Vaccine Choice
Every
state in America has exemptions written into their
immunization policy that allow parents to choose whether to
vaccinate their children and themselves. Those exemptions
may include medical, religious and/or philosophical reasons
for delaying or refusing immunizations. Additionally, the
US Supreme Court has provided legal support for those
choosing a religious exemption.
Unfortunately, most parents are never told they have an
option and, for many of them, it never occurs to them to
look at the issue. Many parents are unaware of the possible
side effects of immunizations, toxic substances included in
the immunizations, contraindications for various
immunizations, or what after effects may appear. Additional
concerns may include: how the immune system works, what
effects immunizations have on the immature immune systems
of babies, at what age the immune system is mature and how
that maturing occurs, how reliable immunization efficacy
and safety studies are, and how decisions about what
vaccines to recommend are made.
Every time I hear a parent express remorse for vaccinating
because they didn't have all the facts or because their
child was one of the unlucky ones to suffer a serious side
effect, it makes me mad that more parents aren't being
informed about their choice. I do not believe anyone should
live in fear - either of vaccine side effects or disease
side effects and complications. Part of my motivation on
this web site and in much of my writing and workshop
presentations is to provide as much information as I can to
as many people as I can.
I often talk to parents who are reluctant to immunize, but
feel that they have no options. These parents deserve to be
told that they have options, what they are, and how to take
advantage of those options. One way of accomplishing this
task is to provide parents some ideas about how to find out
what the law in their state says and how to fulfill the
legal requirements of whatever exemption they may choose to
use.
Another way of accomplishing this is to help parents who
are willing to take the harder road of vaccine refusal and
help them learn what rights they have. Many parents are
given erroneous information when they decide to take a
religious or philosophical exemption. They may be told that
they have to fill out an approved form when there is no
such form. They may be told they must submit their
religious exemption on church letterhead or with their
pastor's signature when they law does not require it. They
may be told that they can't take the exemption unless they
belong to a specific faith group or if they have ever
vaccinated this child or any other child in their home.
Generally, none of these things are true, although some
states may offer pre-printed immunization exemption wavers
if asked.
Some parents who have chosen to vaccinate in the past
decide after education to refuse some or all of the
vaccines or to pick and choose which vaccines their
children will get. Many parents believe it's "an all or
nothing" deal. Current religious and philosophical
immunization exemptions allow parents to choose to refuse
some immunizations while accepting others. These exemptions
also allow parents to delay immunizations for a time and
allow their children's immune system to mature before
joining the ranks of the immunized.
Additionally, as pharmaceutical companies work to create
more and more vaccines, the number of shots children are
likely to receive increases every couple of years.
Guidelines on approved vaccines may change to target a
different population to increase the number of possible
recipients. So, parents may be confronted with decisions
for their own health and that of their aging parents. The
possible number of immunizations a person could receive
over a lifetime may surpass 100, including original doses,
boosters, new recommendations, and annual immunizations
like the flu shot.
Most parents don't realize how experimental some of these
vaccines are. Most parents would not choose to enroll their
children in a treatment that is not adequately tested. They
assume these vaccines are proven safe and effective. The
controversy over side effects and removal of some vaccines
from the recommendation list in the last two years proves
that parents aren't getting the whole story. Couple that
with the ridicule and pressure that many parents get when
they decide to either refuse or delay vaccines, and the
support they get from most of the medical community is
sadly lacking.
So why is there such furor over the right to choose? Surely
if the medical community and the government believe that
all vaccines are 100% safe and 100% effective in stopping
all incidences of a specific disease in the immunized
individual, the only person at risk is the person who is
not immunized. Right??
Wrong!! The
medical community and the government admit that there are
side effects to vaccines, although they would have you to
believe that these almost never happen. They also admit
that some individuals who have been immunized contract the
very disease they have been immunized against. In fact,
most of the individuals who contract a "vaccine preventable
disease" during an outbreak have been immunized.
As a parent, I am aware of the risk I take in not
vaccinating my children or myself! I've researched the
data, checked out the risks of both the disease and the
vaccine, prayed about it, talked it over with my
husband
and my
children, discussed the issue with more than one family
doctor, and finally reached a decision I can live with. We
have even had a "where the rubber meets the road"
experience where our children have contracted a "vaccine
preventable disease." We've also had experience with
vaccine side effects from the years before we decided not
to vaccinate. I have a much easier time living with the way
we experienced the disease than with the way we live with
the aftermath of vaccine damage!
And, that really is the final issue! If after all is said
and done, can I live with the consequences of my decision?
Yes, some people die from disease and some die from the
vaccines. Some people sustain life-long damage from the
disease and many more sustain life-long damage from the
vaccine. As a parent, and as a health-care professional, I
have to decide if I can live with the decision I have made
when I or my child becomes ill with any of the diseases
that currently have vaccines.
Each parent should have the same right to choose. Medical
professionals should respect a parent's right to choose and
not treat them like they have no brain or like they are
trying to hurt their child. Each parent should be provided
with
both sides
of the issue and encouraged to do their own research. Each
individual who makes an informed choice to refuse should
get the same courtesy given to the individual who decides
to vaccinate. And, each individual seeking information on
how to claim an exemption should be given accurate
information instead of rhetoric and, in some cases,
outright lies.
If you decide to fully immunize your child according to the
recommended schedule, it's important to realize everyone
deserves the right to choose. Whatever consequences, good
or bad, occur because of your decision are yours. You, and
your child, will be the ones to live with the consequences.
Neither your doctor, the pharmaceutical companies, the CDC,
the policy makers at the FDA or the officials at your state
and local health departments will have to live with the
outcome of your choice. Therefore, the choice needs to lie
with those who will most experience the benefits and risks
of whatever choice made.
There is a quote from World War II in Nazi Germany that
seems appropriate here.
In
Germany, they came first for the communists, and I didn't
speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for
the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists but I didn't speak
up because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for
the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a
Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time nobody
was left to speak up. --Martin Niemoeller, Dachau, 1944
The right to choose whether the risks of immunization
outweigh benefits must be preserved. Regardless of what
choice you make, you have determined which benefits and
risks you find most important. Education provides the best
and most reliable medium of making choices for you and your
family. Make your choice and let others make theirs.
Preserve the right to choose by supporting legislation that
protects exemptions in all 50 states.
Contact
Information:
Kathy
Barr, CCD, CCCE, CCM, BE, PE, CVE, Traditional Naturopath
817-819-8457
