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I am both a physician and a parent. Growing up, I received the complete vaccination series. Having learned about all of the diseases that we vaccinate against, and having seen the effects of these diseases, my husband and I decided to vaccinate our children. I had a great-Aunt who never walked after contracting polio as a 3 year old child. I have patients in my practice who suffer from post-polio syndrome. I am very concerned about what will happen in our society as vaccination rates decline. There have been recent large outbreaks of measles and chickenpox, and unless our "herd immunity" improves, children and others will die. History shows us this. I feel that many in the US have become complacent because they haven't seen the large numbers of children and people dying from epidemics. However, all one needs to do is to visit graveyards and read the names and ages of the many (mainly children) who did die from many of these diseases for which we have safe and effective vaccines. Personally, I consider the issue of vaccinations as a moral obligation to one another in society. Those who choose not to vaccinate rely on the rest of society to prevent epidemics of polio or measles from ravaging our communities and infecting their families. As to Chicken Pox, according to the CDC, before the vaccine on average 10,600 hospitalizations and 100-150 deaths were caused by this disease in the U.S. alone. Since the vaccine, there has been a huge reduction in these rates, including a 90% reduction in deaths of 1-4 year old children. Yes, it is unlikely an individual would know someone who died, but the risk is real.

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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