So, with all the talk in the media about anti-vaxxers I had to weigh in.
There香蕉视频直播檚 absolutely nothing more that a parent wants than to raise a physically, mentally and emotionally strong child. I don香蕉视频直播檛 think anyone doubts that. I believe the whole movement toward anti-vax was brought on by fear mongering, ignorance and perhaps even complacency. The thing is, that what you avoid could be the one thing that your child needs the most. It香蕉视频直播檚 a serious issue that can香蕉视频直播檛 be ignored or dealt with in the manner of out of sight/out of mind.
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The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) inoculations became standard around 1971. This was just after me and five of my brothers and sisters were laid up with mumps. In those days many parents saw it as an inevitable rite of passage through childhood but they also dreaded the possible side effects like infections and swelling of the brain just to name a few. I remember my mom talking about how having the six of us down with mumps was difficult to deal with because we were so sick. I can香蕉视频直播檛 even imagine.
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And then there香蕉视频直播檚 measles, which is not just a harmless childhood disease. It can kill. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control: One in 10 cases will have ear infections (causing deafness for some) or pneumonia; one in 1,000 will have measles encephalitis which could result in permanent brain damage; and one in 3,000 will die from respiratory and neurologic complications. It香蕉视频直播檚 not something to mess around with 香蕉视频直播� you don香蕉视频直播檛 want your kid to be the 香蕉视频直播渙ne.香蕉视频直播�
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And let香蕉视频直播檚 not forget about rubella 香蕉视频直播� also know as German measles. It香蕉视频直播檚 one that we don香蕉视频直播檛 hear about very often but it can have tragic consequences for pregnant women, in particular. While the symptoms can be mild for children, if a pregnant woman comes into contact with rubella in the first trimester it can cause fetal death or serious birth defects.
Rubella isn香蕉视频直播檛 one that has made a comeback in the news yet, but it香蕉视频直播檚 just a matter of time. Again, it香蕉视频直播檚 preventable to a point where if the majority of people are immunized they can act as a protective barrier against the spread of infection. You see, the idea of getting rid of a disease is for the betterment and strength of a society as a whole. Those who can香蕉视频直播檛 be vaccinated because of allergies, age, pregnancy, or severely compromised immune systems are surrounded by those who don香蕉视频直播檛 bring in the disease because of immunization. Does that make sense? Simply put: It香蕉视频直播檚 up to the rest of us to ensure our immunity so we don香蕉视频直播檛 spread it to those few who can香蕉视频直播檛 be immunized.
The fewer people who go unvaccinated the safer, and stronger, the society is as a whole.
The recent measles outbreak serves as a reminder that our world is small and immediate. An otherwise healthy unvaccinated individual can travel to an area of the world where diseases are not under control, contract the disease, return home, and spread it around before any symptoms show. This needless re-introduction of measles, mumps or rubella puts others at risk, costs money for the health care system, and is, for the most part, preventable.
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While the government hasn香蕉视频直播檛 taken the route of making vaccines mandatory for school, passports, or travel, with each outbreak the discussion comes up and the outcry becomes louder.
Caring for children, and yourself, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 need to be a slippery slope if you do your homework properly. If your child were diagnosed with type-1 diabetes you香蕉视频直播檇 allow for insulin therapy (I hope), or if your child had strep throat you香蕉视频直播檇 allow treatment by antibiotics 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 just common sense 香蕉视频直播� right?
The thing is that this type of reactionary medical treatment is immediate and visible, the preventative (like vaccines) is not. Don香蕉视频直播檛 think it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter because you can香蕉视频直播檛 see it.
Go vaccinate your kids (and yourself if necessary). If you香蕉视频直播檙e still in doubt, talk to your doctor or call HealthLinkBC (dial 8-1-1) where you can be put in touch with a health care provider to discuss it further.
Faye Arcand is a freelance writer living in the South Okanagan. She can be reached at faye.arcand@icloud.com or
