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The vaccine debate is one that I'm still not comfortable jumping into. Oh I've talked about it. I've hashed it over in my mind again and again. I've read articles and books, and lets not forget the comments (oooooh, the comments!)
I've been revisiting it again the past couple of days because of an article I stumbled upon. (Ok, maybe I didn't exactly "stumble" upon it, since this topic is bound to come up in the circles I run in - aka PARENTING, more specifically "Natural" Parenting.) Anyways, last night while I was trying to slow my mind down from it's spin cycle enough to fall asleep I thought about the "Dead Baby Card". Let's be real here. There are people on BOTH SIDES of this debate who have terrible, horrible, scary stories to share. Parents, Doctors, and all other sorts of people who have seen innocent, defenseless babies go on to whatever is "Next", long before we feel is their time. Babies dying from disease AND babies dying from vaccines purported to prevent them. Both sides claim the other is "fear-mongering". You know what? Both possibilities are scary. Because ultimately being alive is RISKY - we all have to face death, of ourselves and loved ones. Each side feels the other is blowing the opposing risk out of proportion (ie Vaccine proponents feel there is a very small risk of an adverse reaction to vaccines, while people opposed to vaccines feel they are safer taking their chances with natural immunity and disease). I've had the Dead Baby card pulled on me. We have one child who was vaccinated per CDC schedule and one who has been (very) selectively vaccinated. When I was reading and trying to make a truly informed decision the second time around our doctor tried to persuade me by scaring me that my baby could die from a "vaccine preventable" disease. And it's true, that could happen. But in the end it wasn't enough to make me do what the doctor wanted me to do. It *was* enough to make me realize that we needed to change care providers. It's so important to trust and be able to talk openly with our doctors or alternative care giver. And honestly, I don't think it is a good idea to make anyone feel stupid on either side - because no one KNOWS the answers to all the hard questions surrounding this debate. That is one thing I'm sure of.
1 Comment
12/8/2013 09:57:58 am
AH! Thank you.....This is one of the best and most honest posts on this topic I've read. We're right there....stuck between the two ferociously opposing sides of the issue. So far, opting out of vaccines.....but questioning and re-visiting the issue all the time! Thanks for being so real.
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Susan MayWife, mom, information and peace seeker. Categories
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