I Am a Crunchy Vaccinating Mama

When I took our first daughter in for her two month shots she screamed for four hours afterwards. Her legs swelled from the vaccines and I called my husband crying. How could I have done this to my child? She then fell asleep for six hours and woke up like nothing had ever happened. I really questioned whether or not to put her through that again, but then I thought about what it would be like to have her go through the measles and I decided I would take four hours of discomfort any day!

The state of Oregon has one of the highest percentage of non-vaccinated children in the country. That number has been growing due to fears that vaccine causes autism and the dangers of ingredients such as aluminum and formaldehyde in some vaccines. The argument for vaccines is... well... pollio will kill a child...dead!

I am a crunchy health nut mama. My kids eat all organic and whole grain goodness so I understand the fears of injecting your baby with dangerous ingredients. That being said the toxic ingredients in vaccines are no worse for them then the toxins in a can of tuna fish if you think about it. The amount being injected into your child is nothing compared to what they pick up in their daily environment. As for causing autism well your risk for this disorder is the same with or without the vaccine. The risk of you and your child dying in a car accident on your way to the grocery store is much higher than the risk of an adverse reaction to a vaccine.

In these recent times we have enjoyed longer healthier lives, thanks to modern medicine (this includes vaccines). Somewhere along the line we have forgotten the horrors of the Smallpox epidemic. This horrible disease killed and disfigured millions of people throughout history. We would still be battling Smallpox today if it wasn't for a global effort to eradicate the disease in the 1960s using vaccine. The same can be said for pollio.

I am environmental studies major so I get really irritated when people think they don't have to recycle because everyone else is (Mom and Dad I mean you!). Some folks also think this way about vaccines. I don't have to vaccinate my kids if everyone else is vaccinated. This is true until everyone starts thinking this way and taking protection from those who really need it. My husband was diagnosed two years ago with an autoimmune disorder. The doctor recommend not vaccinating if at all possible since that could make his immune system crazier than it already is. That means it is important for our family to practice herd immunity. If we are all vaccinated then it lowers the risk of him catching something terrible.

As parents we have to make decisions everyday that will affect the health of our children for the rest of their lives. We are also making decision that will affect other children in our community as well. "It takes a village" remember that phrase? Well it really is true in so many ways. Vaccines work and that is not a religious belief it is a fact!