An article in the Sunday paper today was about healthcare workers and flu shots. Apparently, flu shots are mandated by law in some states if you work in the healthcare industry. Some people in these states and in hospitals in other states have been terminated for refusing to get the flu shot. In some locations, if a healthcare worker has not been vaccinated against the flu, they are required to wear a mask while at work for the patients protection.
This all seems pretty outrageous until you consider that there are already laws on the books which require not just healthcare workers but all citizens to be vaccinated against certain diseases, such as small pox, mumps and measles. If one has religious reasons for not having vaccinations, they can sometimes avoid them. I find this interesting since there is a religious sect here in Oregon that does not believe in medical care what-so-ever. Recently, there have been minors, children of the people in this sect, who have gotten sick and either died or whose health was seriously compromised. The parents were charge with child neglect and prosecuted in court. In every case the parents lost the case and some ended up in prison. The religious group is not Christian Science, but a group know as the followers of god. It is their believe that god heals the sick. When someone gets sick they come together and pray for the person or child as opposed to getting them medical help.