A green vaccination debate, tears, sympathy and hope

June 4, 2008 By 11 Comments



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My son just had his four year vaccinations and I cancelled the appointment…two or three times I think. I just kept reading and reading about the controversial vaccinations and why to vaccinate or not. When my son was born, I had no idea what I was doing (I thought I did), I just went with the flow. I did what I was taught, literally. I have worked in public school systems and for non-profits that pass out vaccination schedules and promote the flu shot. I didn’t know any different. Then I started asking questions, reading and listening. Sad thing is, I haven’t gotten much help from the doctors or people I thought would help me. I’ve felt intimated and like I had to go along with what they said because they were “doctors” and who am I, just a mom?  Except, I’m also very, very educated and even if I weren’t…I’m a mom and my instincts count for a lot. I was told there was more mercury in the fish he eats then any immunization shot. Except eating fish and shooting mercury in your blood stream is differnt, right? Is there a reason for handing out the CDC information after the vaccinations? I think so. If we knew what the handouts said, we probably would take too much of their time, asking questions or we’d run away! It is confusing, I know. I’m right there with you.

I remember my mom telling me to not look at my children when they got their shots, so they wouldn’t blame me. I thought that was odd but as conflicted and messed up of a relationship that I have with my mom, I think I understand what she was saying. She loves me and to see me literally be pinned down and be poked, while I scream, kick and cry…it hurts. It hurts the child and it hurts the parent. I cried. I cried when I held my son down this week and elected to give him an alternative schedule of shots. I felt the doctor might not have agreed with me. I wasn’t sure if I was right or wrong. Do we ever really know? I tried to tell him why I was doing this to him as he hollered, “Mama, let me go! No! Why?” My heart broke but I think I did the right thing. I made sure he had no live viruses with all the other shots, in one day. They say it’s too much. I opted out of the chicken pox vaccines until he was older and made sure there was no mercury in any of the vaccines. I eleced out of the Hepititas A shot because it wasn’t even on my list of vaccinations to reserach, I was suprised with that one.

Easy for me to say and do, I haven’t had a child whose eyes have changed colored because of the vaccinations and behavior changed. I cry just thinking about it and writing this and I am so sorry and sad for all the moms that have had to go through this and experience this. You were just doing what you thought was right. I know in my heart, something is wrong with vaccinations or “something” because in all my short years of teaching, asthma, ADD/ADHD and Autism just continued to rise. Why? Hey, I’m no doctor or scientist or “know it all”, but it’s something. Luckily, my husband and I agree that limiting the toxins can only be a good thing. Even if “Green our Vaccines” campaign with Jenny McCarthy (which is today) isn’t exactly “green” it is doing something to be the wind of change, as Dr. Sears illudes to. Learn more about today’s rally with Jenny McCarthy and her story, if you haven’t caught her on Oprah or on CNN with Larry King! and what she has to say about vaccines. Visit the resource page for more great links and sources for information or visit Healthy Green Mom for a well researched and informative post on the issue. I really think things will change the more we demand it and that gives me hope.

 

I should note that we do vaccinate our children and believe in vaccinations being a good thing, we just limit the toxins and follow an alternative schedule whenever possible. I feel like we are all learning and for me I like to read, ask questions and hear others stories and this is just my story and feelings.

 




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  • http://www.healthygreenmoms.com Monica

    I think you are absolutely right that there is “something” wrong with the vaccinations and I too am hopeful that there will be some more discussion on this issue and hopefully a much needed review of the current policy.

    I think if we can all continue to band together to get some of the major questions answered rather than engaging in a “who’s right who’s wrong” debate we are going to succeed.

    It’s not an easy decision either way and both sides come with risk. That’s why these questions are so important and that we need to empower parents to make the decision for themselves by evaluating both sides of the debate.

    Thanks for raising the issue and opening the discussion!

  • http://www.organicmania.com Lynn from Organicmania.com

    Did you see the cover story in Time magazine this week?

    I think there is a big difference between spacing out shots with your doctor’s approval and skipping them altogether. Those people who opt to skip them altogether are endangering the rest of us.

    I’m sorry it was so painful for your son. I remember my lactation consultant telling me to nurse my baby, but the doctors wouldn’t let me….so I just nursed right afterwards.

  • http://www.greenme.vg Green Me

    First I’ll say what I agree with: it may be true that too many vaccines are given standard (the chicken pox one is unnecessary, hepatitis is something that can be given later, as needed). Mercury is bad, but it has been removed from most all (if not all) children’s vaccines for several years. Timerol is bad, but it has also been removed and or you can ask for vaccines w/o. It is also good to question, taking things for granted can be dangerous.

    However, I seriously disagree with the blanket statement that “something” is wrong with vaccinations based on instinct and anecdotal evidence. Mothers (as we all know) care very deeply about their children and only want the best for them. I think that the vaccine scare has caught moms exactly where it hurts most and has spread a lot of unnecessary fear and is causing some children (and society) to be endangered, because they haven’t been vaccinated at all.

