APRIL 20 — To vaccinate, or not vaccinate, that is the question. But let us be real, this is a question of our day by those of us living mostly untouched from disease.
This was not a question in the days when people were dying of infections and our expected life span 30 years less, nor is it a question in the parts of the world still ravaged by disease; for them to vaccinate is a priority and they are thankful for it.
I am a vaccinator. Full disclosure: I’m a supporter of almost every advancement science has given us medically including the evil “big pharma.” I have seen children dying from vaccine preventable diseases. I have followed history and the massive outbreaks that have killed and disabled thousands from infections which we now know how to prevent with a vaccine.
I have read the studies that say the dangers of vaccines, and though I doubt them and find the majority of them lacking in scientific data, at the end of the day I look at the lives that have been saved and feel even if there is some risk, the risk is worth it.
I also know that science is trying to continue to find better alternatives and solutions. I read the other day that “the problem OPV (oral polio)” vaccine is in its last phases.
The article was talking about the problems with the OPV. Yes, that is true. OPV is a problem. Because OPV is a “live” vaccine given orally there is some risk of transmission especially among immunocompromised patients, patients whose immune system is weakened and unable to fight off infections like a healthy person.
That is why 20 years ago we began phasing it out and moving to an injectable vaccine which does not carry any “live” virus thus eliminating transmission of polio via vaccine.
When the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine came out I was a sceptic, as I continue to be of any new vaccines. I and all my siblings had had Varicella when we were children and we were all fine.
Of course I knew that the reality is that I and my siblings were very healthy, thus getting Varicella was not a big deal to us, and I knew that immunocompromised patients may not have as easy of a time as we had. I knew this, but I still was not sure if the new vaccine made it worth it, how many kids could possibly fall very sick from Varicella?
That is until I had a whole houseful of immunocompromised foster kids. Until a friend lost her daughter to Varicella; until one of my children almost died from it.
I also nearly lost a child to Pertussis, whooping cough, because he had been too sick to get the vaccine at his young age. He had come into contact with a child who had not been vaccinated, a choice by the parents, and though that child was able to fight off the virus, my child, who was very sick, ended up in the ICU because he could not.
The idea behind vaccinating populations is the idea of “herd immunity.” This means that for children who are immunocompromised, or who are too young to be vaccinated, are protected by the fact that the children they come into contact with are vaccinated, therefore not transmitting to them serious infections.
It should be noted that often immunocompromised patients DO NOT look sick to us, which is why they are often at particular risk because as a population we don’t think about needing to protect a seemingly healthy individual.
When I say I am for “big pharma” and medicine it is simply because it is very easy to be against these things until we need them. I, personally, do not need to take any major medication. My health history is fairly healthy and overall I am a healthy person. I could probably get by without vaccines, using herbal and natural supplements and essential oils and be ok.
In fact, I tend to think modern medicine overdoes a lot of things. I think we prescribe too many medications when they are not needed, I think we run too many diagnostics, we try and prevent things we cannot, and we probably even over-vaccinate.
But this has become the norm because we are trying to keep people alive and healthy. When a doctor misses a diagnosis because he didn’t run a test, or a patient’s health declines because a medication wasn’t given, the reality is we blame that same doctor even when he is trying to be judicious in his decision making.
I have cared for people who needed some of the most expensive medication and technology out there in order to survive. These people needed everything science and modern medicine has to give them a fighting chance at life.
All of the alternative therapies, herbs, oils, etc, which are very popular today, have roots going back thousands of years because they were what was available. For this reason they are lauded as somehow superior to modern medicine, but the reality is also that they were not very effective in helping major illness, thus science stepped in.
Recently I did have an episode where I was ill and was in the hospital. I ended up requiring blood draws, an ultrasound, a MRI and medications all of which medical technology has given us.
My situation was not too bad, but others with the same diagnosis have died. WIthout these technologies where would we be? And these technologies do not come without funding, testing, failing, research, breakthroughs, government approvals, marketing etc.
Here is what you should know though, about parents or people who do not believe like me; they love their kids and their family members too. The majority are not being just ignorant about these things. They believe they are making choices that are for the best. When they choose to not vaccinate they are choosing to do so believing that is the best thing for their child.
Here is what you should know about me; I believe that too. When I vaccinate I am choosing what I think is best for my child. I also want you to know that the scary articles that seem to get posted daily in my Facebook feed, scare me too. But it is why I always go back to statistics, science and proof.
My only argument and plea to those who do not believe like me, because I know that I will not change your mind from reading this, is to realise that your choosing not to vaccinate potentially harms my child or another child around you.
My challenge to you is read the literature that is available, without prejudice, realising that many reports do not have data to backup their claims; and I admit that is on both sides of the debate. Because of the copious amounts of literature out there it is very difficult to sift through and find the legitimate studies.
My challenge to all of us is that there be mutual respect in the understanding that no matter which side of the debate we sit, we are there because we want what is best for our children and families.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
