Vaccines Against Mosquitoes: A Dystopian Satire of Policy in America

This is a Libertarian piece satirizing policymaking in the United States and around the world. This is not an anti-vaccination paper, rather an example that reflects on the way vaccines and other policies are introduced as mandatory in the name of “protectionism.” It also does not delve into whether or not this precludes tax paying citizens from partaking in the same societal functions as others while being continuously forced to pay into that system with threat of fines, jail, death, etc. So, let’s see who this convinces…

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 300,000,000 clinical cases globally are attributed to mosquitoes every year (EPA). Annually, this leads to hundreds of thousands at risk of imminent death due to seemingly innocuous mosquito bites. To deter such horrific cases within the US, and to save the lives of especially children, elderly, and the handicapped, not to mention all other citizens, policies must be in place to regulate the threat of mosquitoes. This essay shall cover this policy proposal, along with the pros and cons of implementation.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is a totally legitimate Constitutional agency, diseases transmitted by mosquitoes include, but are not limited to, viral encephalitis, Zika virus, dengue, yellow fever, malaria, and filariasis (EPA). This list does not even include the number of other animals that are harmed or killed because of mosquitoes. It is the female sex of these tiny insects of the culicidae family that suck the blood of their victims injecting these dangerous diseases, the males suckle from flowers; insects that suck blood outside of a host are known as ectoparasites (Mosquito). These female mosquitoes find water sources and dispense their eggs onto the water or moist soil. The eggs become larva, which become pupa, and the pupa become full-fledged mosquitoes within two to seven days (EPA). Once the mosquitoes have developed, the females are able to go on into the world as vicious animals of death and destruction harming millions every year. Although these blood suckers are the perfect example of Keynesian economics by stimulating the economy through all of their vast desolation, it would be more beneficial to the US and its fragile population, as well as economy, if certain political policy measures were taken to deter such atrocious suffering and death for millions of American people. Anyone who would reject such a policy must not care about children, the elderly, the disabled, or anyone suffering from mosquito bites and the numerous diseases they carry.

Among the necessary measures needed to accomplish such a great feat as deterring deaths or diseases from mosquitoes, total compliance will be required. Children and the elderly should be provided vaccinations, by mandate, with the latest vaccines to prevent mosquito-borne diseases or viruses. People between the ages of 18 and 64 can get the vaccine at no charge to them through their healthcare providers. The grace window for getting the vaccine will be within the first year of passing as law. Children under the age of 18 shall be given the vaccines through their doctors as paid for by their healthcare provider. Parents will be held solely liable for getting this done, but the incentive of giving $100 tax credit per child for getting the vaccination within the first year of implementation, or a $300 fine for every child not given the vaccination. This vaccine will be covered under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.

After the first two years of application, the vaccines will be mandatory for all newborns. At that time, until further notice, those that do not get the required vaccine will be penalized with a fine of $1000, and children found without proof of vaccine shall be provided housing through Child Protective Services as the parents or guardians are unfit for the child’s well-being. Every newborn will be given the vaccination at the hospital at the time of birth, or once the newborn is brought into a hospital, as already mandated by law. Anyone visiting the US for more than 90 days shall provide evidence of their vaccinations in their country of origin or shall be given the vaccine in the US at no cost to them.

According to the National Institute of Health, a promising new vaccine known as AGS-v is in clinical trial and it is said to prevent the aforementioned diseases and viruses from harming or killing innocent people (NIH). As of 2017, the US population was around 327,000,000, which means many lives can be saved through this deterrence policy (Census). Unless more auspicious vaccines can be produced, this shall be the implemented vaccine of choice. Adverse effects of not obtaining the required vaccine can lead to thousands of people being hospitalized for diseases or viruses brought on by mosquito bites, which means that many less people producing for the betterment of society. By not having the vaccine can also lead to innocent children or wholesome elderly dying, and the total cost to tax payers is even greater than simply having the deterring vaccine. All excess revenue generated will be circulated back into education and research for other alternatives to solve the issue of mosquitoes globally.

The US federal government will provide the necessary and proper information on all news sources, social media, communication platforms, and reading material in all major languages. This information will be given to all citizens one year prior to implementation in order to allow people the opportunity to successfully comply with saving the lives of millions. By providing all materials, along with tax incentives, or fines for those that do not get the required vaccine, all levels have been covered to ensure the success of this policy. It shall be quick, easy, and free of cost to the people getting their one-time lifesaving injection.

With millions of lives saved, or prevented from catching avoidable diseases or viruses, from mosquito bites every year, people will be safer and more productive. These anti-mosquito vaccines, much like other vaccines that are mandatory and have nearly eradicated many former life-threatening diseases and viruses, will become a societal norm allowing the US government to totally protect all citizens with or against their will. This will be an overall cost savings to the American people with less disease, problems due to viruses, and of course less deaths. Most will opt for the vaccines expeditiously due to increased fears of mosquitoes in summer months, or traveling abroad. This will be one of the most successful deterrence policies in US history.

Works Cited:

Census- “U.S. and World Population Clock Tell Us What You Think.” Population Clock, www.census.gov/popclock/.

EPA- “Joint Statement on Mosquito Control in the United States.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 10 May 2017, www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/joint-statement-mosquito-control-united-states.

Mosquito- “Systematic Catalog of Culicidae — Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit — Home.” Systematic Catalog of Culicidae — Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit — Home, www.mosquitocatalog.org/.

NIH- “NIH Begins Study of Vaccine to Protect against Mosquito-Borne Diseases.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 21 Feb. 2017, www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-begins-study-vaccine-protect-against-mosquito-borne-diseases.