Over the years there has been a great deal of debate concerning the issue of mandatory vaccinations.

While many parents are concerned with potential side effects that vaccines may have on their children, some of which due to how the drugs are produced, other parents have concerns when not every child receives the protection a vaccine provides because due to health issues, their child can’t be vaccinated.

A few vaccinations are created using replications of cells originally derived from human fetuses that were voluntarily terminated. Most of these cell chains were created several decades ago and are now replicated. Because of this, many believe that there should be a religious exemption for these vaccines. In fact, most states do allow parents to opt out of certain vaccinations due to religious beliefs.

While it is one of the states in the South’s “Bible Belt,” Mississippi is one of only three states that does not currently have a religious vaccination exemption bill. However, an exemption may become law in 2019 if House Bill 105 is reintroduced as expected, according to the Associated Press.

While the methods surrounding the creation of these vaccines may be questionable, or even appalling to some, it is important to keep in mind the good vaccinations do for society. Because of regular vaccinations, the rates of several debilitating, deadly diseases have significantly decreased.

Some diseases have even been wiped out completely.

Vaccinating a child will not only protect him or her, it will also protect others.

Many children, due to birth defects or illnesses are unable to be vaccinated.

Because of this, they are forced to rely on the children around them to be vaccinated to avoid spreading these often life-threatening illnesses.

This is why vaccination requirements are so strict – especially for children who attend public schools or daycares.

Unfortunately, despite all of our modern achievements, there is a real danger of preventable illnesses resurging if large numbers of parents are given the opportunity to opt out of vaccinating their children.