Shot of Prevention

Today we are featuring a guest post from one of our blog readers.  We hope you will appreciate her contribution as much as we do!

I’m the mother of two young children and I have a great guy to call my hubby.  I love running (training for a half marathon!) and baking, and like many moms, I do my best to balance the responsibilities of work and family.  In fact, for the past two years I’ve been working full time, second shift so that I can be at home with my kids during the day.

As a parent, I have my personal views and opinions about things, just like everyone else.  But at times, I’ve felt a bit like a contradiction.  See I’m a science-loving (nerd alert), breastfeeding, pro-vaccine, Christian mom.  I consider myself an “attached” parent since I believe in positive discipline, I co-sleep with my children, and I practice extended breastfeeding.  I always try to make natural choices for my children by mashing my own baby food and opting for locally grown produce when possible.  However, these characteristics don’t preclude me from having a great deal of respect for the medical field and the value of science.  The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.   The truth is, I am so enamored by science that I consider myself lucky to live at a time when I can protect my child from so many vaccine preventable diseases.

To be honest, because of my specific views, I’ve often found it difficult to find other moms who’ve been willing to respect all my choices as a parent.  Thankfully, through online social groups, like the Vaccinate Your Baby Facebook page, I’ve begun to make connections with other like-minded moms that I can relate to – which led me to write this post.

As I began engaging in various parenting forums, I found myself frustrated by the way in which some people adamantly argue against vaccinations.  They often spout off inaccurate information and misrepresent the science.  They claim that doctors, scientists and the government are all out to cause harm.  They sometimes even suggest a “Big Pharma” conspiracy.

But here’s the real kicker.    I work for “Big Pharma”. 

Yup, I admit it.

And you know what?  I’m pretty darn proud of it too.  Read more…

So it’s January, and even though you may not know anyone who has suffered with the flu yet, that doesn’t mean you’ve escaped the illness this year.

The flu is very unpredictable.  While flu activity historically peaks in the U.S. in January or February, sometimes seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May.  And since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop an immune response, it’s best to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

While it’s recommended that everyone six months of age and older be vaccinated, it’s important to realize that there are specific groups that are at a greater risk of flu complications that can result in hospitalization or even death.  Sometimes, people in these high risk groups are note even aware of the severe risks that influenza poses to them.

Take for instance pregnant women.  Due to changes in their immune system during pregnancy, as well as in their heart and lungs, pregnant women are more prone to severe illness from flu.  Not only could the flu impact a mother’s health, but influenza can also pose a serious problems for the unborn baby, including premature labor and delivery.  And since children younger than 6 months are still quite fragile and at high risk for serious flu-related complications, it’s important to safeguard them from influenza as best we can.  Since these infants can’t get vaccinated or take antiviral drugs, their best protection comes from the antibodies they receive from their vaccinated mother. Read more…

By Amy Pisani

Recently, my eleven year old son had an appointment for his annual well-visit with his pediatrician.  I strongly believe that these routine visits are one of the most important tasks we, as parents, undertake to ensure that our children are developing properly. 

As I accompanied him on this visit, I couldn’t help but recall my first post-delivery visit to the pediatrician when he was just a precious little baby.  After the full work up, the doctor answered our innumerable questions about caring for our newborn.  But what remains so vivid in my mind is when he stuck out his hand and offered me a hardy congratulation for a job well done.  Self centered as that memory may be, it was the first time someone other than my husband had given me credit for nurturing this tiny human as he grew from an embryo into a ten-fingered, ten-toed, healthy breastfed baby.  It was then that I realized the enormity of being a parent – that my husband and I were completely responsible for the future health and well-being of this child.

As the days and months flew by we visited the pediatrician regularly for his well-baby checkups, which of course included essential vaccinations against dangerous diseases.  Unfortunately, this was before the influenza vaccine was universally recommended and our son had to be hospitalized twice by the time he turned two for complications from bouts of influenza.  We learned how rapidly an infant can succumb to what many people still consider a common and less dangerous disease.  Fortunately he overcame each illness, as well as dozens of other common viruses and respiratory infections over the years.

Now in our twelfth year of parenting I look at this boy, who will undoubtedly surpass me in height within the year, and I recognize that we still have a long road of parenting ahead.    As we teach him right from wrong and lay down the rules of our home, we seek to raise a healthy, wise and well rounded individual who will grow into a happy adult who can contribute to our society in a positive manner.

As his mother, it is difficult to accept that my son is on the cusp of becoming a teenager, and I can only hope that we have set him on a course that will permit him to achieve his greatest dreams.  But what is more difficult to accept is that someday in the future (hopefully the distant future) he will become sexually active.  And so, we must prepare him for this eventuality by protecting him as best we can from diseases such as Herpes, HIV and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).  Certainly we will teach our son about the need for diligent personal prevention through the use of condoms.  However, with the availability of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HPV for both our son and his future sexual partner(s), we feel it is also our responsibility to protect him through vaccination as well.   Read more…

While we all make personal decisions regarding how we will raise our children, it’s also understandable that we often seek the support, as well as the advice of others to help us in formulating our decisions.  Whether those decisions revolve around childbirth, nutrition choices, sleeping tactics, discipline techniques, or even vaccination, parents are often eager to find a community that is supportive of their choices and that can help them to navigate the many challenges of parenthood.  Perhaps that is why one of our most popular posts from 2011 explored the concept of “attachment parenting” and how these philosophies relate to immunization decisions.  

