Immunisation: both sides of the story

For decades, debate has raged over the topic of child immunisation. Invented as a treatment to increase the body’s ability to fight-off certain threatening diseases, from it’s inception, immunisation has created waves in the child healthcare sector, with many mums divided over what to do. Here, we weigh up both sides of this highly controversial issue…
Side effects
Many people are anxious about child vaccination for fear of harmful side effects. Adverse reactions to immunisation can and do occur, but overall the risk is exceptionally small. The chance of developing encephalitis as a side effect of measles immunisation is about one in a million.
Dangers
The opposing side of the immunisation debate argue that vaccination can be dangerous, leading to disability, infection and brain damage – however pro-immunisation parents and doctors disagree, arguing that the risk of these dangers is far less than the risk of brain damage and disability that can occur as a result of opting not to immunise.
Lack of information
A lack of proper information in the past on immunisation has lead doctors to be extremely cautious, however new evidence from over a decade of ground-breaking research has now disproved many early concerns over immunisation, including proving it to be false that a mild pre-existing infection could interfere with vaccination treatment.
Other routes
Many parents on the opposing side of the immunisation debate favour homeopathic alternatives to traditional medicine, suggesting that this approach is far less dangerous to the child. However the growing community of parents and health professionals supporting child vaccination argue that parents who chose this alternate route are putting their child’s lives at risk. Immunisation saves hundreds of lives in Australia every year.
For more information and to help you decide if immunisation is right for your child, consult your GP.
17 Member Comments
Definitely a good idea. Loved reading the comments of other beauties too.
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My daughter has adverse reactions to immunisations but I'd much rather endure that than if she got ill and spread it to others.
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This is important in stopping the spread of illnesses so unless you have a health issue , it should be done so it does affect others as well .
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I've spent time in hospitals in and around AsiaPac and it's just heart breaking watching a 6 week old baby die from whooping cough because their un-vaccinated 8 yro cousin spread the infection to the baby. The elderly, newborn and immunised comprised cannot be vaccinated. They rely on the rest of us, who can, to protect them. There are always going to be cases where severe allergic reactions are discovered and they should be treated with extreme care and respect (Michelle Sweetheart - I'm so sorry that this is how you found out your son was allergic) but for the rest of us, who safely got through our first vaccines, there really isn't an excuse.
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I can see why so many people are for it in the long run scheme of things. I am guessing they have never had their children have an allergic reaction or worse from it. I agreed to let my doctor give my newborn son his first shot and then the worst happened. He had a severe reaction and nearly died. He screamed and cried for 3 days straight and nothing anyone did helped him. I am lucky I didn't lose him. Needless to say, We will not be having any more shots. We live in a rural area so he has little contact with others so I am not worried about him not being faxed.
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I'm all for vaccination, in my eyes there's no reason why you shouldn't.
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There actually is a legal reason if your child has adverse reactions
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I firmly believe in vaccinating your kids
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I believe in vaccination as the risks on not doing if outweigh the risks of doing it. But definitely if you're divided, then your GP is the person to discuss it with
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I dont get it, why wouldnt you vaccinate when the risks of not doing it are so high!
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The risks in not vaccinating far out weigh the risks of vaccinating. My children grew up with children that were mollycodaled and guess whose children always had colds etc:)
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I believe in vaccinations for children, I think that you have to do everything in your power to make sure kids are safe.
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I think its a good idea
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I love the romanticism of sometimes pretending that I belong back in history - with the long dresses and horses and carts! Oh, let's say 200 year ago could be nice! But then I think of the health epidemics that they had to face and I'm soooo glad I'm right here in 2012. Healthwise, it's a whole lot more reassuring to know I can immunise my precious and wonderful children to give them a better, healthier life than what I could have offered them back in 1812!
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I do think the benefits far outweigh the negatives and if we didn't immunise our children then all the diseases of yesteryear like small pox, rubella etc would be rampant.
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I wouldn't ever think twice about not vaccinating my child! It's just something you do.
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