Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases - IELTS Writing Task 2

The issue of childhood immunisation sparks heated debate worldwide. While on one hand, some argue that vaccination is a collective responsibility and should be legally enforced, others believe parents should retain the right to decide what is best for their children. In IELTS Writing Task 2, topics related to this debate, like ‘Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases’, demand a clear position, supported by reasoning and examples.

In this article, we examine sample answers for the IELTS opinion essay on the topic ‘Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases’, along with an outline and relevant IELTS vocabulary, which is crucial for achieving a high band score.

Essay Question for Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases

Outline for IELTS Agree Disagree Essay

Given below is the outline that will help you to understand how to write IELTS opinion essays.

Sample Answers for Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases IELTS Writing Task 2

Each sample essay given below addresses the IELTS Writing Task 2 topic, 'Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases'. Therefore, to reach your desired writing band score, make sure you carefully review the three IELTS Band 9 essay samples below.

Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases - Sample Answer 1

Some people argue that parents must be legally compelled to vaccinate their children, while others maintain that such decisions should remain a matter of individual choice. In my view, parents should not be forced into immunisation, as it infringes upon personal freedom and may undermine trust in healthcare systems.

Firstly, mandatory vaccination policies can be seen as a violation of parental rights. Parents are the primary caregivers and have the moral and legal authority to decide on their children’s well-being. Forcing them to vaccinate could lead to resentment and even resistance. For example, in countries where vaccination is compulsory, underground movements often emerge, spreading misinformation and creating more hesitancy rather than less. Respecting parental autonomy, therefore, may encourage dialogue rather than coercion.

Secondly, while vaccines are generally safe, some individuals may have legitimate medical or ethical reasons to avoid them. Children with severe allergies or compromised immune systems might face adverse reactions. Moreover, in diverse societies, some communities hold cultural or religious objections to vaccination. Allowing flexibility acknowledges these differences and fosters inclusivity. For instance, certain indigenous groups in Canada have been granted exemptions due to traditional beliefs, striking a balance between public health and cultural respect.

In conclusion, while immunisation is undoubtedly important, it should not be legally enforced. Instead, governments should focus on awareness campaigns and voluntary participation, ensuring both public health and individual rights are respected.

Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases - Sample Answer 2

The question of whether parents should be legally required to vaccinate their children has generated strong opinions. While some believe immunisation should be a matter of personal choice, I argue that it ought to be obligatory to protect public health and future generations.

To begin with, compulsory vaccination prevents the outbreak of deadly childhood diseases. Illnesses such as measles, polio, and whooping cough once caused countless fatalities, but widespread immunisation has reduced them dramatically. If parents are allowed to opt out, herd immunity can collapse, putting vulnerable populations such as infants and the elderly at risk. For example, recent measles outbreaks in Europe were linked to declining vaccination rates, demonstrating the dangers of leaving immunisation optional.

Moreover, governments have a moral duty to safeguard children’s health. Young children cannot make medical decisions for themselves, so it falls upon society to ensure they are adequately protected. Vaccination is a low-cost, highly effective measure that prevents suffering and reduces healthcare expenses. For instance, the eradication of smallpox through mandatory vaccination programmes saved millions of lives and vast sums of money in healthcare costs.

It is true that some parents have expressed concerns regarding the safety of vaccines. However, numerous scientific studies have repeatedly demonstrated with consistency that vaccines that have been approved are both safe to use and also very effective.

In conclusion, immunisation should be obligatory because it prevents disease outbreaks and protects vulnerable groups. Although parents may feel their rights are restricted, the greater benefit to public health outweighs individual concerns.

Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases - Sample Answer 3

In today’s era, the frailing and plummeting health and health indexes respectively are dwindling to a harrowing extent. In such a case, some people side with an opinion that it should be obligatory for all the parents to have their children vaccinated, while significant others opine that it is a subjective choice to go for the vaccination of their children. I find myself agreeing with the former statement and in the paragraphs to come, I shall proffer my viewpoints on the topic.

The dip in the health statuses is a very common and horrendous situation these days, with novel viruses and pathogens coming into the picture. Humanity is going through a ghastly time where every single individual seems to be in the clutch of perils. Therefore, it becomes all the more significant for the people to bolster their health right from the beginning of their lives and ensure that their children are vaccinated and immunised against various diseases that could indent their health in the times to come. For instance, various menacing viruses and pathogens in the past have been eradicated due to vaccination and this way, various causes of epidemics and plagues are nowhere to be found today.

Talking about the added advantages of early immunisation, it is significant from various other aspects such as economic purview as well. For instance, getting a child vaccinated against the perilous pathogens can help him/her ward off the economic breakdown that s/he might suffer in the future due to enervated immunity, and not getting vaccinated could cost his/her family members heavily not only from the viewpoint of money spent on the treatment but also their emotional drain in the prophylactic processes. Adding to that, getting vaccinated might help one to steer clear from getting attacked by pathogens of similar nature. For example, the Covid-19 vaccine helped people tackle well from the mutated strand of the virus- Omicron. Hence, this makes immunisation substantially quintessential and the earlier it gets done, the better.

Though some might say that immunising children is seemingly pedantic and finicky, one must not forget that prevention is better than the cure.

Therefore, we may state that vaccination and immunisation of children should be made compulsory for the parents, and there is no second way for this.

Vocabulary to Use for Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases IELTS Writing Task 2

Here is a list of advanced vocabulary word list for IELTS, related to the topic ‘Should Parents be Obliged to Immunise their Children Against Childhood Diseases’, as used in the example answers.