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My daughters have not been vaccinated, ever, against anything. If anyone would like to know my reasons, I’ll be happy to provide them via email. There will be numerous links throughout this article to help you arrive at your own conclusions about standard childhood vaccinations. In all likelihood, most of our readers have had or plan to have their children vaccinated. This article is not meant as an attack on your judgment or an attempt to make you feel guilty over your choices. I am presenting this information out of concern and regard for all our children.

CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS
by Rexanne Mancini

While infant and childhood vaccinations remain a rite of passage for babies born in the United States and most other countries, there is a growing trend by concerned parents of questioning this practice.  Unfortunately, there is very little support for these parents in the traditional medical community. While you, as parents, will be told that it is mandatory to vaccinate your babies and even accused of child abuse in some instances if you do NOT vaccinate your infant, I feel it is of vital importance that you know the facts and truth about various vaccinations routinely administered to your children, the actual legality of not vaccinating if you so choose and the opportunity to make your own informed choices.

There is a dramatic increase in many countries of childhood autism, leukemia, diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis and other immune deficiency and muscular diseases, as well as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is the belief of many that some of the children and adults affected by these ravages on the body are so-attacked as a result of having been vaccinated as infants and children against a host of potential diseases, such as polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, hepatitis B, tetanus, etc.

It seems each year another vaccination hits the market, with pediatricians espousing the benefits and necessity of these inoculations for our babies and children. Most pediatricians have been assured by the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture these vaccines that they are safe and pose very little or no threat to their patients, i.e., your children. While the majority of medical practitioners are well intentioned, they are educated to believe what they are told by medical associations and other authority figures in their profession. Many parents of recently inoculated children who show symptoms of distress are told that the illness or symptoms have nothing to do with the administered vaccinations. I wonder ...

I would not want to experience parenthood without a good, trusted pediatrician, however, I have been known to question ours relentlessly. I have often refused certain tests or suggested treatments for my daughters for various non life-threatening symptoms when I felt they were unnecessary. No harm has come to my children from my reluctance to have them poked and prodded for conditions that may or may not have been brewing. I also refuse fluoride treatments that are supposed to protect our children’s teeth from cavities. You can read about the dangers of fluoride here: http://www.bruha.com/fluoride/

As parents, we need to question those who treat and care for our children more often. Sometimes, we blindly accept what authority figures tell us without realizing that we have options. Many times, those options could benefit our children more than a prescribed treatment or behavioral label that has been pinned on our child by a disinterested party without enough forethought or concern for their long term well being. As an example, all public and private schools in the United States will inform you that your child must be vaccinated in order to begin or continue school. This is absolutely untrue. In many states, parents can refuse to have their child vaccinated based solely on philosophical beliefs. Other states insist on a religious and/or medical reason for vaccination exemption. While all public schools must adhere to the legislature, thereby respecting your right to not vaccinate your child, some private schools could exercise their privilege as a private institution and refuse admittance to your non-vaccinated child. My daughters are currently enrolled in private schools in California without incident. You can check the status of your state’s public school requirements here: http://home.san.rr.com/via/STATES/allstates.htm

There is a form in every school office on which you can state the reason for waiving your child’s vaccinations. I have been requesting and filling out these forms for more than 11 years and they have always been available, although no one will tell you this or offer the option unless you ask. If your children’s school won’t provide this form, you can write your own exemption letter. Here is a web page explaining how to write one: http://www.unc.edu/~aphillip/www/chf/rlxmpt.htm

While the abounding argument for routine vaccinations is strong, I urge you to at least be informed and question the practice if you choose to have your babies and children inoculated against anything.  Know the risks associated with each vaccination your child is receiving and watch closely for symptoms of adverse reactions.

This is an excellent web site on all aspects of vaccinations:

National Vaccine and Information Center
http://www.909shot.com/

For further information you will not find in the mainstream media on vaccines:

Think Twice Global Vaccine Institute - Articles
http://thinktwice.com/articles.htm

Another good web page with various information and links regarding vaccination alerts and dangers:

Be Informed About Vaccinations
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8148/vac.html

And a very informative personal web site on vaccination dangers and other pertinent information can be found here:

Shirley’s Wellness Cafe - Vaccinations
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/vaccines.htm  

Copyright – 2000-2004 – Rexanne Mancini

Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com – http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html