth noting here that although freedom is abundant in this country, it is not absolute throughout the world. It is a privilege that American citizens honor by paying respects to the American soldiers and the American flag. Lee Greenwood captures this spirit in the lyrics of his song God Bless the USA, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me” (scoutsongs.com).

     Finally, this image uses the word “mandatory.” This word was specifically chosen to use the language of Senate Bill 277 against mandatory vaccine advocates (leginfo.ca.gov). The image reads, “Freedom of choice should be mandatory.” The wording of this image promotes the idea that instead of mandating vaccinations in California, the state should mandate that every citizen be given a choice about whether or not to utilize immunizations. The most compelling aspect of this image is that the ad does not need to use the word “vaccination” to capture the anti-vaccination movement. There is no mention of vaccinations because it has been figuratively ripped from its association with the word “mandatory,” and replaced with “freedom of choice.”

      On the other half of the Vaccine Debate, pro-vaccine activists have utilized their own protest artifacts to foster faith in science and vaccines. A member of UNICEF, Anthony Lake, captured an important piece of the pro-vaccine movement in the following statement of a keynote speech:

“Every child has a fundamental right to survive, to thrive and to grow. It should enrage us all that something as relatively inexpensive, easy to deliver and effective as routine vaccination is still not reaching the places where it can do the most good, and save the most children” (Lake).

     In the Preamble of the Constitution, the government promises to “promote the general Welfare” (archives.gov), and Lake’s statement prompts the international community to do the same. The various diseases that vaccines can prevent are “…a major risk to the health and welfare of human populations…” (Sun et al., 114), so it makes sense from a pro-vaccine point of view to promote vaccinations. The vaccinations for several common diseases have prevented “around six million annual deaths globally” (Sun et al., 14). In light of this worrisome statistic, it is clear why Anthony Lake would advocate for “routine vaccination” (Lake).

     The language of this segment of his speech vividly evokes pathos because he references the lives of young, vulnerable children. When a child’s life is implicated by our decisions, people tend to listen. Additionally, Lake mentions that these “relatively inexpensive” (Lake) vaccinations are not be used to their intended purpose, which introduces a hint of logos into this statement. He eludes to illogical reasons why vaccinations have not been used to their full potential.

     Even parents of children who had adverse affects to vaccinations recognize the importance of immunizations. Emily West, a mother whose son has adverse affects after being vaccinated, proclaimed her pro-vaccination stance in a CNN interview with Jareen Imam:

“‘At least try to vaccinate…I have tried, and I did it because it is part of my civic duty.’” (qtd. Imam).

    Emily West’s use of the phrase “civic duty” is a compelling use of pathos because American citizens have been taught not to take civic duties lightly. By elevating the practice of vaccination to the same level as “…obeying the laws of the country, paying taxes levied by the government, or serving on a jury…” (Liverpool), we assume that American citizens will comply with the best of their ability. Laws, taxes, and juries are created in the interest of the society as a whole. Similarly, vaccines are used in the interest of not only those who are vaccinated, but also those who cannot be vaccinated due to other health concerns.

     Mandatory vaccination laws, such as Senate Bill 277, create “a protective effect called herd immunity that interrupts the spread of the virus to vulnerable people” (Hensley). Carl Krawitt, another concerned parent whose child cannot be immunized, is also in favor of vaccinations (Aliferis). His son, Rhett, suffered from leukemia at an early age and now “depends on everyone around him for protection” (Aliferis). With individuals like Krawitt and West advocating for their child’s lives and vaccinations simultaneously, it is easy to see how pathos can be incorporated into the rhetoric of both sides of the controversy

     The dilemma with the vaccination debate is that people on both sides are interested in advocating for a worthy cause, child safety. Although the evidence overwhelmingly supports vaccinations, the United States is a democracy and people have the right to openly protest against them (Jana et al.). The Anti-Vaccination movement has managed to utilize both ethos and pathos in their campaign to repeal mandatory vaccination laws. Backed by Jenny McCarthy and Andrew Wakefield, the movement has captured our attention by purporting an association between vaccines and autism as well as various other conspiracies. Those who continue to advocate for vaccines have ethos, pathos, and logos in their favor, with many physicians, child cancer survivors, and statistics in support of vaccines.

Works Cited

Primary Sources:

California Senate Bill 277. leginfo.ca.gov. 19 February 2015. Web. 5 April 2016.

Constitution of the United States. archives.gov. Web. 14 April 2016.

Greenwood, Lee. “God Bless The USA.” scoutsongs.com. Web. 14 April 2016.

Hayes, Laura. Letter to Senator Gaines. California Coalition for Vaccine Choice. 20 March 2015. Web. 14 April 2016.

The Nuremberg Code. hhs.gov. Web. 14 April 2016.

Secondary Sources:

Aliferis, Lisa. “To Protect His Son, A Father Asks School To Bar Unvaccinated Children.” npr.org. 27 January 2015. Web. 14 April 2016.

Constitution Quotes. brainyquote.com. Web. 14 April 2016.

Flags Over the Capitol. house.gov. Web. 14 April 2016.

Hensley, Scott. “Vaccination Gaps Helped Fuel Disneyland Measles Spread.” npr.org. 16 March 2015. Web. 4 April 2016.

Imam, Jareen. “Parents to parents: Vaccinating is personal.” CNN. 7 February 2015. Web. 14 April 2016.

Jana, Laura A. June E. Osborn. “The History of Vaccine Challenges: Conquering Diseases, Plagued by Controversy.” Vaccinophobia and Vaccine Controversies of the 21^st Century. pgs. 1-13. 27 May 2013. Web. 7 April 2016.

Lake, Anthony. “Reaching the Fifth Child: Immunization and Equity.” UNICEF Institute of Medicine Annual Meeting, Washington D.C. 17 October 20111. Keynote Speech. unicef.org. Web. 14 April 2016.

Liverpool, Nicholas J.O. “Civil Rights, Civic Duties and Responsibilities.” Government of the Commonwealth of Dominca, Office of the President. Web. 14 April 2016.

Sun, Chengjun. Wei Yang. “Impact of Vaccination on Disease Prevention and Control.” Immunology and Immune System Disorders: Vaccinations: Procedures, Types and Controversy. Adeline I. Bezio and Braydon E. Campbell.  New York, NY: Nova Biomedical, (2012). 49-74. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 14 April 2016.