"Dirty" Secret

So, just to expose my "dirty" little secret (that most of you already know...).  I have chosen NOT to vaccinate my children.  And here are a few natural questions some may have in regards to this (with my answers following).

1.  Is this because you are afraid?  In short, no. 
2.  Are you stupid?  I'd like to think I'm not.
3.  Do you love your children?  With all my heart!
4.  Aren't you concerned about them getting a disease?  It would be absolutely devasting.  Yes, I am.
5.  Weren't you nurse?  Yes, I was.  And have given more vaccine injections that I can count.
6.  Do you have any idea what these diseases were like?  I have read up on most of them including the pathophysiology and pictures.  So I'd say I have a working knowledge, but I will not profess to be an expert by any measure. 

Let me start by saying that child vaccination is a parental decision.  There are many things a parent is responsible for, including the well being of their children.  There are many states that are in the throes of deciding whether the state can take away this parental right and force childhood vaccines.  It is unfortunate that we give away our rights as American citizens to a government who has not put love or care into our children.  No government can do that.  A parent is in the role of bringing forth these lives and nurturing them for a time. 

So this means that I take full responsibility as to what goes in my child's body (exempting the dirt and dandelion stems they shove into their own).

Six years ago, Deereandy and I were looking forward to the birth of our firstborn (I was anyway.   Deereandy still was a bit intimidated....how little I knew how much I should be).  I was coming from a fully vaccinated family and nursing school which caught me up on all my vaccinations.  This schooling is what gave me  the cursory education on what vaccines are and why they are the recommended medical practice.

I started the pregnancy out while I was still working and I remember talking to a coworker about those parents who don't vaccinate their children as being ignorant, foolish and letting an incomplete picture of vaccination fear them into making dangerous decisions for their families. 

Once Chirpee was born into my world (and opened up rooms in my heart that I never knew were there), I started to look at a lot of things with more weight and concern than ever.  One of those decisions was schooling (which I thought was set in stone) and the other decision was over vaccination (which I had already been looking into with greater intensity when pregnant).  .

Not finding enough information at the time to convince me not to vaccinate Chirpee, I went along with the recommended schedule in Canada (which differs slightly from the American one).  Chirpee never seemed to have any trouble with the injections other than the discomfort of the injection.  The boy didn't even get fevers (possible evidence of immature immune system or potential lack of building immunity).

So, I felt like we were trekking along just fine, but still wanted to know more about each injection that he received.  It was during this time, I began to realize how surface my knowledge was in regards to the vaccines, the diseases and particularly the specific research that has been done and by whom.

Included in my browsing was the Center for Disease Control's website.  This is where I stumbled across abstracts from various vaccine manufacturers' "studies" (largely retrospective), this could not but pique my interest as the majority of the CDC documentation on efficacy cited was from vaccine manufacturers.  Hmmmm, conflict of interest?  I think so.  So much for the government monitoring the drug companies.  Early on I also encountered a few articles from this pediatric physician, and read up on data from very informative website which were just the tip of the iceberg in making me hesitant about further vaccination.  There are also some interesting articles on the natural cycles of pathogenic populations which were a surprise to me.  I will not go into all the research and places I have gone in order to get my information but there is a great article here by a pediatric chiropractor.  I highly recommend it!

My understanding began to broaden and I was left torn as to what to do.  Most parents want to make a good decision in regards to their children's health and well-being.  Some parents can read the same information and come to many different conclusions.

For myself, I had to decide whether the risk of vaccination outweighed the risk of not.  That has not been easy.  At times it felt as if I was making decisions over letting my children end up with polio, whooping cough, tetanus, various meningitis's and complications that might lead to death....or the potentially harmful, suspiciously chronic inflammatory effects that it may have on my children.  Possibly aiding in conditions such as asthma, ADHD, autoimmune disorders and autism among others.  I have read stories of vaccine injured children that are receiving compensation from the government, but no one can give them back the ability to walk...or their lives after a degenerative illness.

The reality - it is statistically unlikely that any of these things will happen to either or my boys.  Be they vaccinated or unvaccinated.  But I can get myself pretty worked up trying to decipher what is best.    

I have gone back and forth on being fearful to do either one.  With Dimple...at first I thought I'd delay his vaccinations and the longer I delay them, the older he has gotten.  Now I am at a point I do not like the thought of vaccinating them at all. 

I have done what I can to be informed and am still researching it like crazy - from both angles.  I am truly open to receiving information to convince me to vaccinate.  I love the idea of inoculating against pathogens if they truly can be PROVEN safe and effective.  The above article I referenced is one among many that speaks of the absence of a clinical trial being done on childhood vaccination efficacy.

Modern medicine acknowledges a child's immune system can take up to seven years to mature and the basis for vaccination requires an intact, adult immune system that mounts a "normal" response.

So I said above I am not afraid.  What I mean by that is that it is not fear that has motivated my choice.  I am not making the choice because I am afraid of vaccines and I won't vaccinate from fear of the disease.  Above all things, make an educated choice as a parent.  That means understanding to the best of my abilities and to always be open to learning.  I like to think I am making the best decision I can with the information I have and trust the Lord to provide grace whatever the outcome.

So, there it is - my "dirty" secret.  I just don't want to leave you thinking I am ignorant and not taking seriously the welfare of my children.

And in case you forgot to read it on the first link.  Please take time to read "My Crystal Clear Stance on Vaccines".