I read with disgust the article about Deschutes County being far behind in vaccinating our children. I say, GOOD! The rates of infectious disease were already on the decline BEFORE vaccines were introduced.
Second, doctors and Big Pharma CANNOT guarantee the safety of present-day vaccines.
Third, if current vaccines contained only dead or weakened viruses and saline solution, I would vaccinate my child. But unfortunately, these vaccines contain dangerous chemicals and heavy metals that I myself would not want injected into me.The article was biased and not based in good science. A basic hit piece against those of us who are informed. Better luck next time.
– Randy Callison
This article appears in Jun 16-22, 2011.
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“against those of us who are informed”. Where exactly is your information coming from? I didn’t see an MD or PhD at the end of your name. There is a lot of “information” out there, most of it based on rumors, old wives’ tales, and other useless data.
I hope people won’t take your advice, Randy; you’ll have blood on your hands.
Here here! Thank you for taking a stand and stating the unpopular viewpoint. The argument for vaccines is usually fear-based and includes something like this statement: “There is a lot of “information” out there, most of it based on rumors, old wives’ tales, and other useless data.” Well all I have to say is I wouldn’t want to be one of the mothers who is standing up against vaccines because her child was harmed by them. The most important point of this debate is: It’s a personal choice and those who chose not to vaccinate do not deserve to be witch-hunted as is the case most of the time. There needs to be more education on the cons of vaccinating, or at least vaccinating during infancy, so all of us can make informed decisions, rather than being bullied into vaccinating because that is the norm.
I had a severe adverse reaction to a flu shot years ago and I have never recovered. My nephew stopped talking (he was talking before) and started showing signs of aspergers after getting the MMR shots. I will never get anymore vaccines. Thanks for speaking the truth. There really is no guarantee that they are safe. I’m living proof of that.
You can have your own opinion, but you can’t have your own facts.
There is an enormous amount of research that shows the benefits of vaccines. On the other hand, the evidence that vaccines are dangerous aren’t backed by ANY evidence, just anecdote and fear-mongering. Sure, you can make your own decision to avoid vaccinations, but you are harming the larger community when you do and encouraging the return of diseases that were a scourge to previous generations.
It’s fine that your opinion is misinformed, but not so great that you’d endanger others because of it.
meldawn: People aren’t bullied into vaccinating because it’s “the norm”; people are pushed to vaccinate because the whole thing doesn’t work unless almost everyone is vaccinated – it’s called “herd immunity”, and it’s just one of those stubborn facts. People like you who attempt to undermine attempts at widespread vaccination are causing actual harm (including death) to strangers because of your unwillingness to hear the truth. And that’s very very sad. I recommend the Twilight Zone episode “Button, Button”; I think it’s apropos.
Has anyone noticed the contradiction in the vaccine-pushers argument that those who don’t get vaccinated are “endangering others?” Think about it. If vaccines really worked, those who were immunized would have nothing to fear from an un-immunized person who contracted the disease. The only way this argument works is if the vaccines don’t.
DrG,
Newborns aren’t vaccinated against everything at first. They rely on herd immunity for protection from things like pertussis until they are old enough to become vaccinated. Google “infant pertussis” if you want some sad examples.
I worked in the medical field for years and gave hundreds of vaccines to children. I have never seen a “reaction” to vaccines. I finally read The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears which explained in detail how vaccines are made, with what components and why they are used. I have decided to only give certain vaccines to my son. I did not know that cow’s blood and monkey kidney cells are used in the creation of vaccines. No wonder why people are able to use the against your religion card when refusing these. People just need to be informed. I don’t think a Hepatitis B shot is necessary in the delivery room, minutes after the baby is born. Hep B is contracted through blood, needles or sexual contact. Dr. Sears offers different schedules to follow based on a parents concerns. I have never worked for a doctor that could explain how vaccines are made or how they work. I have repeatedly heard doctors tell parents to “just go to the CDC web site” for questions. Maybe if MD’s knew what was going on there would be less confusion.