not immunizing your child??

shane and i were out on a date one evening a little while back, and we decided to go get some frozen yogurt. we ran into a friendly couple out with their toddler and struck up a conversation. they told us about how they're unconventional in their approach to parenting, and somehow bridged the way to tell us about how they don't immunize their child.

let me say it again, in case you missed it, they don't immunize their child!! 

they talked about some website and that they knew someone who had had an immunization injury (which, what is that, anyway), and how they have a hard time finding doctors who will work with them, blah blah blah. i was just too stunned to even say a word!

when we left, shane said that we should have told them that they were talking to a nurse and someone who works at the CDC. ha. yeah, were were not about to buy what they were selling. sheesh. 

nevermind the fact that diseases like polio, measles, mumps, whooping cough (all these terrible diseases!) still exist and this child could actually get any of these at any time, really (and essentially is required to call 911 anytime she's ill because it actually could be a [vaccine-preventable] life-threatening and highly-contagious illness)... what on earth is she going to do when she needs to go to school or travel anywhere outside of the United States?? these parents are basically limiting her entire life by believing conspiracy theories about vaccines. i am somehow outraged. at both the parents and the rumors and conspiracy theorists. stunned with outrage.

i told my friend at work, and she told me how she got pertussis in high school, missed a month of classes, and had a really terrible time of it. even a decade later, she actually still reacts viscerally to the notion that someone would avoid getting a vaccine. 

if you're my friend and you're reading this and you are one of those that have avoided vaccines for your child, i'm officially mad at you. call me so we can talk it out.

and then go and vaccinate your child. it's like the very least you can do for her future. 

lovelove,

helen