Yep; I have a family member who contracted Hepatitis during an emergency blood transfusion. Blood is screened, but shit still happens. So a person who eats well and never drinks has life-long liver damage and had to go through years of treatment. No thanks.
The anti-vax movement is one of my rage-button areas. So be warned:
I think the anti-vax movement is the epitome of privilege. I've been to countries where people will walk half a day to try to get their kids vaccinated against something that Americans scoff at. And when privileged people rant and rave about something they don't understand, there are consequences for the less fortunate. Let's look at thimerosal, as an example. It's an organomercurial compound which was used as a preservative in many vaccines for decades. But uninformed people got their panties in a bunch about "mercury" in vaccines and made such a ruckus that the pharmaceutical companies developed alternatives. (I equate this to the intelligence of an uproar if people realized there was Chlorine in their table salt). These alternatives and preservative-free vaccines have shorter shelf-lives, are more expensive, and generally require refrigeration. That has negligible impact in the US, but made a HUGE difference in vaccine availability in the 3rd world. Many places don't have reliable access to clean drinking water, much less electricity or refrigeration. And in areas where the doctor only visits once every few months, it's impossible to maintain a supply of short shelf-life vaccines. So you have real, vulnerable kids living in high-disease regions who can't get vaccinated because a bunch of entitled undereducated folks thought they knew better. </rant>
I actually have a coworker who contacted Hep B, no risk factors (100% not an IV drug user) and no idea where it came from. It actually took her a long time to get diagnosed and her liver took quite the hit, yes she isn't a baby, but she has three kids at home. I'm 100% not a risk taker
So I had a thought today that made me bump this thread... Our school is currently going through the "fun" state wide testing process and I am in charge of giving students with IEPs their "alternate setting" along with all of their other accommodations listed in their IEP for their tests. Here's my thought though: I'm watching one student who absolutely can not sit still, can not be quiet, can not focus on his test long enough to do a good job, and is basically the definition of distraction to the other students. He is also the poster child for ADHD medication but his parents refuse to medicate (or even try other alternatives). If we start legally requiring parents to vaccinate, where does it stop (as @lovesclimbing and @wino0920 alluded to)? Could we then take this law into the classroom and say that a child who is diagnosed ADHD but is not being medicated is a "danger" to all the other student's learning and thus must be required to take medication?
I'm definitely on the side of "give my child all the vaccinations" and, prior to this morning's thought, also went to the side of "this should be law unless you can prove XYZ." But then I had this thought and realized that maybe it shouldn't be law as it then begs the question of where does it end? Just a thought to throw out there for your Thursday afternoon
@huzzahuzza I think that the "slippery slope" argument can be used against anything and everything. I have ignorant family members that used that argument to justify being against gay marriage, saying that people will eventually be marrying animals.
The difference between vaccines and ADHD medication is clear. If you're not vaccinated you are potentially threatening the lives of others. If you're not medicated for ADHD you're not threatening anyone's life.
@huzzahuzza I think that the "slippery slope" argument can be used against anything and everything. I have ignorant family members that used that argument to justify being against gay marriage, saying that people will eventually be marrying animals.
The difference between vaccines and ADHD medication is clear. If you're not vaccinated you are potentially threatening the lives of others. If you're not medicated for ADHD you're not threatening anyone's life.
I agree @doodleoodle and @erinh84 but wanted to play devil's advocate with an idea that I had. The idea that slippery slopes can get out of control are all too alive and well, however, and there are many politicians elected on slippery slope ideas... like the 2nd amendment and the fear that it will be taken away (in MT this is such a big one that every.single.politician has to state that they are pro 2nd amendment or they will never be elected regardless of where they stand)
I'm definitely for all the vaccines. I use to work in the pediatric ICU as a nurse and we would get babies (who were to young to vaccinate) that would get pertussis. It was traumatic watching a newborn struggle to breathe and turn blue. One baby spent 2 months there until she was healthy again. I think it's made me crazy to the fact where everyone holding my baby must be updated on their TDAP or they aren't allowed to spend time with her. Lol
Re: POTD: Vaccinations
The anti-vax movement is one of my rage-button areas. So be warned:
I think the anti-vax movement is the epitome of privilege. I've been to countries where people will walk half a day to try to get their kids vaccinated against something that Americans scoff at. And when privileged people rant and rave about something they don't understand, there are consequences for the less fortunate. Let's look at thimerosal, as an example. It's an organomercurial compound which was used as a preservative in many vaccines for decades. But uninformed people got their panties in a bunch about "mercury" in vaccines and made such a ruckus that the pharmaceutical companies developed alternatives. (I equate this to the intelligence of an uproar if people realized there was Chlorine in their table salt). These alternatives and preservative-free vaccines have shorter shelf-lives, are more expensive, and generally require refrigeration. That has negligible impact in the US, but made a HUGE difference in vaccine availability in the 3rd world. Many places don't have reliable access to clean drinking water, much less electricity or refrigeration. And in areas where the doctor only visits once every few months, it's impossible to maintain a supply of short shelf-life vaccines. So you have real, vulnerable kids living in high-disease regions who can't get vaccinated because a bunch of entitled undereducated folks thought they knew better. </rant>
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
Our school is currently going through the "fun" state wide testing process and I am in charge of giving students with IEPs their "alternate setting" along with all of their other accommodations listed in their IEP for their tests. Here's my thought though: I'm watching one student who absolutely can not sit still, can not be quiet, can not focus on his test long enough to do a good job, and is basically the definition of distraction to the other students. He is also the poster child for ADHD medication but his parents refuse to medicate (or even try other alternatives).
If we start legally requiring parents to vaccinate, where does it stop (as @lovesclimbing and @wino0920 alluded to)? Could we then take this law into the classroom and say that a child who is diagnosed ADHD but is not being medicated is a "danger" to all the other student's learning and thus must be required to take medication?
I'm definitely on the side of "give my child all the vaccinations" and, prior to this morning's thought, also went to the side of "this should be law unless you can prove XYZ." But then I had this thought and realized that maybe it shouldn't be law as it then begs the question of where does it end?
Just a thought to throw out there for your Thursday afternoon
The difference between vaccines and ADHD medication is clear. If you're not vaccinated you are potentially threatening the lives of others. If you're not medicated for ADHD you're not threatening anyone's life.
The idea that slippery slopes can get out of control are all too alive and well, however, and there are many politicians elected on slippery slope ideas... like the 2nd amendment and the fear that it will be taken away (in MT this is such a big one that every.single.politician has to state that they are pro 2nd amendment or they will never be elected regardless of where they stand)