The Vaccine Debate and the Art of Bullying

Today is a bit of a snarky day for me, so I am sorry in advance for anyone I may or may not offend.

So here goes today's blog.

Pro-vaccine people and also anti-vaccine, (I know quite a few and most are very very wonderful people), Stop the name calling please.

I personally am a holding off vaccines until at least the age of two, and then only get one at a time. Am I wrong in that? Not for myself and my family.

My eldest daughter has autism, and yes, I do feel that the vaccines has something to do with it. (She had alot of allergies as a baby, and even so was given her shots.)

So I feel I am right in holding off my youngest daughter's shots. That and the fact that I have done a lot of research on the subject, and don't feel that a baby needs that much put into their systems at such a young age.

So that leads me to the pro-vaccine people. Yes, I know there have been numerous reports stating the MMR doesn't cause autism, (in most cases). And I have no problem with that. But what I and most other, (I guess you would call me anti-vaccine) want to know is the effects of all of the shots combined are, and why do you have to have so many shots.

If you look at your own shot chart from a kid, you'll see quite a few less. Now why is that? That is really the question.

Okay onto the name calling. Why call names to people who are just questioning vaccines. These are some of the only reasons I can come up with, (if there are more please let me know,)

A) Because you are afraid that without my child being vaccinated, she will infect your child. (Okay, but my problem with that answer is, if your child is vaccinated, then you wouldn't pick anything up from mine.)

B) Oh, the vaccine only covers certain strands of the diseases. (Okay, so you may pick it up from my child, but then again if my child was vaccinated she still would have picked up the disease.)

C) That if it's proven that in some children vaccinations lead to a regression in this instance autism that you will question whether they did in your child. (Okay, this is a very valid point, but if they are proven, it wouldn't be your fault. You aren't the one who gave your child the shot, and told you they were safe.)

D) Okay I can't come up with another point, but you get my drift.

I understand your view on these things, I just tend to disagree.

If there are tests done on each of the shots singularly and combined that show there is without a doubt no instances where they may cause autism or any other neurological or physical problems, I will change my stance on the vaccines. Until then, we each have our own opinions.

And this is where the bullying comes in on both sides. There are those who believe their view is the only right one, and everyone else's is wrong. Really? Aren't we all adults here? Aren't we trying to teach our children that being a bully is wrong?

I know not everyone can get along, but we are an Autism Community, and we all should be working to figuring out the problem, not starting other problems.

That is all.