On Weekend Edition Saturday November 7,2009 NPR Host Scott Simon interviewed Michael Spector author of Denialism. Mr. Spector claims that parents who choose not to vaccinate for other than religious or cultural reasons are in denial. He compares refusing to put a foreign substance in the body to persons who eat only natural and organic foods and state they have a fetish. Scientific data that he quotes is the only evidence he feels is acceptable - others are irrational. http://www.npr.ort/templates/story.phpstoryid=120139776&f=#120140281 .
Mr. Spector is not giving today's public credit for being knowledgeable, doing their own research, and making conscious choices to avoid complications such as heavy metal poisoning from preservatives or autism, diabetes and asthma. http://www.physorg.com/news132405658.html
There are books and articles authored by doctors that back up these facts. http://form.douglasreport.com/reports/vaccines.pdf
If this kind of scientific data isn't enough, consider lawsuits: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/osm
I applaud those parents who choose to go against social and government pressure not to vaccinate. As a nurse I believe some but not all vaccinations are necessary and helpful.
There is more than one right. Yes we need to consider the good of the majority, but we also should not ignore the health and welfare of the individual. Infants are not able to decide these weight issues on their own. Immunizations are started the same day they are born in the hospital. I recommend that all parents, and expecting parents have careful discussions with their child's physician about the efficacy of each and every vaccine and research all sides of the issue before blindly following one camp or the other.
