Vaccinations

On Thursday Zach got his Flu Vaccine. This is the type of sentence that shouldn't cause controversy. It shouldn't cause other parents to think/say "you are harming your kids". Yet, in this society vaccines are controversial. When did that happen? I understand why over medicating kids is controversial. Everyone, not just kids, fare better with home remedies over medication. Here's the thing, vaccines are not a medicine, they help the body build immunity to PREVENT illness.

I had read an article a couple of days ago about a California town where a large number of students remained unvaccinated by their parent's choice.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/26/thousands-of-students-ent_n_981061.html

Why would a loving parent leave their kids vulnerable to these deadly diseases when vaccines can prevent them? I know there very rarely can be negative reactions to the vaccines. But, that is so rare. And a lot more treatable then the diseases themselves. It shouldn't be an issues. But, some parents naively still rely on a study that has constantly been disproved. Even the people doing the study admit they were wrong.

 Even as an adult it's important to make sure they are up to date. Josh's twin with Cerebral Palsy is a great example. He is very vulnerable and needs to avoid the unvaccinated since it may kill him. There are some who have an immunity disorder and can't be vaccinated. However, they could die because someone selfish didn't get vaccinated. Heard immunizations are important!

It IS selfish to not vaccinate. Almost every kid fusses for the vaccine and feels better later. The needle hurts and I think that's the real reason some of these parents avoid vaccines. They don't want to see their kids in pain. But, by leaving them vulnerable, you leave those who have immunity issues vulnerable too. When a geographical area is highly vaccinated, those with weak immune systems who live in that area are better protected too.

My mom told me a story. The Polio vaccine came out when she was in the first grade. Six students weren't vaccinated at that time, her and and her best friend included. When her best friend stepped in a puddled and later died of polio, my mom and those other classmates we vaccinated. As Zach's doctor said, you can wipe out entire deadly diseases with a vaccine. I had a chicken pox vaccine, it's called second grade. I was itchy and uncomfortable but I didn't know it was deadly. Now, I might get the shingles when I am older. Zach won't be getting the chicken pox or shingles because he is fully vaccinated.

I mean it, I understand wanting to avoid medication as long as possible. Home remedies can be very effective. But, vaccines aren't medicine, they don't heal or relieve symptoms like medicine does. They build immunity to prevent illness, not treat it. I have read a lot of stories about outbreaks. Example, in Boston a year or so ago was a Measles outbreak from someone who had been to Germany. If they were vaccinated they wouldn't have brought it here. If those other people were vaccinated, that wouldn't have been a serious outbreak. In this picture Zach is at the doctor's office so fresh from the oven he was still hot (and carrying my antibodies until 6 months according to his doctor). He received vaccines on that day. With each vaccine, I feel more relief about his well being.