Questions about vaccines

[brendenseth]

Last Monday evening we welcomed our second child into this world. The question of vaccines has been brought up more than once, I refused the Hep B shot at birth because I didn’t see a need for it. We live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate at all. I just wondered what peoples thoughts on this subject were? He is scheduled to have his first round when he is 2 months old. Thank you.

 

[Inisfallen]

Last Monday evening we welcomed our second child into this world. The question of vaccines has been brought up more than once, I refused the Hep B shot at birth because I didn’t see a need for it. We live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate at all. I just wondered what peoples thoughts on this subject were? He is scheduled to have his first round when he is 2 months old. Thank you.

I’m a parent too – my daughter is 14 months old.

I believe vaccines are a very, very good thing for your child. Please, please, talk to older relatives or friends about what life was like before vaccines. My father, who is 82 years old, talks about remembering that, when he was a kid, everyone knew a family who had lost a child to something that we don’t worry about anymore (pertussis, for example, or meningitis). And he remembers polio – there was a small epidemic in the US in the early fifties, and again, everyone knew a family affected by polio. The Salk/Sabin vaccines changed the world, to the point where, in the developed world, polio is nearly unknown.

I also believe that it’s our moral duty to vaccinate our children so that these diseases don’t come back. A small, small number of people aren’t given immunity by vaccines, and some people can’t have vaccines because of health problems. If our herd immunity breaks down (and there are signs that it’s beginning to breakdown because of the vaccination refuseniks), all of those people are at risk.

Some people say that they understand the value of vaccines, but they choose not to expose their children to the (trivial) risk of vaccination because they’re confident that herd immunity will protect them. That’s simply selfish and wrong – they’re saying that they want all the other children to be put at risk so that theirs don’t have to. At best, that’s anti-social behavior, and free-riding – the tragedy of the commons.

Lastly, if you live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate (where do you live? Berkeley? Park Slope?), that’s all the more reason why you absolutely should vaccinate your children. Your community isn’t going to have herd immunity for much longer, if it has it at all anymore.

 

[brendenseth]

I’m a parent too – my daughter is 14 months old.

I believe vaccines are a very, very good thing for your child. Please, please, talk to older relatives or friends about what life was like before vaccines. My father, who is 82 years old, talks about remembering that, when he was a kid, everyone knew a family who had lost a child to something that we don’t worry about anymore (pertussis, for example, or meningitis). And he remembers polio – there was a small epidemic in the US in the early fifties, and again, everyone knew a family affected by polio. The Salk/Sabin vaccines changed the world, to the point where, in the developed world, polio is nearly unknown.

I also believe that it’s our moral duty to vaccinate our children so that these diseases don’t come back. A small, small number of people aren’t given immunity by vaccines, and some people can’t have vaccines because of health problems. If our herd immunity breaks down (and there are signs that it’s beginning to breakdown because of the vaccination refuseniks), all of those people are at risk.

I live in a chiropractic college community, a lot of those people don’t vaccinate at all. I actually know families who’s children had whooping cough. They say they have immunity for life now, but they are lucky they didn’t die. The only vaccine my children will never receive is the flu shot. One objection I had was the mmr and varicella was done on aborted babies, but I also know the vatican has said those are ok as long as there isn’t another one. I just question using the same vaccine from the 60’s, why can’t they find new safe vaccines today? I know the risk of a vaccine injury is 1 in a million, compared to 1 in 5000 if you get the disease. Thank you for your response.

Some people say that they understand the value of vaccines, but they choose not to expose their children to the (trivial) risk of vaccination because they’re confident that herd immunity will protect them. That’s simply selfish and wrong – they’re saying that they want all the other children to be put at risk so that theirs don’t have to. At best, that’s anti-social behavior, and free-riding – the tragedy of the commons.

Lastly, if you live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate (where do you live? Berkeley? Park Slope?), that’s all the more reason why you absolutely should vaccinate your children. Your community isn’t going to have herd immunity for much longer, if it has it at all anymore.

 

[brendenseth]

I’m a parent too – my daughter is 14 months old.

I believe vaccines are a very, very good thing for your child. Please, please, talk to older relatives or friends about what life was like before vaccines. My father, who is 82 years old, talks about remembering that, when he was a kid, everyone knew a family who had lost a child to something that we don’t worry about anymore (pertussis, for example, or meningitis). And he remembers polio – there was a small epidemic in the US in the early fifties, and again, everyone knew a family affected by polio. The Salk/Sabin vaccines changed the world, to the point where, in the developed world, polio is nearly unknown.

