Choosing to Vaccinate
The topic of child vaccination is a controversial one, especially so since some people suspect that there is a link between certain vaccines and the development of autism. Vaccine protocols and testing regimes are very strict today though, and the benefits tend to greatly outweigh the potential concerns.
When you have your child vaccinated against chicken pox for example, a live strain of the chicken pox virus is injected into their body. This virus is greatly weakened and causes very few, if any, symptoms of the illness. What it does is stimulate your child's body to produce antibodies; a type of cell that fights the chicken pox virus.
Your child's immune system then remembers the chicken pox viral strain so that antibodies are automatically produced should they come into contact with the virus again. In other words your child is then immune to that particular virus.
If everyone chose to have their children vaccinated against chicken pox, the chicken pox virus would eventually die out because there wouldn't be any unprotected human bodies to harbor it. This scenario also applies to numerous other illnesses you can be vaccinated for.
Routine vaccinations very rarely have adverse effects however there have been claims made recently that some have led to children developing autism and other neurological disorders. The vaccines in question contain a mercury preservative called thimerosal and it is this ingredient that seems to affect the workings of the brain.
There are now alternatives available which are mercury-free. These have a much higher vaccine safety rating that those with the mercury ingredient and offer an alternative for parent who may have concerns regarding the vaccination of their child.
Before making the decision to have your child vaccinated against one or all of the main illnesses it is advisable to talk to an expert. Your physician or your local clinic will be able to provide a wealth of vaccine information to make your decision easier and to put your mind at rest.
There are risks with some types of vaccine, however, they are minimal. The number of cases that report adverse effects each year is minute when compared to the number of children that are vaccinated. The benefits however can be invaluable and it is this fact that should be remembered when making the decision.
