You Don't need to take Vaccines for those who are worried.

[Mags 112]

I'm moving this to the Waivers forum.

[snowfrostedlashes 0]

I used to work in a child health clinic, so I hope that my views can be given some merit and not merely dismissed.

I am very sensitive to the parental right to try to make the best decision for your own offspring but the simple fact is that the diseases that vaccines protect against are in some cases extremely dangerous and can be life-threatening. Don't believe me? Try nursing a child through whooping cough!

If a pregnant woman is not vaccinated against for example rubella, and then comes into contact with the disease whilst in the early stages of pregnancy her unborn baby may be put at risk and be born with brain damage, or be blind or deaf... or she may miscarry.

These are facts.

I am perfectly willing to admit that some people are damaged by vaccines and that vaccination carries a small element of risk but this risk is much smaller than the risk of harm or death from disease should we revert to a social climate where vaccination is abandoned on a mass scale. Families with a history of epilepsy are already cautioned against certain vaccinations due to the increased risk of a harmful fit and must rely on herd immunity for their protection.

Many of the small scale studies which initially seemed to suggest a causal link between the MMR vaccination and the onset of autism in young children have since been discredited due to vested interest in the outcome - e.g. being paid to find a link - and because the methods were questionable and the numbers involved were considered too small and too focussed, such as only examining children who had been referred because they were believed to be vaccine damaged. How can you suggest anything scientifically without testing an equal proportion of perfectly healthy children? And for your information, I did a research paper on this very subject at the height of the madness following the initial study and have followed the subsequent research on both sides of the fence closely.

Autism has been proven to have a strong genetic link and although we don't yet fully understand the mechanisms involved it would be far too simplistic to suggest that vaccines alone are responsible - if that were the case then every child vaccinated with the same batch of a vaccine would be harmed and this is simply not the case. Whilst it is possible that vaccines may play a role that we don't yet understand it is just as likely that the onset of autism simply occurs around the same age as children being offered the vaccination and parents simply look for an external factor to blame. Children who are not vaccinated may also develop autism. It is therefore not credible to attribute blame to a vaccine without more scientific study to conclusively establish a causal connection. I for one welcome research in this field.

Also, it is not true to state that combining vaccines into a single injection is less safe than single vaccines as it would be necessary to leave at least 12 months between vaccinations to ensure that they did not interact within the immune system. All that is achieved by delaying the immunisation schedule is that you leave a child at risk of contracting the diseases for a longer period of time.

It is also not true to say that the diseases are mild as they can be very severe but we tend to forget this in the developed world because we only see examples of children who have been immunised and then contracted the disease in a less virulent form thanks to the protection afforded them by having been vaccinated in the first place.

I am happy for a parent or individual to research the subject as much as they feel necessary to make an informed choice about whether or not to allow vaccination but I despise fearmongers and feel that negative and unsubstantiated mistruths are extremely frightening to people who lack the medical knowledge to seek out more balanced research.

[emt103c 10]

I'm sorry if you are under the impression that the I-601 is automatically granted. All debates aside about vaccines. . .the I-601 is called a "Hardship Waiver" for a reason. . .prepare a REALLY good package. . .the money is definitely not the only cost *sigh*

[Mags 112]

I used to work in a child health clinic, so I hope that my views can be given some merit and not merely dismissed.

I am very sensitive to the parental right to try to make the best decision for your own offspring but the simple fact is that the diseases that vaccines protect against are in some cases extremely dangerous and can be life-threatening. Don't believe me? Try nursing a child through whooping cough!

If a pregnant woman is not vaccinated against for example rubella, and then comes into contact with the disease whilst in the early stages of pregnancy her unborn baby may be put at risk and be born with brain damage, or be blind or deaf... or she may miscarry.

These are facts.

I am perfectly willing to admit that some people are damaged by vaccines and that vaccination carries a small element of risk but this risk is much smaller than the risk of harm or death from disease should we revert to a social climate where vaccination is abandoned on a mass scale. Families with a history of epilepsy are already cautioned against certain vaccinations due to the increased risk of a harmful fit and must rely on herd immunity for their protection.

