To be honest not vaccinating has become a weird debate in western society and I think it's because most of teh really dangerous diseases have died out or have practically died out so everyone think why bother? There are now recurring epidemics of certain diseases that were rare because of vaccination, there was mumps in Scotland, whooping cough in Britain and TB in France. The last two caused multiple deaths.

In other countries where vaccination is less common, the rates of infant deaths from PREVENTABLE illnesses ae much higher. Measels often wipes out whole groups of children or if it doesn't kill them it maims them permanently. Polio is the same it should have been eradicated but there have been backlashes in certain communities notably at the moment in Northern Smurfia and Pakistan where Polio vaccinators have been killed because tehy believe that it is a western conspiracy to sterilise their kids.

The reason that we in the west can have the debate about whether or not to vaccinate is due to the fact that vaccinations have helped reduce preventable diseases to the point where we are less threatened by them. Not all vaccines have adverse reactions the BCG and measles vaccines help stimulate the immune system, wheras dtp and hep b can have adverse effects especially for girls.

I am def pro vaccination, although for example the flu and chicken pox vaccines are pointless in my opinion but the major vaccines are I believe important for protecting my child and other children. Measles vaccine is only effective if 90% of the population is vaccinated, otherwise it can still spread extremely quickly.

http://www.ined.fr/fichier/t_telechargement/30861/telechargement_fichier_en_publi_pdf2_pesa463.pdf

<blockquote><b>Quoting snglemama:</b>" because of herd vaccinations. If EVERYONE stopped vaccinating... those who feel so safe now.. wouldn't ... [snip!] ... There is almost no risk of their child being exposed to it. because other mothers care enough to vaccinate their children"</blockquote>


herd immunity is a crock because most adults do not receive their boosters...and you are completely wrong that vaccinating means you care more...

Quoting snglemama:" because of herd vaccinations. If EVERYONE stopped vaccinating... those who feel so safe now.. wouldn't ... [snip!] ... There is almost no risk of their child being exposed to it. because other mothers care enough to vaccinate their children"

That's a completely ignorant statement. We're all doing our own research and coming to our own conclusion on what we feel is best for our children. You can have your own opinion, but don't put another mother down for her's. We actually care a lot, which is why we have done extensive research, rather than just listen to what society is telling us is "the right thing to do," to come to the conclusion that we have. As I've said before, vaxing may be what you feel is best for your children, which is great! Though, SO and I have done our research and decided that not vaxing is what's best for us and our family.

Quoting DonutHole13:" DD also has a homeopath and she visits the chiroprater. Chiro just helped with an ear infection. ... [snip!] ... where they diagnosed her with the infection it was cleared. Antibiotics are the worse but that's for another discussion ;)"

that's becuase the majority of ear infections are viral, doctors give antibiotics for them because patients expect them. It's like giving antibiotics for a cold. I do my research, but when it comes to vaccines.. I've decided it's worth it.

Quoting Mara:" because mothers are fed medical propaganda of guilt, fear mongering and the idea that their child's ... [snip!] ... copies from BIRTH over and over again, until they literally make us sicker than we'd be were we to lead healthy clean lives. "

I very much agree with all of this!

Quoting weefee:" To be honest not vaccinating has become a weird debate in western society and I think it's because most ... [snip!] ... spread extremely quickly. http://www.ined.fr/fichier/t_telechargement/30861/telechargement_fichier_en_publi_pdf2_pesa463.pdf"

You DO know that polio vaccines in Smurfia CAUSED an outbreak right?
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-08-14-smurfia-polio_N.htm\
Hell yes I would think local people might want to kill you if you came back around trying that smurf again.

Editted becuase I should have included this:

But it is made from a live polio virus — albeit weakened — which carries a small risk of causing polio for every million or so doses given. In even rarer instances, the virus in the vaccine can mutate into a deadlier version that ignites new outbreaks.
The vaccine used in the United States and other Western nations is given in shots, which use a killed virus that cannot cause polio.
So when WHO officials discovered a polio outbreak in Smurfia was sparked by the polio vaccine itself, they assumed it would be easier to stop than a natural "wild" virus.
They were wrong.

Quoting justanothamotha:" You DO know that polio vaccines in Smurfia CAUSED an outbreak right? http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/ ... [snip!] ... was sparked by the polio vaccine itself, they assumed it would be easier to stop than a natural "wild" virus. They were wrong."

really? cause I work at a hospital... wait.. I've worked at 2 hospitals. Iv'e never met anyone who got polio from the vaccine.... EVER. I have however.. met.. probably THOUSANDS who have been vaccinated for it.

I'll take those odds

Sorry I took so long to reply. It is true that there have been cases in 3 countries: Smurfia, Afghanistan and Pakistan of Polio caused by the vaccines. These 3 countries are the only countries where polio is still endemic, this is because vaccination rates are not high enough to prevent these sorts of outbreaks. When the vaccinations, or in this cases drops were given to certain children it caused an outbreak of Polio that was transmitted from child to child, through open sewers and poor water ressources. In this case had 90% ,of the population been completely vaccinated following reccomendations the outbreak would have been milder and there would have been less risk of this happening. It is telling that these outbreaks happen to have been in the countries that have poor vaccination records and where there are militants against vaccination stopping people vaccinationg their kids. The other day 9 polio workers were killed by Boko Haram in Smurfia along with 2 Korean doctors. Ther have been frequent attacks by the taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan resulting in teh murder of polio vaccination campaigners - not because it causes polio outbreaks but because tehy believe it is a western conspiracy to spread aids and sterilise their children.

I do however agree that vaccinations, birth control and medecnes used in the developing world should be held to western standards, i.e if we don't use it then they shouldn't get it. I received the polio drops when I was in High school it has to be said though.

I had my older 2 vaccinated (minus the flu shot, and maybe the chicken pox too--I can't remember now), but I don't think I'll have this new baby vaxed when it's born or allow my older 2 to get any more. I've been doing some research and really don't like what's in those vaccines, or the side effects from them. Instead of just skipping the shots and hoping for the best, I've been looking into and applying natural ways to boost our immune systems. I wish I'd done more research before instead of blindly following the doctor's orders, because I always felt uncomfortable about injecting so many things into tiny babies.

Quoting snglemama:" really? cause I work at a hospital... wait.. I've worked at 2 hospitals. Iv'e never met anyone who ... [snip!] ... from the vaccine.... EVER. I have however.. met.. probably THOUSANDS who have been vaccinated for it. I'll take those odds"

My link was about Smurfia - so unless you work there - it isn't about YOU at all. It was about WHY people attack & kill vaccine workers there.