A thought to consider.
There is a logic to the pro-choice side of the abortion debate which is: “A woman’s body is properly hers. She has the right to choose whether or not to be pregnant, or go through with a pregnancy, and evaluate the risks associated with pregnancy on her own. Whether or not she is pregnant is a private, medical decision: and the state has no business interfering or even knowing about this choice. It has no right to apply or condone pressure on her in making this decision. It has no right to punish her for making this decision.”
Please, correct me if you don’t think I’ve done the argument justice. Because buying into, or understanding, that argument will help follow the rest of what I’m presenting.
Because… what about vaccinations?
“A woman’s body is properly hers. She has the right to choose whether or not to be vaccination against any particular disease, and evaluate the risks of vaccination on her own. Whether or not she is vaccinated is a private, medical decision: and the state has no business interfering or even knowing about this choice. It has no right to apply or condone social pressure on her in making this decision. It has no right to punish her for making this decision.”
I happen to believe the state does have the right to know about someone’s vaccination status; to apply pressure to encourage people to be vaccinated; and–yes–in extreme circumstances punish them (quarantine measures, refuse access to public services and spaces… these are punishments). But shouldn’t vaccination, a medical procedure, like abortion, be a private decision between a patient and their doctor? And if the patient doesn’t want a vaccination… for whatever loopy or uninformed reason… isn’t that just like someone who doesn’t want to carry a pregnancy to term?
What are your thoughts?
Sir Tainley