More than 200 years after the first vaccine was used to combat smallpox, our society has developed protections against a host of diseases that are either potentially deadly, debilitating or both – measles, polio, mumps, rubella to name a few.
While the proof of the effectiveness and value of vaccinations can be seen throughout history – the virtual eradication of polio and smallpox for example – there has been a recent surge of anti-vaccination sentiment.
Part of the problem is the sudden belief that vaccinations are linked to autism. This nonsense theory continues to be propped up on research by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, which has proven to be fraudulent. Antivaxers, as they are called, have a host of arguments to support their erroneous claims, none of which hold any weight scientifically. What is obvious, however, is as these conspiracy theorists and medical terrorists continue their campaign of misinformation and scare tactics, vaccination rates are dropping and outbreaks of diseases such as measles and mumps are on the rise.
Last April, the result of low vaccination levels in Alberta – in the 60 per cent range in the south – resulted in an outbreak of measles. While it was hoped that scare would have led people to get their shots, a recent survey of 2,800 Albertans is discouraging. Apparently one in five people in this province, according to a survey conducted by Mainstream Technologies, believe vaccines cause autism.
It is sad and frightening so many have decided to essentially allow superstition and ignorance to allow them to put their children and other people’s children at risk. The ingredient many link to autism from vaccines – thimerosal, an ethyl mercury compound – is not even present in common children’s vaccines in this country. If it were, even a rudimentary understanding of science would alleviate concerns.
Fortunately, the St. Albert region seems to be staving off our societal descent into the dark ages when “doctors” drilled holes into people’s heads to rid them of the evil spirits making them sick. Vaccination rates here remain in the 85 per cent range, a level that is said to maintain the herd immunity factor. Unfortunately, it is still well below the 98 per cent goal set by Alberta Health Services.
Choosing not to vaccinate your child if there is no medical reason not to, puts your child and the children who legitimately can’t be vaccinated due to health reasons at risk. Not to mention it is also a blatant disregard for your child’s safety. Any argument to the contrary is ignorant and reckless. Believing vaccinations are ineffective or dangerous does nothing more than to help undo the efforts put into reducing the instances of harmful diseases. If this frightening trend continues, we will see more sick children, more deaths and more disabilities, which could have been easily prevented.
Not vaccinating is child abuse, pure and simple.
