Subject: Vaccinations, Good or Bad?
Posted by: dj168
Date: Aug 06 08
Do you think Vaccines cause more harm than good? And do you think vaccinations should be stopped cause of the chances of getting a problem? Or do you think that acquiring a disease is a rare occurence and vaccinations should still be needed?
Posted by: dj168
Date: Aug 06 08
Do you think Vaccines cause more harm than good? And do you think vaccinations should be stopped cause of the chances of getting a problem? Or do you think that acquiring a disease is a rare occurence and vaccinations should still be needed?
90 replies. On page 1 of 5 pages. 1 2 3 4 5
kitkat121080 
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I think vaccinations are a good thing. They prevent your children from acquiring many diseases that can be life threatening. Children can be born with autism for a number of reasons. My child is vaccinated and so will my future children. Reply #1. Aug 06 08, 9:19 PM |
Catamount
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The only reason this question even gets asked is because vaccination was so successful getting rid of many diseases. Now the fear of the disease is much less; now people worry more about the side effects. Then fewer get vaccinated, and guess what, the diseases come back. We've got a mumps outbreak in the Fraser Valley right now. Just a few weeks ago we heard of three or four people dying of tetanus on Vancouver Island. Measles is making a come-back in many countries. Those diseases that once used to be thought of as "common childhood illnesses", almost like a rite of passage, can cause serious complications, much more frequently than serious side effects from vaccines. http://www.immunizebc.ca/default.htm Autism is a devastating condition, and even more tragic because it affects young children. I've just happened to take a course on Developmental Psychopathology as part of my degree program. Parents may think their children are perfectly healthy, but thanks to the family movie and family video, it is now known that subtle signs of autism show up long before the overt symptoms. There are structural changes in the brain, that happen during pre-birth development. There may be an environmental component, but it happens long before the child gets the first vaccinations. I don't blame parents who are looking for answers, but I dislike those who use parents' fears and distress for their own agenda. The Wakefield study has been thoroughly discredited, and there has not been one study that conclusively showed a causal connection between vaccines and autism, or any other disease. What fries me about the anti-vaccine crowd is how they move the goal posts. First it was thimerosal. Well, thimerosal has been removed from all regular childhood vaccines years ago. There was no decrease in autism. Now it's supposed to be a combination of a genetic "weakness" and vaccines. All I can say is, show me some proof. Until then, I'll prefer to protect those in my care from "disease damage", like my uncle who was "polio damaged" and is suffering post polio syndrome now. Reply #2. Aug 06 08, 9:33 PM |
BxBarracuda
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Well said Cat. If the causes are unknown people shouldn't jump on the first idea that tries to answer a question. Reply #3. Aug 06 08, 10:02 PM |
| cydonia325
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dj168, I hope that your question is not deleted. I'm worried that the "no medical advice allowed" rule might kill this thread. That would be a shame. Who is Jenny McCarthy to be dispensing medical advice? She has an autistic child, and she has done some of her own "research". You know the old saying about "a little knowledge being dangerous". My son is a patient at a pediatric practice that spreads out delivery of infant vaccines. I also paid a premium for vaccines that are preservative free. My son received more aluminum salts from breast milk than from the Hep B vaccine. I should add that in spite of the great lengths that I went to give my youngest son a reasonable vaccine schedule, he is autistic. When my son was diagnosed with autism, I was devastated for him, but he still receives his vaccines. I have my own theories on autism, but they are just that, the suppositions of a parent of an autistic child. It angers me to see Jenny McCarthy make her son the poster child for her own agenda. She is using her celebrity (and Jim Carrey's) to claim that she is "curing" her son's autism. I read her book, and I was dumbfounded. Perhaps Ms. McCarthy's son is at the high end of the autistic spectrum, and with the help of early intervention, Evan's communication skills have improved. It has been known to happen! Schools require vaccinations for a reason. It would be truly horrible to see the return of diseases that at least in the West, have been eradicated. Fear, that is not based on "hard science" is not, in my opinion, a reason to risk the recurrence of deadly childhood diseases. Here is a link that contains the list of vaccines, plus a discussion of mercury, aluminum, etc. This is not run by any advocacy group. I found it to be a very informative and unbiased site on vaccine information. Just my opinion. http://immunizationinfo.org/ Reply #4. Aug 07 08, 12:36 AM |
