Routine Mumps Immunization
What arguments can be brought against immunization for childhood diseases and specifically mumps? It is everyday experience in general practice that parents do not see childhood diseases as harmful to humans, in spite of possible complications, but as a biographical event with potential significance for their child's development. This view, based on feelings and experience, still needs scientific proof, but it would be disastrous if absence of proof were made the reason to ignore this definite opposition to the MMR immunization campaign when designing further campaigns.
For centuries, the microorganisms involved in childhood diseases such as mumps, measles and rubella showed a balanced relationship to the human population. Mass immunizations represent massive artificial intervention in those balances, with potentially unforeseeable consequences.
Epidemics are, above all, feared in populations where immunity to a particular pathogen has been lost because the disease has not occurred for some time. H. Stickl expressed concern even with regard to smallpox: "After the last case of smallpox, with the disease not recorded anywhere on earth for twice five years, which is the usual epidemic wavelength for smallpox, there was no longer any convincing reason for smallpox vaccination. Initially this was a great advantage. On careful reflection, it is evident, however, that in less than one generation an unvaccinated European population will reach the state which pertained prior to the great migrations of the 4th to 6th Century, i.e. before smallpox became endemic. People may then be expected to be completely receptive to smallpox virus infection.
Epidemics are, above all, feared in populations where immunity to a particular pathogen has been lost because the disease has not occurred for some time. H. Stickl expressed concern even with regard to smallpox: "After the last case of smallpox, with the disease not recorded anywhere on earth for twice five years, which is the usual epidemic wavelength for smallpox, there was no longer any convincing reason for smallpox vaccination. Initially this was a great advantage. On careful reflection, it is evident, however, that in less than one generation an unvaccinated European population will reach the state which pertained prior to the great migrations of the 4th to 6th Century, i.e. before smallpox became endemic. People may then be expected to be completely receptive to smallpox virus infection.
Both physicians and parents would be against enforcing the higher level of compliance needed to continue the campaign. This would mean imposing government views on the Swiss health system when there is no need from the public health point of view. Constitutional lawyers doubt, however, that the limitation of basic rights in such an enforced measure would meet the requirements of suitability and reasonability.
This susceptibility to failure means that enforced measures become increasingly necessary to limit relapse epidemics. They include ensuring and maintaining immunization of the whole population, monitoring the immunity of the population, and monitoring virus circulation on borders and in quarantine situations, as well as barrier immunization procedures to limit outbreaks.
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