An acquaintance of mine, who just so happens to be pregnant, recently told me that she and her husband have decided not to vaccinate their child once he or she is born. Beyond the vaccine-autism link that seems to keep rearing its head, causing a growing number of parents to question whether vaccines are in fact entirely “safe”, she expressed that it is her belief that vaccination may not even be all that helpful.
Indeed, over the course of the past few months, we’ve discovered that this year’s flu vaccine did little to combat the strain that caused flu diagnoses throughout the country, or to prevent the 2006 mumps outbreak in the Midwest . There are, also, of course, risks from vaccination, as with all medical treatments. These range from swelling, soreness, fever and aches, to allergic reactions and, in rare instances, even death. Still, only as little as 1 percent of U.S. children have parents who refuse vaccination in this day and age, and there seems to be little information about the consequences of this decision.
Saying “No” isn’t that simple… Or is it?
One thing I am sure of is that just saying no to vaccination certainly can’t be as simple as… just saying no. Not only do public school systems have immunization requirements — which can be exempted through an arduous process in which the parent or caregiver provides religious or medical reasons for withholding vaccination — but parents are also likely to face discrimination from others in the community, and even from the child’s pediatrician.
A 2005 study by Chicago’s Rush Medical College said that over a third of pediatricians will even go so far as to refuse treatment on children who have not been vaccinated. Many doctors, on the other hand, have learned to better deal with parents who fear the worst from vaccinations, by referring to statistics and medical research — the majority of which points to the benefits of vaccination. Studies are also being conducted by the medical community to come up with better approaches for dealing with parental refusal. Here is an excerpt from that study:
A team of pediatricians from three major Chicago medical centers surveyed more than 300 of their colleagues around the country about their attitudes toward vaccine refusal. Slightly more than half of pediatricians said that in the previous year they had encountered at least one family that refused all vaccines, while 85 percent said they’d had a parent turn down at least one shot.
Feuding Over Vaccines By Sandra G. Boodman – The Washington Post
This left me wondering just how long and hard the road, that lies ahead, really is for those who refuse vacation for their children. I’d love to hear from other parents who’ve been in this situation, and hear how it’s affected your family over time. For those of you with opinions on the matter, I’d appreciate your thoughts as well.
Adrienne writes for special-interest magazines and has worked on the production of women’s lifestyle channels at AOL as well as at E! Entertainment Television. She graduated from CUNY Baruch, where she served as the editor-in-chief of the award-winning student newspaper The Ticker.
Janb says
Refuse Vacations? Never.
Get your kid Pediarix. Doesn’t have mercury.
Gina says
Many childhood vaccines do not have mercury, and many like the flu shot still do. There is a huge misconception that mercury is the only culprit when considering the ill-effects of immunizations. When we vaccinate our babies we fill their immature immune systems with an overload of poisons that, in turn, teach the immune system to fight disease internally rather that flush it out. the result is that disease no longer spreads — but chronic and auto-immune diseases thrive. Prevention is the key to overcoming disease. we can do this by raising babies who drink mother’s milk and eat whole organic foods. I suggest any parent to speak with a child nutritionist as well as a doctor who is up to speed on the dangers of vaccinations to help prepare you for raiding healthier kids.
Vaccines prevent the spread of disease. But, they do not prevent disease. WE ARE CAUSING AUTISM, CANCER, ALLERGIES, DIGESTIVE DISORDERS. WE ARE CREATING SICKER KIDS!
choosing not to vaccinate is not a trendy decision that makes you part of the latest clique. Choosing not to vaccinate is a scary decision that some of us make for the chance to be healthier and happier. Let’s stop battling disease and learn where it’s really coming from and how to deal with it properly.
runescape says
there is absolutely no link between autism and vaccines. the only reason the number of autism cases have been going up recently is because docters have become better at diagnosing it. even if it did cause autism, it is just stupid to not get your kids vaccinated. just think about how many millions of kids have gotten vaccines and been fine compared to the incredible small number of people who claim that it caused their child harm. it is just plain bad parenting to risk your child’s health and possibly the health of others just because an unsubstantiated rumour.
Wendy says
When Nigerians refused to vaccinate because of the fantasy that it was a scheme to cause infertility and AIDS most of the world didn’t believe such allegations, but of course Americans in a snit because everything from a quirky personality to severe disability is now labeled autism are correct in their paranoia.
