This blog post is over 32 days in the making. I realize it is long, and I apologize in advance for this. Thank you for bearing with me 'til the very end. If this is a topic you feel strongly about, please share this post!
If you are a delayed vaccination, select vaccination, or anti-vaccination parent, you will often hear an argument about "The Greater Good" - either from your doctor, your parents, or your peers.The Greater Good argument goes something like this: you are threatening the lives of all around you by your selfish act of not vaccinating. The children and the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals who can not be vaccinated are counting on us to vaccinate ourselves for "The Greater Good"- all citizens will thrive, herd immunity... if you've taken part in any vaccine conversation, you certainly have heard it before.
Before debunking all those things (oh, yes, I'm going to completely debunk them), I'd like to talk about the implication you give every time you say that to me, or any other vaccine sensitive/vaccine injured child and/or their parents.
Since I openly admit that the question I get asked the most is "What's a vaccine injury?" I can not entirely blame you. Not at all. There is a HUGE glaring problem here... can you see it? Maybe not yet.
When you tell me that my choice for not vaccinating is not valid (in this case: vaccine sensitive and vaccine injured), and implying that I should vaccinate her anyway, you are telling me that my child does not matter. As long as the herd is healthy, you are willing to cull the herd until only the strongest are left. Survival of the fittest for the whole of humanity. My sickly child is not as strong and therefore is not fit to run in the herd. When you talk about The Greater Good, you are telling me that my child is disposable.
Why can I say that with such confidence? Because she will die. She will die from vaccines, as many of her peers have already and will still, as long as "The Greater Good" mentality is applied.
Strong words. Yes. But they need to be said. No one is talking about these kids. My kid.
Well, I will.
Since I started my research into vaccines in late 2011, I have come across hundreds if not thousands of vaccine injured kids. I unfortunately know of too many that have died.
Vaccine injury is the number one reason people become "anti-vaccination"- a term I despise. (See http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/statistics.htm) Because I am "pro-health", "pro-choice", "pro-safety" "pro-truth" I can't ethically agree with vaccines, and therefore I take the title of anti-vax, or even worse, "anti-science" (barf. I sincerely challenege anyone to come forward who claims to read more scientific, medicial, PEER REVIEWED studies and literature than I do. In my SPARE time. For it is my new priority. What was it again? Oh yeah, safety).
Unfortunately for these kids, and their well-meaning, usually highly educated parents ("Compared to undervaccinated children, unvaccinated children were more likely to be non-Hispanic white, have a mother who was older, married and who had a college degree. These children were more likely to live in a household with an annual income exceeding $75,000." - from http://www.immunizationinfo.org/science/demographics-unvaccinated-children )- they are met with prejudice at every turn.
In Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, we very quickly learn that some witches and wizards believe that all are not created equal. Draco Malfoy calls Hermione Granger a "mudblood" causing quite the reaction (including a backfired curse involving slugs). Not all magical folks feel this way, but the so called Purebloods believe that magic is a right only to be practiced by those of worthy parentage- (full blood wizards). Muggle-born wizards and witches do exist (and we know that they include among them the brightest witch of the age) but they meet some vicious prejudice and violence throughout the series. When applying this to everyday life, I see a lot of parallels.
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| From Harry Potter Wiki |
We have of course the ruling class, the status quo- in Harry Potter, the Ministry's motto in the darkest of times is "Magic is Might". A young Dumbledore and his friend Grindlewald muse that they must insist oppression is for "The Greater Good" for everyone- detailed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (A line that Dumbledore only believed for a short time in his long life, but as we journey into the novel it is an important parallel story to the main plot.) "Mudbloods" are undesirable. One must give their "Blood Status" if they wish to go to school or keep their wands.
The most vocal "anti-choice" advocates would have all of the unvaccinated rounded up and declared- in fact, it's already happening- a simple google search will get you a green/yellow/red highlighted map of the "riskiest" schools.
The choice of whether or not to vaccinate is a human right that can not and should not be taken away. Some of the harshest vaccine critics call for a child to either be vaccinated by force or taken away from parents who refuse to vaccinate. When I conducted my own survey of parents on Survey Monkey, this is what they had to say about child ownership:
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Please note that almost all replied that an overwhelming amount of respondents replied a child owns themselves, an interesting topic I don't often see in the debates. I myself have admitted that if my child wishes to vaccinate themselves when they are old enough to understand the concept and weigh the risks and benefits, then it is her body to do with what she choses. I wonder how many people out there feel similarly?
