Danielle Wilson, Laughs, Views — July 3, 2012 10:56 am

Have kids? Get them immunized!

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A couple of months ago I received an email from one of my kids’ schools informing me that a case of Whooping cough had been confirmed. Then I remembered the measles scare back in February and how as a public school employee, I had to provide proof of immunization or be suspended from teaching. I have to wonder, were either of these incidents caused by individuals who’d never been immunized?

I already know this is going to honk some people off, but I’m going to say it anyway: Parents who don’t vaccinate/immunize their children are idiots. And worse than being stupid, they are acting selfishly. Not only are these moms and dads playing Russian roulette with the health of their own kids, but they are putting mine at risk, especially when these children are allowed to attend public schools.

I’m sorry, but if you are going to take advantage of public education, than you should be forced to comply with the health laws of the state and community. No conscientious or religious objections allowed. If you want to take a chance on your child contracting mumps or rubella, go for it. I don’t agree with you, but I support your constitutional rights to decide on the wellbeing of your own kids. But I will also fight tooth and nail to have your family banned from public schools so that your decisions don’t endanger my family.

“But Danielle, what about autism? Don’t vaccines cause autism?” No, they do not. The CDC, theAmericanAcademy of Pediatrics, and a slew of other organizations have each reviewed the evidence and found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

“But Danielle, I don’t have health insurance. I can’t afford immunizations.” County health departments offer free and low-cost clinics to all residents. You might have to wait in line, but they’ll get it done.

“But Danielle, I don’t want to risk a fatal reaction to the vaccine.” But you’re willing to risk your child contracting tetanus? Fine. Homeschool or pay for private.

“But Danielle, my religion is against medical intervention.” Good for you. See above.

Could this year’s measles and pertussis cases been flukes? Yes. Even vaccinated people can sometimes become ill. But with the number of non-immunized children growing every day, it can’t be long before these diseases and others begin to occur with some frequency. And then we really will be in trouble. So please, if you have kids or are thinking of starting a family, don’t be an idiot. Get them immunized!

Peace out.

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Danielle Wilson Author: I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the same year Dick Nixon was elected. Along with my twin sister and three younger sisters, I attended Catholic schools for thirteen years. (Holy Mother, pray for me.) I spent two years as a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado until I wised up and transferred to a more normal school, Indiana University, where I received a B.A. in history and a teaching license just for funsies. In 2001, I officially entered the ranks of stay-at-home moms to care for my two-year old son and newborn twins. I have mentally blocked all of 2002 and most of 2003. In 2004, I received a Master’s degree in U.S. History from I.U.P.U.I. and a fourth child from my should-have-had-that-vasectomy-sooner husband. From 2005 until mid-2010, I played Super Mom in the yet-to-be released indie film "Provide Daycare for Your Sister-in-Law's Children Because You Don't Have Enough to Do Already." I returned to teaching this fall at an undisclosed Indianapolis school where thankfully very few parents know who I am. I am considering developing a bad habit.
  • Mike

    I am a Pediatrician in the Noblesville area, and the first thing that came to my mind after reading your immunization piece was “Damn Straight!” I have never posted comments on an article before, but thought that I must with this one. Thank you–couldn’t have said it better to my patients myself! –MF

  • Dougal

    I was surprised by the level of anger and righteous indignation that the author displays in this article. I have a child who is one of the statistics that you read about in the package insert of a vaccine package (confirmed by three separate, respected physicians and immunologists who are board-certified in their respective fields). We’re pretty much on our own – for life. You see, the manufacturers are shielded from any liability whatsoever. Good luck getting anything through the vaccine compensation fund; even then, it will not come anywhere close to making a dent in the out of pocket medical and care expenses.
    The author mentions the research concerning autism; however, the author fails to point out that the US Government conceded in Banks v. US that the child involved suffered developmental delays as a proximate cause of the MMR. There is considerable research on both sides of the argument; unfortunately, it appears that the author did not avail herself to much data at all, outside of catchy headlines.
    Further, the author discusses whooping cough (pertussis). If the vaccines work, and your child is vaccinated, then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about – unless, of course, the vaccine doesn’t work, or is not as effective as you thought it might be. The CDC acknowledged that the higher vaccine uptake has not provided the results that many health departments thought they would see, and they further acknowledged that it has not resulted in lower infant mortality. By the way – for those who are pregnant, keep in mind that the Tdap vaccine is a Category C drug, meaning adequate and well-controlled studies in humans”. Patients should read the package inserts, because many (not all, but many) health care practitioners do not.
    With the current popularity of fast-tracking vaccines through the approval process, the information presented at the time of submission for approval is limited (in fact, it is much easier (and cheaper) to get a vaccine approved than it is for a drug or medical device). Case in point is the HPV vaccine, which the manufacturer, Merck, spent a lot of money trying to mandate the vaccination. Unfortunately, Merck only ran one study where the HPV vaccine was given in conjunction with another vaccine – the Hep B shot. Numerous deaths and a very large number of young girls that came down with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and GBS-like injuries, which were attributed to the co-administration of the HPV vaccine along with Menactra, a meningitis vaccine.

    Many kids are given upwards of 5 jabs at a single office visit. With over 20 years in pharmaceutical and medical device research and development, I have yet to find a reputable physician who believes that a “cookie-cutter”, one size fits all approach is valid. Many parents are not so much “anti-vaccine”, but prefer a customizable, well thought out administration schedule instead of a “cookie-cutter” approach. The “greater good” argument does not fly with many parents; I look in the eyes of the “greater good” argument every day, knowing that we have life-long hurdles to cross. That makes my job in R&D a bit easier as I force people to stay honest.
    The author goes on to make a very dramatic point about fighting “tooth and nail” against any exemptions. Interestingly, the author discusses philosophical exemptions, which do not exist in Indiana; only medical and religious exemptions do, which the author further fails to distinguish in her discussion, and cuts a wide swath in her disdain for these exemptions. Very well. I will also fight the efforts of individuals and organizations who seek to take away the right of informed consent while they work to protect manufacturers. If the author wants to be serious in this debate, then I would hope that she might look beyond the buzzwords and rhetoric and take a moment to educate herself on the entire issue. And the part about kids and families who don’t agree with the author being forced to go to a private school or be homeschooled? Good luck with that.

    • http://www.facebook.com/alicia.hillis.3 Alicia Hillis

      Couldn’t have said it better myself! Obviously, the author had not done her research. I’ll stick with my medical exemption and focus on raising my sons and I suggest the author focus on raising her own kids and not doling out parenting advice in regards to issues that she clearly knows noting about.