Oct 19th 2010, 10:25:57
This thread seems to have, pretty much, run its course without me... but I don't think you can ever have too many people saying this.
Vaccinations are an important part of maintaining a healthy population base. The diseases they fight have not been eradicated, and will return if a sufficient percentage of the population goes un-vaccinated.
I don't believe that there is sufficient reason to believe that vaccinations cause or contribute to any long-term health concerns. However, even if there is truth to those claims, it's in a minute number of cases compared to the issues caused by the diseases those vaccinations protect against.
I personally have very little respect for parents who choose not to vaccinate their children due to perceived risks. I say this because it is the fact that others get those vaccinations which protect the unvaccinated from the diseases. To allow others to run risks and benefit from it, while not being willing to take those risks yourself is an abuse of society.
It's the same problem I have (though on a different scale) with drivers who choose to by-pass traffic jams by driving along the hard shoulder. It's only an advantage because everyone else is fulfilling their responsibility and not using the hard shoulder.
If there is a risk in vaccinations, it's far far less than that of a large unvaccinated population. To refuse vaccination because of those minor risks, while still benefiting from the fact that most of society took them, is a betrayal of society.
There are exceptions to this sentiment. I have no problem with the decision your brother and his wife made, Revolver, after the first vaccination of their daughter. Equally, I would never tell a parent who had a child with a disorder which they attributed to a vaccine that they were irresponsible for not vaccinating later children. I would even understand if you, with a family member who reacted poorly to a vaccine, chose not to give them to your child.
But in large, I think that to refuse to vaccinate a child is reprehensible.
I'd like to say at this point that I personally hate needles, I have a severe phobia. There have been times when I've passed-out, convulsed, and stopped breathing for well over a minute when I've gone to get them. Right now, even writing about this, I'm on the verge of a panic attack. Even if I stay conscious, when I go to get any kind of needle I can't walk for at least an hour afterwards and will lie there shivering in a cold sweat. After writing this post, that's likely what's going to happen to me. I'm going to lie in bed shaking.
Despite my extreme reactions, I still get major vaccinations on schedule (the only common one I don't get is the annual flu shot) and think that this issue is important enough that I've taken the time to write this post and express this sentiment even though the next hour of my life (as I come down off this panic attack) is likely to be the most unpleasent experience I've had in several months. Vaccinations are important. I'd discourage anyone without direct reason to suspect a higher than usual chance of complications from even considering forgoing them.
-Fooglmog
Guy with no clue.
Vaccinations are an important part of maintaining a healthy population base. The diseases they fight have not been eradicated, and will return if a sufficient percentage of the population goes un-vaccinated.
I don't believe that there is sufficient reason to believe that vaccinations cause or contribute to any long-term health concerns. However, even if there is truth to those claims, it's in a minute number of cases compared to the issues caused by the diseases those vaccinations protect against.
I personally have very little respect for parents who choose not to vaccinate their children due to perceived risks. I say this because it is the fact that others get those vaccinations which protect the unvaccinated from the diseases. To allow others to run risks and benefit from it, while not being willing to take those risks yourself is an abuse of society.
It's the same problem I have (though on a different scale) with drivers who choose to by-pass traffic jams by driving along the hard shoulder. It's only an advantage because everyone else is fulfilling their responsibility and not using the hard shoulder.
If there is a risk in vaccinations, it's far far less than that of a large unvaccinated population. To refuse vaccination because of those minor risks, while still benefiting from the fact that most of society took them, is a betrayal of society.
There are exceptions to this sentiment. I have no problem with the decision your brother and his wife made, Revolver, after the first vaccination of their daughter. Equally, I would never tell a parent who had a child with a disorder which they attributed to a vaccine that they were irresponsible for not vaccinating later children. I would even understand if you, with a family member who reacted poorly to a vaccine, chose not to give them to your child.
But in large, I think that to refuse to vaccinate a child is reprehensible.
I'd like to say at this point that I personally hate needles, I have a severe phobia. There have been times when I've passed-out, convulsed, and stopped breathing for well over a minute when I've gone to get them. Right now, even writing about this, I'm on the verge of a panic attack. Even if I stay conscious, when I go to get any kind of needle I can't walk for at least an hour afterwards and will lie there shivering in a cold sweat. After writing this post, that's likely what's going to happen to me. I'm going to lie in bed shaking.
Despite my extreme reactions, I still get major vaccinations on schedule (the only common one I don't get is the annual flu shot) and think that this issue is important enough that I've taken the time to write this post and express this sentiment even though the next hour of my life (as I come down off this panic attack) is likely to be the most unpleasent experience I've had in several months. Vaccinations are important. I'd discourage anyone without direct reason to suspect a higher than usual chance of complications from even considering forgoing them.
-Fooglmog
Guy with no clue.