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The most dreaded part of any checkup during your baby's first years is the shot. Sometimes, especially in the first few months, there are up to four shots given at one time. Every parent cringes at the thought of inflicting pain on her child and the bewildered cries of a recently immunized infant are enough to make even the most stoic mother cry. However, most parents ensure that their children receive the full round of vaccinations, believing that the long-term good outweighs the momentary pain. Recently, though, there has been an onslaught of negative publicity concerning vaccines, connecting them with everything from autism to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Are vaccines truly safe for our children?
Since the first concerns regarding vaccine safety emerged, the FDA and vaccine manufacturers have carefully considered many research studies regarding links between vaccines and childhood disorders. To date, no such links have been found. Vaccines are given during critical points in children's development that can coincidently correspond to the onset of certain problems. However, there is no data that suggests that the vaccine itself has been responsible for the onset of the problem. Some pre-existing conditions can be aggravated by some of the ingredients in a vaccine, but even then the vaccine itself did not cause the condition. Always talk to your doctor about any medical conditions your child has before having your child vaccinated, just like you would before having any medical procedure done or taking any medicine. But don't shy away from immunization based on fears regarding the safety of the vaccine because there is no research to support such fears.
But why have your child vaccinated anyway? Aren't most of these diseases already eradicated in the U.S.? Actually, not really. Diseases such as whooping cough and measles have seen a comeback in the U.S. recently. The diseases for which we have vaccines still exist. Some, such as chicken pox and influenza, are still common in the U.S. Others, such as measles and mumps, still occur in the U.S. at low levels. Still others, such as polio and rubella, have been virtually eliminated in the U.S. but still occur at high rates in other countries. Since international travel is common, it would be easy for these diseases to spread here without proper immunizations.
Many young parents do not have any experience with the major diseases we currently have vaccines against. One of the strongest arguments for vaccines can be found in porch swings across America. Before making a decision against vaccines, take the time to talk to someone who remembers the days before widespread immunizations. My own grandmother remembers when virtually every person contracted measles as a child. She tells stories of scarring and even deaths. My mother-in-law can tell you about swollen cheeks and weeks of recovery from mumps. We who are young have been spared some of these diseases due to the innovation of immunizations. Let's not give our children the nightmares we ourselves were spared.
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