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Clay Stewart

Debate Team

November/ December 2009 LD Debate Case (Aff)

Resolved: Public health concerns justify compulsory immunization.

V: Justice

V/C: Reducing Global Conflict

Millions have died, millions more will if you negate. Global conflict is reaching
new heights- 16.8 million dead in Africa from brutal civil conflicts, with millions more
on the way.
The capacity for global conflict is increasing, with nuclear arsenals and
bioweapons programs becoming high-stakes bargaining chips in an increasingly deadly
game of brinksmanship. India and Pakistan have engaged in nuclear testing, each trying
to out do the other. North Korea is becoming increasingly dangerous, testing missiles in
show after show of force. One misstep and the glass house of international relations will
be shattered by a barrage of stones. I affirm because I agree with former Secretary of
Health, Welfare, and Education John Gardner when he says, “There are no better
grounds on which we can meet other nations and demonstrate our own concern for peace
and the betterment of mankind than in a common battle against disease.”
My value for the round is Justice, defined as giving each his due. This is
the best value for the round because it represents an ideal situation towards which to
strive. My criterion is Reducing Global Conflict.
I offer the following definitions for clarification of the resolution. Public Health-
health services to improve and protect community health. As a result, a Public Health
Concern, is a matter that engages a person's attention, interest, or care, or that affects a
person's welfare within the context of community or societal health. Justify- to defend or
uphold as warranted or well-grounded. Compulsory Immunization- required; mandatory;
or obligatory vaccination.

Contention One: Many in Target Countries Will Not Voluntarily Vaccinate

The instability in the target countries and regions has led to a lack of health
education for the majority of the population. This lack of health education has resulted in
a series of misconceptions about vaccines that cause the majority to refuse vaccination,
which in turn causes greater instability. A recent report by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia1
deplored “the issue of misconceptions that are known to exist about
vaccinations, particularly in developing countries”.

Subpoint One: Sociopolitical Misconceptions

Ignorance has led to several startling misconceptions, believing vaccination to be


a tool of nonexistent conspiracies or magic. For example, according to the same report,
1
http://www.usp.org/pdf/EN/dqi/polioTechnicalReportEnglish.pdf
in one Asian country, a “conspiracy theory appeared associating
vaccinations with foreign Christian countries with [the] intent of
converting the local population to Christianity. Medicine was viewed as
a vehicle of ideology.” In this country, there was a widespread belief
among the people that medicine would possess their souls and forcibly
convert them to Christianity.
The same report, also stressed that, “[t]o some people who are
opposed to vaccinations, it should be made clear that vaccinations are
not “the modern equivalent of witches’ brews, brutally injected into
babies’ pristine bodies,”.

Subpoint Two: Medical Misconceptions

U.S.P. explains, “vaccinations may be perceived as magic


similar to talismans, providing protection against evil forces, especially
for children and pregnant women.” This has resulted in an entirely
mystic belief that causes many to refuse more than one vaccine. USP
furthers, “Results of a survey conducted in two countries in South and
Southeast Asia indicated that only 40 to 50% of mothers surveyed
thought that vaccinations protect against specific illnesses. Two
studies on vaccination conducted in another country in Southeast Asia
found that mothers who do not fully vaccinate their children believe
their… children to be healthy and, therefore, not in need of further
immunizations.” In addition, there is a belief that vaccination causes
sickness. For example, the Serbian Government will soon have over 3
million swine flu vaccines that the population will most likely refuse.
Marko Jankovic2, an elderly Serbian explains that garlic will prevent
swine flu, “Garlic is the best, forget the vaccines. From the vaccine,
you can get sick. From garlic, you can only get bad breath."
These countries want to be healthier, but the only way to achieve
the level of education necessary for the majority of the population to
vaccinate themselves is to stabilize the country, which cannot occur
while disease after disease ravages the region. Compulsory
vaccination will break the cycle.

Contention Two: Compulsory Vaccination Can Reduce Global


Conflict

Hotez, Professor of Microbiology at George Washington


University3 explains, “Analysis suggests that a possible relationship
may exist between childhood death rates from vaccine-preventable
infections and the probability of a nation becoming engaged in armed
conflict… The childhood mortality figures paired with listings of major
2
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUAA2GCLG-
ftUe92AbU5GN4aC4vgD9BUMV9G5
3
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1084093/
conflicts between the years 1990 and 2000 suggest a strong positive
correlation between the two…The correlation between childhood
mortality under the age of five…and waging war is particularly
striking…These data can be used to derive a theoretical probability for
becoming engaged in armed conflict.” Hotez just told you that armed
conflict is significantly more like to result when a country is
destabilized by rampant disease. Affirmation is forced.

Subpoint One: Africa

Africa is a prime example of Hotez’s point. The area is so


destabilized by disease that civil conflict is rampant, having killed 16.8
million people, with millions more on the way. The continent’s
infrastructure is fragmented, and TB, Malaria, and other diseases
hamstring stabilization efforts to the point that armed conflict between
various rebel groups is an inevitable conclusion. The implementation
of a compulsory vaccination program will do two things. One, it
prevent disease from hamstringing stabilization efforts, providing an
infrastructure that will stop current armed conflict. Two, this same
infrastructure prevents destabilization, precluding future conflict..

Subpoint Two: North Korea

North Korea is another area where conflict can be reduced. The


country just finished a severe famine in which over 3 million people
died, and the resulting breakdown of the public health infrastructure
has allowed deadly diseases such as polio, tuberculosis and malaria to
flourish, with the nation’s infant mortality rate skyrocketing.
Remember Hotez’s point, that the higher infant mortality rates
become, the more likely a nation is to be engaged in armed conflict.
North Korea is on the brink of military action. As the country becomes
more and more destabilized, it has turned to its military to maintain
political standing amongst the world community, testing missiles and
engaging in troop maneuvers that heighten tension. If this course of
action continues, armed conflict will result. The implementation of a
compulsory vaccination program through diplomacy does three things.
One, it stabilizes the country by helping restore the health
infrastructure which broke down during the famine. Two, it lessens
tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world because the
program was created through diplomacy, showing that cooperation is
possible. Three, according to Hotez, compulsory vaccination “also
might help to redirect North Korea’s bioweapons production
capabilities”.

Subpoint Three: Pakistan and India


Hotez explains, “International border conflicts are a dominant
theme in the modern history of this region, including a Sino-Indian war
in 1962, as well as recent clashes over disputed areas of Kashmir. The
hostilities have constituted a stimulus for renewed nuclear weapons
testing by India and Pakistan within the last three years. Possibly more
than anywhere else, South Asia has the highest likelihood of becoming
engaged in a nuclear conflict.” This cannot be allowed to occur, a
nuclear war would kill millions. Armed conflict may also erupt, killing
thousands, even if nuclear war doesn’t.
These two regions have some of the highest rates of
vaccine-preventable diseases such as TB and Malaria. Hotez explains
the benefits of compulsory vaccination within the region, “A
multilateral programme focused on disease might foster regional co-
operation and promote peace and stability. The control of infectious
pathogens could replace atomic weapons as a source of national pride
in South Asia.”

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