Article published in Your Child Magazine
By Alison Burton
I received an email recently inviting me to a seminar on vaccinations. I was curious to find out more so I signed up. Unfortunately the seminar didn’t go ahead but it set me on the path to explore the vaccination issue. I must say that the findings have got me thinking.
When my first child was born I had her vaccinated. I was aware that vaccines could have side effects and I was a little wary. I had seen some statistics from the UK that showed the incidence of SIDS spiked in particular areas during the few days after council vaccinations. My doctor reassured me that the benefits of vaccinations far outweighed the risks. I queued up with all the other mums and babies in the Box Hill Town Hall and dutifully had my precious baby vaccinated. I did request that the staff write down the batch number of the vaccines they gave my child, just in case. They made a fuss, rolled their eyes and kept me waiting. I stood my ground. I guess it was my way of saying “I don’t fully trust this process and if my child has an adverse reaction I am going to be asking questions.” I wasn’t sure enough of the facts to just say no altogether, but it didn’t feel quite right. My baby was fine, but I have since read about plenty of babies who were not fine.
My first child was vaccinated in 1983. Since then the number of diseases that children are vaccinated against has risen from 2 or 3 to more than twelve. Even newborns are now given vaccinations against Hep B. With the very best of intentions, most doctors are doing their best to prevent dangerous diseases from becoming epidemic. The general public strongly believe that vaccinating children is essential to reduce the death rate from these diseases and to keep us free from epidemics. There is a belief that vaccines have virtually wiped out polio, small pox, diphtheria and many other life threatening illnesses. When I looked at the research and the statistics there were a few things I was surprised to learn. Not only does it appear that the death rate from these diseases was already decreasing naturally prior to mass vaccinations being introduced, but there have been a number of epidemics in virtually fully vaccinated populations since then. At the same time the incidence of auto-immune diseases like asthma and eczema, food sensitivities,autism and fibromyalgia have increased substantially. Most alarmingly for me was the information on the possible link between autism and vaccinations. One article indicated that autism is virtually non-existent in unvaccinated children.
Autism is still a mystery to mainstream medicine but there are many parents of autistic children who strongly believe that it was triggered by a vaccination. As an advocate of natural health, I believe that a strong immune system and a healthy digestive system are our best defence against disease. Each vaccination a child is given is designed to strengthen their immunity. My question is, at what point do we cross the line and give our precious babies too much of a good thing, if indeed vaccines are a good thing? If we are regularly challengingan already shaky immune system are we simply assaulting it over and over again? And what happens when the immune system starts to break down? Intuitively as a mother, and on a rational, science based level, I think it’s time to question vaccines as a way of keeping our kids healthy. Finding funding for research that challenges a deeply held belief of course is always tricky. No doubt certain vaccines, at certain times, can be life-saving but have we been so enthusiastic about wiping out disease that we have created a whole new problem? If you would like further information on current vaccination research check our website.
By Alison Burton
Clinical Hypnotherapist and Director of Simply Natural Therapies, Natural Health and Wellbeing Centre in Doncaster East.
Please email us for further information on the vaccination question and alternatives to vaccinations.
info@simplynaturaltherapies.com.au
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