Moms Council: Vaccination Choices

Moms Talk is part of a new North Andover Patch initiative to reach out to moms and families.

North Andover Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in North Andover.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

This week's question:

There is a lot of talk about vaccinations, especially since these days there are more vaccinations than there were 20 years ago and many parents are wary of vaccinations for fear of long-term effects. Other parents say all the child vaccinations are safe and needed. What are your thoughts on some parents not wanting to give their children all the recommended vaccinations while others do, and do you think it's a problem (or not) when kids all mingle in school?

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Darcy Rubino: Yikes! This is a hot topic in almost every circle around. I believe that the choice to vaccinate or not truly belongs to the parent. There are arguments that can be made supporting each side. Personally, all of my children received their vaccinations. Although when the H1N1 vaccine came out I made a conscious decision not to vaccinate. There was a big debate regarding the single dose vials, which did not contain Thimerisol, and the multi-dose vials that did contain Thimerisol. I did not want to take the risk. Coincidentally, my children did not get H1N1.

The other side of the coin is that I have a child with Autism. She is high functioning, but not Aspergers. She is a kid that had all her vaccinations. She is also a kid that has numerous ear, sinus, and respiratory infections throughout the year. She has had two sets of tubes placed, and her adenoids removed and continues to have difficulty. It is common with children on the spectrum that they get sick like this.  Is it related to her immune system because she was loaded with vaccinations? I have no idea. My son got the same amount of vaccinations, and he hardly ever gets sick.

Each parent needs to make their own decision based on what they believe. Always ask questions of pediatricians, do the research, and go with your gut. You are your childs best advocate, and can make the best decision for them.

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Michele Gorham: I view vaccinations as more of a safety precaution rather than a required practice. I certainly think it's important for my children to be up-to-date with all their shots, but can understand why some parents choose not to administer some (or even all) vaccinations.

And far be it from me to tell them what they should or should not pump into their child.  Yes, vaccinations can help to prevent illness, but if a parent firmly believes the vaccination will cause harm to their child or if they choose not to administer vaccinations due to religious beliefs, it is their right as a parent to do what they feel is best for their child.

My opinion doesn't change when you factor in a school setting either. Think about it; germs are out there. Take the infamous stomach bug for example, how many times did that thing go around this year? I'd take the vaccination for that all day!

But on a more serious note, I think its unreasonable to expect every parent to have the same views on a subject such as this and the decisions each makes should be respected.

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Wendy Bulawa-Agudelo: A complicated question and definitely a slippery slope for many parents, my overall feeling is that each parent should review the facts about immunization and make their own informed decision based upon what they believe is best for their children. Most medical professionals believe that vaccines reduce the risk of more common infections—therefore most parents will be guided towards vaccinating their children. Some parents however, may choose not to vaccinate.

The media can be clandestine in how it reports, and sadly, can only report information received by those they hope are reliable sources. The link between vaccines and potential long-term concerns such as Autism, have for nearly 10 years rattled parents. However, it was recently revealed that the research conducted and since publicized globally linking vaccines to Autism, was nothing more than an elaborate hoax—derived by British medical professional Andrew Wakefield who has since been banned from practicing medicine. Because of frightening revelations such as these, the decision to vaccinate can be confusing and therefore more difficult to assess—even by the most intelligent and savvy parent.

The educational system was founded to teach academic basics—plain and simple. With increasing rules and regulations, budget cuts and limited resources, being a parent of a school-aged child has become more of a full-time job. Parents are required to monitor what they send in to school for snack/lunch and be aware of food allergies, they must report illnesses and reasons for absences to the administration, and supply detailed health updates prior to their child even being accepted. Where do parents draw the line between the value of education and its social elements versus media-driven fear tactics surrounding vaccines or the lack thereof? Both are a complete matter of personal choice/preference.

One of the greatest benefits of living in the United States is that as residents, we are given significant liberties and freedoms—the core of which is choice. Parents can choose to have their children vaccinated, or choose not to. Parents can choose to send their children to school or choose to home school. Simply put, parents have choices, but they also bear the burden of deciding, based upon available and updated information, what direction they will send their children.

Again, a complicated question and slippery slope, but armed with medical guidance and knowledge of the facts, it seems more likely than not that parent’s will do all they can to maintain the health and well-being of their children. As a parent, I know that this truth is the basis for all my decision making. And while I may make an error, my focus is always on the most optimal choices for my children and a long, healthy life for each of them.

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OUR MOMS COUNCIL

Wendy Bulawa Agudelo -- Wendy is the mother to three young children (5 and under) — including a set of twin boys. In her spare time, she is an avid features writer covering a broad array of parenting topics from special needs to travel with infants. During the day, she earns her stripes as an entrepreneur, operating both a public relations consultancy as well as a targeted theme gift basket business, Period Packs, which celebrates a young girl's foray into womanhood.

Michele Gorham -- Michele is the wife of a Methuen firefighter and mother of two little girls. As the owner of Cookie Central, she is an avid supporter of Share Our Strength and a community leader for MerchantCircle. 

Darcy Rubino -- Darcy is a mom to three kids, ages 5, 7 and 15. She has lived in North Andover for 10 years with her husband, Mike. She is an active volunteer in the community and is co-chair of North Andover Parents Advisory Council for Children with Special Needs (NAPAC).