Hello everyone. Today we’ll share some valuable information about some of the factors that influence children’s health: Immunizations. Vaccinations are developed to guard children and adults against potentially lethal and previously prevalent childhood diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus (we call it “lock jaw”), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and so forth. The schools and hospitals require parents to start childhood vaccinations as early as two months. The medical profession states that vaccines are the safest and most effective protection against serious childhood illness and the community at large. Possible side effects of immunization include rashes, fever, diarrhea, sore arms, and even death (in extreme cases) have been considered to be minimal, when compared to the benefits.
Supporters of vaccines maintain that because parents cannot control their child’s activities all the time, immunization is needed as preventive care to protect the child during exposure to contagious bacteria and viruses. However, today there are many parents and medical physicians, alike, who choose not to automatically pursue a series of immunizations for their children. Although, schools mandate that children be vaccinated, prior to enrollment. Harris Coulter, Ph.D., a medical historian and author of two books on vaccinations, notes that immunization began as an experiment. While Dr. Coulter does believe that some vaccinations may be necessary, that rather than opting for blanket immunizations, doctors and parents, alike should distinguish between individual vaccines. Dr. Coulter states that of particular concern to many physicians are vaccinations for, i.e., Diphtheria, Whooping Cough (Pertussis), Tetanus, Chicken Pox (Varicella), and many others. Some of these diseases are still prevalent—even epidemic, in other parts of the world, and can be brought in by people who travel to the U.S. or to the country where you live.
My research on vaccines done at the University of Southern California finds that without most vaccines, epidemics of many preventable diseases (i.e., polio) could return, resulting in increased and unnecessary illnesses and even death. Children and adults should all be vaccinated to protect themselves. Even if we think the chance of getting any of these diseases is small, these diseases still exist and can still infect anyone who is not vaccinated against them (i.e., tuberculosis or T.B.—has not gone away, nor has Chicken Pox (Varicella). There are a small number of people who cannot be vaccinated because they would develop severe allergies to the components of vaccines. There are also a small number of people who do not respond to vaccines. Those people are susceptible to diseases, and their only hope of protection is that the people around them are immune and cannot pass diseases on to them. Many viruses and bacteria are still circulating and low-lying; some are high-flying (like sexually transmitted diseases—STD’s—but that discussion is for another column), that is why it is important to immunize yourselves and your children in time, before it is too late—before your child contracts one of these diseases from a host. That could be anyone. We live in a highly mobile society where disease carriers are only a plane flight, a train ride, perhaps even a bus or taxi-cab ride away from us.
It Is The Law:
Under California Health and Safety Codes, children are required to receive certain immunizations to attend public and private schools, secondary schools, childcare centers, family day care homes, pre-schools, nursery schools, and developmental centers. Thank you for visiting with us. We hope you found this article helpful and encouraging in your quest to keep you and your family healthy.
IN THE MEANTIME:
We’d like to ask a moment of your time to ponder a few thoughts with us, as we enter into what many of us consider to be a “holy season” (i.e., Catholics have entered into the “Lenten” season that also observes Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, Easter Sunday and Christ’s arisal from the grave—also observed by orthodox Christians. Jewish people observe Shabbat—the lighting of candles—leading onto Passover April 11th – 18th. Religious Muslims commemorate from March 22nd – July 9th the Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascent into heaven, according to Islamic belief. We also acknowledge other religions celebrating their own beliefs during this season). Nevertheless, we’d like to share some universal words on LOVE from Bishop Robert Barron’s March 11th Gospel regarding LOVE, that was sent to me by Sister Mary Caritas (from her Convent in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA), taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which speaks of loving our enemies. Bishop Barron states: “… To test this teaching, I want you to hold an enemy in your mind …. We love our enemies, first, because this is the best way to test the quality of our love. LOVE … is not primarily an emotion, but an act of the will. It is willing the good of the other. As such, the best test of real love is enemy love, since we know this is someone who is highly unlikely to love us in return.”
Next week we’ll go to: PART 2 on “Obesity … and Maintaining a Healthy Weight Management that is Compatible with Your Body Type” wherein we’ll discuss “Correcting Insulin Imbalance, Dieting, the Truth and Fallacies about Obesity, and Nutritional Supplements to Assist You in Enjoying a Healthier Life.”
Dr. Pam Reyes is Chairwoman of Caribbean Educational Media, a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, dispersing information on health, educational & legal issues, and exploring the information & communication highway of the present and future, via the media of the Internet, print journalism, nonprofit public radio & television, and nonprofit public participation.