Vaccines might be something you’ve taken for granted, and something that you have never really questioned. What if your child received a vaccine and had a terrible reaction? Would you THEN do your research? Adverse reactions are rare, but they do happen.Situations like above are one reason vaccinations are controversial in the first place. After all, why would you want to take something that could harm you, especially if it’s supposed to protect you? You watch the news, or read the paper, and see stories about the harm vaccines cause, and little about their benefits. You see people rally against mandatory vaccinations, condemning the government for stomping on their individual rights. Then you read about overprotective parents on each extreme: The ones who want every vaccine out there and the ones who refuse to vaccinate their kids at all.
It all comes down to this: people fear what they don’t know. When you go to your doctor’s office to get a vaccine, you usually aren’t told exactly why need it. And unless you ask, you usually aren’t informed of the risks, side effects, etc. Also, not all patients are fully educated in the field of medicine, so trying to explain how the vaccine works in scientific terms isn’t going to help them (it may even make them more nervous).
The sad truth is that vaccines can potentially be harmful to you or your loved ones. Nothing in this world is 100% safe. Bad reactions or side effects can occur, and they sometimes do. But do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Here is a breakdown of the benefits vs. risks
Benefits of Childhood Vaccines
-Vaccinations have eradicated past diseases that have affected society, such as polio and smallpox, in developed countries. In addition, they have kept these and other rare diseases from reoccurring and becoming epidemics. Because of vaccines, you really don't have to worry about any of these diseases anymore.
-Vaccines help build up immunity (your defense system) by creating antibodies that we otherwise would not have as protection from these diseases.
Risks of Childhood Vaccines
-Vaccines can cause allergic reactions, which may be unbeknownst to either the patient or the doctor.
-Vaccines can cause side effects that range from mild to severe. The kinds of side effects vary by vaccine.
Readers: Do you think the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks? Why or why not?
Resource: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm
Author/Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Last Modified: 8/11/09
Comment from Debbie Daniel
ReplyDeleteOctober 15 at 12:27pm
As a mother of an Austistic child, I firmly believe vaccinations are important. My child is almost 18 years old. When he was a baby/toddler receiving vaccines there was no information about them possibly causing Autism. I honestly can't say I would have done anything different because you don't really know until you are faced with those questions/concerns. I do believe I would still have had him vaccinated because the risk of getting sick & dying from disease is too great. I would rather have him alive and autistic than not have him at all. SO...GET YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED!!
**This commenter doesn't have a gmail account/AIM so I am posting her comment on her behalf.
The portion about benefits and risks is a great way to clarify everything, that information is great for a busy mom since it is laid out really well and easy to read/get the main point.
ReplyDeleteComment from Liz White
ReplyDeleteIf you are a loving, caring parent, you would do everything in your power to care for your child. This includes nutrition, a solid home environment, and medical care. Immunizations are a building block for a child's good health and well-being. We , as parents, must do everything in our power to ensure a child's safety, this includes illnesses that ... Read Morecan be prevented. If you do not have the necessary funding to pay for such things, there are programs out there to assist you. This is the modern age, don't go backwards to the stone age. Take a child to heart and care for them.
**This commenter doesn't have a gmail account/AIM so I am posting her comment on her behalf.
This comment is for Mrs. Thames use only.
ReplyDeleteLiz's email: lizzie_belle76462@yahoo.com
Debbie's email: debbiedfw64@hotmail.com
Having a son with severe autism who is almost 21, and a pediatric intensive care nurse for 30 years, I feel that you need to vaccinate, but safely. I would not follow the CDC vaccination schedule. My son had an encephalitis from his MMR vaccine with a coexisting virus when he was two. The Defeat Autism Now physicians as well as many parents of autistic children feel that the vaccines played a part in the oxidative stress load on their child's immature immune system playing a major part in the development of their child's autism. The autism rate is now 1/91. Since 2000 they now believe that environment plays a big part in the cause of autism. Genes is the gun, but the environment pulls the trigger. Vaccinate, but be careful. A safer vaccination schedule is available from the autism research institute.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm more comfortable with vaccines that have been around for a while. I don't have kids, but I think I would wait on newer vaccines if there isn't any long-term evidence of side effects. I know that all medications and procedures have potential side effects, but one vaccine that concerns me is Gardasil. I think it's a good idea, but I'm not sure I would let my 12-year-old daughter get it. I haven't even had it myself yet, but maybe I'm just being paranoid!
ReplyDeleteHello everyone! Thank for for taking the time to read our blog and consider the importance of this issue.
ReplyDeleteDebbie- You were very touching when you said, "I would rather have him alive and autistic than not have him at all." We are all so happy that you have such a great positive attitude!
CoukoulisCM- We are glad our blog is easy to follow for you! We hope you find the other posts just as easy to read.
Vicky- Thank you so much for your insight as a nurse. Thank you for the information about a vaccination schedule that is available from the Autism research institute.
For other users- the link to the Autism vaccination schedule is: http://www.autism.com/ari/faq/faq_vaccinations.htm
Emily- We recommend talking to your healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine (Gardasil). They would definitely have some useful phamplets for you and would be able to answer any questions, to help make you make an informed decision.
As a historical medical breakthrough, vaccines have been indispensable in eradicating some of the deadliest and most devastating diseases. However, nothing in life is 100% foolproof, and I believe that vaccine supplies are frequently contaminated with some pretty toxic stuff. While an association between vaccines and autism seems to be pretty strong, causation has not been proven. Mandatory vaccinations bring to mind some very controversial constitutional issues. While the vaccine may actually be effective, like the HPV, the fact remains that in a free society you can't force people to get a shot. Benefits vs. risks is a very complicated debate.
ReplyDeleteThe debate rages and I am quite sure that it will not end in my lifetime. We are a people who crave cause and effect concrete realities and life is just not that simplistic even in the medical arena. We are people who want risks elimated and erradicated and life does not afford such a luxury. Life is full of risks. Our task is to make them reasonable. True wisdom comes from discerning that reality for yourself.
ReplyDeleteParents, school systems, the public have to define for themselves what risks seem reasonable for their children. You must also understand that what is best for the one, may not be for the masses and one must own their decision and embrace the cost that it might incur for them. The choice to not vaccinate my child, may mean that I must seek to educate in different ways.
Not being a parent myself, I cannot speak to that reality. But being a person whose job is working with other people's children--I know that the choice to not vaccinate would have serious implications in our programming. Even in the medical field--to volunteer at Cook's Children's Hospital a flu vaccination is required. I trust those that are "in the know" more to set the trends and keep informed, so that when the perameters of determining a reasonable risk must change. We can all be on board.
That you all for this blog. I have found it very interesting. I echo fellow righter who say it is more helpful to have a child who is alive with a potential side effect than to watch them die a horrid death.
ReplyDeleteNothing is without risk. Even staying in bed is a risk people fall out "all" the time and have to be taken to the hospital.
I firmly believe people have the right to choose, but should be given the good, bad and ugly about both side vaccine and what the disease could do the patient and future generations. I am truly thankful so many diseases that kill people in other parts of the world or formerly killed here are now basically unheard of to cause damage.
I just pray we do not get so confident we are untouchable, we allow those diseases back into our nation.
Thank you for giving us a blog to oversee the issues.