Isabella Towne
Editorial Editor
As of late, there’s been a lot of debate about whether it’s a violation of American freedom to require COVID-19 vaccines to be put in schools. There’s already been enough complaints about required masks, which while aren’t ideal, they aren’t a violation of human rights.
Whether you knew it or not, there have always been required vaccinations. There is a list provided by LBUSD of all doses you have needed throughout the past years. These include Polio, Measles, Tetanus and more. There hasn’t been as much uproar to these vaccines as there has been for the COVID vaccine, probably due to the fact that they’re not new. Those who are enraged are misunderstanding the whole situation. If this truly was a ‘violation of their American rights,’ wouldn’t they have complained many years ago when they first entered the district? Why now, when the vaccine is probably one of the most important due to recent events? The COVID vaccine is not harmful and it protects others.
“I think it would be a lot safer…” An anonymous sophomore says, when talking about required vaccines at school.
Photo Courtesy of Mildly Interesting on Twitter. A vaccine card from the 1950s, similar to those today.
If you think the idea of vaccine requirements and cards is new, it’s not. Besides students always having to get vaccines to keep both themselves and other students safe. In the 1950’s students were required to get vaccinated against Polio, which students today are still required to do. While the pandemic is definitely a new situation, required vaccines have been here for decades and won’t be leaving anytime soon. COVID vaccines are simply another to be added to the list for future generations to come.
While it’s completely valid to be scared or hesitant about the vaccine, please be reassured! Nurse Debbie Okada, who is also the CHOC Community Vaccine Clinic Site Coordinator, says that the COVID vaccine type is in fact not new. It has been in research for over 30 years. She says, “The process of creation of any medication, vaccine or otherwise is very stringent…They haven’t left one thing behind.” She also mentioned that it is very useful against COVID.
While it’s not 100% required, it’s strongly encouraged and could benefit society. Research has been done thoroughly, and the idea of new vaccines being needed quickly and has been happening since the 1950s. To put it simply, go get your COVID vaccine! Keep yourself, your family, your friends and your school safe in one of the easiest ways possible.
Aarian Elisabeth Rogers • Nov 19, 2021 at 11:07 am
In issue 2/2021 (published November 17, 2021) Isabella Towne wrote an article entitled, “Required Vaccines are Not New.” In the article, the author addresses the debate over vaccine mandates in school and points out that requirements for other vaccines are required to enter public schools as well. I think it is very important to educate people on the vaccine and I liked how Towne added a quote from a nurse at CHOC. I also loved the addition of the polio vaccine card photo dated from 1956. Everything stated in the article was very relevant. I would’ve liked to see a counterargument and the mentioning that our school has at home learning programs for those who choose to not get the vaccine. I also have some questions about the topic. Has LBUSD or Millikan stated anything about the possibility of a COVID vaccine mandate? Should people who medically can’t receive the COVID vaccine be allowed in school in the case of a mandate? Should the vaccine mandate be implemented now or should we wait for the future school year? Overall, Towne did an excellent job at explaining the situation and educating people. The article is very well written and I hope people read it.
sherlyn rodriguez • Nov 18, 2021 at 9:28 pm
In Issue 11/2021, (published November 17,2021), Isabella Towne, wrote an article titled, Required Vaccines are not new. Isabella makes very interesting points on how as LBUSD students we ourselves have had to show proof of other vaccinations in order to attend a LBUSD school. She also shows proof of an old vaccine card from the 50s that looks very similar to our current COVID vaccine cards. As a vaccinated student, I completely agree with Isabella’s statement. Vaccines have always been around and we’ve always gotten them, why is it that all of a sudden getting the COVID vaccine isn’t safe? Like mentioned in the article, though COVID vaccines are not required it is good to have it. The vaccines were made to keep us safe. I do have one question for Isabella, where was she able to find the picture of the Polio vaccine card? Her article was very well written where she addressed both points of views from both sides of the argument, those in favor of vaccines and those not in favor. She uses a very good appeal to emotion at the end of the article where she mentions keeping your family and friends safe by getting vaccinated. By saying that, she could encourage readers to get the vaccine because everyone wants their family and friends to be safe. It truly was an amazing article!