Should you vaccinate your kids?

February 16, 12:15 PMAlbuquerque Motherhood ExaminerDana Herrera

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Vaccinations still controversial

On Thursday, February 19, a special court hearing ruled that there is not sufficient evidence to support the belief that vaccines cause autism.

However, there are many skeptical parents. Some parents choose to follow a different path when it comes to vaccines. 

Are vaccines harmful to your kids? 

This question is the topic of much debate. Some parent groups feel that the mercury in certain vaccinations can lead to autism and neurological impairments. Another concern is the risk of bad batches of vaccines, such as the HIB vaccine recall of 2007 due to possible salmonella contamination. 

Despite the courts ruling that vaccines are not directly linked to autism the controversy rages. According to the website Vaccination Debate parents are primarily concerned about vaccinating their children for the following reasons: 

1. Harmful chemicals: Many vaccines are made with chemicals for preservation purposes.
2. Foreign proteins: Some vaccines are made with chicken embryos and other foreign proteins. 
3. Unnecessary vaccinations: Medical breakthroughs occur everyday. However, some parents are weary of vaccinations for common ailments such as the flu or chicken pox. With new vaccines hitting the shelves all the time, it can be difficult for parents to determine which is the best for their children. 
4. Hard to prove vaccine related illnesses: Although the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services does provide a vaccine compensation fund in the event of a irreversible reaction to vaccine or death, it is very difficult to prove that a kids death or long-term neurological issues are a result of vaccination. Because a causal link is hard to prove, the fund rarely provides compensation to parents. 
5. Vaccine side-effects vastly underreported: Vaccine advocacy groups believe that the number of side-effects from child vaccination is grossly underreported. Therefore, we only have the numbers from reported cases to rely on in considering the negative side effects of vaccination. 

The biggest concern with any vaccination is an allergic reaction. Kids run a very similar risk when trying new medications or even new foods.

Reactions to vaccines normally occur right away and can include high fever, high pitched inconsolable crying from your child, rashes that do not go away and flu like symptoms. Because many of these symptoms can also mean something else entirely, or are even just a temporary side effect of child vaccinations you should consult with your kids doctor if you suspect an allergic reaction. 

Stay informed

While there is great controversy surrounding childhood vaccination most of us grew up without any harmful or long-lasting damage (aside from a day of discomfort and a bruise!). Stay informed on the issues. Speak with your pediatrician about your concerns. 

Doctors are required to give you informational pamphlets on all vaccinations, which include a list of their benefits as well as their potential side-effects. For the most part, there is no reason to be concerned that your child will have a reaction to vaccination. In New Mexico, all school-aged children are required to provide proof of vaccinations. This includes many childcare centers. 

However, if you have particular religious beliefs there are exemption forms available for the state of New Mexico. 

Weigh the pros and cons

As a parent, it is your decision to vaccinate your child, when to vaccinate them and to choose which vaccinations you feel comfortable with. Allergic reactions are rare, as is the risk of long-term neurological damage. The benefits of vaccinating your kid is saving them from harmful and potentially life-threatening illnesses. This is even more important for parents who travel with their kids quite often, kids who are in daycare settings and school settings, kids who have parents that are exposed to illnesses often (such as teachers and healthcare workers), or kids who live in high-risk areas for certain illnesses (such as measles). 

In New Mexico, our state has seen an increase in whooping cough. While not as harmful to adults, whooping cough can become very serious for children and deadly for infants. Before you make a decision - speak with your pediatrician. 

Vaccinations are only effective on a national level if the majority of children are receiving them. Concerns with unvaccinated children include virus breakouts (such as measles and whooping cough) and strained healthcare services treating children that may not have needed medical intervention with a routine vaccination. 

Video Below: Doctors debate kid vaccination