Comments on: Measles in my backyard http://rambleramble.com/2010/05/14/measles-in-my-backyard/ A little introspective, a little quirky, a lot of rambling. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:43:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alexis http://rambleramble.com/2010/05/14/measles-in-my-backyard/comment-page-1/#comment-1990 Alexis Mon, 17 May 2010 15:48:53 +0000 http://rambleramble.com/?p=1413#comment-1990 As the "no tolerance" commenter, I do want to say that I agree with your points. Some people can not vaccinate, that is tough situation to be in and those parents do the best they can. I also realize that our healthcare/medical system fails us time and time again in this country. We can, and should, be building better vaccines and doing better for our children. Expanded/delayed vaccine schedules are a great way to do that and can be an effective way to mitigate the risk while still getting the same long term benefits. I guess my feeling is just that the odds of having a bad reaction are much smaller than the odds of having long term health consequences from contracting a preventable disease. For me, gambling on the vaccinations is the responsible choice and we should be talking about delayed/ altered vaccine schedules a lot more and hopefully having sick kids a lot less. Of course, that is just my conclusion and that need only impact what I do with my kids. This is one of those horrible tricky decisions that parents have to make and often, it can feel like there are no right answers. As the “no tolerance” commenter, I do want to say that I agree with your points. Some people can not vaccinate, that is tough situation to be in and those parents do the best they can. I also realize that our healthcare/medical system fails us time and time again in this country. We can, and should, be building better vaccines and doing better for our children. Expanded/delayed vaccine schedules are a great way to do that and can be an effective way to mitigate the risk while still getting the same long term benefits. I guess my feeling is just that the odds of having a bad reaction are much smaller than the odds of having long term health consequences from contracting a preventable disease. For me, gambling on the vaccinations is the responsible choice and we should be talking about delayed/ altered vaccine schedules a lot more and hopefully having sick kids a lot less. Of course, that is just my conclusion and that need only impact what I do with my kids.

This is one of those horrible tricky decisions that parents have to make and often, it can feel like there are no right answers.

]]> By: Brooke http://rambleramble.com/2010/05/14/measles-in-my-backyard/comment-page-1/#comment-1987 Brooke Sun, 16 May 2010 04:05:37 +0000 http://rambleramble.com/?p=1413#comment-1987 I wasn't referring to your post as much as the comments (like saying there is "NO tolerance" for people who choose not to vaccinate). I agree that it is upsetting when it shows up in your backyard. I wasn’t referring to your post as much as the comments (like saying there is “NO tolerance” for people who choose not to vaccinate).

I agree that it is upsetting when it shows up in your backyard.

]]> By: Ginger http://rambleramble.com/2010/05/14/measles-in-my-backyard/comment-page-1/#comment-1983 Ginger Sat, 15 May 2010 18:14:27 +0000 http://rambleramble.com/?p=1413#comment-1983 I do understand the concerns around vaccines. I did my research before Jackson was born, and I pay attention to what new information comes out. And you're right that I don't know the situation with this family--they could have already immuno-compromised kids, or allergies to the preservatives, or other reasons to not vaccinate that I'm not privy to. We all make a cost-benefit decision that is, hopefully, based on the best information you have access to at the time. But on the day that measles shows up in my community because of not vaccinating, whatever the reason, I'm allowed to be upset about that. I'm not saying these parents weren't thinking of their children, but what I am saying is that if you make a decision to not vaccinate, you're relying on the rest of the community to do it. You are, you're relying on the rest of the community to provide your child's protection. You have a responsibility to be even more diligent and informed then, because you're not bearing your part of the community risk AND you're adding risk to the rest of us. At the bare minimum, it's your responsibility to know the symptoms of the diseases you're not vaccinating for, and to be forthright and cautious when dealing with any sickness that bears any of the hallmarks of those diseases. If you're going to ask the community to keep you safe, it's only fair that you do a little bit to return the favor. These parents didn't do that. I do understand the concerns around vaccines. I did my research before Jackson was born, and I pay attention to what new information comes out. And you’re right that I don’t know the situation with this family–they could have already immuno-compromised kids, or allergies to the preservatives, or other reasons to not vaccinate that I’m not privy to. We all make a cost-benefit decision that is, hopefully, based on the best information you have access to at the time.
But on the day that measles shows up in my community because of not vaccinating, whatever the reason, I’m allowed to be upset about that. I’m not saying these parents weren’t thinking of their children, but what I am saying is that if you make a decision to not vaccinate, you’re relying on the rest of the community to do it. You are, you’re relying on the rest of the community to provide your child’s protection. You have a responsibility to be even more diligent and informed then, because you’re not bearing your part of the community risk AND you’re adding risk to the rest of us.
At the bare minimum, it’s your responsibility to know the symptoms of the diseases you’re not vaccinating for, and to be forthright and cautious when dealing with any sickness that bears any of the hallmarks of those diseases. If you’re going to ask the community to keep you safe, it’s only fair that you do a little bit to return the favor. These parents didn’t do that.

]]> By: Brooke http://rambleramble.com/2010/05/14/measles-in-my-backyard/comment-page-1/#comment-1981 Brooke Sat, 15 May 2010 05:03:42 +0000 http://rambleramble.com/?p=1413#comment-1981 I think that everyone wants to vaccinate their children. But people have a problem with some of the preservatives that are in the vaccinations. I understand your frustrations, but I would hope that maybe you could see outside of that a little bit to truly understand what the concern is (and saying it's just bad science isn't fair either). There ARE reactions to vaccinations. It's a cost-benefit analysis, and I don't think it's fair to pointedly blame the parents for being reckless when they were making what seemed at the time to be a choice to protect their children. Why don't we scream just as loudly about making our vaccines better, safer? We have spaced vaccinations. But I am glad you posted this because our family is coming back from the Philippines and I might bump up Kellen's MMR before they come even though I'm pretty sure they are vaccinated. I think that everyone wants to vaccinate their children. But people have a problem with some of the preservatives that are in the vaccinations. I understand your frustrations, but I would hope that maybe you could see outside of that a little bit to truly understand what the concern is (and saying it’s just bad science isn’t fair either). There ARE reactions to vaccinations. It’s a cost-benefit analysis, and I don’t think it’s fair to pointedly blame the parents for being reckless when they were making what seemed at the time to be a choice to protect their children. Why don’t we scream just as loudly about making our vaccines better, safer?

We have spaced vaccinations. But I am glad you posted this because our family is coming back from the Philippines and I might bump up Kellen’s MMR before they come even though I’m pretty sure they are vaccinated.

]]> By: Perpetua http://rambleramble.com/2010/05/14/measles-in-my-backyard/comment-page-1/#comment-1979 Perpetua Sat, 15 May 2010 01:46:33 +0000 http://rambleramble.com/?p=1413#comment-1979 A car visit! That is so awesome. How I wish our ped would do that. A car visit! That is so awesome. How I wish our ped would do that.

]]>