Vaccinations

[deadpo0l]

The anti-vaccination movement, which started as a few people sitting on the fringe, has swelled in numbers, and we're starting to see the effects. Earlier this month, we saw an outbreak of measles. You may remember measles as that disease that you heard about in movies from the 60s but never heard about anyone having because it was all but extinct in the modern era. Yeah, it's back in a big way, and the anti-vaccination movement is entirely to thank for it. Measles, by the by, can in some cases cause encephalitis, a deadly disease that causes your brain to overheat and cook itself to death.

Here are my thoughts on the issue:

1) Vaccinations save lives.

2) Not vaccinating your kids is child endangerment in the worst way.

3) Vaccinations do not cause autism. If you think they do, you're a sap who's been sold a big ol' bottle of snake oil.

4) If you'd rather have a dead child than an autistic child, you're kind of an *******.



It's getting to the point that if people aren't going to do the common sense thing of vaccinating their kids out of willful ignorance, we're going to have to make vaccinations legally mandatory. This is too important not to.

Thoughts?

couldn't agree with you more!

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Check views of some specialists from the other end of the debate.

Please read the parts in bold before checking the link.

The following is a list of scientists and physicians who acknowledge that vaccines can and do harm some children and/or have some concern about a vaccine, combinations of vaccines, the vaccine schedule, or an ingredient or ingredients in vaccines. These professionals are not anti-vaccine (though some of the medical doctors are) rather they recognize that vaccines, like all pharmaceutical products, carry risks. They also know that scientific inquiry should never cease.

Thoughts of concern from some doctors.

 

[Spider2099]

There is always a 'chance' that something bad could come of it. But the side-effects are so minimal and so rare that it's ridiculous to even worry about it. There is a greater chance that you'll fall through a bulletproof window than get injured from a vaccination.

 

[Greens]

There is always a 'chance' that something bad could come of it. But the side-effects are so minimal and so rare that it's ridiculous to even worry about it. There is a greater chance that you'll fall through a bulletproof window than get injured from a vaccination.

Exactly. We should always be skeptical and strive to make vaccinations as safe as possible, but you can't pass up on them until we get to that point.

 

[Spider2099]

Agreed.

 

[danoyse]

I was talking about this the other day on Facebook. My great-aunt had polio when I was growing up. Have you ever actually seen somebody, in person, with polio? If that isn't enough to show people the good that vaccinations do then I don't think anything ever will. I'm all for personal freedoms and liberties, but this is a no brainer. It should be mandatory. Or, at the very least, if people want to not vaccinate their children they should be subjected to an immense fine. I think that might help nudge people in the sane direction.

My five-year-old cousin, who has issues with his immune system, ended up with meningitis thanks to an unvaccinated child at his school. He got through it, he’s 11 now, but it was awful, he has problems from it (there’s a delay with his hearing) that he’ll probably have for the rest of his life.

So I have no sympathy for anti-vaxxers. None. I get that some kids react badly to the shots and they have to be more careful with how they get the vaccines, and that’s fine because there’s only so much they can do about it. But I have no patience for these idiots (and yes, I do mean idiots) who swear by junk science and keep their kids from getting vaccinations for what they call a personal, selfish choice. They’re a public health menace.

 

[Mightmitenot]

No clue how it would be setup in stores but for amusement parks if there's a huge amount of children in the city who are sick they could request people bring in their vaccination proof, for public safeties sake. Most people would find it a minor nuisance but I'm sure they'd appreciate the idea, especially when they see people getting turned away because they refuse. It's a public safety thing. There may be some issues and some losses at first but I know a lot of parents would prefer to take their kids to someplace they know would be safer than just somewhere else they might get sick from other idiots.

I think that people need to start getting arrested for willful child endangerment for this crap and that places all over should start cracking down on people who refuse to take even basic safety measures to protect children.

Proof of Insurance is carried by people in most states, no problems. Simple enough to have a laminated card listing vacc records currently in effect.

 

[Mightmitenot]

There is always a 'chance' that something bad could come of it. But the side-effects are so minimal and so rare that it's ridiculous to even worry about it. There is a greater chance that you'll fall through a bulletproof window than get injured from a vaccination.

"Hey stay off that bridge! It might collapse!"

There are a lot of Peter Griffin level intellects in the anti-vaxxer crowd. Just sayin'...

 

[Mightmitenot]

Anyone read Cal Thomas' s political opinion columns? He actually said in October that experts cant be trusted in regards to determining what ISIS and ebola will do. He said that the public is smart enough to decide for themselves what will happen. It made me crazy. Don't trust the people that have dedicated their lives to studying things like these, but do trust Joe Six Pack.

And now Bubonic plague is spreading in Madagascar. I trust the CDC a lot more than I trust Jenny McCarthy.

 

[KevanG]

Since it's the entire reason for the CDC to Control Diseases then I'm more willing to listen to anything they say than McCarthy whose entire reason is to be a brainless twit.

