Comment Re:Seems to be OK all around then (Score 3, Insightful) 616
Disclaimer: I am pro-vax.
It has been established beyond all reasonable doubt that current MMR, DTaP, etc, vaccines are harmless except to those with specific medical conditions, and are effective against the diseases they target.
Current vaccines.
I think, however, that giving the government power to mandate vaccincations in this manner could lead to serious problems in future.
While today's vaccines are fine, there is the possibility that one day a vaccination will be produced that will not be desirable by the people. The NSA for example has proven itself to be insidious and virtually untouchable. At some point in the future they could introduce tracking nano-devices or a behaviour modifying cocktail to some otherwise innocuous vaccine, and the populace would have no legal standing to object. Another possibility is a product being introduced that may not have gone through sufficient testing due to some failure in due process. While the government launches inquiries and debates matters, people who refuse it are subsequently refused healthcare and die.
Vaccines for other conditions exist that have raised legitimate safety concerns: look up the current HPV vaccine for example.