Today, I’m done. I keep reading arguments back and forth about vaccinations and I can’t handle it anymore. I can’t read another argument on why a parent should not vaccinate.
Honestly, I’m sad. I’m sad that in this day and age, we take something so wonderful for granted. I’m the first generation born in America. This means that my parents came from India. My spouse also was born and raised in India. We have gone back there quite a few times and you can see the devastation of people who can’t afford the vaccines of all of these preventable diseases. Some of the things that have been wiped out in America (or have been until recently) are still around in developing countries like India.
Why do some people take these medicines for granted? This American medical and scientific community has done so much for the people of this country and there are those that sit there and accuse them of conspiracies and putting our health at risk. This is the same medical community that has helped my grandfather to keep going at the current age of 93 while living with bladder cancer. This is the same scientific community that has found a drug that helps control my seizures on a daily basis.
I’m not saying don’t do research on something. When I was pregnant and figuring out what the risks were to continue my medication to my child and also the risks of breastfeeding her as well, I researched. Yes, I Googled. But then, I did what everyone should be doing. I went and asked my doctors. I consulted 3 different doctors: my neurologist, my obgyn, and my baby’s future pediatrician. Basically, 3 different people that had medical degrees. 2 of them had over 30 years of experience practicing medicine. I trusted them.
I’m in a few mommy groups on Facebook. And I continuously hear stories of so many babies born early or the mother having some problem during pregnancy or the baby spending some time in the NICU due to problems at birth. Guess who was there for all of that? Doctors. They are the ones who protected and cared for your child. They are the ones we literally trust with our lives when we give birth. We have to trust our doctor especially during labor when things can change in a second.
I needed a blood transfusion 2 days after I gave birth. My blood count dropped 2 days in a row even though I didn’t show it (I was completely asymptomatic). I didn’t like the idea of it. I didn’t want it. But I got it. All because my obgyn who knew my history of epilepsy thought it would be safer for me to get my blood count up. She didn’t want me to risk having a seizure with a newborn in the house. She didn’t want me to go home and have to come back to the hospital. And even though it wasn’t my first option of solutions, I did it because she was the one with a medical degree and I trusted her.
So after we go through all of this, why do we suddenly start questioning everything when vaccination time comes around? Why do people need delayed vaccination schedules or even worse, want to opt out of them completely? Why do people suddenly believe that this wonderful medical community that has literally helped them bring a life into this world in the safest way possible is now trying to harm their child?
I feel sorry for all of the children of those people who don’t believe in vaccinations. They are not only at risk of catching completely preventable diseases but there’s a chance that they will be socially outcasted for a decision they have no control over. I don’t want my child around someone who could risk her health. At least, once she’s vaccinated, I don’t have to worry as much. But how are these children who aren’t vaccinated going to travel? How are they going to be as safe as mine is when these diseases do make an appearance from another country? We are a global community in a world that is only becoming smaller.
I just wish these people who don’t believe in vaccinations knew how lucky they are. A country like India could do so much with the vaccination doses that are refused here. It’s pathetic that, with so much medicine at their fingertips, they take it all for granted.
I’m done. The anti-vaccination arguments are ridiculous. I just hope people gain some common sense and appreciate what they have before it’s too late.
Who We Are Today 
I am old enough to remember when children got diseases like measles and chicken pox and polio. Children died or lost their hearing or we scarred for life. Once you have seen a child in an iron lung, you don’t understand why people would choose not to vaccinate. The benefits far outweigh the risks.
I wish others understood this but until they can see the devastation that these preventable diseases can cause by traveling somewhere outside of the US, I don’t know if they will quite get it.
My children have been both vaccinated and I really try to stay out of the arguments of what is right or wrong, When I another child gets sick from the other parents choice that is really sad. I think Americans in general take many things for granted and It would do them some good to look at things in a different light. Doctors do help save lives and they also do make mistakes. I do not think I fully trust anyone with my children’s lives, and have a had a doctor want to give my son a shot that had eggs in it and he was deathly allergic to eggs and the time. If I were not to know what I knew and argued with the doctor my son could be dead also. I’m just glad he grew out of the allergy quick and then could receive the vaccine.
I do think it’s important to stay on top of the doctors definitely. We live with our children every single day and know more than anyone else. As long as we have doctors that will listen to the information we provide, they should be able to make a good decision medically.
I won’t weigh in on the vaccination issue since I know there are strong opinions on both sides, but I completely agree with you that doctors, who have years of experience and education in the medical field, should be one of your primary sources for medical advice. I don’t presume I know as much as my doctor after doing a half hour of research on the internet.
