2-4-6-8! We don't need to vaccinate!

As if it’s not enough that every drugstore (there are at least 35 Hamilton County) has signs out proclaiming that the flu vaccine is here and there and only $25, at which I roll my eyes and move on, I was surprised that there also would be a ‘Tailgate and Vaccinate’ event at a high school football game.

Then again, now that the flu frenzy season is here and everyone ‘needs’ this vaccine, I guess the next logical step is to push the vaxes at the schools and school events. After all, according to the announcement, “Why not tailgate - and vaccinate - while you're there?”

Why not vaccinate for the flu? I’m no expert and don’t claim to be, but I have been wary of vaccines, and how they’re pushed on our kids, for years, and I’ve researched vaccines, compared vaccine schedules, and questioned. We don’t vaccinate for the flu.

In my compiled notes, I have a page dated from 2003 that states “Children are the next frontier for the lucrative flu vaccine campaign.” Back then, only those aged fifty and up (and those in high risk groups) were encouraged to get the vaccine. And just a few years before that, the threshold age was 65. Now, here we are--starting the flu shot at six months.

And yet, I don’t have solid evidence that the flu vaccine is safe, effective, and truly intended to help me and my family be healthy. It’s an experiment with unknown implications. I say no to the drugs pushed on us every flu season (to be sure, vaccines are drugs). I’d like to see an end to the fear-mongering and pressure to conform, and a more critical look given to whether this is the best for our health.

Educate before you vaccinate

We choose not to vaccinate ourselves or our children, no, not even for (or especially not for) H1N1 and seasonal flu. It is a hard decision and one that I am constantly re-evaluating but am ultimately most comfortable with. These are some of the questions I have gotten when I bring up the fact that we don’t vax. Considering that today’s CDC schedule (which I can only see increasing in the future) recommends 30 shots, yes, that’s 30 sticks by age six , any and every parent needs to become informed about the risks and benefits. This number doesn’t even include the now recommended yearly flu shots.

How are you able to not vaccinate? No one can force vaccination. Parents have a right to decline them for their children.

Aren’t you worried about your kids? Yes, which is why we have researched the issue and chosen not to vaccinate.

What about school? Contrary to what the schools say, they cannot refuse entry to a partially or unvaccinated child. You need to file a yearly exemption with the school, citing your reason for vaccination refusal (even if your child(ren) have only missed one vaccination) Anything short of the full CDC schedule will require an exemption. Indiana allows for a religious exemption, see my blog for a sample letter.

Don’t vaccines protect us? I agree (in theory) that vaccines work, however, vaccines include aluminum, formaldehyde, thimerosal (mercury) and other toxins. I think it’s highly risky to inject so much of these ingredients into our children and not consider the long term effects. Vaccines also bypass the bodies natural defense mechanisms, and acquiring natural immunity as nature intended is superior to artificial immunity.

Are you…healthy? Pretty much. We try to avoid the typical American diet, we eat whole foods as much as possible, exercise, seek regular chiropractic care, and are dosing ourselves up with multivitamins, Vitamin D drops, Vitamin C, and Omega 3’s.   Northstar Health Store, at 9619 E. 116th St. in Fishers, is an excellent resource.

Bottom line—every person considering vaccines for themselves and/or children needs to spend some time researching them. Choose to be informed.


Some books & resources I have found helpful in my vaccination/health research:

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives

The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child

A Critical Look at Vaccines

Video-A Vaccine Primer

Vaccine Debate article--costs 1.99--worth it

Northstar Health




Sample Exemption Letter:

(School & Address)

Noblesville, IN 46062

(Parent Name(s))

(Address)

(Date)

To Whom It May Concern,

We will not be completing the vaccination schedule for our child, (child's name), citing the religious belief exemption as allowed for by law under Indiana Code Article 8.1, Chapter 7, Section 2.

Thank you and sincerely,

(parent name(s) and signature)

Parents