All posts tagged vaccines

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Daily Tip: Ask your family to get on board with your new plan, so that they can both remind you and cheer you on.  They may even join you!

When you are a new parent (or maybe even a not-so-new parent), you hear about the Great Vaccine Debate.  I’ve posted on it very extensively already, including an entire series that explains the ingredients, risk/benefit of each vaccine, natural course of each illness, and so on.  Suffice to say it is a subject I am passionate about.

And what I am most passionate about is that everyone has all of the true and accurate information.  I can’t stand the anger, animosity, lies, and scare tactics that surround the debate.  I can’t stand the fighting and misinformation passed around to try to bully people either way.  This is a medical decision, people.  And it should be left in the hands of the parents, who know their children best, along with the input of the medical professionals they trust.  It should not be a decision made by a friend, neighbor, school, grandparent, the government, or anyone else.  Period.

That said, there are some pervasive and annoying myths passed around by both sides that polarize the debate which people need to stop saying.

Point #1: It’s Illegal Not to Vaccinate/You Must Do It For School

This is completely false but often passed around.  A new parent is thinking about what they feel is right for their child, and someone pops in with the oh-so-(not)-helpful bit of information, “But they can’t go to public school if they aren’t vaccinated.”  The new parent then thinks that they must choose a delayed schedule, at most, but get all the ‘required’ vaccines.

This is a lie!  In all states except WV and MI, there are religious exemptions.  In all states, there are medical exemptions (but it is harder to obtain in some states than others).  About half of states have philosophical exemptions.  Children absolutely can go to public school without some or all vaccinations.  What the school or government thinks should not be your concern when choosing this medical procedure for your children.

Point #2: You Are Endangering Society If You Don’t Vaccinate

The logic here basically says that vaccines are absolutely necessary/the only way to protect children from illness, and that children who aren’t vaccinated are spreading diseases around.  It’s pretty silly because it neglects two very important points: 1) Only children who are sick can spread disease, and both vaccinated and unvaccinated children can get sick (including with ” vaccine preventable” diseases — many children who were vaccinated have gotten pertussis, mumps, measles, etc.).  2) There are lots of other ways to protect children than vaccines.

And, you know, this might be a little bit mean, but...if you have a child who is a newborn or who is immunocompromised, it’s up to you to take extra steps to protect him/her.  Stay home, avoid certain public locations (like indoor playgrounds), use face masks, take immune-boosting supplements, whatever is needed.  I will be taking precautions when I have a newborn again in a few weeks and I know it is my job.  You don’t, can’t know who is in public sick…or about to get sick, whether that’s with a cold or the measles.  And these can be equally dangerous to those with weak immune systems.  You can’t vaccinate for a cold, either.

My opinion is that if you know you are sick, stay home!  That is your responsibility to society.  Don’t purposely go out and expose everyone. If you must make a quick trip to the grocery store or something, then do it.  Don’t take your kids to an indoor playground with runny noses and coughs.  A lot of people say “Well, by the time they reach _____ stage, they’re not really contagious.”  Yeah, someone told me that when coming for a play date when I was very pregnant with my third…kids acting fine and noses dripping.  And guess whose kids woke up with bad colds two days later?  If they’re dripping, they are still contagious.  Be smart.  And this has nothing to do with being vaccinated or not.

Point #3: Your Children WILL Die If You Don’t Vaccinate

My goodness…this is just over the top, but I hear it all the time.  There is no basis for a statement like this.  It’s a scare tactic and it is false.  there is a teeny, tiny chance that a child could catch an illness, develop complications, and die from it.  It could happen.  But it really is a teeny tiny chance.  There is no certainty in this.  There is not even likelihood in this.  While we need to be realistic that there is a chance of this, there is absolutely no reason, nor any evidence to support the idea that it “will” happen.  Ridiculous.

Point #4: Parents Who Do/Don’t Vaccinate Don’t Love Their Children

Everyone needs to stop saying this.  Right now.  Everyone loves their children and they only want what is best for them.  They want their children to be safe, healthy, and happy.  Some believe that vaccinating is the best way to achieve this.  Others believe not vaccinating is.  And we may all disagree on that point, but we all love our children.  Nobody should ever accuse another parent of not loving their child because they made a different decision about something!  Frankly I think this is something people say when they don’t have enough of an argument to support their decision, or when they are angry and don’t know what to say.  Here’s a hint: step away from the debate and say nothing.  Never say this.

