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Sunday, July 11, 2010

Lets talk about...

Vaccinations 

Yesterday's mail brought a card stock 8 1/2x11 folded color card: "Open for a message about your son's and daughter's health" from Merck &Co., Inc.. It was a reminder to ask my doctor about HPV, meningitis, whooping cough, and chicken pox. While vaccines weren't mentioned, fear raising was the goal. 

The topic of vaccinations is a hot one, and you young parents out there are forced to face it as soon as your offspring sees the light of the world as mandatory vaccination schedules begin at 2 months of age, with over 2 dozen recommended by age 18 months.

As a parent, it is your job to know what to do. To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate. That is the question. 

If you say "well, of course, you have to vaccinate your kids in order for them to go to school" - I beg to differ. Vaccination exceptions are available, but few parents are aware of them, and few pediatricians will talk about them. You know your obligations to your children, but do you know your rights?

From authors like Neil Z. Miller to Robert Sears, websites like www.ICPA4kids.org to www.909shot.com and http://www.know-vaccines.org/controversy.html  and many others talking about the controversies - you have a wealth of information available at your fingertips.
Research them, read articles by Françoise Berthoud, MD and only after you've read pros and cons,  make the best decision for you and your kids. 

As a parent you have the responsibility to look at both sides of this debate - just like you do about what TV programs you let your children watch (... and thats a topic for another day!).

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."   Buddha

That makes sense to me.  





1 comment:

  1. My first child was born when I was in the military - it was not optional to get shots myself or give the children shots - it was mandatory - the only way out of the flu shot was to prove I was allergic to chicken feathers, which I'm NOT ....

    Wonder how "conscientious objecting" in the military is working THESE days ......

    Thanks for the info Doctor !

    ReplyDelete