No studies have ever been done of the long-term effects of vaccines. The effects of newly-released vaccines are only studied for a period of weeks before they are recommended for public use. Government agencies can claim that studies show only limited and short-term risks, but they cannot conclude that this is the case absolutely unless long-term studies are done. In the meantime, the recommended immunization list keeps growing, and more and more new vaccines are in the works.
Undoubtedly, one day there will be a vaccination for the AIDS virus, and parents will have to decide whether or not to allow their children to be injected with a vial of real (though weakened) HIV. How much research will be done before this vaccine is unleashed on the public? Do we really trust doctors that much?
In the meantime, there is a growing trend toward our government rewarding families who vaccinate and punishing those who do not. Schools already require proof of vaccines for attendance. Next has come the idea of withholding government assistance and welfare from parents of unvaccinated children. Plans are underway to start a nationwide vaccination registry program to monitor every child’s vaccination status by social security number, wherever that child may travel in the country. Legislation has even been proposed to prevent parents of unvaccinated dependents from receiving tax exemptions. Are these sanctions really in the spirit of freedom of choice?
Compromising
Parents with a child damaged by vaccines may refuse to vaccinate any future children (which may be best for their families because of possible genetic susceptibility). At the same time, some parents will always accept the recommended vaccine schedule without question. As for the rest of us who are undecided, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves about the benefits and risks of each injection before the needle enters our child’s body. We must weigh the risk of getting the disease, the seriousness of the disease, and the potential risks of the vaccine.
Also, to help prevent possible vaccine problems, parents can try to make certain children’s immune systems are in an optimum state of health before being immunized. Interventions include good nutrition (breastfeeding is optimal), adequate rest, and avoiding vaccination in certain situations.