Vaccines
admin February 9th, 2009
A friend of mine just wrote me asking if I had my son on a regular vaccination schedule. She has read all kinds of scary things about vaccines, and as she knows I tend to do exhaustive research when it comes to important parenting decisions, she wanted my opinion. My answer to her, was yes yes yes! I have my son on a full, non-delayed vaccination schedule. Why? Because my research demonstrated to me that the risks of not vaccinating were far greater for my child, and others, than the potential risks of the vaccines.
Short version:
Vaccination is a parent’s choice, but it is also the parent’s responsibility to learn the risks involved. There is absolutely no good evidence to show that vaccinations are more harmful than the risk of disease if not administered. Please follow the links at the end – these are truly excellent resources.
Long Version:
Every (normal) parent wants to do what is best for their child. I fully support the right of a parent to decide what exactly “best” means for them. I certainly don’t want anyone yanking my child away when I let him play in the dirt, or stand outside in the rain, or don’t always put his socks on. I fully plan in the future to let my son (gasp!) go outside to play unsupervised. Shoot, I might even let him have an occasional sip of wine at Christmas as he ages, just to prove to him that he doesn’t yet like it. I will fight for you as a parent to parent as long as 1. This decision does not unduly harm your child and 2. This decision does not put me and my child at significant risk.
Those people who fed their kid nothing but fish oil, nuts, and parsley (or whatever it was) despite the child’s evident malnutrition do not deserve to be left alone to parent how they see fit. People who teach their kids to shoot other people, well, they don’t really deserve the right to parent either. But I support a parent’s right to decide what medications their child receives, especially since all medications come with inherent risk. What many parents don’t understand however is that not medicating is also a risk.
There has been a general trend lately to trust that which is “natural.” I can understand this. In fact, I am part of this trend. Too many times have we been mislead by government and industry to trust that the things available to us as medication, food, etc. are necessarily safe. I buy organic. I buy free range. I use vinegar and lemon and soapy water instead of manufactured cleaners. But “natural” isn’t ALWAYS better.
Back when things were much more natural, people died. A lot. They died horrible deaths, in pain, in vomit and feces, delirious, emaciated, with weeping sores and draining eyes. These formerly healthy people died, and this happened all the time. The reason why we don’t realize how bad many “natural” diseases are is because we don’t see them any more. Because of vaccines. If you really want an idea of what you are risking when you don’t vaccinate your child, go to a hospital where someone is dealing with measles, or mumps, or whooping cough. Believe me, it looks much much worse than the low grade fever or other side effects commonly associated with vaccinations.
Now ask yourself, if you would support the right of a parent to purposely give their child one of these life-threatening diseases. Of course you wouldn’t. But it’s not so easy. No one wants the vaccinations they give to their child to end up in harm. Many parents will delay vaccination schedules with no long term ill effects, but delaying a vaccine creates the risk that the child will develop the disease before the shot is delivered. Let me make myself clear. I have friends with kids on delayed schedules. I support their right to do this; I just don’t think that it is the best decision.
And here is my support:
Article: parenting magazine - a wonderful synopsis of fears and facts
http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Health/Vaccines-Fact-and-Fiction/1
Skeptic Dad – A really excellent blog chronicling vaccine fearmongers and the actual facts (and more)
http://skepticdad.wordpress.com/vaccines/
Autism Myths – Everything you ever wanted to know about autism (that is actually true)
http://autism-myths.org/
Science-Based Medicine – A site maintained by MDs and PhDs, good for vaccine info and much, much more
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/
These links will provide you with some excellent resources on the real science behind vaccination risks. I could re-hash this here, but these really do a wonderful job. There is so much misinformation on the web. Let scientifically based, accurately reported resources inform your decision.