1. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-vaccines-exemption-20131031,0,1429284.story#axzz2jSBonR9N
2. Category of Problem/Issue Identified in Article: Health/Vaccinations
3. Level of Problem/Issue: State
4. Article concerns: The article concerns children to be exempted from required vaccinations with proper forms signed by health professionals.
5. Importance/Affect on individuals/families: There have been more outbreaks of measles since children have been able to be exempted from required school vaccinations. As a result, healthcare practitioners are taking more measures to make sure parents are educated and have access to reliable and accurate information before opting out their children from receiving the vaccinations.
6. Personal View: I personally believe that people should not be required to get certain vaccinations. However, when it comes to children they are more susceptible to infections and illness and having them exempted from getting such vaccinations may not be a wise choice. My concern is that information that is available for parents will still be biased in swaying parents to have their kids vaccinated. There have been cases of vaccinations causing irreversible damage and health issues to people. I personally have not received a flu shot and don't plan on it. An old boss of mine has an autistic child and she believes that the shots played a role in her son being diagnosed with autism. I don't think it is necessary for children to receive many vaccinations all at once. Spreading out the vaccines throughout the course of a child's first several years is safer in my opinion.
I do agree with you in that people should not be required to get certain vaccinations but it depends on the age of the person. I'm like you, I never get the flu shot and yet I've never gotten the flu. Knock on wood that it doesn't happen to me now that I've said that. I stay updated with the common immunizations but these days, there are so many that it is nearly impossible to keep up with. Plus, not every immunization will work. It IS possible to get a flu shot and get the flu.
ReplyDeleteMy two year old daughter has gotten the flu shot twice now and still gets sick, not with the flu but a nasty cold. Also, when I was a child, I didn't get every shot in the book and I was healthy. Currently, my daughter's insurance requires ALL proper immunizations until she's a teen as well as her school. So hers will be spread out over a span of ten years. I actually just turned in her immunization record in September but since she will be 2 this month, it is required for her to get another 2 year old check-up just because of her age. I also agree that children are way more susceptible to the common cold and illness. My daughter gets a runny nose just because the sky is blue. I don’t feel she needs medicine and shots for that. It’s the weather, allergies, peers and friends at school that are sick. Germs are everywhere.
I don't agree that the flu shot is a risk factor for autism simply because there is zero evidence behind that. Some people are born autistic so how would a flu shot be involved with that? I am not saying your boss is wrong; everyone has their own beliefs and of course, wants to find a cause and cure for a disease.
There are also immunizations for STI’s and diseases of those types that are highly recommended. Now, I pray that my daughter doesn’t ask for a shot at the age of 9! No mother wants to hear that. There is a fine line between protecting your children from everything yet also sending them a message that if they get the shot, they are less likely to get the disease therefore they’re free to do as they please.
Now, children specifically being exempt from vaccinations should be a parent’s decision and in the best interest of the child but if a school requires it, then the parent should comply. The measles is only the beginning of a widespread outbreak of illness in children. As a parent, I would do everything my daughter’s school required because I know they are looking at the best interest of each child attending. There are more contagious illnesses in children than any other age range. That’s why it seems like something is always wrong with her. :(
Good article choice.