On the other hand, should the state be allowed to tell a parent what medications to give to their child, especially when it is known that vaccines contain harmful chemicals. Although it is possible to obtain vaccination exemptions, it is easier said than done, according to Kurt Link MD, "fewer than two percent of people who request a vaccination exemption get one" ( cited in Null and Feldman). Although all states allow medical exemptions, this process takes time and is not always a possible solution. For example, according to government guidelines, a child could receive a medical exemption if they had a serious or life-threatening reaction to a certain vaccine. However, most children would never have been exposed to the chemicals in vaccines. It would therefore be impossible for parents to know in advance whether their child would react badly to the vaccine. However, to prove that your child would have a severe reaction to vaccines, he would first need to receive it to show that he had a bad reaction. Therefore, this process somewhat defeats its purpose and can lead to irreversible consequences. Other disadvantages of receiving exemptions are that parents may have difficulty enrolling their child in certain schools, and pediatricians have been known to refuse to treat an unvaccinated child (Null and Feldman). An argument in favor of vaccines is that once received, the child's immune system is strengthened and the next time the child comes into contact with that particular disease, he will be able to fight against it. However, studies have shown that disease outbreaks still occur in fully vaccinated areas. CDC epidemiologist Dr. William Atkinson, when reviewing a major measles outbreak, admits...... middle of document ......e this potentially risky decision after weighing the pros and cons the cons. It is the parents, and not the State, who will have to live with the consequences of this decision. On the other side of the debate, proponents of vaccination contribute to the success of diseases at their lowest levels through compulsory vaccination. Furthermore, they believe that if vaccines were no longer mandatory, many deadly diseases would reappear. They attest that while vaccinations can cause serious side effects, the likelihood is so rare that it outweighs the risks. Overall, the State cannot guarantee a parent that vaccinating their child is not unlike playing Russian roulette; all they can assure is that the chances of your child being the one to receive the ball are rare. Perhaps in the words of Albert Einstein: "Never do anything against conscience, even if the State requires it", there is wisdom..