    The polo & small pox vaccines save lives. If you’ve traveled to a developing country and seen children TODAY infected by these diseases, my guess is that you’d question vaccines a lot less. Same with MMR. Did you know that the main issue with rubella is the infection of pregnant women (and their fetus) and that an infected person can spread the virus without having symptoms?

    Vaccines (although more are given now) have been around for longer than ADHD, asthma and autism have been on the rise. There are also a lot of other potential environmental causes and interactions, from additives in food to other chemical exposures, medicines and on and on that could be to blame. IMHO it is best to vaccinate thoughtfully and encourage research to determine the real cause(s) to these afflictions.

    Personally, I am with the World Health Organization in saying: “In the 21st century, it is every child’s right to live free from vaccine-preventable disease. “

  • http://www.darci-ann.blogspot.com darci

    I agree with you on everything you covered. They seem to be a something that can be so harmful but have helped too. But I was severely traumatized just from getting my shots as a child. I am still working on biting the dentist’s fingers. It’s horrible. I think I will do my research before making any child get shots.

  • http://www.honestandtruly.blogspot.com Michelle

    I do think that if I were to do it again, I’d have my wee ones given a different series of shots in terms of the timing, but… they’re 90% done now for life. I will say that neither of my kids minds shots. They both know that it’s going to hurt a whole lot for a minute like someone pinched you really hard but that it will go away pretty quickly and the shots will help keep them from getting sick. I am SO grateful that they do ok with shots….

  • http://www.greenandcleanmom.org admin

    Thanks to everyone for taking the time to comment on this issue. Greenme sure is right when she comments about the issue pulling at a moms purse strings. The blanket statement “something” is wrong is a feeling and I was written because so far nothing can be pinpointed. Is it the mercury? It’s sure the heck is something. Maybe it’s a bunch of things but gosh darn it, it’s something!!!! I agree with the WHO also and that’s why I don’t want to see immunizations end or decrease but change. Just like we can have safer food and fewer pesticides we can have safer immunizations. I don’t think they’re to blame for everything but they might pull the trigger for some genetic stuff. Fewer toxins and chemicals will always be a good thing.

    I’m sorry you were traumatized Dorthy, my son will talk about his shots for a long time. Lynn your comment is exactly why I had my son go through the experience. Spacing them is one option but skipping them altogether, in my mind, is not.

  • http://www.healthygreenmoms.com Monica

    green me:
    I think it is really important to separate and not confuse the issue here… the issue of vaccinations in developing countries is a completely different issue. There are many factors there that influence the rates disease and death.

    Please check your facts about rubella, before you also “catch moms where it hurts”.

    Before the rubella vaccine about 85% of adults were immune (permanently) due to contracting it (mildly) as a child. Since the vaccine has been introduced, the age of the infected has increased from childhood to adulthood (because lifelong immunity can not occur from a vaccine) and now 81% or more cases are adults, including women of childbearing years.
    Here is the problem…
    While actual cases of rubella have declined, we have traded that victory for higher numbers of CRS – congenital rubella syndrome (birth related defects) due to the adults (women) getting the disease in their childbearing years.

    The point is that this is too important to simply relay the same info back & forth without doing your own research first. Much of the pro info out there is backed with major pharma dollars. It’s something to consider. I’ve added some references to my blog for those who would like to look deeper.

    Monicas last blog post..Vaccinations:The Other Side Of The Debate

  • http://www.thegreenwifey.blogspot.com The Green Wifey

    Don’t fall into that trap! I worked for a doctor (Chiro) and we saw one parent after another come in with children who had all degree’s of Autism directly following vaccinations. Several of the children got really sick the day after the shots others reactions were a bit delayed. All of these children were from upperclass families were they weren’t exposed to unsanity conditions that could have aided in the disease.

    It’s not just the mercury alone that’s dangerous. Those vaccinations are littered with poison! Anti-freeze, aborted fetal tissue, formaldehyde, and i could go on & on.

    Why do we tell our kids don’t do drugs then jam a PediaRX shot of 15+ vaccinations into their bodies?! Other countries either don’t vaccinate or they wait until their children are 2+ years of age before they start that process- reason being a child under two has an undeveloped central nervous system which controls all our body functions as well as our immunity. This via the messages sent from brain down spinal cord to organs.

    My heart grieves for kids in this way! I”m grateful we don’t have any. But you do have the option to vaccinate or not. If you choose not then there’s a religious exemption that you can get at your health dept so that your child is exempt until college age. In the State of FL this is called a Form 681.

    All boils down to the same old, same old. Pharma. Co.’s trying to make more $$ by duping us into hysteria. Then doctors are educated on new RX’s by pharm. representatives. That’s sound ludicrous to me. Which is a perfect reason for us all as individuals to question what we are told and do the research so as to make the best “educated” decision for ourselves & family.

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  • http://www.babycareindia.com/motherhoodblues baby

    Nice website!!

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