Many of the small scale studies which initially seemed to suggest a causal link between the MMR vaccination and the onset of autism in young children have since been discredited due to vested interest in the outcome - e.g. being paid to find a link - and because the methods were questionable and the numbers involved were considered too small and too focussed, such as only examining children who had been referred because they were believed to be vaccine damaged. How can you suggest anything scientifically without testing an equal proportion of perfectly healthy children? And for your information, I did a research paper on this very subject at the height of the madness following the initial study and have followed the subsequent research on both sides of the fence closely.

Autism has been proven to have a strong genetic link and although we don't yet fully understand the mechanisms involved it would be far too simplistic to suggest that vaccines alone are responsible - if that were the case then every child vaccinated with the same batch of a vaccine would be harmed and this is simply not the case. Whilst it is possible that vaccines may play a role that we don't yet understand it is just as likely that the onset of autism simply occurs around the same age as children being offered the vaccination and parents simply look for an external factor to blame. Children who are not vaccinated may also develop autism. It is therefore not credible to attribute blame to a vaccine without more scientific study to conclusively establish a causal connection. I for one welcome research in this field.

Also, it is not true to state that combining vaccines into a single injection is less safe than single vaccines as it would be necessary to leave at least 12 months between vaccinations to ensure that they did not interact within the immune system. All that is achieved by delaying the immunisation schedule is that you leave a child at risk of contracting the diseases for a longer period of time.

It is also not true to say that the diseases are mild as they can be very severe but we tend to forget this in the developed world because we only see examples of children who have been immunised and then contracted the disease in a less virulent form thanks to the protection afforded them by having been vaccinated in the first place.

I am happy for a parent or individual to research the subject as much as they feel necessary to make an informed choice about whether or not to allow vaccination but I despise fearmongers and feel that negative and unsubstantiated mistruths are extremely frightening to people who lack the medical knowledge to seek out more balanced research.

Wonderful post!

[Laura+Tom 2]

Wonderful post!

+1

[andrea922 0]

Wonderful post!

+1

I agree, thank you for replying! Because quite frankly people who think that vaccines are all evil from doing 'personal' research drive me up the wall.

And it angers me that my baby is put at risk for diseases until he has the vaccination because other people believe they are above receiving them.

Good luck with that waiver. It will cost you a whole lot more than $500 if you come down with any of the illnesses you refuse to protect yourself against.

[Thai family 0]

So,got my medical tommorow and I shall be seeking a vaccine waiver (form i-601)

It must be nice to have been the beneficiary of herd immunity, and to have not witnessed or experienced any of those diseases. I have lived with a permanent disability since early childhood because no measles vaccine was available. If you don't want to follow our rules for immigrants, you don't have to immigrate. You can try a waiver if you feel so strongly. Go to Pub Med (National Library of Medicine) and read the real research.

[emt103c 10]

I agree with both of you. . . I've never actually wished someone wouldn't be granted a waiver before.

[Rob & Jin 0]

I agree with both of you. . . I've never actually wished someone wouldn't be granted a waiver before.

I wonder how the medical went today ?

sore arms maybe

[Rob & Jin 0]

I wonder how the medical went today ?

sore arms maybe

Ops I see she had it days ago, sorry my mistake

[DanielParul 50]

What about all the diseases that have been eradicated with vaccines. Just because some people suffer from side effects, we cannot deny the fact that they save a lot more lives that we can imagine

[emt103c 10]

What about all the diseases that have been eradicated with vaccines. Just because some people suffer from side effects, we cannot deny the fact that they save a lot more lives that we can imagine

Apparently the OP can. *insert sarcasm here*

[keltic 1]

What about all the diseases that have been eradicated with vaccines. Just because some people suffer from side effects, we cannot deny the fact that they save a lot more lives that we can imagine

Apparently the OP can. *insert sarcasm here*

Well, I have noticed that the OP has not bothered to respond since people have actually been posting information that refutes his position. I think that says a lot.