I wholeheartedly support vaccinations—every single one of them. I advocate for immunizing my children on schedule and believe they should be mandatory. I have no desire to see diseases that have been eradicated through years of diligent research and effort make a comeback as epidemics. These diseases can lead to fatalities, particularly among the most vulnerable: infants who are too young to be vaccinated rely on others to make the right choices for their health.
The choice to vaccinate is not simply a personal decision. Unlike choices that might only impact oneself, such as whether to breastfeed or which school to enroll your child in, vaccination decisions have the potential to affect entire communities. Opting out of vaccinations based on unfounded fears, such as the debunked link to autism, is not justifiable.
While decisions about how to raise your child—like whether to homeschool or which faith to practice—are personal choices, vaccination is a public health issue and should remain so. Even if there were a legitimate connection between vaccines and autism (which there isn’t, as numerous studies affirm), I would still prefer to take the risk of autism over the risk of death. I can navigate life with a child who has autism, but I cannot bear the loss of a child to preventable diseases.
When you proclaim, “I choose not to vaccinate,” you are making a decision that impacts not just your family but mine and countless others. This choice exposes children to diseases that should have been eradicated, and it puts at risk those in our communities, including the elderly whose childhood vaccinations may have waned.
Have you ever witnessed a five-week-old infant in the ICU battling whooping cough? They are fighting for their lives—lives that could have been spared if their siblings were vaccinated. Pertussis can be deadly, and even survivors may face long-term health complications.
We already grapple with numerous diseases; if vaccines can prevent them, many will line up to receive them. Before you label vaccination as a personal choice, I urge you to educate yourself. Read up on the wealth of information available, and don’t be swayed by fear tactics. Remember, your choices can have far-reaching consequences.
In conclusion, vaccinations are essential for safeguarding not just individual health but the health of our communities. By understanding the implications of our choices, we can contribute to a healthier future for everyone.