Many parents are home schooling kids to avoid vaccinations
By nanajanet
@nanajanet (4436)
United States
November 11, 2008 12:59pm CST
I am one of those who do not blindly believe in vaccines. Since several people I know, after having their kids vaccinated, had their kids develop symptoms of autism and other problems, until they change the ingredients in many of the vaccines, I have changed my mind about vaccinating kids.
I know many who home school the kids because the schools demand they be vaccinated, even with people who, due to their religious beliefs, do not vaccinate the kids. I think that it should be a choice of parents to vaccinate and not big brother making us do it. Why should we?
I have friends and family who do not vaccinate, including my daughter, the kids are healthy as all get out because they take major precautions. They eliminate crap foods from the diet (preservatives, processed sugar, corn syrup, useless carbs) and make sure they eat well, get out in the sun to get their vitamin D and fresh air, do not allow doctors to give tons of antibiotics, allow the kids to run small fevers to naturally fight infection, and more.
This is a good article and there are so many more out there.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/11/some-parents-are-home-schooling-their-kids-to-avoid-vaccinations.aspx
Tell me your thoughts on all of this.
:D
1 person likes this
14 responses
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I don't know about home schooling to avoid vaccinating, but I keep hearing about kids/vacines/autism and I'm not sure if I believe it or not. I do think we are over medicating our kids.
So, I think home schooling is a great thing for those who can and will do it, for whatever reason.
2 people like this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
12 Nov 08
It is a very volatile controversy, vaccinate or not, and as far as homeschooling, I think you really need to know what you are doing as I have seen some do it very badly and others do an excellent job.
Thanks for your thoughts on the subject.
:D
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I know that home schooling can be done right, or wrong. I know a family where, when the daughter graduated they just sort of threw her out without any kind of preperation for being out in the world. Needless to say, she ended up in LOTS of trouble, but she was the girl, not as important as the son - who now plays for the NY Jets.....
@MysticTomatoes (1053)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I am unsure about vaccines for our 5 month old DD. She hasn't had the next round of shots and I'm not entirely sure she's going to get them. I am also against the chicken pox vaccine 100%. I know when I was young, getting the chicken pox was a rite of passage into childhood. It meant staying at home from school for a whole week.
I think that we as parents pump our children too full of toxins at an early age and then sit back, puzzled, when diseases like Autism and childhood cancers are on the rise. I fully believe in the link between the MMR vaccine and Autism, and that is one shot she will NOT be getting. I know here in this area at least, a parent can sign a waiver about refusing the vaccines on whatever grounds that may be from religious grounds to just not wanting them. I'm going to be doing that if we decide not to vaccinate our daughter anymore.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
11 Nov 08
My siblings, me, my husband, his family, my kids, nieces, nephews, etc., all had it with no major effects. In fact, when a friend of our had one of her kids get it, we had all the kids go over. Sure enough, with two weeks, they all had it, it was mild and that was it!!
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
12 Nov 08
My mom tells similar stories about sharing chicken pox among all the neighborhood kids when we were growing up.
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
12 Nov 08
i've never had chicken pox...both my kids have but for whatever reason I never got it...and I'd prefer to never get it especially at my age since from what I understand the older you get the worse it is....
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
13 Nov 08
I think it is a storm in a tea cup. I think that parents should take the advice of professionals, medical doctors expert in this aspect before taking any decisions. I have my doubts whether autism can be connected with vaccinations.
© ronaldinu 2008
1 person likes this
@ladysakurax (1161)
• Canada
12 Nov 08
Yeh I've heard about this disease called autism. Atually the cause of autism is still unknown. Yes there are some theory that factors would be environmental change and the presence of mercury in vaccins. But this is still in study and nothing has been proving just yet. I know that vaccins have been improved here in Canada so i am not sure if it's the case in your country. Medecin has made an improvement and there's less of that amount. However, it's good that you are not taking any of the chances. I had vaccins since I was young at school. I got all of them and nothing appears to hurt my health conditions. However, I believe that vaccins are important. If you decide to travel around the world and go to a certain tropical and humid country, vaccin will be important. There are some bugs out there to be careful and at some time, water can be dirty. So if you decide to not take any of them, then you will most probably stay in the country where you are. And why not talkign to the school principle so u can ommitt your children to have those shots? Going to school is important. This is not only for education but it is also to have a social life and make friends. I respect what you believe and I hope your family will be family healthy.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
12 Nov 08
My kids are grown, so for me it is not an issue but it is an issue for many people. There is a lot of "proof" in both directions so I guess it could be a "wait and see" type of action.
I know many whose kids are not vaccinated for mumps, measles, etc. They had those as children, as I did, and were fine.
