Make an Informed Decision
Jul 06 '00
I am inquisitive by nature, so like everything else, when I became pregnant, vaccinations became an issue. It became an issue I researched and questioned and researched and prayed about, and researched. Just as I had questions about how to put a carseat safely into a vehicle, so I had questions about the safety of the chemicals that could possibly be put into my child.
I will not say that either way is "right." What I will say is that it is important to be informed. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to impose on your pediatrician. They are required to give you the information. Don't buy the "just do it, everyone else does."
You as a Health Care consumer need to decide, based on medical history, disease severity, vaccine reaction data, and your own beliefs, what is best for your child.
There are many resources out there that can help with your decision, but ultimately, it is up to you. Here are a few of the diseases and some information to get you started:
Severity of Disease vs. Vaccine Reaction
Polio Polio as a disease was very severe, causing, in some cases, paralysis. This disease was very prominent in the 1950's. It is still found in third world countries. According to "The Consumer's Guide to Childhood Vaccines," since 1979, the only cases of polio are caused by the live oral vaccination. This is the same vaccination that is said to have been the cause of eradification of polio. The oral vaccine is rarely used today, instead an inactive virus is injected by needle. According to my pediatrician, like the smallpox vaccine, this one will no longer be administered within a couple of years.
Pertussis (whooping cough) It is highly contagious, however it often means, after recovery, complete immunity. It is caused by a bacteria found in the throat, nose and mouth. It has a whooping sound of a cough. It usually lasts about three months. It is most dangerous for younger children. It has an incubation period of 6-20 days. Children usually appear fine during the day, but have a hard time at night. There are two vaccinations that can be given for this. The DTP, which is diptheria, pertussis and tetanus. This contains the whole pertussis bacteria and has caused reactions of prolonged crying, high pitched screaming, shock, fever over 103, hypotonic response, extreme lethargy and convulsions. Other serious reactions have included cardiac and respiratory distress, apnea, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and bulging of the fontanel. The other vaccine is the DTaP Which does not have the Whole B Bacteria that the DTP has. Most of the toxins are removed. The same reactions have been reported, but it seems that there are fewer incidences.
HepB HepB affects the liver. It has an incubation period of 45-160 days. It is found in body fluid and is contracted by coming into contact with the infected persons body fluids. This includes saliva, blood and semen. High risk groups are health professionals, sexually promiscuous, drug addicts and babies of mothers infected. Most patients have to be hospitalized and there is a 90% recovery rate. Reactions reported have been soreness at the site, fatigue, weakness, headache, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating, body ache, influenza, rash, dizziness, cough, arthritis, joint, back and neck pain, insomnia, earache, hypotension, among others.
These are only a few examples of the information out there. There are many studies showing that the vaccinations wear off. That there needs to be boosters into and past adulthood for people to keep immunity. Getting the disease itself, in most cases, provides permanent immunity. Which vaccinations are outdated? Are no longer needed? Which ones make no sense?
The information I used was the severity of the disease-how life threatening is this? Do I want to go through this with my child? Is it better for her to go through, for instance, chicken pox and have a life immunity to it, or to get the vaccination and have the chance of contracting shingles as an adult because the vaccine wore off.
Yes, the vaccine provides the bacteria, or a simulated bacteria, which promotes the body to produce antibodies. Do I take a chance with, let's say polio, when the only reported cases come from the vaccine itself?
Do I wait until her immune system has had a chance to grow and start to function on its own before I start injecting foreign bodies into her? Then is it to late to get certain vaccines?
These are all questions I asked myself. These are all the things I looked for in my search for knowledge. What it came down to was that I had to make the decision. I had to decide, which, if any I was going to give her. I had to decide how long to wait until I allowed them to be administered. No one was making that decision for me. I needed to get educated.
If there is anything that I can stress it is: Make an informed decision.
A good source for information is the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) They collect information and present it to the consumer in an unbiased way. They do not want to convince you either way, but they do want you to have the information. There biggest concern is keeping the decision to vaccinate with the parents, not with the government.
You can find them at http://www.909shot.com
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althaea
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Location: Orange County, NY
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Musician, Poet, Mother, and Wife, I remain teachable and willing.
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