I also believe that it’s our moral duty to vaccinate our children so that these diseases don’t come back. A small, small number of people aren’t given immunity by vaccines, and some people can’t have vaccines because of health problems. If our herd immunity breaks down (and there are signs that it’s beginning to breakdown because of the vaccination refuseniks), all of those people are at risk.

Some people say that they understand the value of vaccines, but they choose not to expose their children to the (trivial) risk of vaccination because they’re confident that herd immunity will protect them. That’s simply selfish and wrong – they’re saying that they want all the other children to be put at risk so that theirs don’t have to. At best, that’s anti-social behavior, and free-riding – the tragedy of the commons.

Lastly, if you live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate (where do you live? Berkeley? Park Slope?), that’s all the more reason why you absolutely should vaccinate your children. Your community isn’t going to have herd immunity for much longer, if it has it at all anymore.

I live in a community with a lot of chiropratic students, and they don’t vaccinate for anything. I agree with you that its irresponsible not to vaccinate. I just wish they came out with alternatives for the vaccines they have currently. like the ones done on aborted babies. However the only vaccine neither of kids will ever receive is the flu vaccine. I know from experience how bad that one is. I just wondered what the reason Catholics have for not vaccinating?

 

[Inisfallen]

I live in a community with a lot of chiropratic students, and they don’t vaccinate for anything. I agree with you that its irresponsible not to vaccinate. I just wish they came out with alternatives for the vaccines they have currently. like the ones done on aborted babies.

The Pontifical Academy for Life has written on this topic (here).

I’ll quote briefly from the document:

as regards the vaccines without an alternative, the need to contest so that others may be prepared must be reaffirmed, as should be the lawfulness of using the former in the meantime insomuch as is necessary in order to avoid a serious risk not only for one’s own children but also, and perhaps more specifically, for the health conditions of the population as a whole - especially for pregnant women

(emphasis added)

 

[jediliz]

do research on vaccines, read the side effects and maybe work out a delaying schedule so your child doesn’t have to be given too many shots at once. The # of shots and the schedule has changed drastically from the 1980s when not as many were given at once…to now where they give a LOT more and more frequently.

Re: Chiropractor students…well, they learn about the immune system and how to strengthen it without giving shots of dead viruses grown in dangerous chemicals (the vaccines are grown or used to be grown in Mercury…but why?). They are alternative medicine. I gave up most dairy (well, don’t usually drink dairy milk) a few years ago to help me combat what could have turned into Bronchitis so I could avoid having to take antibiotics (which seem to be the doctor’s solution to every infection known to man).

Just educate yourself first. Ask questions.

Then vaccinate if you must.

 

[AyJSimon]

Last Monday evening we welcomed our second child into this world. The question of vaccines has been brought up more than once, I refused the Hep B shot at birth because I didn’t see a need for it. We live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate at all. I just wondered what peoples thoughts on this subject were? He is scheduled to have his first round when he is 2 months old. Thank you.

If you live in a community where a lot of people don’t vaccinate, that should actually provide greater incentive to make sure your kids get vaccinated. Herd immunity only works if the herd is protected in the first place.

 

[on_the_hill]

…not this again…

The best thing you can do is take your family doctor’s advice.

 

[brendenseth]

…not this again…

The best thing you can do is take your family doctor’s advice.

Not this again? If you don’t like my question then please don’t read my post I couldn’t of been more obvious in my title what it was about. I know what every doctor says I just wanted to see what some of my catholic peers thought on this. Your response was very rude, I question everything now that I’m a parent.

 

[Xantippe]

Not this again? If you don’t like my question then please don’t read my post I couldn’t of been more obvious in my title what it was about. I know what every doctor says I just wanted to see what some of my catholic peers thought on this. Your response was very rude, I question everything now that I’m a parent.

Giving medical advice on forums violates CAF rules.

Talk to your kids’ doctor.

A lot of pediatricians are now banning unvaccinated patients.

 

[pensmama87]

Giving medical advice on forums violates CAF rules.

Talk to your kids’ doctor.

A lot of pediatricians are now banning unvaccinated patients.

Yup.

OP, you were already advised on another thread about vaccines and forum rules.

The debates can turn really nasty and nobody is ever swayed. Best to leave it alone.

