Is My Child Being Protected?

Have you ever heard of anyone suffering from diphtheria, polio, or small pox in the US? Probably not, and that is due to the success of immunizations. These diseases are rare or non-existent in the US today because vaccines prevent these devastating diseases.  However, the US is on the verge of an epidemic.  Although the highest unvaccination rate in Texas public school districts is 4%, rates in private schools can be significantly increased, as high as 40% at Austin Waldorf School. With unvaccination rates this high we are risking the lives of our children with vaccine-preventable diseases. 

California previously allowed non-medical exemptions of vaccines for school attendance; however, after the 2014 measles outbreak in Disneyland, California now has one of the strictest vaccine exemptions.  This year, mump cases surge in the US and is now on track to surpass last year by 50%. Texas has not learned from the measles or mumps outbreak and remains one of 18 states that allow non-medical exemptions.  In fact, there are currently bills moving through the House and Senate that would make this exemption even easier and further damage herd immunity.  As part of a community, we strive for the health of not only our own children but also our neighbors' children. When more than 95% of the population is vaccinated, those who cannot be vaccinated because they are too young or have compromised immune systems can still be protected from these preventable illnesses.

Although pediatricians believe vaccines are an important part of children’s health, some parents are still hesitant.  Many parents fear that vaccines cause autism; however, that myth has been debunked with many studies. Furthermore, the original paper stating that connection was withdrawn from publication due to falsified data.  The cause of autism is still unknown, but experts believe it is most likely related to genetics.  Other parents worry that too many vaccines will overwhelm their child’s immune system. In fact, our immune system is built to handle thousands of germs that we might be exposed to through a mere cough, so the handful of germs in the recommended vaccine schedule pales in comparison.

In 1955 alone, more than 13,850 people suffered from paralytic polio.  In 1999, one child a week died from chickenpox.  Even now at least 3,300 people die from the flu every year.  Do we really want to go back to the days when we fear that our children will become paralyzed from polio or killed by chickenpox?