I wrote a blog post a while back on how some parents are opting out of the legally proscribed vaccination schedule and thus putting other parents' kids at risk. Now comes word of this:
"The biggest U.S. outbreak of measles since 1997 has sickened 127 people in 15 states, most of whom were not vaccinated against the highly contagious viral illness, federal health officials said on Wednesday."
In the many comments left on the original post (and some that I removed for just plain biliousness and rankness), the parents who chose not to vaccinate wrote things like this:
"Parents that don't Vaccinate are mostly college educated Married middle class people. We choose not to Vaccinate because we have had the oppertunity to research what is acctually being injected into our children and we are terrified."
Interesting isn't it, that its the middle class, college educated couples who are assisting the comeback of a Third World disease that has been eradicated from this country for 50 years. Who knows? Maybe polio will make a come back next--we just need a few more college graduates.
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College educated parents are not all studied in medicine. Perhaps that is why with a BA in Communications, I brought all of my concerns regarding immunizations to my daughter's pediatrician.
I did not let Dr. Google have the final say in my decision.
We did not follow the vaccination schedule (by age two) but did spread out the required shots according to Squirt's lifestyle. Pertussis and MMR were two of the first immunizations given. Mainly because her pediatrician expressed their importance and the fatality of such diseases in young children.
He remained vigilant to ensure no shots with thermisol were given to her. Even ordered an alternative flu shot that is made with "egg whites" with a shorter shelf life. In these cases, I had to bring her in almost as soon as these vaccinations arrived at his office.
Over all, we should be cautious of the pharmaceutical companies. Time and time again we hear of treatments, immunizations and medications quickly put on the market without a fully disclosed study.
Recently the Cervical Cancer Vaccine where many politicians passed into law it's mandate on younger girls. Just this week the nightly news reported on ill effects supposedly caused by this vaccine.
Again, I must express the importance of communication. With your child's pediatrician and in the case of the Cervical Cancer vaccine - with your daughter. Then and only then make a sound and informed decision.
This is where some Christian fundamentalists and pie-eyed New Agers meet around the bend. Both seem to have the mistaken impression that it is a friendly planet. Doesn't take a whole lot of people opting out to screw up the herd immunity.
My mother was a polio survivor and we were first in line at the public health trailer when the Sabin vaccine came out. If I remember right we had mass innoculations against smallpox in grade school, too. Hmm, government programs that worked.
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