Do you, dear reader, believe vaccines work? This isn't a trick question. I happen to believe that some do. The idea of injecting a weakened or dead form of a virus for the immune system to learn and fight off is a good idea. In fact I believe the return on the investment for some of these vaccines is worth it. Vaccines like Polio. However, I do believe there is a limit. I don't believe every virus needs a vaccine. Chicken pox for instance. Our idea of a Chicken Pox vaccine was to nurse our children through it. All three of our children caught the Chicken pox. Yes it was miserable for them, but they're through it. Before anyone brings up Shingles; vaccinated for Chicken Pox or not; it's still a possibility. Vaccinated for Shingles isn't fool proof either.
What I don't believe in is the number of vaccines given to children before the age of 18. 76 if I remember correctly. I also don't believe they have to be heaped on babies as they are. In the first 2 months of life, it's recommended that an infant have 7 vaccines with 2nd shots given before they're 4 month old. 2 at birth, with 6 of the 7 having second doses between 2-4 months of age. Some of these are a cocktail of illnesses rather than just one. Rather than list them all here, I've included a link to the CDC website for child vaccinations. Click here to see
I will pull out one of these vaccines; Hepatitis B. This is given to every newborn regardless of potential risk: mothers drug use, mother having multiple partners, or diagnosis of Hep B. While it is possible to decline this vaccine for a newborn; many times the hospital presents this vaccine as "newborn care" or phrases it in such a way that many parents don't realize they can opt out. If a mother is at high risk the vaccine is prudent. However, if the mother doesn't have Hep B, isn't a drug user, and/or hasn't had multiple sexual partners, opting out is an option. As an aside, part of my nursing assistant, and home health training, was in wording requests in such a way as to get compliance from my patients. It isn't just obtaining vaccine approval. ALL medical staff knows the best way to approach a patient to get compliance. During a hospital stay, my mother refused physical therapy. We told staff she was independent. She was in the hospital for a digestive issue and not a mobility issue. She refused physical therapy out right. Instead of honoring her wishes, the physical therapist showed up again the next day and pushed her into a session. This physical therapist even acknowledged her prior refusal! Unfortunately I wasn't with her at the time. She was afraid if she refused they wouldn't treat her so she complied, even though she was too sick. I'm hopeful my mother never has to attend a hospital again, but should she have to; I'm packing a bag and I will be camping there until she comes home. Anyway, I digress.
What I also don't believe is that the Covid "vaccine" has a place anywhere. What started as "95% chance of not getting Covid or spreading it" went to "well you can still get it and spread it but it won't be as bad". In fact the 2024 strain specifically targeted people who had been vaccinated! My husband was vaccinated. My sons and I weren't. We had Covid naturally twice; once in 2021 and once in 2022. Then nothing else so far. Even though all of us were exposed, he alone got Covid last year. In addition are the recent revelations that have come out about the side effects of this vaccine. No Thank you! Myocarditis in young men especially, increase chance of heart attack and blood clots. In fact we suspect the issues my mother had the year she was hospitalized came from her having been vaccinated a month prior.
What set me off on this tirade is an interview on CNN with Senator Mark Mullin. During the course of the interview the News Lady ( I don't watch CNN so forgive my ignorance of her name) made a statement about her vaccinated child being at risk if another child wasn't vaccinated. She, and others that believe like her can't have it both ways. Either vaccines work or they don't. If they don't, vaccinating a child is just mean. If vaccines work the only person at risk of disease is the unvaccinated person. So let people make their own INFORMED choice. Let them know the risks, and benefits. Let them know clearly that they can opt out or even take the shots at a pace they're comfortable with. My choosing to not vaccinate either myself or my children doesn't in any way hinder another's choice to do so. Full disclosure, we did vaccinate all of our children when they were small. Not as many as are offered now, but we did. However, by the "booster time" we knew enough to say "No". To each his own, but know how, why, and when. Be willing to accept the risks of each decision. Just be informed. Don't let the media tell you what to think.
No comments:
Post a Comment