So, with all the talk in the media about anti-vaxxers I had to weigh in.
There害羞草研究所檚 absolutely nothing more that a parent wants than to raise a physically, mentally and emotionally strong child. I don害羞草研究所檛 think anyone doubts that. I believe the whole movement toward anti-vax was brought on by fear mongering, ignorance and perhaps even complacency. The thing is, that what you avoid could be the one thing that your child needs the most. It害羞草研究所檚 a serious issue that can害羞草研究所檛 be ignored or dealt with in the manner of out of sight/out of mind.
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The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) inoculations became standard around 1971. This was just after me and five of my brothers and sisters were laid up with mumps. In those days many parents saw it as an inevitable rite of passage through childhood but they also dreaded the possible side effects like infections and swelling of the brain just to name a few. I remember my mom talking about how having the six of us down with mumps was difficult to deal with because we were so sick. I can害羞草研究所檛 even imagine.
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And then there害羞草研究所檚 measles, which is not just a harmless childhood disease. It can kill. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control: One in 10 cases will have ear infections (causing deafness for some) or pneumonia; one in 1,000 will have measles encephalitis which could result in permanent brain damage; and one in 3,000 will die from respiratory and neurologic complications. It害羞草研究所檚 not something to mess around with 害羞草研究所� you don害羞草研究所檛 want your kid to be the 害羞草研究所渙ne.害羞草研究所�
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And let害羞草研究所檚 not forget about rubella 害羞草研究所� also know as German measles. It害羞草研究所檚 one that we don害羞草研究所檛 hear about very often but it can have tragic consequences for pregnant women, in particular. While the symptoms can be mild for children, if a pregnant woman comes into contact with rubella in the first trimester it can cause fetal death or serious birth defects.
Rubella isn害羞草研究所檛 one that has made a comeback in the news yet, but it害羞草研究所檚 just a matter of time. Again, it害羞草研究所檚 preventable to a point where if the majority of people are immunized they can act as a protective barrier against the spread of infection. You see, the idea of getting rid of a disease is for the betterment and strength of a society as a whole. Those who can害羞草研究所檛 be vaccinated because of allergies, age, pregnancy, or severely compromised immune systems are surrounded by those who don害羞草研究所檛 bring in the disease because of immunization. Does that make sense? Simply put: It害羞草研究所檚 up to the rest of us to ensure our immunity so we don害羞草研究所檛 spread it to those few who can害羞草研究所檛 be immunized.
The fewer people who go unvaccinated the safer, and stronger, the society is as a whole.
The recent measles outbreak serves as a reminder that our world is small and immediate. An otherwise healthy unvaccinated individual can travel to an area of the world where diseases are not under control, contract the disease, return home, and spread it around before any symptoms show. This needless re-introduction of measles, mumps or rubella puts others at risk, costs money for the health care system, and is, for the most part, preventable.
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While the government hasn害羞草研究所檛 taken the route of making vaccines mandatory for school, passports, or travel, with each outbreak the discussion comes up and the outcry becomes louder.
Caring for children, and yourself, doesn害羞草研究所檛 need to be a slippery slope if you do your homework properly. If your child were diagnosed with type-1 diabetes you害羞草研究所檇 allow for insulin therapy (I hope), or if your child had strep throat you害羞草研究所檇 allow treatment by antibiotics 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 just common sense 害羞草研究所� right?
The thing is that this type of reactionary medical treatment is immediate and visible, the preventative (like vaccines) is not. Don害羞草研究所檛 think it doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter because you can害羞草研究所檛 see it.
Go vaccinate your kids (and yourself if necessary). If you害羞草研究所檙e still in doubt, talk to your doctor or call HealthLinkBC (dial 8-1-1) where you can be put in touch with a health care provider to discuss it further.
Faye Arcand is a freelance writer living in the South Okanagan. She can be reached at faye.arcand@icloud.com or
