In reading the debates regarding vaccines it almost seems that the best way to choose whether to vaccinate or not is by the old children's game:

eeny meeny miny mo, catch a tiger by the toe, if he hollers let him go...eeny meeny miny mo...and this on is IT.

The battle rages, one side saying that vaccines are actually potentially harmful, and the other saying that they are not. Now the pro-vaccine side says that the anti-vaccine side is creating a health hazard. YIKES! You want the best for your baby, who do you trust?

No one should make your decision for you. As the parent it is your right, and your responsibility to research and understand the benefits and consequences of vaccines. There is a risk with vaccines. You are weighing the risk of the disease against the risk of the vaccine and you must decide which is a better option.

Remember that it is not an all or nothing decision. You, as the parent, have the right to allow certain vaccines while not allowing others. If, after research, you are comfortable with the smallpox vaccine then by all means allow it to be given to your child. If you think that the chickenpox vaccine it too much intervention then just say no!

Perhaps you want to start the vaccines when your child is older and their immune system is better developed and that is your call. Take resposibility. It is not the decision of your doctor, the government, or your mother in law. If there is an adverse reaction it will be you, the parent, that deals with it.

Several vaccines are cultured on tissue that was derived from an aborted fetus in the 1960s. These vaccines include:

• rabies

• some mumps

• rubella

• chickenpox

• hepatitis a

• smallpox

• ipv

While some people don't feel that this is an issue, there are others that for ethical reasons, find this to be a major reason that vaccines should be avoided.

There are several vaccines that are now common in the first year of life.

MMR-Measles-Mumps-Rubella (German Measles):

This vaccinates against these common childhood diseases. The enclosed literature states that the vaccine is normally not effective for children under one year of age but that it should be given anyway. It contains trace amounts of mercury which has been linked to health problems.

Side effects are:

• High fever

• convulsions

• rash

• stiff neck

• swollen glands

• nerve damage

Critics of the vaccine believe that MMR vaccine is one of the primary causes of late onset autism in children.

According to the World Health Organization statistics show that the decline in death from measles in children was well established before the MMR vaccine was introduced in 1968.

MMR does not guarantee permanent immunity. A study in Eltham, South London, England found that half of the children who had been immunized with MMR had no immunity, or a very low immunity against these diseases.

Chicken pox

Chicken pox is an uncomfortable rash that rarely has any complications. The main reason for the development of the chicken pox vaccine was so that working parents could get back to their jobs.

Dr Gary Goldman, phd., one of the researchers in studying the vaccine believes that the vaccine can cause widespread outbreaks of shingles in adults. This is much more severe than chicken pox in children, and potentially fatal. Apparently chicken pox helps the body to fight shingles, while the vaccine does not.

Adverse reactions reported are approximately 67:100,000 vaccines, about 4% of those are serious. Serious reactions, including death, from Chicken pox are reported at approximately 50:1,000,000.

DTaP:

This is one of the most controversial of the vaccines. Despite the fact that 95% of the population is vaccinated with this pertussis, or whooping cough, is still prevalent in the U.S. There is much argument over what the effectiveness of the vaccine actually is. The numbers vary from 63% to 94% effective depending on the study cited. Since doctors do not always diagnose whooping cough correctly there are cases which are unreported. The Centers for disease control believe that the number of cases may actually be 20% higher than reported.

Formaldehyde is an ingredient in nearly all vaccines and is specifically listed in DTaP. It is in a very small amount, and used as a preservative. The list of side effects from DTaP is a long one and can be found in the links at the end of this article.

Influenza Most people do not realize that the vaccine against the flu is a scientific guess. The ingredients are based on what would have been effective against the flu from the last season. Most side effects from the flu shot are minor but there can be life threatening allergic reactions.

Most states have mandatory vaccine laws but many allow the parents to opt out of vaccines because of philosophical, ethical, or religious beliefs. Check your state's particular laws and be sure you understand your options.

People are staunchly on one side or the other of the vaccine issue. It is important that rather than agreeing with anyone you, as the parent, research and understand both sides so that you can reach an educated decision. When your doctor or nurse gives you a paper with the side effects of the disease listed, read it rather than stuffing it in your pocket or purse. Ask questions and make sure that you thoroughly understand the answers.