Well, here I go again, on another soapbox.
I am well aware of the (rare) tragic consequences of immunizations for some
babies. And of course when it happens to a particular mother's baby, that
means for her a tragedy that can never be fully appreciated by anyone else.
However, I must stand up for immunizations. I am from a family whose mother
contracted polio myelitis when my brother was only 6mo old. When I (age 4)
was allowed to visit her, I saw many people in what was then called an
"iron lung". You can guess this was many years ago. I mention this to
point out that what for some is a minor nuisance (getting kids in on time
for innocuations) can, in its absence, also result in some pretty horrific
outcomes: in this case, paralysis and death. My mother survived but is now
a patient in an ongoing study of what is called postpolio syndrome, an
effect no one predicted, but which has now come to light when survivors
have lived longer than 30 years. Her effects, to date, remain fairly mild
and pretty manageable, but others similarly afflicted are now completely
bedridden.
I have seen children dying of measles because they were not innoculated.
My standard recommendation, in the absence of a reason not to, it to urge
my clients to refuse entry to any friend of the family whose pre-schoolers
have not be immunized when a new baby is in the house and they wish to
visit. WHY ASK FOR TROUBLE?
The USA has one of the worst innoculation records in the world, developed
or developing. As a result, we are seeing more frequently mini-epidemics of
diseases that have been largely controlled in other parts of the world.
In families where an allergy to themedium or aportion of a shot is known,
steps can be taken to make appropriate changes and still protect the child.
My experience may be unusual. I would love to hear in years to come that it
is one of a kind. Enuf for my partiuclar reaction to that button. Next
viewpoint on this subject can be stated: I'm clamboring down...
....
....
Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask]
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