Recently while perusing through the recent postings of one my social media sites, I was struck by a posting of a friend of mine. The topic happened to be on immunizations and her personal choice to no longer submit herself and her children to immunizations of any kind. This was based upon her personal and religious beliefs of the subject. I am not going to go into my personal beliefs religiously on whether I feel this is a sound decision, however it did make me think. I remember a huge debate and I am assuming the debate rages on whether or not the immunizations our children recieve have caused a rise in the cases of diagnosed austism in children. Now as we move into an age of "natural" is best, once again the medical advances that once were praised as miracles are under attack. In my opinion, if a vaccine is capable of saving the life of one child then that was a life worth saving. I personally have chosen to vaccinate my children against preventable diesases in order to ensure that they lead happy and healthy lives. As parents we worry naturally, I know I have always searched for ways to protect my children in every way possible and to me immunizations were just one more way to ensure that they were protected.
Small pox since its eradaction has saved more than 5 million lives. Polio which causes life long paralysis since immunizations have begun have thousands of children have been saved. The list goes on and on, as people have chosen to stop some immunizations the cases of preventable diseases goes up and yet no evidence linking immunizations to cases of austim or to they causing the disease they are meant to prevent hasnt been shown. Fear is understandable, I get that, but as parents I feel that we have a responsiblity to take all the facts and make a decision. The lives of the children whose lives we are meant to protect depend on it.
Chart curtsesy of www.unicef.org
Links for vaccincation facts and Parental choices
http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/why/preventing.cfm
Vaccine Exemptions Fast Fact Sheets
http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/pdfs/exemptions_fast_fact_sheet.pdf
Small pox since its eradaction has saved more than 5 million lives. Polio which causes life long paralysis since immunizations have begun have thousands of children have been saved. The list goes on and on, as people have chosen to stop some immunizations the cases of preventable diseases goes up and yet no evidence linking immunizations to cases of austim or to they causing the disease they are meant to prevent hasnt been shown. Fear is understandable, I get that, but as parents I feel that we have a responsiblity to take all the facts and make a decision. The lives of the children whose lives we are meant to protect depend on it.
Immunization: the story so far
Progress to date against diseases for which vaccines already exist and deaths from diseases for which vaccines might be developed| Annual deaths (all ages) if no immunization | Prevented | Occurring | % prevented | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallpox | 5.0 million | 5.0 million | -- | 100 |
| Diphtheria | 260,000 | 223,000 | 37,000 | 86 |
| Whooping cough | 990,000 | 630,000 | 360,000 | 64 |
| Measles | 2.7 million | 1.6 million | 1.1 million | 60 |
| Neonatal tetanus | 1.2 million | 0.7 million | 0.5 million | 58 |
| Hepatitis B | 1.2 million | 0.4 million | 0.8 million | 33 |
| Tuberculosis | 3.2 million | 0.2 million | 3.0 million | 6 |
| Polio (cases of lifelong paralysis) | 640,000 | 550,000 | 90,000 | 86 |
| Malaria/other parasitic infections | 2.2 million | -- | 2.2 million | 0 |
| HIV/sexually transmitted diseases | 1.3 million | -- | 1.3 million | 0 |
| Diarrhoea/enteric fevers* | 3.0 million | -- | 3.0 million | 0 |
| Acute respiratory infections | 3.7 million | -- | 3.7 million | 0 |
Links for vaccincation facts and Parental choices
http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/why/preventing.cfm
Vaccine Exemptions Fast Fact Sheets
http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/pdfs/exemptions_fast_fact_sheet.pdf
Hi Tara,
ReplyDeleteI do believe the debate about immunizations causing autism still continues. The CDC still dispels this notion as it as over the years and maintains immunizations are safe. I believe the reason for immunizations getting the blame for autism is the age of which some immunizations occurs is at the same time that some significant signs of autism start to show. The high rate of autism is unknown and perhaps many factors play in to it. Many parents are still afraid of immunizations and decide for their child not to receive these shots, it puts these children at a higher risk of disease. Especially over recent years when there has been news reports of cases with some of these diseases affecting a high number of children. I know whooping cough had gone around my area a couple of years ago and it was strongly urged to have children receive the shot if they had not. As with any medical procedure there some risks. However, most of the cases the risks do not out weigh the procedure, I feel the same holds true for immunizations.
Hello Tara,
ReplyDeleteWhile reading your blog I begin to reflect on personal experiences of autism and immunization. In 2007, my nephew was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Before and after diagnosis my sister allowed her child to be vaccinated. The decision was based on fear catching common cold and viruses in local daycare and school facilities. Our family restrain on the notion of immunization caused my nephew's Asperger Syndrome, since signs were shown prior to first medical shot. In my belief, medical immunization has an, "Nature verses Nurture" component in child development.
Tanya Terrell
Thank you for comment, and that is very true that medical immunizations do have a nature vs. nuture component in reference to child development. Thank you for sharing about your nephew.
DeleteHi Tara,
ReplyDeleteI'm also aware of a few individuals who have made the same very personal choice, whether based on religion or other things, to not have their children participate in vaccinations. My experience has been that depending on what side of the fence people want to lean on, there is always studies to support one side or the other. As a parent, you have to try your best to do your homework, look at the length of time of the results of different studies, and make the best choice for you and your family. Thank you for your post.
Dantanya,
DeleteImmunizations are a very personal choice indeed. There will always be studies that will support on side or another, I was curious as to why a parent would choose not to immunize and did a little digging myself. There is a lot of information that could be used to help a parent make an informed decision.
Tara,
ReplyDeleteVaccinations have been under fire the past few years. I too have decided to immunize my children. In fact, I participated in a vaccination study with both my youngest children to help aid in the research and support of vaccinations. Interestingly, when making the decision to have my child immunized, my pediatrician communicated well with me. Even telling me if I chose not to immunize that my children would most likely be protected by herd immunization. This term means that children that opt not to get immunized are still immunized because they are not exposed to the diseases because everyone around them are immunized. In my school, we have to post a note that says there are children that do not have immunizations if there are any. It does not say who is not but parents have to me made aware. Isn't it interesting how things that are supposed to be helpful and life changing are attacked?
Jocelyn,
DeleteI also had doctors for my children who were very supportive and clear about the risk of all the vaccinations my children were recieving. I think that is why, it was a comfortable choice for me to make, with support and to feel that you have the power to make an informed decision parents can feel in control. I posted this link about herd immunizations, http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/pdfs/exemptions_fast_fact_sheet.pdf
Tara, I too chose to vaccinate my children and they are grown adults, who for the most part are happy. I have always felt that vaccinating your children was a given and it was just something we parents do. I appreciated your chart since it reinforces my decisions as a parent.
ReplyDeleteThank you Harley for comment, I feel that no matter what side of the coin you fall on, information is always needed to help make the best decision possible.
DeleteHi Tara
ReplyDeleteI agree that children should be vaccinate. I tell my parents to keep on top of child shot record because in a childcare setting I do not who's have been vaccinate and who have been , so to protect child give them vaccinate that what tell them
In everything it is a personal choice for a parent to make, I know that parents do need all the information available to them in order to make a choice. It is truly what it takes ensure we are helping our children develop to the best of our ability.
Delete