Anti-vaxxers. You've probably heard the term. Anti-vaxxers are typically parents that do not pursue vaccinating their children because of widespread misinformation in combination with confirmation bias.

As many as 9% of Americans (≈29,000,000) suffer from Vaccine Hesitancy. Despite the harmful effects and clear mental deficits that would induce such a belief, the unethical position is merely considered a political stance.

The internet has arose in a storm of "memes" and other comical satire against this group, but no help has been legitimately offered. Therefore, I believe we should consider Vaccine Hesitancy a mental disorder so that those who are impacted can receive appropriate psychological help paid for by medical insurance companies.

According to the World Health Organization, at least two million people die each year from vaccine preventable diseases. Recently, in the United States, at least 79 cases of the once eradicated Measles have occurred. Who's at the forefront to blame for this incident? Anti-vaxxers. Despite numerous scientific studies debunking claims that vaccines are harmful and supporting that vaccines are a must for survival and quality of life, these individuals neglect such advice and put both their children and the general public at risk.

The question often asked is, "If I am vaccinated, do I really need to be concerned about anti-vaxxers?" Absolutely. Vaccines are not generally fully protective. Many offer anywhere from 70-90% protection. In a society where everyone is vaccinated, the odds of an outbreak are significantly decreased, generally leading to eradication or strong containment. When as many as 29,000,000 Americans do not vaccinate their children, however, the chance of vaccinated individuals falling victim to the disease rises. This means that anti-vaxxers willingly neglect facts that put both their family and the general population at risk.

In the United States, we recognize numerous other diseases as mental disorders. Over 18% of the US population suffers from an anxiety disorder. Vaccine Hesitancy, generally fueled by the fear that a vaccine will cause autism or some other illness, certainly meets the standard of an anxiety disorder. However, insurance companies would not consider this specific branch as a valid medical concern and would thus not pay for therapy and other psychological assistance to those affected.

It's time to make a change. Instead of mocking anti-vaxxers, we have the opportunity to help them. I ask for your support in recognizing Vaccine Hesitancy as a mental disorder so that those affected can get proper medical care, accurate information, ultimately leading to millions of saved lives.