dj168
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Yea I agree, that vaccinations cause more harm than good. It has lessened the amounts of diseased people. The disease which it is preventing may cause more harm then the rather few side effects. But I think the benefit outweighs the damage. More drug companies are making less vaccines now cause it is not a money maker unlike painkillers, etc. Also more and more lawsuits are scaring drug companies into not showing these new drugs which may work. When one person gets ill and sues the company, then the company gets scared and stops it. I too hope that it isn't illegal, but this is just asking a simple question, good or bad? Like McCain or Obama. Reply #5. Aug 07 08, 12:52 AM |
| dj168
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Sorry, I mistyped my first sentence, I meant more Good than harm... Reply #6. Aug 07 08, 12:52 AM |
sherry75
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Think that the latest idea to spring from the medical authorities in the UK, is to vaccinate under 5's with flu vaccine which they say will prevent it by up to 80% in older people? Absolute madness to vaccinate children, who already have 15 vaccinations before the age of 5 with yet another which will not benefit them one little bit. Flu vaccine has been found to not be efficacious in this age group and there are doubts whether it helps the elderly either - there are just too many strains of the virus. Do wonder at giving littlies the triple MMR when I believe it should be given singly. In Germany they are given as single shots as their view was that treating an autistic child was far more costly than giving single injections - more precautionary. Reply #7. Aug 07 08, 1:32 AM |
1cyprus
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Although we hear of complications that can arise from these illnesses, does anyone over 40 remember anyone they knew having real problems afterwards, i don't? The old way of dealing with these outbreaks used to be the whole neighbourhood throwing their kids together when one came down with the disease. I'm not advocating that, i'm just pointing out how things change. Reply #8. Aug 07 08, 2:03 AM |
| sherry75
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My sister developed pneumonia after measles and was in hospital for 3 weeks - can remember looking through the window of the cottage hospital as children were not allowed to visit in hospitals those days. Apart from that no, cant remember anyone having complications - as you say, it was a right of passage. Had all the usual mumps, measles, chicken pox, whopping cough (which was particularly horrible). They did a test as to whether or not I had already had German measles (Rubella), when I first became pregnant, and apparently I had and not known it. I really do think that kids are over vaccinated these days - ok tetanus and diptheria are still killers (my father had tetanus when I was a teen and he very nearly died)... had cut himself on a rusty nail on a box. Smallpox has died out these days so not sure whether there is still an inoculation in kids today? TB almost died out, but seems to have had a resurgence of late - so guess older kids still need that horrible injection! Reply #9. Aug 07 08, 5:47 AM |
supersal1
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If I had any under fives I would be very anti them having a 'flu jab to protection the older population. I agree with Sherry, they have enough to cope with. People worry about their children. Most of us have never seen the long lasting effects of childhood diseases, but we have seen children with brain damage or autism, so that tends to worry us more - it's something we know. The UK government is worried about the low take up of the MMR jab http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/aug/07/health.children?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront Wouldn't it make more sense to offer the jabs separately to increase the uptake? 1cyprus, I caught measles and chickenpox without any help. I can remember being sent round to play with every child who caught german measles, but never got it and I received the vaccination when I was 13. Reply #10. Aug 07 08, 6:28 AM |
jonnowales
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Sherry, I don't think Smallpox is given in the UK (not sure everywhere else) - I think it is totally eradicated worldwide. The TB injection (which I never had) was stopped due to the number of cases declining. Now it is increasing again. I'd rather have the injection. The numbers regarding measles that was on the news today: 1 in 10 get a complication needing hospitalisation 1 in 5000 die. I would personally not take the chance - I was vaccinated as a child (MMR, meningitis, DPT) and there is no long lasting trauma of having so many needles as a youngster - in fact I don't even remember them. Reply #11. Aug 07 08, 6:39 AM |
