Living in the Bay Area, ground zero for the anti-vaccination movement, I’m especially disturbed by the recent outbreaks of preventable diseases like whooping cough and measles. I don’t just worry for the kids, but for people like my mother who received the measles vaccine twice and still doesn’t carry the necessary anti-bodies. Parents who don’t vaccinate put my mother in danger of a very serious illness.
And for what? Discredited claims of autism? Trace amounts of elements and chemicals that are already naturally present, in higher concentrations, in the fruits we eat? It’s time we grow up. There’s no common cold in the 23rd century. There’s a reason for that. Vaccinate your kids. Mr. Spock says so, dammit.
For more information check out the World Health Organization’s Myths and Facts page.
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I feel your anger. I was only able to get the first two of the 4 needed DTP shots because the fist two landed me in the hospital and I almost died both times. Now I’m at risk because stupid people want to believe dumb made-up things.
This post is filled with purposeful inaccuracies. Please see my response below – Mark
Please tell me you are pointing out the irony Vincent_Vega. A family member has epilepsy that begin within hours of his DTaP shot at 5 mos… I certainly don’t want others to run out and get theirs for his benefit…their health matters too! Vaccine reactions are NOT 1 in a million. DTaP has a seizure rate of 1 in 14,000 rate per CDC; MMR a 1 in 3500 rate for febrile seizures, which can lead to epilepsy. Everyone should do their own individual risk analysis only. I would not ever ask anyone to potentially harm themselves to help my child or family member. Ever.
A quick Google of “DTP” and “epilepsy” shows not one single credible source for a link between the two. Sorry, but anti-vax specific websites don’t count as sources. A quick search of “DTP” and “seizures” brings up a link between vaccines and harmless “febrile seizures” that can occur from anything that causes fever in babies. So a mild cold would do the same thing. Funny thing is, vaccines are also the number one prevention of febrile seizures as they illuminate many harmful viruses that could induce an even higher fever. That info is from the CDC. If you think the Center for Disease Control is part of a vast conspiracy of lies with drug makers to hurt your kid then what I just said is meaningless. If you’re interested in truth then please peruse the article. Thanks!