Should we vaccinate?

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   AshtonFireflyposted 6 years ago

   I'm not sure if this subject has been presented yet (I feel like it would have been, but I couldn't find it): what do you feel about vaccination vs. anti-vaccination? Do you feel it has been substantially linked to health problems such as autism, etc.? Does not vaccinating endanger others' lives? I'm interested in your opinions.

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      promisemposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      We had all three of our kids vaccinated. They grew up into adults without any apparent problems. So I'm not one of those parents who blame vaccinations for autism or other issues.
      
      I suspect it comes down to the risk with either choice. It seems the risk of a problem with vaccinations is a lot lower than the risk of getting a serious disease as a result of no vaccination.

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      wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      We watched as massive vaccinations was followed by a massive reduction in the diseases vaccinated for.  We watched as the "anti-vaxxers" spread their lies about autism and quit vaccinating and the incidence of those diseases quickly rose.  Promisem is right - the risks aren't even close, not by orders of magnitude.
      
      Yes, vaccines pose a danger to those that receive them - a minute percentage will be harmed one way or another.  And if we don't vaccinate the population millions will die from diseases that were once eradicated in North America.  The choice seems clear.

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   Live to Learnposted 6 years ago

   I wrestled with this when my son was small but I watched videos of children in Europe whose parents had decided not to vaccinate. I decided vaccinating was the appropriate choice.

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3. 70

   Aime Fposted 6 years ago

   There's a small chance that my child might have an adverse reaction to a vaccine. Some of them are scary. On the flipside, there's perhaps an even smaller chance that my daughter contracts diphtheria or polio. I can see how it might be appealing to look at the immediate risks and decide that you're not going to vaccinate.
   
   Unfortunately, if everyone only thought about the immediate risk and made that decision, the risk of contracting one of those diseases would go way up. Unless a disease is completely eradicated there's always a possibility that it comes back and spreads like wildfire if herd immunity reaches a critical level.
   
   I think it's more than worth it to take a small risk now to avoid a large risk in the future. My daughter is fully vaccinated (minus the flu shot).
   
   There is no credible research to suggest that vaccines cause autism, there's no credible research to suggest that vaccine additives are bad for your health (even when they pulled themiserol it was strictly precautionary and nothing ever pointed to it being dangerous).
   
   As for people who are strictly anti-vaccines, they need to think really hard about why they feel more educated about vaccines than doctors, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, etc. after spending a few hours on the internet. Pretty arrogant and borderline delusional.

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   Paul Wingertposted 6 years ago

   The anti-vaxxers with their BS lies about causing autism never stopped to think that just maybe the cause of autism is not the vaccine but their f*cked-up genes.

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   Marisa Wrightposted 6 years ago

   I had no opinion about this - and then I went to live in Africa, and saw what life is like without vaccination.
   
   Children dying of measles. Children surviving measles, but with brain damage.  Children paralysed by polio.  Babies dying of whooping cough. 
   
   These diseases are virtually unknown in the West, thanks to vaccination.  In fact they are so rare, people think vaccinations aren't necessary.  What are the chances my child will ever be exposed to these diseases? they think.
   
   Probably quite high.   Africa and Asia, where these diseases are still rife, are only a few hours' plane ride away.  Business people fly there all the time to do business, and African and Asian business people visit us.  Africa is becoming popular as a holiday destination.
   
   It only takes one of those people to get off the plane carrying an infection, and going home to their unvaccinated child - who will then spread it to some of their classmates before the symptoms are noticed, and you've got an epidemic.

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      GA Andersonposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Marissa, that was a very impressive response. Folks will say that anecdotal evidence is usually far from indicative of the truth of the matter, but I think your story is really the proof of the question. Whether it is only your personal experience or not.
      
      Kudos for an excellent contribution. I have always been pro-vaccines - it just seems to be such a common sense position. The anti-vaccine movement really didn't make sense to me.
      
      GA

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         Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         This is an interesting gif from the WHO. 
         
         http://www.who.int/immunization/monitor … p.gif?ua=1
         
         Globally there were 134,200 deaths from measles in 2015.  And of course, that doesn't take into account all the children who survived but were left with lifelong complications.  People forget it's deadly.
         
         Also, people of my generation and younger never had to confront images of children living their lives in iron lungs after polio (if they survived).   The polio vaccine was a miracle.

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            wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            That's likely a big part of it - we've forgotten how it used to be, and what it still is in other countries.  All that's left is the tiny number of negative reactions, and that's blown way out of proportion, so that's where the fear is concentrated instead of where it belongs - with the diseases that still exist and still kill in large numbers.

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   suraj punjabiposted 6 years ago

   Yes. The Myth of Autism causing vaccines have been debunked. The person who started this nonsense has been charged and his doctor title has been removed as well as his practice license. So please give your kids MMR vaccinations.

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   SmartAndFunposted 6 years ago

   I know a teenager who received a heart transplant as a toddler. She is lucky to be alive, and thanks to modern medicine is a (mostly) normal teenager. However, as healthy as she appears to the casual observer, her immune system cannot handle vaccinations. She is completely non-immunized. If she begins to run a fever she must check into the hospital. She relies on herd immunity to stay healthy. Parents who reject sound medical advice to vaccinate against deadly diseases, and refuse to vaccinate their healthy kids, endanger my friend's life.
   
   Measles was considered eradicated in the US as of 2000, but now it is back with a vengeance, thanks to people who think that it is riskier for healthy people to get a vaccine than it is for them to face the very real possibility of contracting measles. Mumps, whooping cough and chicken pox, once considered to be eradicated in the US, have also returned due to poor vaccination rates.
   
   I am happy to vaccinate my kids and myself, to safeguard not just our own health but also the health of those who cannot receive vaccinations.

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