Simply selfish. As more reject vaccines, measles and other eradicated diseases are making a comeback. Consider the unbelievable advent of the “measles party”:
Some parents of unvaccinated children go to great lengths to expose their children to childhood diseases to help them build natural immunities.
In the wake of last month’s outbreak, Linda Palmer considered sending her son to a measles party to contract the virus. Several years ago, the boy, now 12, contracted chicken pox when Ms. Palmer had him attend a gathering of children with that virus.
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{ 7 comments }
Kevin,
Yes, the selfishness is breath-taking. My middle son is autistic. Not a day goes by where I don’t wonder, even though I KNOW the evidence is not there, whether vaccinations “caused” his autism. Still, I would have him vaccinated if I had to do it all over again.
I am old enough that I had experience, in my childhood, with adults who had had polio. My mom can talk about Whooping Cough and measles. I think this generation of parents (what, 10-15 years younger than I) have no experience against which to weigh their fears about vaccines. The sad thing is, like you said, their selfishness puts others at risk.
We have had an outbreak of 12 reported cases of measles here in San Diego this past month. In addition, 70 other children are confined to their homes and are being monitored.
These people aren’t just saying no to be jerks – they genuinely believe the risks outweigh the benefits, and they fear autism more than they fear the other risks. It’s not a matter of selfishness – it’s that they’ve succumbed to this new form of medical Trutherism.
The AMA (or some respected group) ought to do a Popular Mechanics style debunking. Without some serious pushback, it’s just going to get worse.
Advent of the “measles party”?
Such “parties” used to be quite common. I do distinctly remember my own relatives doing just that with us for measles, chickenpox, etc., in the days before those vaccines.
I used to have the hardest time getting through to those types of parents. Because they don’t vaccinate, my youngest daughter was at risk for following the vaccination schedule at her ped’s office.
I still don’t think they get it. *rolleyes* HERD IMMUNITY, people.
A secondary, and unfortunate, side effect from these folks is that those with real medical issues – such as severe allergies to the vaccines ingredients – are then lumped with them by some medical professionals. (I know of one case of this happening and her daughter went into shock at the office. Obviously, she left that doctor.)
I believe in vaccinations in most cases. I just don’t believe in one size fits all medicine.
Have you not considered that contrating chicken pox is actually good for children as it builds up th immune system and cellular immunity?
Denying children this could lead to epidemics of shingles amongst adults. Tha jab is less than 50% effective anyway.
Resorting to emotional ploys such as parents selfish is only going to backfire as i call it “informed choice” and only listen to hard science not wishy washy emotional mumbo jumbo.
As MMR jab is a live vaccine you Doctors should warn immunosuppressed children to stay away from the recenly vaccinated as its a fact they “shed” the virus. Thats what i call selfish.
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