immunization (was vegan kids and pediatrics)

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne and rest of the list,

 

The topic of immunization is controversial, even among us

" enlightened " vegetarians who want to have the healthiest kids

possible. My opinion is that we'll have to " agree to disagree " on

this one, because whichever side of the argument one is on, there is

an argument that " seems " factual but either one has

assumptions/variables that can be debated. (For example, that

statistics do make it seem apparent that immunizations decreased the

spread of deadly diseases, but this decrease also occurred in a time

of increased awareness of good hygiene and how diseases are spread.

Maybe hygiene had more of an effect than immunizations, but how can we

prove that irrefutably?

 

Parents interested in immunizations should look not only at the AAP

site, but also one or more of the well-researched " vaccine choice "

sites - one I recommend is

http://www.ideasign.com/chiliast/vaccine/dvm1.htm . Even better,

parents should actually READ the manufacturer's inserts that come in

the vaccine boxes. There are many caveats/warnings there!

 

My main problem with the immunization issue is that in many states

where parents actually have a *choice* of whether or not to immunize,

the health department and media don't *tell* the parents they have a

choice (the choice to sign the waiver on the back of the immunization

card). Parents shoud INFORM themselves and make a decision, rather

than just " going with the flow. " We know, as vegetarians, that we

don't always want to do what everyone else is doing, and we try to

educate ourselves so we can educate others. This issue is no

exception.

 

FYI if anyone is interested in what I chose, I decided to have some,

but not all, of the recommended immunizations for my kids - diptheria,

tetanus, and polio (injected vaccine, not oral) - these vaccines are

the safest and immunize against the most deadly diseases.

 

If anyone who lives in Colorado has a kid with measles, mumps or

rubella, please contact me!!! I want my children to have a lifelong

immunity to those diseases (by getting them during childhood) and I

would LOVE to expose them! (If they don't get those diseases by the

time they are ten or so, I'll reluctantly immunize them.)

 

Any immunization advocates reading this, please don't take offense - I

really and truly do believe you have made your choice based on your

desire to do the best thing for your children. My goal is simply to

encourage parents to educate themselves on both sides, decide which is

more believable/plausible, and make a *choice*.

 

Warmly,

Emily

Boulder, Colorado

 

 

-

<lynnebrow

 

Thursday, August 24, 2000 10:21 AM

RE: vegan kids and pediatrics

 

 

| I am sorry to hear that you do not vaccinate your kids. As I

study

| disease control and the effects on children, Ihave come to realize

| that vaccinating my son protects him and other children. Maybe you

| should review the AAP web page and see pictures and consequences of

| not vaccinating URL: http///www.aap.org/. This will also connect

you

| to the center for disease control, who have lots of information on

| this including mortality rates. The reason so many diseases are

under

| control is because of immuzations. I am sorry if you feel I am

| intruding on a personal issue, however your choice does not only

| effect your child, it effects all children.

|

|

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