by Jonesy's mom on Mon May 23, 2011 9:44 pm
At the risk of opening a huge can of [ring]worms here, this is my opinion:
Vaccines, for dogs or children, are simply not imperative. Clearly there are some people and animals who have a severe reaction/allergy to vaccines, hence the willingness for Vets and SCHOOLS to provide waivers. There is NO school public school district in this entire country (that is the US for those who are abroad) that can legally ban any child from attending when they are not vaccinated. Schools put up a HUGE fight about this, but it is very clear that Federal Law allows parents to conscientiously object (religious or otherwise) or if the pediatrician notes the severity of the allergy is one that the risk of the actual vaccine far out weighs the benefits (instead of the other way around). The waiver is on the back of the actual vaccine record the school keeps in the students file - in small print no less, and NEVER volunteered as information to parents. I have seen this form many times - my son was not vaccinated until he was 7 and he was in pre-school and public schools. In fact, he didn't get allergies until AFTER he received his vaccinations. To often we educate ourselves on the side of the argument that we most agree on instead of being open minded enough to hear both sides of the story - and their applicable waivers/legal mandates, constitutional rights, etc. etc.
Regarding the chicken pox vaccine - sorry, but it is known fact that contracting chicken pox as a child once (perhaps in rare cases twice) infers lifetime immunity AND contracting it as an adult is potentially fatal. Why oh why parents got duped into giving their children this vaccine (which guarantees immunity for 7 years, and then boosters - which pushes the likely hood of contracting the disease when it is most dangerous - adulthood) is beyond me. Who as an adult gets boosters anyway, UNLESS you have a special need or are traveling???
I don't like vaccines in general. I agree in some cases they are advisable, perhaps necessary - but do the research: before mass vaccinations (mass $$$ for dr.s - sounds like vets in that way right?) the rate of disease was on the decline perhaps due to increased hygiene standards. Yes you have pockets of outbreaks. Whooping cough in particular. Yes many many lives were saved (polio) and many many people benefit from them. (Also you might want to check that whole polio business as well. Turns out a lot of people contracted Polio BECAUSE of the vaccine. Wouldn't you know - live virus). But it wasn't 40 years ago when mumps/measles/chicken pox was a part of childhood and you were good for life. I don't agree with vaccinating people with compromised or weakened immune systems (infants under two, sick children, puppies (learned the hard way) and ill or susceptible adult dogs). Despite what most Vets, Dr.'s, big Pharma, FDA, Legislators, school districts, corporations will tell you, vaccines can and DO cause harm and are not always necessary. The majority of this stuff is a racket if you ask me.
Lots of people have issues with rabies vaccine boosters. I'm sure for every 10 people that have problems, 10,000 don't, so i'm not looking at this lopsidedly. But common sense doesn't seem to dictate peoples actions when it's county mandate all pets get rabies shots when there hasn't been a rabies case in a pet in 25 years. Certainly if your dog is eating potentially rabid animals, but what if you have an inside lap dog in an apartment in the middle of the city? What the heck are the chances of that dog getting bitten by a rabid animal? Yes I'm glad there is 3 year licensing, but since the immunity lasts for 7 years according to many many scientific studies (too many to quote here but PM me and I can send them to you), why does the county/state require 3 year boosters especially when rabies vaccine is notorious for cumulative toxicity?
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
(Again: these are all my personal opinions and no matter how highly I hold them or argue MY point, I am in no way shape or form downing anyone's choice to do what they feel is best for their families or pets. I respect everyone's right to make their own decisions based on their own judgement, and I will not judge them for those decisions or actions).