 

[Kelfa28]

Please talk to your kid’s pediatrician about this and not a thread.

One of the reasons why they vaccinate Hep B so young is because it can actually exist on surfaces anywhere and be transmitted through touching hard surfaces. It can actually survive, infectious up to a week outside of the body and can be transmitted through the blood…just by touching a wet surface one can get Hep B.
Plus, while our blood banking system is good…it’s not perfect. You can still get Hep though a transfusion.

There are reasons why they vaccinate when they do. Your pediatrician can explain this.

It’s not a matter of opinion…based on the community you live in…but on real and serious health risks that have been studied and proven over and over again.

By not vaccinating your children…you expose them to diseases that other children can transmit…especially in a community that does not vaccinate.

Plus, more and more doctors and doctor’s office are opting not to accept patients that choose not to vaccinate and more and more jobs…especially in the military and health care industry…will not hire anyone who refuses to be vaccinated…you’re setting your child up for failure.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

I live in a community with a lot of chiropratic students, and they don’t vaccinate for anything. I agree with you that its irresponsible not to vaccinate. I just wish they came out with alternatives for the vaccines they have currently. like the ones done on aborted babies. However the only vaccine neither of kids will ever receive is the flu vaccine. I know from experience how bad that one is. I just wondered what the reason Catholics have for not vaccinating?

I didn’t know that chiropractors were against vaccination. “Adjusting” a child’s neck or back is not going to protect him from infection. We have forgotten how terrible epidemics were because of the success of vaccination.

 

[MaryT777]

I’d hate to not vaccine my children and then God forbid they get a disease that was preventable with a vaccine and get very ill or die. My mother had polio and recovered; many others spent time in an iron lung and died or were permanently crippled.

Mary.

 

[Pax2u]

Unless a doctor says there’s a medical reason your child should opt out, I believe all children should be immunized. I worked at a school for many years, and probably 10% of the students had waivers,only a couple for medical reasons, most for “philosophical” reasons. Every couple years there would be a student who would come down with measles. I always felt badly for the young female teachers…many were at the point where they were starting their families, and that is a worry to be exposed to measles when you are pregnant.

The decision not to vaccinate is selfish, as it puts others at risk.

 

[thequeen]

Giving medical advice on forums violates CAF rules.

Talk to your kids’ doctor.

A lot of pediatricians are now banning unvaccinated patients.

.

Thank you Xantippe for pointing out this rule. and my doctor I know ill not do any doctoring for unvaccinated patients. He did this before all the controversy of not being vaccinated came up.

 

[Inisfallen]

Re: Chiropractor students…well, they learn about the immune system and how to strengthen it without giving shots of dead viruses grown in dangerous chemicals (the vaccines are grown or used to be grown in Mercury…but why?).

This is just woo. And dangerous.

Just educate yourself first. Ask questions.

Yes. Do this. And you will see that there is no reason not to vaccinate your children, and every reason to do it.

Then vaccinate if you must.

If you do educate yourself, you’ll see that you must vaccinate your children (and yourself, if you aren’t vaccinated already).

 

[nhamm10]

do research on vaccines, read the side effects and maybe work out a delaying schedule so your child doesn’t have to be given too many shots at once. The # of shots and the schedule has changed drastically from the 1980s when not as many were given at once…to now where they give a LOT more and more frequently.

Re: Chiropractor students…well, they learn about the immune system and how to strengthen it without giving shots of dead viruses grown in dangerous chemicals (the vaccines are grown or used to be grown in Mercury…but why?). They are alternative medicine. I gave up most dairy (well, don’t usually drink dairy milk) a few years ago to help me combat what could have turned into Bronchitis so I could avoid having to take antibiotics (which seem to be the doctor’s solution to every infection known to man).

Just educate yourself first. Ask questions.

Then vaccinate if you must.

My medical doctor recommends the polio ONLY! That is what I did. I never looked backed and never second guessed it. Research pros and cons and decide what is best for YOU and YOUR child. Pray about it as well. I will say when I brought in the waiver for the school nurse I was expecting a fight. She was so cool with it and we started discussing the debate. She opened up a cabinet filled with meds, inhalers etc and turned to me and said I really wonder if all the vaccines are causing all this? She said she started in school thirty years ago and maybe had one inhaler and no meds back then. I guess we will never know but everyone needs to follow their intuition whether its for or against and I respect anyone’s choice.