We were at a first birthday party yesterday and the topic of vaccinations came up; luckily before one set of parents that have decided not to vaccinate their children turned up. Luckily because it would have gotten heated and maybe we would have had a problem when I laughed at them; I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself.
I do understand a healthy skepticism when viewing the drug companies, but to ignore the massive amount of evidence gathered by the medical profession since Edward Jenner’s time seems foolishly dangerous. I’m wondering how I would feel if an unvaccinated child made my child sick, because I think that’s what it comes down to.
Comments (6)
Nanna would have been thrilled to have the anti polio shot back in the 1920’s (if it had been around then of course). She would have been spared a life of struggle and rude stares. In later life now she suffers from post polio syndrome with very painful legs.
Comment by Grammy — August 29, 2010 @ 3:18 pm
Maybe these antis have more qualifications and research experiance, real or imagined, than the medicos. Or they read about it in a flyer or ‘laughter is the best medicine’ in Readers Digest.
Comment by Pop — August 29, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
When we had Holly I did a lot of research into it, as there is so much “vaccines are bad” in popular culture right now. But the more that I studied it, the more I realised that there just isn’t evidence there to support this theory. Measles, Polio, Meningitis; these are real diseases, with real consequences. Even if an MMR had a 0.05 chance of side effects, it would still be worth giving. But if it did have these effects, it should have shown up in a study, which it just hasn’t.
Comment by Shannon — August 30, 2010 @ 12:47 am
http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/measles.htm
Read that and then wonder why any parents would want their kids to have the diesase when you can avoid it.
But then again, nowt stranger than folk
Comment by YveeB — August 30, 2010 @ 5:38 am
I suppose its because we have grown up without the spectre of childhood disease. Largely this is because of vaccination.
Comment by Zombie Master — August 30, 2010 @ 6:53 am
ZM you are right, people of my generation grew up with people still getting polio and other diseases,untill as kids the polio vaccine came out and the incidence of this hateful disease faded but physically affected people were still amongst us. We then could see the benefits of vacinations. Later generations never saw the widespresd ill effects of these diseases and therefore don’t know the misery they cause and have little or no fear of them and are prepared to risk their children and other peoples as well.
Comment by Pop — August 31, 2010 @ 4:59 am