Point #5: Parents Who Do/Don’t Vaccinate Are Just “Sheeple” And Do Not Do Real Research

This, too, needs to stop being said.  There are parents on both sides who are making the choice because “everyone else is doing that” or “my doctor/chiropractor said so.”  Basically, they’re doing it without much research and based on misinformation.  There are also parents on both sides of the debate who have researched extensively and have come to believe that vaccinating/not vaccinating is the right answer.  It’s not possible to tell how informed or well-researched a person is just by what decision they made.  And supposing they are doing it “just because others are” do you think calling them names is going to help them feel open to research?  I don’t think so.  No name calling!

Point #6: Vaccines Are a Government Conspiracy To Harm and Kill Us All

I really believe that at least the vast majority of people who support vaccines do so because they honestly believe that they are necessary and good.  I do not think that they are a government conspiracy to kill us, thin the herds/eugenics, microchip us, etc.  And frankly when people default to saying this instead of staying grounded in the scientific research, they sound crazy and do not help their cause.  Although there are fringe theories about this and supposedly some “evidence,” it is very fringe.  Let’s keep the debate to the health and science behind immunity and vaccination.

Point #7: No Studies Show Vaccines Are Linked to Autism Or Other Issues

This is demonstrably false.  It is a phrase commonly passed around and therefore it is believed.  Through extensive research into a number of health topics, I have found dozens and dozens of studies showing benefits to alternative remedies or alternative view points, which are ignored by the mainstream.  There are hundreds to thousands of studies published everyday and most never get much attention.  It does not mean they don’t exist.  Basically, anything that doesn’t fit the mainstream line of thinking is ignored, unless it is replicated enough times to get attention.  It is ignored longer is there is a strong belief and/or a financial incentive to do so.  But again, pretending the evidence doesn’t exist doesn’t mean it doesn’t.  Here are many to look at.

Point #8: Vaccines Have No Risks

This is one of the silliest things that is ever said.  Of course vaccines have risks — anyone who is being honest will say that they do.  Whether those risks are major or minor, and whether or not the benefits outweigh the risks is something else.  It is entirely appropriate to say “I believe the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.”  Okay — I understand that (I disagree, but I fully support someone coming to that conclusion).  To say there are no risks is completely wrong.  There are risks to anything!  People need to be willing to admit that this entire discussion is about a risk-benefit analysis because there are risks to both sides.  Downplaying that doesn’t help anyone.

Point #9: Not Vaccinating Makes Your Child Magically Healthier

While some early studies have shown that children who are not vaccinated have a lower risk of asthma, autism, etc. they have not proven a causal link.  Children who are not vaccinated are also likely to have parents who take a healthy diet, supplements, and other aspects of health more seriously.  While I believe vaccines play a role in these conditions, simply not vaccinating does not guarantee your child health.  There are other steps you need to take to protect your child’s health.

Plus, some parents seem to think that their child will be so healthy from not being vaccinated that they won’t actually catch anything.  This is dangerous.  If your child isn’t vaccinated (and frankly, even if s/he is), s/he might get sick.  S/he might get the measles, or the mumps, or pertussis.  All of these have circulated in recent years.  You need to learn what the typical symptoms of these diseases are, the signs of complications, when to call the doctor, how to treat at home in minor cases, and so on.  You have to accept the risk that your child might get sick.  Now — it’s unlikely if your child is not a newborn and not immunocompromised that the illness will be serious or permanently harm or kill your child.  But s/he still might catch it.  Know it, prepare for it.

If we could take all of these lies out of the debate and focus on the science, as well as believing that every parent just wants what is best for their children, this would be a whole lot better for everyone.

What myths have you heard?

 zBlake Patterson via Compfight

I’ve shared extensively on vaccines, including an entire series on what they contain, and posts looking at each disease and each vaccine and weighing the risks and benefits of each.  I’ve also shared that our family doesn’t vaccinate.

This year, pertussis is epidemic across many parts of the country, including in my area.  People I know have had it — severely.  For many, the personal stories as well as the CDC’s new (ridiculous) recommendations have made them think twice about vaccines.  Several are seriously considering vaccinating now, even if their children were previously unvaccinated.

I understand the fear.  I have three small children, and I’m pregnant.  Baby will be born in early March, before the flu season is over.  I want to protect my family’s health as much as the next mom.  And I fully understand that these moms are upset, confused, and worried about what might happen to their babies.  The thing is, they’ve made a serious mistake: many seem to believe that vaccination is the only thing that offers protection!