 

[warhorse78]

There is always a 'chance' that something bad could come of it. But the side-effects are so minimal and so rare that it's ridiculous to even worry about it. There is a greater chance that you'll fall through a bulletproof window than get injured from a vaccination.

Not for my family. We have doctor exempts because there is something in most vaccines that will kill the women from some sort of allergy related to the shot. It comes from my Grandmother from my mom's side of the family, and seems to effect the females. Every time a new girl is born from that line, she has to have several blood tests, and in the end, the doctors highly recommend that we do not vaccinate. There have been two incidents where distant cousins decided to go ahead and vaccinate, and both died shortly after then first shot.

This is why I am not happy about the government making vaccines mandatory, because what about my family and me? We can't take the shots.

 

[Anita18]

Not for my family. We have doctor exempts because there is something in most vaccines that will kill the women from some sort of allergy related to the shot. It comes from my Grandmother from my mom's side of the family, and seems to effect the females. Every time a new girl is born from that line, she has to have several blood tests, and in the end, the doctors highly recommend that we do not vaccinate. There have been two incidents where distant cousins decided to go ahead and vaccinate, and both died shortly after then first shot.

This is why I am not happy about the government making vaccines mandatory, because what about my family and me? We can't take the shots.

I don't think anyone is supporting mandatory vaccination with no exceptions. Your family has a legitimate reason for opting out. And everyone else being vaccinated (if they are fit to do so) protects all of you in turn. That is how herd immunity works.

People want to make vaccinations mandatory for those who are currently claiming personal belief. Religion is a slippery slope, but I don't think many people claimed religion when it was available. Lots of eligible people are opting out now because they can say they don't believe in it, and that's where the damage is mostly being done.

 

[Feenix]

Not for my family. We have doctor exempts because there is something in most vaccines that will kill the women from some sort of allergy related to the shot. It comes from my Grandmother from my mom's side of the family, and seems to effect the females. Every time a new girl is born from that line, she has to have several blood tests, and in the end, the doctors highly recommend that we do not vaccinate. There have been two incidents where distant cousins decided to go ahead and vaccinate, and both died shortly after then first shot.

This is why I am not happy about the government making vaccines mandatory, because what about my family and me? We can't take the shots.

Obviously the government wouldn't make people who are allergic to the vaccines get vaccinated.

But how pissed would you be if someone who could get vaccinated didn't and then ended up giving one of the women in your family measles?

 

[Anita18]

Obviously the government wouldn't make people who are allergic to the vaccines get vaccinated.

But how pissed would you be if someone who could get vaccinated didn't and then ended up giving one of the women in your family measles?

Exactly. A friend of mine lives 15 miles from the daycare where they had 5 babies diagnosed with measles today. Her 6-month-old son is too young for the vaccination, and she is scared to death that he will get it when she goes to the store with him or something. It is extremely, extremely contagious.

Everyone else being vaccinated protects the babies, the cancer patients, the immuno-compromised, and those allergic to vaccines. That's why it has to be mandatory, for those who are fit to receive it. Otherwise a lot fewer people will be protected, including those who never had a choice to begin with.

 

[KevanG]

Not for my family. We have doctor exempts because there is something in most vaccines that will kill the women from some sort of allergy related to the shot. It comes from my Grandmother from my mom's side of the family, and seems to effect the females. Every time a new girl is born from that line, she has to have several blood tests, and in the end, the doctors highly recommend that we do not vaccinate. There have been two incidents where distant cousins decided to go ahead and vaccinate, and both died shortly after then first shot.

This is why I am not happy about the government making vaccines mandatory, because what about my family and me? We can't take the shots.

Sounds like a voodoo curse by the anti-vaxxers. Seriously though, that's terrible. Obviously any government law passed would have exceptions for those too young, allergic or what have you. If it has a history of serious side effects in your family then you'd get a pass. If you just don't want to do it because some air headed celeb told you that then you should get OD'd with them and put into isolation to see what happens.

 

[Greens]

Of course, mandatory vaccines doesn't mean everyone needs to get one regardless of medical history. That is an implicit nuance.

 

[Spider2099]

Of course, mandatory vaccines doesn't mean everyone needs to get one regardless of medical history. That is an implicit nuance.

Exactly. If you will are genuinely going to be harmed by a vaccination then by all means don't get one! Otherwise there's no excuse.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

That may be the case, but vaccines are a clear cut issue. You have to vaccinate your kids. Nothing is gained y not vaccinating your kids, and nothing is lost by making it a requirement.

Let me get this out of the way. I am 100% pro vaccination.

With that being said, vaccination came up with a friend of mine for some random reason, and he cautiously brought up that his oldest child (about three) has only had some of the vaccinations, and his two twins (about one) do not have any.

Of course, I looked at him like he just told me he was a scientologist. When I asked him, he said it was not due to the false austism claims. His wife, when she was a child had a very bad reaction to the vaccination, 104+ fever and was very ill.

