The antivaccers annoy me. These days if you go to a markets almost anywhere, you'll find a booth carrying signs advocating anti vaccination views and displaying banners advising how the Gubmint and doctors are lying to us all. Most of the time I manage to walk past and ignore them.
But there are two or three of my facebook friends who are passionately anti vaccination. One, who I like immensely, I have blocked - which isn't unfriending so she doesn't know I don't see her posts anymore.
One of the others is a surfer whose whole family has all sorts of medical conditions including autism spectrum and ADD issues, all of which he blames on vaccinations. He may or may not be correct in his family's case. As others have said here, no one denies there is a risk of an adverse reaction from vaccinations. This guy has taken his family off the grid in an old council bus - home schooling and all. Travelling around Australia as and when he feels like it.
Anyway, a week or so ago I finally reacted to the posts from antivaccers offering "proof" the doctors are all part of a scam etc etc and wrote a piece on my fb page. To make a point I found an opposing view to this latest thing doing the rounds and added both the for and against arguments at the end. You only need to read as much or as little as you want but I reproduce the post here in full for your info.
The Great Vaccination Debate
This is starting to annoy me a bit. Anti vac proponents continue to provide links to articles and reports which trash the acknowledged medical fraternity. Most add in some personal stories of their own to justify their position.
I get that. No one seems to dispute there are risks associated with ANY medical procedure. My argument is that the risks associated with doing nothing are greater AND have much wider implications and risks for the whole community.
There are two links below. Each is typical of what you can find on the web arguing the cases for and against vaccinations. The vocal minority would do well to at least acknowledge there are two sides to the story – a fact most of them seem happy to ignore.
There’s another part to all this. The anti-vaccination people seem to love to put forward arguments which at least insinuate, if not outright accuse the medical profession of participating in a massive cover-up of the “dangers” of vaccination.
I’m seriously offended by this. They are casting aspersions on a group of people who are dedicated to the easing of pain and suffering. Over my 67 years of life it has been my pleasure to know some of these medical practitioners. To a man (and woman) they have been understanding and professional. I have NEVER had one who advised me on a course of action without discussing the pros and cons of such a step. None has ever pressured me into doing something I wasn’t comfortable doing.
I have to admit to being somewhat fortunate up till now with my health. But I have had close family members who were less lucky. So, carry on, medical profession and all the best to you.
If you take the time to read these links as I did, they demonstrate yet again that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I don’t (and won’t) pass judgement on either. They are simply there to demonstrate that these things aren’t as clear cut as the antivac campaigners would have you believe.
For Anti Vaccination
:link: The Doctor Who Beat The British General Medical Council By Proving That Vaccines Aren?t Necessary To Achieve Health | (http://www.collective-evolution.com/…/the-doctor-who-beat-…/)
Another side
:link: Dr Jayne Donegan On Measles | Stuff And Nonsense (https://jdc325.wordpress.com/…/12/dr-jayne-donegan-on-meas…/)