Immunizations are meaningful to me because without them I think that life as I know it would be extinct. Because of immunizations my parents, me, and my children can fight off diseases that were fatal in the earlier years. Giving my children their vaccinations is a priceless gift. It is one that I was happy to afford them. There are children in the facility where I work that have not had any vaccinations. Some are based on religion and others are because the parents don’t want them to have any. Their thinking is that they have not been sick without the shots, so why should I put them through that unnecessary pain. I am so fearful for those children. The funny thing is that the grandparents of these children gave their children (the parents) their immunizations when they were children. I can’t understand why parents would want to take a chance with their child’s health and life. It is like playing a game of roulette. We can only pray that these children won’t get sick and if they do that it want end badly.
Over 10 million children die in low income countries each year due to the lack of immunizations. They are dead before they reach 15 years old. Their bodies are unable to fight off the diseases that enter their bodies. They lack the interventions needed to fight off the illnesses that they would normally get in vaccinations. UNICEF and WHO setup the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy in 2003 in Africa. This was designed to provide vaccinations that would help fight off diseases. A tremendous amount of progress has been made. The number of deaths have been reduced because of the availability of vaccines Because of donations, many families are able to receive immunizations in Africa.
Below are two of the most precious gifts that God could ever give me. I have fortunate that they have not had any life threatening illnesses. They are both healthy and avoided most of the childhood illnesses. We take risk everyday. Why would you risk your child’s life? We take medicines everyday that have side effects of some sort. Is that a good enough reason not to take it? Immunizing your child is an important part of them having a healthy life. Because of vaccinations, we worry less about them getting sick as a child.
Arevshatian, L. Clements, CJ, Lwanga, SK, Misore, AO, Ndumbe, P. Seward, JF, and Taylor, P (2012). An Evaluation of Infant Immunization In Africa: is a transformation in progress. Retrieved from http://who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/6/06-031526/en
Angela
arltaylor 
Hi Angela, you have a beautiful family!!! I agree with you that immunizations are so important for children. I do have a question for you though, something I would love to get some feedback on….
In Connecticut (and possibly other states, I’m not sure) it is a requirement for all children to get the flu vaccine. If your child does not receive their flu shots before December 31st of each school year they are not permitted to return to school until the end of the flu season in March. This applies to children up to the age of 5. And if you have religious reasons and another child gets the flu, your child may not return as they are in danger of getting sick.
My question is this – Is it right to have this rule and to force parents to receive flu shots? I have had so many parents get so upset by this rule, I cannot count the number of conversations I have had about the force making the decision and not the parents. Again, as I have mentioned in every blog, I do not have children. But I know I too would be a little put off if I was told I had to get my child the flu shot. Of course the health benefits are obvious, but I know from first hand experience that the flu shot only covers a few strains of flu and that more strains always seem to develop. So, I am interested in what you have to think and if your state has this same rule for young children.
Hi Jill, I don’t think it is right to make a parent get the child a flu vaccination. I give my son the flu shot because he has to walk to the bus stop and stand in the weather. The bus stop does not have a shelter over it, so if it is raining he has to stand in the rain. I usually call in and let them know that I am going to be late so that I can take him to school. Personally, I do not take the flu shot because the last two I had made me sick. I even got the flu and had to be taken to the hospital. I think that because the flu shot is not a mandatory vaccination that is listed on the shot record, a parent should have the right to give it to their child or not.
Immunizations are very important and parents need to make sure that all immunization are taken to ensure that you’re child is healthy. Children are more prone to be sickly without immunizations. That is so sad how many children die due to not receiving their immunizations.