(photo courtesy of blog.legalbistro.com)
I am, by nature, a realist. With a propensity to be pessimistic.
(I think my California “village” can overwhelmingly attest to that.)
About a week ago I found out my son had Chickenpox (Varicella virus). My first thought was how could this happen? My subsequent thoughts involved more hits on Google than a Kardashian.
After too much wine and online research (and a visit to our pediatrician), I realized my son would be fine. My worries, however, continued to swirl. As newer parents with children born after the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine debate, we did spread out our son’s vaccines when he was younger. (Our daughter, however, is on schedule.)
This time around, our concern is about what our school aged son may bring home with him each day. My seven-month-old daughter, who is contently and constantly on the receiving end of kisses and squeezes from my 6 year old son, was extremely vulnerable to contracting the virus.
I spoke with many parents during those home-bound days. All wanted to know were how my son and daughter were doing.
Some, perhaps succumbing to great curiosity, wondered aloud if my six year old had been vaccinated. When I told them he had received both vaccinations they were surprised.
So were we.
Apparently, my son had “break-through” Varicella or modified Varicella-like syndrome. This occurs in vaccinated children with symptoms of usually less than 50 lesions – less contagiousness, atypical appearance at the site of infection, and few or no vesicles (the fluid filled sacs).
Regarding my daughter – anything less than a zero percent chance of contracting the virus would do little to relieve my concern.
For three weeks, all I thought about was Encephalitis (brain swelling). It is a rare side effect of Chickenpox. Every time I looked at my daughter, I felt panicked and helpless. We packed her up and she stayed with her Aunt Maria for a few days… just until the lesions on my son had scabbed over.
I visited her and she was spotless. For my own sanity, I felt her chances of contracting the virus were diminishing with this temporary separation.
A few friends of ours do not vaccinate their children. There was a request from one mom for a “pox” party with her four children.
Reread the first line of this piece and you’ll understand why I wasn’t willing to participate in that.
It’s an interesting situation because my vaccinating friends are pretty vehement in their judgement of my non-vaccinating friends. They will yell at me regarding anyone who is not vaccinating. They will not, however, offer up any judgements directly. This is a sensitive topic (Jimmy Kimmel aside), to say the least.
We vaccinate because we are realists who have looked at the research and, despite my own paranoia about foreign chemicals going into my children’s tiny bodies, as well as my equal distrust of the government and pharmaceutical industry… think it’s the safest decision for our children.
I know the parents who don’t vaccinate feel the same way about their decision. They feel like Chickenpox vaccinations (for example) are unnecessary when weighed against the possible side effects of the vaccine itself. In order for unvaccinated children to attend school, parents must fill out a “Personal Belief Exemption” form which states why all of some vaccinations are against their own beliefs. As of 2012, a health care practitioner had to sign the form as well.
I have heard many arguments from both sides. And I’ve googled arguments from both sides:
According to the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC.org), in 1992, out of 158,000 reported cases of Chickenpox, there were 100 deaths. NVIC also reported that between March of 1995 and July of 1998 the federal Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (the agency co-sponsored by the CDC – Center for Disease Control) received 6,575 reports of health problems after the vaccine was administrated to individuals. That’s 1 in 1,481 vaccinations.
Of the entire group that received vaccines, 1 out of 33,000 (4%) people had a serious reaction (encephalitis, blood disorders). This included 14 deaths. VAERS reporting is voluntary and anyone can report an adverse reaction.
The CDC website reported that before the vaccine was made available in 1995, there were between 100-150 reported cases of death from Varicella in the United States each year.
There is also concern that the Varicella vaccine will cause an increase in the amount of adult Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Currently, there is not enough data to know whether or not this is true.
Last month, a California bill was introduced to eliminate the “Personal Belief Exemption.” This would require all children to be fully vaccinated before enrolling in school.
So, I wonder…are we protecting those who have no protection or, are we taking away parent’s rights? Where will this disagreement end?
As a gay Dad, “rights” are a very important part of my life.
Like I said, in our household, we vaccinate. On this subject, I won’t lose anything if the bill gets passed. Or will I? And what about the (rest of the) herd?