6 Things That Might Persuade Parents to Vaccinate
When parents play out worst case scenarios in protest against routine vaccination, maybe one or two of these 6 options for response will come in handy.
Every activity in life works out to be a risk/benefit analysis-flying, crossing the street, driving, getting vaccinated. The risk of harm from any vaccine is far lower than the risk of infection with the pathogen itself.
The idea that infections are “natural” and that all children should “catch” them and avoid vaccination with “non-natural chemicals” implies that all natural things are healthy. Eg, botulism-caused by a natural bacterial-produced toxin-can be deadly.
While it is true that most vaccine-preventable diseases do not result in severe morbidity or mortality, deaths have been, and will continue to be, associated with these infections.
There is NO evidence at all that the measles vaccine, or any other vaccine, causes autism. Andrew Wakefield’s work suggesting this has been completely and utterly discredited.
Immunization of individuals who could expose young infants (not yet fully immunized because of their age)-including mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other family members-is the ONLY way to prevent infant deaths from pertussis.
Mercury is no longer contained in any vaccine. When it was, it was in thiomerosol, an antiseptic used as a preservative and only at low concentrations. Thiomerosol is the active ingredient in “merthiolate,” a pink-red topical antiseptic that pained over many baby boomers’ wounds in childhood.
Vaccines and vaccine safety are once again in headlines as cases of measles appear in states from California to Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. (To date, 154 cases have been reported in 17 states.)Many parents don’t question that a child should be vaccinated against the virus that causes measles or any other that can be prevented through innoculation. But others do-and present you with an array of science and stories that play out their worst case scenarios. In this short slide show, find 6 things you might offer to help them think again.