There are definitely strong opinions on both sides. Most of the time, I’m a live and let live type of person. But this one issue is where I’ve been strongly opinionated on only because other parents’ decisions do affect my child. Also, I’m a part of a few mommy groups and I seen the craziness these moms go through when their child is born early and has to spend time in the NICU before they can come home. Then, I see the same mom question something her doctor does. Doctors are human. They try to do the best they can for you and your child (and if the patient doesn’t think they do, maybe it’s time to find another doctor). I wish people wouldn’t stop believing that.
I get frustrated when I see the bickering about vaccination. I get that sometimes (and rarely) there are adverse reactions to vaccinations, but by and large the vaccines prevent disastrously deadly disease from returning. I see a lot of, “well if your kid is vaccinated, you shouldn’t worry about my kid.” Well no, that’s not really how this works. Those that are against vaccination a lot of times are totally ignorant of the fact that vaccines work for the most part because of ‘herd immunity’, and those that CAN be vaccinated should to protect those that CANNOT.
I’m actually not totally against alternate vaccination schedules. Whatever, it’s probably slightly more dangerous, but at least they are getting the vaccinations. I’ll take it.
Agreed. During this whole measles outbreak, my head would be spinning because I couldn’t understand why someone who has access to a vaccine that has been proven to work would opt out. I think we have so much opportunity that we take things like vaccines for granted. Until we see a place that doesn’t have access and the problems it can cause, it’s going to be hard to have everyone on the same boat.
I also am a little baffled at people who choose not to vaccinate their children. I think sometimes people don’t realize how terrible these illnesses were when they were rampant. These diseases killed and crippled many people. I sometimes wonder if we came up for a vaccine for HIV or Ebola if these people would still choose not to vaccine their children. I am usually supportive of people making their own decisions about what to do to their own bodies, but by choosing not to immunize their children, they are putting both their own children and the children who cannot get immunized (because of age or a lowered immune system) at risk.
Ebola wasn’t even an issue until recently, and even then, very few people were at risk. What if there was a vaccine for all cancer? Wouldn’t that be great?
I’m with you. I am about to have my first baby and I am going to have her vaccinated. She’s not even born yet and I am already getting protective over the idea of “who is going to want to hold my baby that should be vaccinated first?” I am not educated enough in the arguments of why NOT to do it, and am more of the mindset of, I would rather put my trust in the doctors who are adamant that this is for the best of my child.
My 15 month old just got his MMR and other vaccines today 🙂 I don’t get it either. I know there are many who are scared of vaccines. There are risks but they are tiny compared to the risks of a disease. I have heard the arguments on both sides and for me personally I will vaccinate.
I’m waiting for my child to get her MMR so I can take her to Disneyland. The way I see it, there’s a risk with everything. It’s our job of protect the best we can. I’d like to believe that the medical community has our best interests at heart.
Very strong opinions out there, my personal view is I’m for vaccinations. Great post.
Thanks!
A great post, I agree with a lot of your arguments. My biggest concern is always for the children who, can not have the vaccination due to other health issues or weakened immune systems. They rely on the mass vaccination programs to ensure that they do not get sick and I’m not sure parent stake that into account when making their choices.
I am always grateful that I don’t have to worry about measles, polio and other issues that my grandparents and great-grandparents had to deal with, but I believe everyone should have the option to choose what’s right for their own family. My kids have all been immunized.
I had meningitis as an adult and spend more than 6 weeks in hospital. What I learned from the experience is not to put too much blind faith in doctors, they are just people and do make mistakes sometimes. I was diagnosed with sinusitis in the beginning. And I learned how important it is to vaccinate your children.
I am not one to judge parents for the choices that they make, but if your choice start putting other people’s children at risk you have to rethink your decisions.
I’m pro-vaccine. I have a child with autism. I’m still pro-vaccine. I can really appreciate your perspective, given the experiences of your family and the country they lived in that doesn’t have the luxuries our country does. You’ve seen, or know of first hand, the ramifications of not vaccinating. Although I’m very much a live and let live person, in this particular case, I think parents choosing not to vaccinate have limited information – we don’t live in a country that suffers due to disease at this point. For some reason, it seems to escape some that the reason for that is vaccinations.
I completely agree. I normally think the same way you do in terms of live and let live. But this one thing affects more than just our own child. I also wonder why people start questioning the medical community like it’s one big conspiracy. Yes, doctors are human and make mistakes but most of them will do what is best for you. I hope others finally understand that.
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts!