Of course, nothing in medicine is 100 percent certain. Yet a world without vaccinations would be a much scarier place, especially for children.

Of course, it makes sense to mandate vaccination for measles; the disease can be deadly and its vaccine is lifesaving. In the 1950s, before vaccination became available, there were at least 319,000 infections and 345 deaths from measles each year.

Of course, some Americans hate government mandates, even when they are demonstrably beneficial. Rand Paul — a physician, no less — argued that mandatory vaccination is a violation of individual rights, claiming, “the state doesn’t own your children.” He called it “an issue of freedom.”

Public health officials say vaccinations should not be seen or treated as a choice. The science is solid and settled. Vaccinations prevent outbreaks of dangerous diseases and save lives. Keeping vaccinations away from a child is unconscionable—without exaggeration, they could die.