(I can’t even understand the logic, personally, that one would choose not to vaccinate yet believe that vaccines are the best form of protection.  If you believe that…why don’t you vaccinate?  And if you don’t believe that…why are you considering vaccinating now?  If you don’t vaccinate and have no plans to do so, but are not opposed to it either…what is your thought process?  I’d really like to know.)

Given the current fear, I felt that I needed to address the issue again, as well as share our family’s decision and thoughts on the matter.  This is largely opinion, not a scientific research paper.

New CDC Recommendations

Because of the pertussis outbreak, and the potential severity in newborns (which is very real), the CDC is now recommending that all pregnant women receive a Tdap vaccine in their second or third trimester, and that after birth, all family members and anyone who comes into contact with the baby be up to date on their Tdap and flu vaccines.  The Tdap vaccine and flu vaccines have not been tested for safety in pregnant women.

In both the U.S. and Britain, there are trials going on to see if the DTaP vaccine can be offered to newborns on day 1, before they leave the hospital.  Currently, the vaccine isn’t given to babies under 6 weeks, because babies under this age usually fail to develop significant antibodies.  The only reason they are trying again now is because of the recent outbreaks.

These new recommendations have led to such hysteria that some new moms literally will not allow anyone to come and visit unless they are current on both their Tdap and flu shots — some are even requiring people to show proof!  (Who walks around with their medical records?)  I have to wonder, when I hear this, if the parents are also planning to keep their babies at home until at least 6 months of age, when the primary series is completed — because even the scientific literature says that the DTaP vaccine is not really effective until that point.

Of course, most of these parents don’t seem to think twice about going to church or the grocery store; they just won’t allow anyone to visit their home without the vaccines.  This is silly because it’s far more dangerous to take baby out in public — where people will not only not be vaccinated, they may be actually sick — than to allow a healthy, unvaccinated person into your home.

Even if parents are somehow managing to keep them at home that long (which I highly, highly doubt is possible for most families), adults will still need to leave to run errands or go to work, and *they* may still come into contact with something and bring it home to their newborns.  Most adults do not get seriously ill with pertussis; they experience it primarily as a mild cold and slightly nagging cough.  They don’t realize what it is, and they pass it to their newborns.

Since many cases are being caused now by B. parapertussis (against which the vaccine is not designed to protect) and/or protection is waning far sooner than anticipated, parents who have been vaccinated still may bring home pertussis to their newborns.  Additionally, pertussis can live on clothing and other surfaces for up to 5 days, and adults who are recently vaccinated can become “carriers” of the bacteria (from exposure to sick people) even if they themselves are not ill.  There are many ways in which adults could inadvertently make their babies sick.

Not to mention, of course, the ethics and safety of giving a Tdap vaccine to a pregnant woman, not knowing how it will affect her unborn baby.  They have no data to prove that this is safe.  Nor do they have data to prove that the flu vaccine is safe.  I understand that they are doing “the best they can” to offer protection when even the CDC is scrambling for a better solution, but this cavalier use of technology is just breathtaking.

Protecting Your Babies

I fully understand that parents want to protect their babies.  To think that something serious is going around that could cause your baby (or young child) to become seriously ill or even die is scary.  And as parents, you want to do something to protect your child.  Of course!  Nobody wants their child to fall victim and everyone wants to do absolutely everything in their power to make sure it doesn’t happen.

I, too, want to protect my babies.  I just (still) don’t think vaccines are the way to do it.

Vaccines “work,” in some cases, in that they expose the body to a particular strain of illness and if the person comes across that illness, with the right strain, they will probably not get sick.  But they still might — some vaccines don’t work as well as others do, and DTaP is one that doesn’t work so well (DTP worked much better but also caused too many serious reactions, which is why it was replaced with the DTaP in the 90s).  And of course some people fail to develop antibodies no matter what.

But in another way, vaccines don’t work.  They don’t boost the body’s overall ability to fight off infection before it becomes too severe or overwhelms the body.  They don’t (can’t) address any underlying deficiencies in the immune system.  And they can even cause the immune system to become weaker because the body doesn’t have to undergo normal immune challenges, i.e. natural infection.  Vaccines also bypass the body’s first line of defenses — the mucuous membranes — which some believes results in chronic inflammation and a tendency towards auto-immune conditions.

Although people are getting sick more often now, it’s been proven by the CDC and other mainstream organizations that it’s not because of people who are refusing vaccines.  Also, these facts about vaccines haven’t changed.