irishrusty
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I think people are making a big mistake if they don't vaccinate their children! Reply #12. Aug 07 08, 6:48 AM |
talentedone
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As a non-vaccinated person (not even small pox), I experienced all the joys of measles, mumps, chickenpox, etc. However, my siblings are vaccinated. Go figure. Reply #13. Aug 07 08, 7:07 AM |
| supersal1
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jonno, people aren't worried about the trauma of needles, they're worried about any possible side effects. I don't think people take the decision not to vaccinate lightly. I'd have felt terrible if my child ended up with long term damage as a result of not having them vaccinated. However, I'd probably have felt worse if I'd have made the appointment, taken them to the doctor's and held them while they had the vaccination, and they'd have ended up with long term problems as a result of that! Reply #14. Aug 07 08, 7:15 AM |
| sherry75
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1 in 10 get a complication needing hospitalisation 1 in 5000 die Jonno, how does this compare with the number of serious accidents and fatalities occuring within a home environment? scalding, falling over, electrocution, etc... I really cannot believe that it is 1 in 10 who need hospitalisation. Reply #15. Aug 07 08, 7:20 AM |
| sherry75
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re above - unless, of course, you are talking about meningitis? I am really referring to mumps, measles and rubella MMR jab. When my kids were little, they had a measles injection when they were 12 months old - singly as was the norm. Jonno, if you had received the TB injection, you would know it isnt just a simple prick with a needle. I doubt whether many kids under 2 would remember a needle anyway. Reply #16. Aug 07 08, 7:22 AM |
| Catamount
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I wouldn't know - I didn't have the Tb vaccine because I was "lucky" enough to have Tb. The scars are on your lungs forever, and there's always a concern that some factor may trigger a re-activation. Plus not only is Tb on the rise again, but new strains that are resistant to most antibiotics. Bacteria develop resistances, isn't it better to boost the body's own immunity by vaccination? Reply #17. Aug 07 08, 7:41 AM |
| sherry75
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When my sister had the pre-TB test she didnt react which showed she had at one time had the "virus" - therefore didnt need the injection. Still have a hefty scar on my leg to prove my immunity - can remember a few of the girls at school fainting : guess we get more wimpish when we reach our early teens. Reply #18. Aug 07 08, 7:47 AM |
| jonnowales
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Sal, I take your point - very fair and real concerns. Sherry, the figures were specifically for measles. Meningitis would be far more dire. If you don't believe the stats its up to you. I tend to go along with them. I never get the argument proposed, that, because you can die in a domestic accident the chances of dying of measles (which can be substantially reduced and even eliminated) somehow are less significant. It seems flippant to me as well as incomprehensible: the chances of dying by measles are less than dying in a domestic accident therefore lets not vaccinate and reduce your chances of dying in the bigger picture. I can die in a home accident therefore lets increase our chances of passing away by not having an injection as well. I may not have had the heaf test and BCG injection, but, I am sure it isn't as bad as actually having TB? I think we are losing perspective here. What are the statistics of developing autism via an MMR injection? Reply #19. Aug 07 08, 8:30 AM |
| sherry75
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http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069075/ Just a bit of info about measles. As I have already said, my sister (who was around 9 at the time) had complications with measles, but this was in 1950, so before you were even a twinkle in your daddy's eye Jonno. I can remember having it when I was 5 (at the same time as my Dad) we were both in bed for Christmas - I am told I had a temperature of 105C which was dangerously high, but not hospitalized - just aspirin crushed in condensed milk. My best friend had scarlet fever - again not hospitalised. I am not saying kids should not be imunised against measles, just that it should be a single injection and not mixed with the mumps and rubella. Will be interesting to see whether you point of view changes a tad once you become a father Jonno - its easy to theorise (and very worthy) when you are a wee un. Reply #20. Aug 07 08, 9:03 AM |
90 replies. On page 1 of 5 pages. 1 2 3 4 5
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