The debacle in Nigeria resulted in rising number of polio cases — polio could be eradicated if not for such fears… 99% of ALL polio cases occur in 3 countries… Nigeria, Pakistan and India.
Americans argue that since diseases like Polio are so rare their children are safer not having the vaccines… that’s only thanks to the rest of us who get our kids vaccinated, I guess the anti vaccine crowd doesn’t mind taking advantage of that.
Some of these idiots even indulge in “chicken pox parties” .. these people who refuse vaccines on the very small chance of side effects still willingly subject their children to the very small chance of complications from chicken pox… that makes sense… :::thwacks self on head:::
Choosing not to have any vaccines at all makes you a selfish enemy of the community.
As far as I’m concerned keep your kids at home and homeschool them if you won’t vaccinate.
David Askaripour says
Keep on following what you know to be true in your heart, Gina. There will be many detractors and negative/ignorant people on the path… but continue to show them love as you have always done and simply keep moving along.
Gina says
Dave, just caught your comment and wanted to say that people will always hear what they want to hear/are ready to hear. I never took it seriously when I was told Dougie would forever be incapable of communicating etc. I am beyond blessed to have this outlook. I can imagine the devastation some people feel. I did not have answers. I was confused, stressed etc — not tomention I was sick myself. But, I was ready to fix things. In fact, through it all — for over a year I pushed on — never breaking down or crying over it. I felt lucky that my son had something I could get rid of. kind of like a cold or fever.. only taking much more thought to recover. It was thru this that I came to the realization that we can heal from anything. that our energy and what we do with it makes all the difference. I have since broken down and cried. I’ve been thru it all. have a child who has these behaviors is hurtful in many ways. I could never have hatred toward parents of children like Dougie. I know what they go thru. I am here at a time when more options are available, but everything is still experimental. I’ve learned to trust myself first, then science and doctors. People are afraid to trust themselves. they need so-called proof. what they do not realize is that there are many truths.. all with their own proof. we create our own.
at the end of the day.. call me crazy. call me weird.. call me whatever. because I am the mom of a beautiful boy who is emerging from this awful label. this awful sickness. I call me lucky. thats why I share. i will help those who are ready in order to give back. because i am so grateful.
much love,
Gina
Gina says
If u watch the last video.. it is very close to what we go through with my son. I cannot imagine coping with this forever. I got the right tests. talked to the right doctors. educated myself and did what i HAD TO DO DO SAVE MY SON AND MY FAMILY FROM THIS POISON. ONCE I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE POSIONS, (PARASITES, METALS, FUNGUS) LURKING IN THE BODY OF MY BABY— WELL, I DIDN’T THINK I HAD A CHOICE BUT TO GET RID OF THEM!
Eve says
i have chosen to no longer give my children immunizations. why? because they are healthy kids. now, i do not see any reason to give potentially dangerous live/modifed/dead organism & or chemicals to a child who has an immune system that works well. it doesn’t make sense to immunize against something that hasn’t been around in several decades. thats like arresting the criminal in case he thinks about robbing a bank. is that ethical or legal? no. but yet we are crap shooting with our kids health by injecting them with this crap. Gods knows whats in it that HASN’T been relayed to the doctors and nurses.
is there any more information on this? i’ve tried to ask my doctor for antifungals/probitotics but i’m unsure exactly what to ask for.
CHEERS AND THANKS!!
Gina Laverde says
If u have truly healthy children– that is quite an accomplishment. Bless u. U r doing a fabulous job. Kefir is great for building immunity. u can make water kefir, coconut water kefir, or milk kefir. I stay away from milk, but some can handle it. I also use spirulina, vitamineral green, vit c. raw coconut oil, cod liver oil,raw apple cider vinegar, dr marini gives more ideas. let me know if u want more info.
also read bodyecology.com for more info on boosting immunity. and check the other links I posted in comment above. ageofautsim.com has a lot of vaccine info
thanks, Gina
Toosp says
Why are kids sicker now than they were a decade to three ago? And doctors have just become better at diagnosing Autism? Really? You think it’s normal for one in every 166 kids to have autism? Think about those odds! The thing that gets me is that it cannot be detected and normally signs are not present for up to five years after the child is born. That tells me something is happening post-birth to increase the odds.
My doctor has never given his two kids vaccinations, and he says they almost never get sick. One needed anti-biotics once for severe strepp throat. THen he replaced the good bacteria with pro-biotics. That is it. Other than that, just the odd cold or cough here and there.
THey are in their early to mid-teens.