I did hundreds of hours of research and ruled out vaccines as a valid way to protect my family years ago.  It does not matter to me how many people get sick or how severe the outbreaks are.  I do not feel that vaccines are the best way to protect my family’s health or to ward off illness, at least severe illness.  My beliefs about the body are that it is possible to fight infection from the inside out, and that giving your body the tools it needs — via excellent nutrition and herbal immune boosters — is a far more effective way to ward off serious illness than a vaccine, which addresses only a tiny part of the immune system (which is still poorly understood) anyway.

(If you do not vaccinate but have not yet reached this level of confidence, keep on researching until all your questions have been answered.  You should feel fully confident in your decision, whatever it is.)

What We Believe and Will Do

I’m not immune to the fear.  I don’t want my babies to become seriously ill.  And I’m going to protect them in the best way I know how.

Since we do not believe that vaccines boost the overall immune system or help to ward off illness in general, they are not an option for us.  Vaccines have not changed and since the way they work is what it is, they will never change.  At this time, I cannot imagine a circumstance in which I would accept a vaccine.

However, we will be doing the following:

• Limiting sugar/refined grains (even natural sugars like honey or maple syrup)
• Increasing the amount of soup we eat (ideally, we’ll have stock at least once a day)
• Increasing the amount of probiotics we get (at least once a day; preferably some with each meal)
• Increasing the amount of coconut oil we consume (it contains lauric acid, a powerful immune booster)
• Eating watermelon as long as it’s in season (it contains glutathione, another powerful immune booster)
• Taking FCLO/BO daily to boost our vitamin D and A levels (deficiencies in these areas are responsible for a lot of severe illness)
• Taking elderberry syrup if exposed to an illness or at the first signs of illness, especially respiratory
• Using other herbs (namely wild cherry bark, fenugreek, and slippery elm) to reduce respiratory symptoms at the onset of illness.  The combination helps to produce more mucus, thin it out, and eliminate it from the body more quickly, reducing the length and severity of respiratory illnesses. These herbs are found in my cough and cold lozenges and syrup.
• Using doTERRA “On Guard” if we will be at an indoor playground or another “high risk” area
• Get regular exercise, outdoors as long as weather permits
• Get plenty of rest
• Avoiding sick people when possible
• Seeing a chiropractor at least monthly (for the kids) or weekly (for me)
• Visiting our alternative doctor if anyone should get sick, the above is not working, and we have a concern

That’s a long list.

I’m not taking this lightly.  And in case anyone does get sick, I’ll be doing a lot more than I’ve even listed — things like warm baths in epsom salts, magnesium oil spray, various other essential oils, extra breastfeeding for the littlest one, etc.

The “threat” of potential illness is real.  But I’m capable of calmly doing research and finding the best ways to protect my family ahead of time, so that even if we do get sick, I can mitigate the chances of the worst illness.

I do not think I can prevent everything.  I fully accept that my family might get sick.  If you don’t vaccinate (and realistically, even if you do), you have to understand that someone might get sick.  You have to be willing to accept that risk.  You have to be realistic about it and know what symptoms to look for, especially symptoms that might be concerning or serious.  You have to know when to call someone for help.  Most of all, you have to feel fully comfortable with the decision that you’ve made.

Although I understand the risks, I accept them and I feel completely comfortable with the decision we’ve made.  It is the right decision for us.

I encourage everyone to keep reading and researching and praying until you, too, feel that comfortable with your decision.

Fear is a Powerful Motivator

What this has all underscored for me is how powerful fear is.

Many of these parents who don’t vaccinate, or who do on a selective/delayed schedule seem very scared right now over what might happen to their babies.  And while a month ago some wouldn’t have considered vaccinating, they are seriously considering it now.

I suggest to everyone that fear is not a good reason to make a decision about anything.

You should not vaccinate because you are suddenly afraid you might get sick.

You should not refuse to vaccinate because you know someone who had a vaccine reaction.

These are anecdotes and they are fear-based.  Do your research instead: read all about the disease(s) and the vaccines and learn how to boost your family’s immune systems naturally and discover what you really believe about all of this.  Do you believe vaccines are really the best way to protect your family?  Then you get them.  Do you believe they are unsafe and do not really work?  Then you don’t get them.  But this is a decision you should make from a place of sound research, not fear or anecdotes.  It is too important for that.

This winter, protect your families.  Keep them safe and healthy.

Has the recent pertussis outbreak concerned you, or made you change your thoughts on vaccines?  How will you protect your family?