BIR

Here is another great response to that question from a blog

Myth 2: As long as other children are getting vaccinated, mine don't need to be.

Skipping vaccinations puts your baby at greater risk for potentially life-threatening diseases. "The ability of immunizations to prevent the spread of infection depends on having a certain number of children immunized," says Thomas Saari, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison. "Scientists refer to this as 'herd immunity.' Unfortunately, the level of immunization required to prevent diseases such as measles from spreading from child to child is high—95 percent." In 2003, the national vaccination rate in children ages 19 to 35 months was only about 80 percent—though that number increases to the mid-90s when children reach school age.

These rates may not be high enough to provide herd immunity, especially as exemptions from school vaccines are on the rise. In studies from Colorado, where residents claim high numbers of vaccine exemptions for medical, personal and religious reasons, kids who are not immunized are at greater risk for disease. Case in point: They're 22 times more likely to come down with measles.

Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.

please do not respond with patriotic slogans but speak to her point. I would also like to know why you believe our drugs should have these astronomical prices here in the US, while they are selling for pennies overseas...

We do not exist in a libertarian fantasy bubble where individuals can decide everything for themselves. In a society, a balance has to be struck between the interests of the community and those of a person. If one individual endangers the rest with a deadly disease, it is reasonable for the government to restrict his free choice. Otherwise, the price for such a choice should be forced quarantine of those who refuse vaccination. Fair enough?

Science is never 100% safe. There has to be a reasonable yardstick of measuring cost-benefits. If we see a vaccine saving us from major epidemics, then maybe it's good enough for the benefit of a larger population. Lawsuits in and of themselves do not prove the company is engaged in wrongdoing. These are rich companies, and people naturally seek monetary compensation to enrich themselves the easy way.

If it's not a disease, then how come CDC (Center for DISEASE Control) is concerned with it?

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/

She gave you a concrete example. It is your job to prove her example is false

And how will you judge who is at fault when they come asking for a discount? Are you setting up an AIDS drug distribution church where only people free from sin will get discounts while those who sinned must pay a full market price?!

I've heard that government colluded with private companies in pushing a vaccine against swine flu that was not necessary. How can we trust government after this? Can you address this?

Many parents of homeschoolers DO make arrangements for them to meet other homeschoolers and do limited group activities. Also, some homeschoolers arrange to attend select classes in their local schools (such as science, so they can use the lab). It's not the kind of totally isolated experience that you imagine it to be.