KBtotheBB

Baffling news trifecta in play.

Parents claim religion to avoid vaccines for kids - Kids & Parenting - MSNBC.com

I think parents should have the final say in the choices/decisions concerning their kids. However, I'm worried that people faking religion to get exemption will "ruin" that exemption for the people who actually have a religious objection.

MissPitchy

I think it's crap that you should find yourself in a position that you would consider faking a religious exemption. If I thought the life of my child was in jeopardy, I'd do it.

KeriKadi

I agree with both of you.

I read this article last night.

I am really hoping that the states that have this as an issue realize that it would be better to offer the parents a philosophical exemption so the parents don't have to lie. Not that we have had to worry about it yet but we are thankful that Texas is one of the states where philosophical exemption is an option.

JenR

It seems disingenuous for the government to say we've determined it's necessary, but we'll let certain people opt out. If it's optional for some, then someone has determined that it's not really necessary, and then it should be optional for all, regardless of the reason why you are opting out.

bugginsmom

Thankfully in Michigan we have philisophical exemptions. I really don't think it is the governments business to question my/our decision to not vax. Period. If we didn't have the philisophical option you can bet my religious beliefs would prohibit me from vaxing.

ThatSuzyGirl

I read that article yesterday and did not understand why they kept saying that the unvaccinated kids were putting the vaccinated kids at risk for illnesses. If your kid is vaxed aren't they supposed to be immune?

I think every state should have philosophical exemptions. We didn't do a lot of the vaxes with our children but still get these letters from the state health department that make it sound like we need to rush right out and get the shots before they come and take our children away. *sigh*

Suzy

_Sue_

Suzy - this is what I found,
On a wider scale, if a group of people are vaccinated against a disease it makes it more difficult for the microbe causing the disease to find an unprotected person to infect. If enough people are immunised then those who aren't can still be protected against the disease. This is know as herd immunity. For example, with a highly infectious disease such as measles, 95% of the population need to be immunised against the virus for this effect to work. Vaccination programs can eventually kill off some diseases. A World Health Organisation (WHO) vaccination program successfully eradicated smallpox from the world and it is hoped that the same will be possible with polio. In fact, the WHO has recently declared Europe as polio-free (See the WHO Press release for more details). However, not all diseases can be eradicated by vaccination as some can be carried by people without any ill effects, e.g. diptheria.

Also - my unserstanding is that if a disease is not eradicated, it can mutate and become drug-resistant, hence potential risk to those who are vaccinated.

KeriKadi

The reason that doens't make any sense to me is just becuase you have been vaccinated does not mean you are immune.
95% of people are not immune.
Adults that have not been vaccinated since kindergarten are NOT likely immune.
So, if it was so dangerous then we would have outbreaks all over the place because 98% of adults are NOT immune. MAYBE they were vaccinated 15-50 years ago but at best the vaccines last 5-10 years, assuming they bring immunity in the first place.

Of course there are also children and adults that have been exposed to certain things we never even know about so maybe if you are going to have your child vaccinated you should have a titer done first to find out if he or she is already immune.

I cannot tell you the last time I was vaccinated against MMR, can you?

When you look at a public place like a sports arena for instance those people (mostly adults) have not been vaccinated in the last 5-10 years.
Keep in mind also the people that come to the US from another country and were never vaccinated to begin with.

Diseases run their course when allowed. There is no vaccination for the black plague and yet it isn't something we live with today.

The last time we had a major outbreak that killed hundreds of people was before the age of indoor plumbing, doctors washing their hands between patients and medications including antibiotics.

When there are deaths from diseases like measles what they don't tell us is how old the person was, were they immune compromised, were then even of vaccinating age? Usually it is the very young (not yet vaccinated), the very old or the immune compromised. Not your average healthy school aged child.

_Sue_

Children are societies biggest disease spreaders. The theory is, diseases grab hold more vehemently as a result of children becoming infected and spreading it in thier communities. Vax is intended not only to protect children, but society as a whole. Vaxing children thereby helps to protect "the very young (not yet vaccinated), the very old or the immune compromised. Not (just) your average healthy school aged child".
With more comprehensive vaccination, fewer of these people would die from a preventable disease. Not everyone can be vaxed for medical reasons, so their only hope if exposed, is from Herd Immunization.

The last time we had a major outbreak that killed hundreds of people was before the age of indoor plumbing, doctors washing their hands between patients and medications including antibiotics.
True! It was also BEFORE vaccination. If you look at the dramamtic drop in cases of Measles after the introduction of the vax in 1963, I don't think it was attributable to other factors. There are lots of areas of the world that still have rampant outbreaks of diseases we for which our society currently vax . We also have unprecedented levels of global travel. Also, my Grandfather had polio - it's not just of the era of the black plague - and it's still a very active virus in many areas of Africa. If it is not eradicated, and immunization drops significantly, these could once again become virulent.

And I had needed my rubella updated before I started TTC - that was Feb 2005.

FWIW, I'm not all gung-ho about Vax. I have defered some of Monkey's vaxes, and will pass on others. It's just a VERY complex issue, both on an individual and societal basis.