I am compelled to respond to Morgan Chaulk’s letter printed in the Gazette March 4, regarding “Do Your Research” with respect to not vaccinating your children.
I have a few points of my own to make:
1. Perhaps this individual could provide the research that this letter was based on? I have a degree in biology, in addition to 10 years of health-care administration and have never seen credible research to contradict the benefit of vaccinations. I suggest the writer have a look at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/parents-guide/downloads/parents-guide-part3.pdf
2. My understanding of the facts is that most communicable diseases have been eliminated from North America due to vaccinations. I would encourage the writer to research photos of victims of smallpox, polio and measles to understand the devastating effects of these diseases. Google images should suffice. These diseases have not been eliminated from the world – what we have done is virtually eliminate their infection into the population due to vaccination programs.
3. If people refuse to vaccinate their children then perhaps they should not allow their children to come into contact with “truly” unvaccinated children such as infants and those who are immunocompromised (cancer patients/transplant patients etc.) who cannot be vaccinated until their conditions have stabilized. Some transplant patients are on immune suppressors for life, giving them a higher risk for all infections. Masks on unvaccinated children should suffice – but are not foolproof. Isolation is preferred.
4. If people refuse to vaccinate their children then please do not expect the health-care system that is provided “free” (yes, I pay taxes to cover this as does my employer and as do all the resource companies that pay royalties on top of payroll and income taxes – so it’s not free!). The system can treat those infected but should do so at cost. If you are wondering, a day in the hospital will run you into the thousands. (Health consumes more than 40 per cent of the provincial budget now!) Cash up front please. The cost of the vaccinations is literally measured in “dollars,” the cost of a hospital bed – in the thousands of dollars. Who is “lining their pockets” at my expense now?
Please look at the facts, take the emotion out of it and vaccinate your children – and yourself whenever possible.
Bruce Hertz, St. Albert
