Monday, April 11, 2011

Vaccinations. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Thanks for the topic ideas ladies! I promise to address them all soon.

However, I'm going to need to do a bit of research on post-baby birth control and second pregnancies as I don't have much experience with either one. (Unless you count being too damn tired and busy to have sex birth control??)

Anyway - something sparked my interest from the last commenter (who had some really great topic ideas - thank you!)

That is - vaccinations. Also known as: a topic that I like to avoid, along with religion and politics, whenever I'm conversing with someone I don't know really well. But - since we're not face to face right now, and I can't see you wagging your finger at me, I feel it's okay to tackle this topic here.

When it comes to vaccinations, it seems to me that the thing to do these days is delay them. But I have to admit - I don't really know why. (Other than the study that says some vaccinations can be linked to autism). I'm not well-versed in all of the vaccination debate. I admit it. Yet - I did read an article while pregnant that pretty much refuted that study.

So, I sort of figured - who am I to tell a doctor with a ga-gillion years of schooling and studying that I know more than him when it comes to vaccinations and the health of the next generation?

I trust my doctor. I don't think he has a hidden agenda. I think he's doing what he knows to be right. And, since I don't know more than him, I'm going with what he says.

Anna's had all her vaccinations so far.

In fact, when I was pregnant, I had the H1N1 vaccination. (Gasp!!)

The thing is - I was told that I was high-risk and my unborn baby could get really sick if I didn't get vaccinated. Then I was told by many very passionate people that I could be doing a SHIT load of harm to my baby by getting the vaccination.

You're damned if you do.

Anyway - does this make my decision right? Does it make it wrong? No. Who the eff knows what's right, really? It's like the whole car-seat thing again. You're told one thing... so you do it. Until one day when they find some new research and you start doing something different.

I don't think we've really reached that point in society where it's clear to everyone that vaccinations are harmful. So - Anna gets them. I actually think we're lucky to live in a country where the vaccinations are readily available to us and our children have a shot (no pun intended) at a healthy life, free of many serious health problems.

But that's just my opinion.

I'm not saying I'm right or wrong. It's just the way we decided to go on the whole vaccination thing.

What about you guys?

3 comments:

  1. It would seem this topic is too controversial! It was a slam dunk when I was a mama to a young baby - vaccinations were mandatory. I'm glad we live in a country where our children are vaccinated and grow up healthy. I remember when polio would strike fear in the hearts of moms. TB meant having to be taken away from your family and put into a sanitarium... we are so fortunate to have protection against these awful diseases.

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  2. I agree - too controversial of a topic for sure. I should write about religion next! haha. :)

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  3. Sorry for the delayed response to your blog but I didn't get around to it until now.

    I was also a mom who went ahead and got the H1N1 vaccination while pregnant. Now I have a bunch of moms wagging their finger at me but I wanted to be safe rather than sorry.

    Now that I have my beautiful daughter, Eliana (now almost 11 months), I am more cautious about this. Most recently I watched a Dr. Oz show which was against vaccinations due to the level of mercury they contain (link to autism suggested). Dr. Oz recommended that vaccinations be delayed as long as possible.

    After hearing this I decided to call my local public health unit. At first I was angered by what I was told. If Eliana will be attending any daycares then I must have her vaccinations up to date. I automatically thought, "so you will tell me what to do with my child". Apparently, daycares check the child's vaccination chart before they are allowed to go to daycare.

    The conversation did get better though...When I asked whether there was a more natural alternative to the vaccination, I was told that vaccinations in the U.S. contain mercury however they DO NOT in Canada. That put my worries at ease but just to make sure, I had the nurse read me the ingredients. Hey, if you don't advocate for your child who will right!

    The nurse went on to tell me that the doctor who discovered the link between mercury and autism in England used false evidence in his study and has since been asked to leave the profession. I didn't know about all that.. all I cared about was whether Canadian vaccinations are safe!

    Knowing they are, now I can go along with my pediatrician's advice.

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