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When asked SPECIFICALLY who is allowed to make body alterations to their children, parents overwhelmingly responded that only they had the right to do so. 2 out of 15 respondents responded that only the child has the right to do so, one of those respondents being myself.
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So what this post boils down to is a call to all of those using these words and phrases lightly to remember the people behind them. Here are a just a few people I would love to get you in touch with if you would like to criticize them to their face:
"A person may file a petition with respect to injuries, disabilities, illnesses, conditions, and deaths resulting from vaccines described in the Vaccine Injury Table… Set forth below is a list of petitions received by HRSA on * March 13, 2013, through April 30, 2013.*”
[ PLEASE take note of #7 and #17..]
1. Tory J. and Sarah E. Moody on behalf of Victorya E. Moody, Bedford, Indiana, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0190V.
2. Pamela Jean Peguess, Memphis, Tennessee, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0191V.
3. Eileen Goeschel, Sarasota, Florida, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0199V.
4. Kearsten Demczuk, Park Ridge, Illinois, Court of Federal Claims
No: 13-0205V. 5. Howard Reddy and Hanan Tarabay on behalf of Andrew
Howard Reddy, Pensacola, Florida, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0208V.
6. Mona Marie Troup, Everett, Washington, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0209V.
7. Angel Blackstone on behalf of S.B., Deceased, Trenton, New Jersey, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0213V.
8. Isidra Durwin, Sarasota, Florida, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0214V.
9. Nancy and Sandro Giannetta on behalf of A.M.G., Sarasota, Florida, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0215V.
10. Kimberly Pedersen, West Allis, Wisconsin, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0216V.
11. Charles and Jeannie Maikish on behalf of S.M., Nyack, New York,Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0217V.
12. Ina Scanlon, Muncie, Indiana, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0219V.
13. David Stachlewitz on behalf of H.G.S., Glendale, Arizona, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0220V.
14. Mary E. Thompson, Brookport, Illinois, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0222V.
15. Matthew Gorski, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0224V.
16. Woodrow Coffey, Jr., Irvine, California, Court of Federal
Claims No: 13-0225V.
17. Stephen Warren on behalf of Taylor Warren,
Deceased, New York, New York, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0226V.
18. Robert Wiggins, Nashville, North Carolina, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0228V.
19. Peggy Kalmeyer, Depew, New York, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0230V.
20. Rosemary and Wayne Trezza on behalf of P.T., West Orange, New Jersey, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0231V.
21. Jane Tomassetti, Woodbury, Minnesota, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0234V.
22. Everett Johnson, Sr., Ashland, Kentucky, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0235V.
23. Edwin W. Fockler, Sarasota, Florida, Court of Federal Claims
No: 13-0237V. 24. James Cox, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Court of Federal
Claims No: 13-0238V. 25. Chanel and Paul A. Monroe on behalf of Angelina
Monroe, Las Vegas, Nevada, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0239V.
26. Noteel Koss, Houston, Texas, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0240V.
27. Tamika M. Kratzer on behalf of Ian M. Kratzer, Sacramento, California, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0243V.
28. Rosalie Peck, Boston, Massachusetts, Court of Federal Claims
No: 13-0249V. 29. Shannon Keller, Sacramento, California, Court of
Federal Claims No: 13-0250V.
30. Edwina Bradshaw, North Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0252V.
31. William and Brenda Lehann Rodriguez on behalf of C.R., Clayton, Georgia, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0253V.
32. Corrine K. Ibana, Kamuela, Hawaii, Court of Federal Claims No:
13-0257V. 33. Lorel Cubano, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Court of Federal
Claims No: 13-0259V. 34. Brittany and Davey Lambert on behalf of Noah
Lambert, Memphis, Tennessee, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0265V.
35. Scott and Caroline VanScoy on behalf of Alyssa VanScoy, Simi Valley, California, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0266V.
36. Jane Sprecher, Reading, Pennsylvania, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0271V.
37. Georgia Murdock, Silver Spring, Maryland, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0273V.
38. Willie Andre Simmons, Augusta, Georgia, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0274V.
39. Jung Park, M.D., New York, New York, Court of Federal Claims
No: 13-0275V. 40. Allison and Steven Council on behalf of Adam Council,
Plainfield, Illinois, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0276V.