They were a bit worried that perhaps this would happen to their first born, (apparently there are some health issues that can arise? I don't know enough to really know if this is true or not) but the same thing happened. A very bad reaction, very high fever.

So he is going to get them vaccinated, but just wants to wait until they are a little older. His reasoning, which I am not sure is based on any fact, that young children can have very bad reactions to them and become very ill. I don't agree, but I can understand his concern for the immediate well being of his children.

Also, if anyone hasn't seen it, Penn & Teller have a small segment about vaccination. Just google or youtube it, I don't want to provide the link as it has some swearing and I don't want to get in trouble.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Who started this anti-vaccination hysteria anyway? I never heard about this "vaccines = autism" idea until Jenny McCarthy made it her crusade.

Do people actually take medical advice from Jenny McCarthy?

His name is Dr. Andrew Wakefield.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wakefield

Here are some links that provide plenty of information regarding his falsified studies.
http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearn...the_doctor_who_claimed_that_there_was_a_link/
http://healthland.time.com/2010/05/24/doctor-behind-vaccine-autism-link-loses-license/

Sadly, especially in this country, all many people do is listen to celebrities.

I do find the demographics of this issue curious. Older people are actually more pro-vaccine than young people. Probably because they actually remembered a time when vaccines routinely saved lives.

Agreed, one can also look to poorer countries for similar experiences of our older generations. Bill Gates did an AMA on reddit recently and he made a very good point about vaccinations regarding this.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2tzjp7/hi_reddit_im_bill_gates_and_im_back_for_my_third/

 

[warhorse78]

I don't think anyone is supporting mandatory vaccination with no exceptions. Your family has a legitimate reason for opting out. And everyone else being vaccinated (if they are fit to do so) protects all of you in turn. That is how herd immunity works.

People want to make vaccinations mandatory for those who are currently claiming personal belief. Religion is a slippery slope, but I don't think many people claimed religion when it was available. Lots of eligible people are opting out now because they can say they don't believe in it, and that's where the damage is mostly being done.

And, also another tidbit of info. Because of my issue, I will tell anyone who thinks autism is linked to the shots, to pretty much F-OFF, because I have a little cousin who can't be vaccinated, and still has autism.

 

[Anita18]

And, also another tidbit of info. Because of my issue, I will tell anyone who thinks autism is linked to the shots, to pretty much F-OFF, because I have a little cousin who can't be vaccinated, and still has autism.

Yeah, you just never know with something like autism. One of my friends had her oldest child at 23, and he has autism. (Her second child is normal, she just had another baby but it's still too early to tell.)

It's supposed to be healthier to have kids younger, but nothing is ever a guarantee.

 

[danoyse]

My best friend's son is autistic, and it was certainly not a vaccination that caused it. He was born that way. My friend thinks that line of thinking is lunacy. Her kids are vaccinated.

Obviously there's a big difference between a legitmate health issue caused by a reaction to a vaccination where precautions need to be taken. But the ones who *choose* not to do it because of some long-debunked theory or because they listened to a jackass like Jenny McCarthy are just a legitimate public health menace.

 

[BestGirl]

Let me get this out of the way. I am 100% pro vaccination.

With that being said, vaccination came up with a friend of mine for some random reason, and he cautiously brought up that his oldest child (about three) has only had some of the vaccinations, and his two twins (about one) do not have any.

Of course, I looked at him like he just told me he was a scientologist. When I asked him, he said it was not due to the false austism claims. His wife, when she was a child had a very bad reaction to the vaccination, 104+ fever and was very ill.

They were a bit worried that perhaps this would happen to their first born, (apparently there are some health issues that can arise? I don't know enough to really know if this is true or not) but the same thing happened. A very bad reaction, very high fever.

So he is going to get them vaccinated, but just wants to wait until they are a little older. His reasoning, which I am not sure is based on any fact, that young children can have very bad reactions to them and become very ill. I don't agree, but I can understand his concern for the immediate well being of his children.

Also, if anyone hasn't seen it, Penn & Teller have a small segment about vaccination. Just google or youtube it, I don't want to provide the link as it has some swearing and I don't want to get in trouble.

Has your friend consulted with a doctor? I hate it when parents with no expertise make their own diagnosis.

 

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Has your friend consulted with a doctor? I hate it when parents with no expertise make their own diagnosis.

Well, also in fairness to him. He did take his twins in for something routine. The doctor saw that they weren't vaccinated and more or less treated him like he was some anti vaccine nut job, without bothering to inquire with him. So I think that turned him off a bit.

Again, I don't agree, and he knows he needs to get them vaccinated, but I've had experiences like that (not health related at all) and I know what a bad taste it can leave you with.

But to directly answer your question, no I don't believe he has consulted a doctor about his concerns.

 

[Maximus One]

This is great...


http://uproxx.com/webculture/2015/02/anti-vax-kids-book-amazon-reviews/