- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
October 2012 Moms
BabyCarryingVessel
member
Need help for response to this...
BabyCarryingVessel
member
Remember the email I wrote to a conference speaker who, I felt delivered an anti-vac message to teenagers? Help. I'm out of my league! Should I even respond at all since I don't know what she's talking about?? Her response to me:
Thank you for reaching out to me! First, please let it be known that my intention was in no way, shape or form an anti-vaccination message.
The purpose of my presentation was to get the youth thinking about alternatives to vaccinations. My ultimate question was, whether healthy diet could prevent disease? I even went on to ask whether Pharmacogenics, the study of how genes respond to drugs, could be applied to vaccinations. Could that be a solution, as it seems vaccinations are not a one size, fits all cure to disease.
It was my intention that these Missouri youth would take away from my presentation to be informed. I did not list a stance as pro or anti-vaccine, but rather pro-informed choice, which I think is important on any issue we are faced with. I would never encourage someone to not vaccinate. I would however encourage them to look at both sides of the issue and weigh the pros and cons, then make an informed decision.
While you mention the experts of science on one side and ignorance on the other, I'd ask you, what would you have done with a 6 month old who received 6 month shots, followed by 3 days of projectile vomiting, in-consolable crying/screaming and a 105 degree temperature, all of which happened within 24 hours of receiving that series of shots. In the quest to share research based sources of vaccination with me, I'd also be interested in answers to the following:
1) A double-blind, placebo-controlled study that can prove the safety and effectiveness of vaccines?
2) Scientific evidence on any study which can confirm the long-term safety and effectiveness of vaccines?
3) Is there scientific justification on how a vaccine would prevent viruses from mutating?
4) Please provide scientific justification as to how a vaccination can target a virus in an infected individual who does not have the exact viral configuration or strain the vaccine was developed for?”
The topic of vaccinations is an open-door book in my view, and I hope that more "What If" conversations on the issue continue. It seems the issue is very black or white, with little gray. It's somewhat discouraging that a topic that affects everyone, is typically desired to be very hush-hush.
Thank you for your time and perhaps this is the start of future dialoguing on the topic.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Need help for response to this...
What's it like to be that smart? Seriously
Here's my (probably too mild) response. You guys know I can't be snarky! I took credit for @ck2md's brilliant find. Thanks for your help everyone!
I am still standing by my original concern, which is that your message really didn't belong in a teen conference. Your "what if" question is great! (Could healthy diet prevent disease?) I just wish you would have stuck with that topic rather than veering off into vaccine land.
To answer your questions, I found this within 12 seconds
As for the 6 month old example, that would be a terrible thing but I know it's a very real scenario. I was fully aware of the risks that affect a small percentage of children when I vaccinated my daughters, but they could have suffered a far worse fate if I hadn't.
The bottom line is, many preventable diseases have been eradicated thanks to these life-saving vaccines. I'm sure you know that the majority of a population needs to be vaccinated in order for vaccines to work. Misinformed parents are not only putting their own children at risk, they are endangering other children and immunocompromised adults! I was fortunate to grow up in a preventable disease-free environment... please don't put that at risk by spreading misinformation to our future generations. Thank you.
p.s.) An example of how to read a vaccine safety study... https://violentmetaphors.com/2013/09/08/an-example-of-how-to-read-a-vaccine-safety-study/
Thanks again for taking time to respond to my concern!