Childhood Disease or Immunization?

As the mother of a child who just turned 18 months old, I feel mixed-feelings about shots. I know that childhood immunization is extremely important and I plan to have my daughter Daisy fully immunized; however, I can see both sides of the controversy that surrounds topic.

Vaccinations exist to protect individuals, and especially society, from disease. Proponents of immunization for children hold the opinion that vaccines are absolutely necessary in order to protect society from outbreaks of potentially deadly illnesses that have been virtually eradicated. They want to eliminate disease from society. Those who question vaccinations want to protect their children from potential unintentional harm. No conclusive studies have emerged that directly link vaccinations to autism spectrum disorders, other neurodevelopmental disorders, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and asthma, but there is significant anecdotal evidence that offer a potential relationship between these problems and vaccinations. With all that is written in magazines, on television, in web sites on childhood immunization, it is enough to confuse anyone.

Vaccines are big business for the pharmaceutical industry. Billions of dollars are earned through sales of vaccinations, which are required for children in most states. In most states, in order to enroll in daycare, grammar school, high school, and college the child must be immunized. Most of these states require children to receive thirty-four doses of ten different vaccines. Laws enforcing widespread immunization have no doubt protected millions of children and adults from serious diseases such as diptheria, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B; however, the immunizations come with plenty of risk. Vaccines have the second highest rate (19% of all reported adverse reactions) of prescribed medicines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10,000-12,000 reports of adverse reactions are filed annually, with 20% classified as serious (causing disability, hospitalization, life threatening illness, or death).