41. Maryann Giordano, Lindenhurst, New York, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0277V.
42. Laura A. Jones, Greensboro, North Carolina, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0279V.
43. David D. Griffin, Afghanistan, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0280V.
44. James Demoski, Endicott, New York, Court of Federal Claims No:
13-0286V. 45. Christina N. Steinat, Seattle, Washington, Court of
Federal Claims No: 13-0287V.
46. Jessica L. Stone, Baraboo, Wisconsin, Court of Federal Claims
No: 13-0289V. 47. Holly Rhew, Wichita, Kansas, Court of Federal Claims
No: 13-0293V.
48. Janet DeYear, Dallas, Texas, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0299V.
49. Cynthia Adkins, Sarasota, Florida, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0295V.
50. Saurabh V. and Archana Amin on behalf of Sheaa Amin, Linwood, New Jersey, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0300V.
51. Juliet and Mohamed Edoo on behalf of Justin Edoo, Miami, Florida, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0302V.
52. James Boyer, Boston, Massachusetts, Court of Federal Claims No: 13-0303V.
*these are from March 13, 2013 – April 30, 2013. 48 days. what is the true number that these 52 petitions represent? how many don’t file claims? think about it..its scary"(from http://therefurbishedrogue.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/my-list-of-peer-reviewed-vaccine-research/)
For further reading I implore you to visit Peer Review Vaccine Studies - a long list of medical research disproving the safety of routine childhood vaccination. This is where you will find a large amount of debunking of popular opinion on vaccine safety, success, and history.
For research supporting Vaccine/Autism causation, please visit 84 Scientific Studies at Adventures in Autism' "No Evidence of Any Link (2.0)"
Perhaps the best article on the internet for vaccine researchers comes from Blinded by the Light. Titled "A Specific Approach to the Question: 'Why Don't You Vaccinate?'" this amazing post highlights the Disease, Transmission, Risk/Prevalence, Protection from the Vaccine (most vaccines wear off in 3-8 years, some providing shorter, some providing longer), and Treatment of the Disease--- for every disease we currently vaccinate for in the US.
Lastly I would like to note that studies are FINALLY being conducted on the health of unvaccinated vs vaccinated children. For a very, very long time one of the best arguments was that there were no studies done on this, ever. I have one from New Zealand here: Studies Prove Without Doubt That Unvaccinated Children Are Far Healthier Than Their Vaccinated Peers but this only calls for much larger, broad-scale studies to be done all over the world, as I'm afraid the title is not entirely accurate. Anecdotally, I completely agree. My partially vaccinated child is much healthier than myself and than practically every single one of her large peer group. But as we all know, anecdotes will be tossed out in a second in this scientifically fueled debate.
Debunking Herd Immunity (The "Greater Good" Theory):
- http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-herd-immunity-myth-and-how-it-pits-parent-against-parent/
- http://journal.livingfood.us/2012/02/24/vaccines-the-fallacy-and-truth-about-herd-immunity/
- http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/The-Herd-Immunity-Theory-Treating-Our-Children-Like-Cattle
- http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/the-myth-of-herd-immunity/
http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/measles-shmeasles/ An amazing article by the Gianelloni Family, whom I suggest you follow if this is an area of interest for you!!
http://www.drjjgregor.com/2013/08/27/affraid-big-bad-measles/#sthash.V6Y6Llkj.dpbs
and lastly a book recommendation from the Doctor who freed me from fear: How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of your Doctor
...And if you are still here (thank you!) I would just beg you to read just a couple of the heartbreaking vaccine injury stories that are available to you through the power of the internet. These people are not lying, are not sensationalists, they are just parents who vaccinated their baby or small child at the advice of medical personnel they trusted only to have their world come crashing down on them. To get started, please see my Remembering the Fallen facebook page or my Pinterest page here: http://www.pinterest.com/audrey9786/remembering-the-fallen-vaccine-injury-and-death-aw/
And finally I leave you with this image, in hopes that you will consider everything I've said today with an open heart and an open mind. These children do not want to be discriminated against. They are healthy, healing, happy children who were born to educated/informed parents. They have just as much as a right to live and breathe as all others. Please discontinue the tirade of hate these children receive on a daily basis.
A quick thank you to J.K. Rowling for writing one of the most powerful class/caste/social systems series of our time, and for kindly allowing me to make reference to it in an allegorical manner. All Harry Potter trademarks are copyright J.K. Rowling / Warner Bros. I do not own any of the names, places, ideas, or pictures used in this blog article.
