To Vaxx or Not To Vaxx

To Vaxx or not to Vaxx?

Vaccinations have been a hot button topic issue for a while now, and with celebrities at the helm of the movement on either end, it shows no signs of slowing down. Jenny McCarthy and Robert De Niro are just two of the celebs who have been outspoken about their opinions on the matter at one point or another, but regular moms, dads and other loved ones are finding themselves faced with the decision of whether or not to vaccinate their children.

For some, it may feel foolish to even consider the option of not vaccinating, and I get it. If there’s something we can do to keep our children healthy, why not, right? Well as I’ve said plenty of times on my blog, I’m an investigator. I want to know and learn everything I can before I make a major decision like injecting a foreign substance into the bodies of the two most precious beings in my life. So that’s exactly what I did. Sue me.

Both of my children are vaccinated. Aside from the very common slight fever and complaining of not feeling 100 percent, neither of them had any issues associated with the vaccinations. To say I had absolutely no concerns regarding vaccines would be a falsehood. If you take a look at the statistics and science, you simply cannot refute the evidence. Something is going on. Cases of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a host of other conditions have increased exponentially in the last decade or so. Studies present contradicting information, and it became clear to me that, while we cannot completely rule out vaccinations as relevant to the cause, the data is correlational, not causal. I think we should consider looking into several potential harmful contributors, including radicals in our environment and even birthing drugs. I’m simply not convinced vaccinations are undoubtedly harmful, but I’m open to any and all research that continues to be conducted.

I made the choice to vaccinate my sons, but I definitely had a few reservations. While they didn’t suffer any consequences, I have always wished that the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine could be split up and not given all at once. Much of what I researched revolved around the fact that this one, in particular, could be a bit too much on such young immune systems. Unfortunately, you can’t buy or request it separately; the drug companies simply don’t offer it that way.

New moms often look to more seasoned ones for advice. While my children are still pretty young, I love sharing anything that may prove to be constructive for others. To the mom who is pondering whether or not to vaccinate, I say this: do your research. Remember that anything related to traditional medicine is controlled by the drug industry. These are corporate, for-profit businesses. If you can keep that in mind, you can decrease your chances of being susceptible to making decisions out of fear. Question everything, and get second and third opinions. We trusted our pediatrician and the research we had access to, ultimately making the best possible choice for our family. Don’t be afraid to do the same.

Did you vaccinate? What were some of the concerns surrounding the vaxx movement you encountered?