By Morgan Radwick, design editor

Whether you are for or against childhood immunizations, there has been a lot happening from state to state regarding the potential for losing medical freedoms and our rights to choose what goes into our own bodies.

Many people are not aware that we currently have the freedom to choose what goes into our bodies, including vaccines. Too often parents are being told by healthcare professionals and school officials that it is the “law” that your child must be vaccinated in order to attend school; however, this is not true.

Currently, Pennsylvania, along with 48 other states, excluding California, have vaccination exemptions. According to Pennsylvania Law 28 Pa. Code §23.84, Pennsylvania has three exemptions.

These exemptions allow for medical, religious, and conscientious/philosophical exemptions to immunizations as requirements for attendance in public schools.

These exemptions are under attack in every state, and parents’ rights to make informed decisions for the health of their children are at risk of being stripped away.

Unfortunately, it appears vaccines are not a one size fits all. According to its website, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, or NVIC, has paid out over $4.2 billion in vaccine-related injuries and death since its inception in 1986.

The number of vaccinations required by the CDC has risen considerably over the past 36 years. In 1983, the doses required were 24, in 2019 there are 72 required doses.

With the reported autism, autoimmune disorders, and childhood cancer rates on the rise, this leaves many parents questioning the safety of vaccines from the same industry that once said cigarettes don’t cause cancer, asbestos isn’t dangerous, and Roundup isn’t harmful.

In 1986, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act was passed, leaving vaccine manufacturers not liable for injury or death related to their products, even though they state in their own vaccine inserts that vaccines can cause harmful and deadly side effects.

Within the Constitution of the United States, we as citizens continue to have freedoms and rights under this law.

The right of individuals to make conscientious medical decisions regarding their own health is being challenged in many states, and has been completely taken away from the citizens in the state of California.

What could this mean for you if this happens in Pennsylvania? What will you do when you don’t have a choice?