Why I Was Wrong About Vaccinations

I don't like being wrong.  Actually, I hate it.  But here it goes.  I was wrong. 

Mostly.

We have no idea what causes Autism, so we cannot know what doesn't cause it either.  There.  I feel better.

What I do know is that today, I have seen how vicious and ugly people can be on this topic.  I have seen that there are people that rely solely on natural medical and conspiracy outlets to ascertain medical information.  I have read these blogs and articles and found a tiny drop of truth in a waterfall of misinformation.  I have also seen articles that are written on "credible" news outlets that are full of doctored and trumped up research.  I went to the web sites that each used as "sources" and there wasn't a peer reviewed research paper in the lot. 

I encourage truth.  I encourage you to get uncomfortable with how you feel about the topic and wade deep into both sides.  Each side comes with shared pain and grief.  Feel the grief of others.  It makes us human.  Right now we need that. 

I got the comment from the Mom who's happy, healthy little two year old became withdrawn and regressed for years after getting their vaccines.  It isn't fair.  Her experience is real.  Her pain is valid.

I understand my own anguish from suffering so intensely as a child with chicken pox that I swore I would give my kids a cure if there was one.  Thank heavens, there was.  They will never get chicken pox.  They will be vaccinated.

I chose to spread out the shots over a two week span.  It was miserable watching them have the shots.  It isn't comfortable to think about. 

There is some research suggesting things like maternal age, circumcision, genetic predisposition, and weakened immune systems could possibly lead to an increased risk of Autism.  But let me ask you this: even if your kid got Autism would you love them less?  The answer is a firm "no."  Our kids are precious no matter what condition they are predisposed to.

The thing I know in my heart I am right about is choice.  We should have a choice.  I have family that is Jehovah's Witness.  Rastafarian's and JW both have similar stances on medical treatment.  Bob Marley died from early refusals to treat cancer.  I have a right to my personal belief, and you have a right to yours.  We do not have the right to push our personal opinions on others.

We have a right to refuse vaccinations.  If you don't vaccinate, you understand, you could spend days and weeks with sick babies.  Your child may die.  I honestly pray that is never the case.  But you have weighed that risk and decided that the cost is worth it.  I don't have a right to tell you otherwise.  

You know that I will vaccinate.  I can't stand to have my kids sick.  I understand that I am blessed beyond anything I worthy of to have the kids I have.  I understand that some of you may not have healthy kids.  To you, I offer a hug. 

Can you get tested and find out if your child's immune system is compromised prior to vaccinating?  I suppose the technology is there.  But what then?  Do you put the children in a bubble?  We do the best we can and wade into the unknown. 

Why We Vaccinate

President Obama and I don't agree wholeheartedly on many topics.  But when it comes to vaccines, that guy got it 100% right.  Our society is successful because we understand the risks and look toward the greater good.  Before a single shot was administered to my children, I read the information, and researched the side-effects.  My husband has a Bachelor of Science from UC Davis.  He is the one that had the final say, and was there to get the shots for himself, and eventually, our sons. 

Vaccines do NOT cause Autism.  Think back to when you were in early grade school (at least those of us born before the mid-90's).  There was always one kid in the class that was obsessed with trains or video/board games, never really made eye contact, threw a fit if one type of food touched another food on the plate, got low grades because he/she wouldn't participate in class/group activities, wouldn't get dirty, and cried when they had to talk in front of the class.  We all have that uncle or cousin that "keeps to themselves" and won't come to family functions.  Autism was ALWAYS there, it was just not diagnosed.  The rate of Autism is up right now because it is being diagnosed. 

There is a strong genetic predisposition for those with Autism.  Kids are getting treatment so they can grow up and be productive, happy members of society.  It has absolutely nothing to do with vaccines.  These conditions have always been part of our society.  Autism will begin to emerge between two and three years old whether they have had the shots or not.  http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/fl/Unvaccinated-Children-with-Autism.htm

We are also seeing a rise in Autism not because of vaccine usage, but rather maternal age.  Those over 40 when the child was born have a 50% greater chance of having a child with Autism.  Mothers with high toxin exposure through hair dye, employment, or living situations also can lead to having a child with Autism.  http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.  In the last 30 years, more woman have chosen to have children "once they are settled."  The only issue with waiting until you have money to raise a kid, is that your body has had that many more years of contact with potential toxins.  The older you get, the more they pose a risk to you and your baby.  It is easier to blame a vaccine. 

In cases where entire groups of people are unvaccinated (Amish), they have a lower instance of autism.  They also have children when they are in their teens to early twenties, and they eat what they grow organically.  They avoid contact with the "outside world."  They have never been to Disneyland.  They don't dye their hair or get their nails done.  This is not reflective of those of us that live in cities and closely dwell with others.  If you have contact with children in public school, you are now in contact with students that have immigrated from other countries Russia, Ukraine, India, and most recently Mexico.  These students enter the school without the shot records as long as they promise to have the list complete within the first few weeks.  Some Western states allow parents to opt out of vaccines all together for personal and religious reasons.  Only two states in the U.S. requires all students to be immunized to attend public school. 

Parents are responsible for making good decisions for all the kids their children come into contact with.  You wouldn't give your first grader peanut butter and jelly for lunch then insist they sit next to the kid with the peanut allergy.  Most people would choose to protect the child that cannot protect himself.  We are responsible to teach our children to care about those around them.  The best way to teach this is to get our vaccinates up-to-date for ourselves, and our children. 

I vaccinate mainly because I remember how sick I was with chicken pox.  My mother's ex-friend intentionally gave me the disease because her kids had it and she told me, "it was better that I get it while I am still young."  My mother never spoke to her again.  Five days with high fevers, chills, pox in my ears, nose, and eye corners.  It was another full week before the spots started to heal.  I got the disease when I was ten and in 5th grade.  I was so sick I couldn't eat.  I have the deep scar marks on my neck, shoulders, abdomen and feet.  I would give anything to not let my children suffer like that.  That disease, unlike measles, was not eradicated.  There is still the chance that you could get sick from chicken pox without the vaccine.  I know people that lost hearing due to the pox in their ears.  I know those that ended up in the hospital from dehydration.  Because that woman gave me the disease, I have an extremely high chance of getting Shingles.  I will be first in line on my 55th birthday to get the shot.  I suffered enough.

I get that watching your kid receive their shots sucks.  I hate seeing my kids in pain for any length of time.  A few hours beats days and weeks of welts, fevers, and chills.  A few hours will always be better than holding a baby that can't eat and drink.  A few hours will always be better than sitting in a hospital with a child that is clinging to life from getting a disease at the Happiest Place on Earth. 

The one family that brought their kid to Disneyland with measles should have been able to realize that nearly 84 people in 14 states* have been effected by their choice.  And their siblings, and their friends, and their families. 96,000 people die from the disease world-wide** most of these cases are outside of the US but like most deadly diseases, failure to treat early on could trigger encephalitis, the exact condition that killed renowned children's author Ronald Dahl's daughter.  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/roald-dahls-heartbreaking-letter-about-measles-vaccine/

The most terrible thing about making choices is that we are all bound by them.  Unless you are Amish, each of us is linked to one another.  We watch each others children grow up on social media.  We wave and hug in the grocery store.  We cannot make choices that could cost a human life without understanding the sometimes harsh repercussions. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/patient-ed/conversations/downloads/not-vacc-risks-color-office.pdf

Copyright February 3, 2015 H. Jennings United States of America.  No part of this blog post, or any content herein may be transferred, spun, reworded, translated, misused, copied, or quoted without due credit to this blog. 

*Report by USA Today January 29, 2015.
**2013 WHO statistic