Immunizing children against childhood diseases is a highly personal decision that's been made very public lately. Here in Nevada, children must have their current immunization records and must be fully immunized in order to attend preschool or public and private schools. This has led to many heated debates.
Why?
Some parents fear the cumulative effects that immunization may have on their young children. They feel that some of the shots may be outdated, unnecessary and even harmful for their children. It's true that children with health issues that may be compromised by immunization can get letters of exemption, but if these children are not immunized, will it compromise the health of the other children in the classroom?
Here in Las Vegas, the economy could also have something to do with this. Health care is expensive, and many children may not have access to regular visits to the doctor. Shots may be a cost that are beyond the reach of some parents who are underemployed and struggling to make ends meet.
Other parents, who have the means, are even going to the extent of home-schooling their children rather than having them be stuck with a needle repeatedly during the first 6 years of their lives.
Some parents feel that their child's health and safety comes first, and that if a doctor recommends a series of immunizations, then it's in the best interest of their child. After all, there have been no studies to date that have shown health issues associated with immunizations, while there have been a multitude of studies showing that not having children immunized can lead to serious illness and even death.
Scares such as the '90's theory (disproven) that Autism may be linked to immunization may deter parents from having their kids immunized. Other parents have had children with severe reactions (however rare) to immunizations. This may have deterred them from having younger siblings receive their shots. The thought of their children undergoing pain of any sort, even from a needle, can cause some parents to freeze, especially those who are themselves afraid of doctors or needles.
One has to consider whether the risks associated with a measles or whooping cough outbreak can balance all children in a classroom being exposed to a child who has not been immunized. Parents sometimes get tunnel-vision, and don't realize that the choices they make for their child can have adverse reactions for an entire group of children.
So what is a parent to do? Speak to your physician, read the studies, do some homework and ultimately make the decision. So far as tests have shown to date, there does not appear to be any real danger to having children immunized, as long as there are no mitigating health factors. But there are real dangers to all children if they are not immunized.
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