Now for things like Polio and Small Pox, I agree that those should be vaccinated, but I am not sure about all of the vaccines, including the flu shots. So many people I know, who get flu shots, still get the flu, and many, like me, who never get the shot, never get the flu, either.
Thanks for your thoughtful answer!
@clickicy (571)
• Indonesia
12 Nov 08
yup, i think vaccinating is indeed a solution, but wont eliminate the epidemic if several people are refusing it. 5 to 20 years from today the epidemic will arise again in full fledge. thank GOD that I was born in a family that agree with vaccination... so that i and my family free from the destruction cause by an epidemic.
merely share our opinion in this subject. never means to offend. for future generation health sake...
@gaylesglimpses (164)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I do believe in the good that vaccines can do. My father had polio and was crippled because of it. The chicken pox vaccine was not available when my daughters were small. One had a mild case. The other was almost hospitalized. There are no easy answers.
We did later have to homeschool my younger daughter for medical reasons during her middle school years. Homeschooling done well is tremendously expensive and very time consuming for all involved. I'd do it again in a heartbeat though. We stopped after middle school because she was better and because she wanted to go to a mainstream high school. We planned for that possibility from the beginning and she made a successful transition. She placed #11 in her graduating class and has so far adjusted to college.
Whatever your reasons are for homeschooling think about it long and hard. Get with a good support group. You'll need this group for support and to complement your skills in areas that you are not gifted in. And be prepared to have the ride of your (and your child's) life! :)
1 person likes this
@starr4all (2863)
•
21 Dec 08
So far that has been no proof that vaccines cause autism. If anything people are putting their own children at risk by not vaccinating them. Here in the UK there has been a rise in diseases that are easily avoided if vaccinated.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
12 Nov 08
Though I do agree that it should be the choice of the parents to an extent I also feel that if a parent ISNT goin to vaccinate then the school board should have the right (as they do) to NOT allow that child to attend school....
My kids are both up to date with their vaccinations and they've never had any troubles from it nor have any other kids in our family or that we know etc..
@gaylesglimpses (164)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I see your point there too. One of my daughters reacted to the MMR. It turned out ok but it was scary at the time. Still, it was probably better than if she had actually developed on of the diseases covered under the shot. Surely there has to be a way that safer vaccines could be developed. Some of the newer meds that are out scare me and I put vaccines in the same category. I'm not sure how well tested they are before coming to market.
@momathome (474)
• Canada
12 Nov 08
I was having thoughts about not having my son vaccinated when he was born because of all the horror stories I have read on the net about kids dying after being vaccinated. So I had him vaccinated anyway since it is law here, well he had hives that day and I thought it was a reaction to the vaccine and was in a panic all night. So after thinking about it, I can to the conclusion that it was from something else because I noticed red dots on him before we went to doctor that would come and go they just got worse over night. The next vaccine he was fine. I think the benefits outway the risks and all kids should be vaccinated since some diseases are starting to come back it will help to protect your kids from getting the diseases!!
@sweetpeasmom (1325)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I am too worried about diseases to not get my kids vaxed. I homeschool but they are vaxed. I do not want them to get sick and we have never had a problems with the shots.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
12 Nov 08
First of all, I have had my children vaccinated and I home school them. I don't homeschool to keep from having them vaccinated,for religious reasons,or to abuse them while they are home. I home school them because I feel it is my right as their parent to give them the best education possible and they learn more here on a daily basis than what they would ever learn in a classroom for a day.I know that many people still see home school families as people who try to avoid the laws and in most cases that is NOT the reason. We have that choice- the same as you have the right to choose if your child receives the vaccinations that are needed. You can sign a waiver that you don't want them to receive them.
I do feel that we give our children too many medications,but I think it is because we don't want our children to be children. I believe that most kids who are given Ritalin are the children that my parents would have said were hyperactive. I also believe that the antibiotics that are handed out on a daily basis these days are part of the problem with the autism. I know that vaccinations can cause a problem but you have to weigh the side effects of which would be worse for the child.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I am very torn on this subject. My concern comes when thinking of all the children in schools together. The facts are, you can not get the majority of families to take the major precautions necessary to keep children healthy as well as your daughter does. Many just don't know how. Yes there are families willing to risk that their children have been kept healthy enough to be in the mix with all the 'germs' (better word???)and should be allowed to send their kids to school is they choose, but we still are looking at epidemic numbers with the numbers of kids in schools these days. I am just not sure what the answer is to this dilemna.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
12 Nov 08
I should also add that sometimes I feel the problem is somewhat working itself out. Effectively, home schooling is on the rise and when you look at the numbers on how these children are performing........
@Jasmine_China (65)
• China
12 Nov 08
Home-schooling? That's interesting?
I have ever read this in college,but this seldom happen in our country.....
It must be interesting.
But just as the famous saying goes "evey coin has two sides"..
