quick..one or two sentences why you don't vax

[bluedaisy]

My friend just posed a question on facebook saying she's starting to think about vaxes for her almost 12 month old son (he's been vaxed on schedule so far) and wants to know what people are doing.

She is honestly questioning vaxes and not just starting a debate so I want to respond that we haven't vaxed our 9 month old and don't plan to, but can't think of a good way to condense my months and months of research into a one or two sentence facebook reply.

what would you say?

[SuburbanHippie]

1. By giving the body the food, vitamins, minerals, probiotics etc that it needs, I can successfully keep my children's immune systems strong so they can fight off these diseases if they were to ever come into contact with them.

2. With the spikes in allergies, asthma, autoimmune disorders, autism that seem to correlate with the rise in the number of vaccines given, I'm not comfortable risking it. I would rather take my chances with the diseases which some, at one time, were common childhood diseases (like measles, chicken pox, etc).

[phillytwinmama]

honestly, I'd tell her that you'd be happy to recommend some books (off the board) to help her make some better informed decisions.

[MyLilPwny]

I think that the common answer here on MDC is something like "I rather treat a healthy child than damage (or kill) a healthy child with vaccines." I agree with that and its as short as I can go on an explanation.

[ammiga]

Originally Posted by ThereseReich

I think that the common answer here on MDC is something like "I rather treat a healthy child than damage (or kill) a healthy child with vaccines." I agree with that and its as short as I can go on an explanation.

This is what I was going to say.

After looking into each disease and their effects in normal, healthy children, we opt to eat well, laugh a lot, and be happy. We feel more comfortable handling the known side-effects of a disease than the unknown long and short term side-effects of vaccinating.

ETA: The phrase was slightly misstated... it's "I'd rather treat a sick child than damage a healthy one". Most of us don't treat our healthy children

[caro113]

Originally Posted by ThereseReich

"I rather treat a healthy child than damage (or kill) a healthy child with vaccines."

:

and "I don't believe in their safety or effectiveness"

[Ruthla]

Also, especially good for somebody "on the fence":

You can always vaccinate later if you change your mind. But once you give a vaccine, you can't take it out.

[MyLilPwny]

Originally Posted by ammiga

ETA: The phrase was slightly misstated... it's "I'd rather treat a sick child than damage a healthy one". Most of us don't treat our healthy children

Oh, is that what people usually say? Yeah that makes sense, but I guess I meant more of "I rather treat a healthy sick child..." because even though the child is sick, I still consider an unvaccinated child as healthy.

[ammiga]

Originally Posted by ThereseReich

Oh, is that what people usually say? Yeah that makes sense, but I guess I meant more of "I rather treat a healthy sick child..." because even though the child is sick, I still consider an unvaccinated child as healthy.

Yeah, I totally get where you are coming from. I think that most people that don't vax consider getting sick an ok thing (and some think it's a good thing). It's more of a sick vs. injured thing, at least that's how I interpret it.

[Marnica]

"The risks of vaccinating outweigh the benefits for our particular situation"

[phrogger]

The side effects of the vaccines scare me more then any of the diseases themselves.

[caned & able]

"If this is preventative medicine, I will take my chances with disease."

[ParisApril]

The illnesses they are vaxing for are minor and rarely occur anymore due to good hygiene.

[13Sandals]

"The best defense is a healthy immune system."

[rredhead]

What made me (personally) stop and think:
I can't give a baby milk, berries, or peanut butter. I have to introduce new foods one at a time. But it's OK to inject several viruses, bacteria, aluminum, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol, and more into an 8 week old? I don't think so.

[mamadelbosque]

If vaccines are really *SO* safe and effective, why do the manufacturers need immunity?

[SilverMoon010]

Originally Posted by rredhead

What made me (personally) stop and think:
I can't give a baby milk, berries, or peanut butter. I have to introduce new foods one at a time. But it's OK to inject several viruses, bacteria, aluminum, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol, and more into an 8 week old? I don't think so.

Right on!!!!:

[aydensmama]

Risk vs Benefits of diseases and vaccinations for our personal family, based on lifestyle and personal choices.

[peainthepod]

"I don't believe in administering pharmaceutical drugs to healthy children unless it's absolutely necessary."

[alegna]

After researching each vaccine and disease, I found no vaccines worth the risk for our family.

-Angela