My letter is addressed to B. Hertz, D. Durham and M. Chaulk regarding the vaccine debate. I am a person who is pro-choice on matters related to health. I’m neither for nor against vaccines per se. However, I am for maintaining human rights freedoms and being able to make healthcare choices from the buffet currently available in what, at this point, remains my free Canada. I am concerned with the escalating vaccine debate that we are polarizing our positions, thereby creating a situation where fear on both sides of the debate leaves us open to medical fascism, as we see starting to occur with our neighbours to the south. Mr. Hertz, I did look up the link you suggested. The first time I looked it up, I was disappointed that all I found were statements of opinion with no cited study upon which the opinions had been based. The second time I looked it up the link was no longer available.
Something to be curious about: there are qualified medical experts on both sides of this debate! It is not the case that on one side are Harvard graduates with impeccable morals and values while on the side are rejects from the Gerry Springer Show whose medical credentials were provided to them after they mailed in three proofs of purchase from cereal boxes.
Although there are examples of what appears to be both on each side of this debate, in general, I think we can assume that, for the most part, the medical folks trying to educate us are acting from their integrity. I believe that both the “vaxxers” and “anti-vaxxers” want the same thing: to live in peace, health and prosperity. That they get there differently doesn’t make one “right” and one “wrong.” Both sides could present endless amounts of “data” to support their positions. And that circle can go on and on forever into the downward spiral that it is becoming.
But what if we spent a little more energy seeing where we can meet in the middle? Where we can step out of the fear mongering generated by the media and into a place of really wanting to find a solution that is acceptable for all? There will always be people suffering from one illness or other. Terrorizing them into injecting themselves and their children with vaccines, over-zealously, or worse, without choice, is not the answer any more than abandoning useful medical procedures/practices that can alleviate human suffering would be.
Morgan Chaulk does make a point regarding the other threats to sustainable good health. While vaccinating may or may not be useful in some or all cases, making healthy lifestyle choices always is. Those who smoke, are obese, don’t eat healthy, who abuse substances and/or don’t exercise are a much greater burden on the 40 per cent of our provincial budget spent on health care, brought to our attention by Mr. Hertz, than any child with measles, mumps or chicken pox is or has been.
Denise Van Domselaar, St. Albert