Back in May, I observed a conversation that occurred among several parents on our Vaccinate Your Baby Facebook page.  While I was encouraged to hear these parents relating to each other in a very personal way, I was also concerned that their decisions to vaccinate their children were eliciting such criticism among the various parenting groups that they had been participated in.   I wrote the blog post below to highlight the concerning trend of vaccination refusal among parents who practice attachment parenting. Since then, this particular group of concerned parents has created a growing support network of their own.  Ultimately, their common concerns have united them in a way that now enables them to support one another and stand strongly behind their convictions that immunizations offer good health for their communities. 

I hope our new readers will appreciate this blog post and understand that part of our mission here is to provide a forum for parents to discuss accurate, science-based immunization information. On our  Vaccinate Your Baby Facebook page, parents continue to connect with others who support immunization and discuss current immunization news. 

When Did “Attachment Parenting” Come to Mean Vaccine Refusal?

Our Vaccinate Your Baby Facebook page is not only a place for people to connect, it has also become a place for people to take action.   This diverse community – of over 20,000 “friends” - consists of parents, concerned citizens, health care providers and public health advocates who want to stay informed and educated regarding immunization news.  We are proud to announce that several of our members have even established a new pro-vax parenting group called “Wear ‘em, nurse ‘em, and vax ‘em, too!” as a result of connecting through our page.

During the course of their online discussions, our Facebook friends often share their personal opinions and experiences with one another.  In one scenario, we were concerned to hear that parents were being ostracized from a well-known parenting support group as a result of immunizing their children.  Each of the women involved in the discussion had been committed to a style of parenting referred to as “attachment parenting”.  Some of the child rearing behaviors commonly encouraged by Attachment Parenting International (API) include breastfeeding, babywearing and co-sleeping, among many others.

According to the API website their philosophy is about “forming and nurturing strong connections between parents and their children”.  Their mission statement is to “educate and support all parents in raising secure, joyful and empathic children in order to strengthen families and create a more compassionate world.”

While no one was arguing that this is an admirable mission, these parents were concerned about the  anti-vaccine influences that have become prevalent in the local API support groups.  Even though these women were dedicated to the principles of API, they were chastised at local meetings based on their pro-vaccination views.

(Click here to continue reading one of our most popular posts from 2011.)

Yesterday I had the privilege of being introduced to Emily Lastinger.  Her mother, Jen sounded much like any proud mother.  She spoke of how Emily liked princesses and power rangers.  She explained that Emily – like most 3 year olds – was both charming and challenging.  And she spoke of how Emily was enamored by her two big brothers, and excited about her soon-to-be-born sister.

Unfortunately, I will never have the opportunity to meet Emily - except in pictures and videos, and in the memories that her family holds dear.

And Emily never had the opportunity to meet her sister.

Unfortunately, Emily died as a result of influenza in 2004.

As I listened to her mother share her story, it was difficult not to think about my own children.  My now 10-year-old daughter, was the same age as Emily when she contracted the flu.  My 10-year-old daughter who is so vivacious and full of life.  Who is so inquisitive and full of wonder about the world.  Who is caring and generous.  Who makes me laugh, and smile, and cry, and worry.  I just couldn’t image my life without her, let alone this world without her.

Everyday I count my blessings and I pray for patience and understanding.  However, yesterday I struggled to understand how Emily’s life could be taken at such a young age.  Then I realized what a gift Emily and her family have given us.  In her three short years, Emily has managed to capture our attention.  Her parents have since made it their mission to help prevent unnecessary deaths from this vaccine preventable illness.  They are not only active participants in an organization called Families Fighting Flu, but they have taken action within their own state of Texas to ensure that schools across the state provide critical information about influenza vaccination by advocating for “Emily’s Law”.

As for Emily’s family, there will certainly always be a pain in their hearts as they are constantly reminded of their little angel in heaven.  But I, for one, am grateful that they care enough about me and my children – and you and your children – to push aside their heartbreak just long enough to share Emily’s story.  Their love and caring comes through in their story.  And they face their pain with determination and courage as they attempt to prevent this horrible tragedy from repeating itself within other families.

As Jen concluded her story yesterday, she said these strong, yet simple words.

“So, my message for all parents today is very simple.  Please vaccinate your children and yourselves this, and every flu season.  It could save the life of someone you love.”

In the video below, you will hear Emily’s story, as told by her father, Joe Lastinger.  You can also read Emily’s story at Families Fighting Flu.

If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, think of Emily and do it for her today.

I woke up this morning, admittedly cranky.  I didn’t sleep well and I’ve had a lot on my mind.  To add to my misery, I’ve gone a week without a dishwasher, and unfortunately the pile of dishes in the sink never seems to disappear.  My biggest complaint today was that I was going to have to accept that the dishwasher part would not arrive in time for “the big day”.  Therefore, I am destined to prepare an elaborate Thanksgiving meal for my family without the assitance of my go-to appliance.

I was still annoyed when I sat down at my computer and began reading my morning emails.  I came across this email from a colleague.  Someone who knows what it’s like to live with longing.  A reliable person who has become the go-to person for many families who have suffered the loss of a child.  A vaccine advocate who works tirelessly to ensure that we do everything possible to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases.

In just a few short paragraphs, she put my Thanksgiving preparations in perspective.  There is plenty to be thankful for.  But today I am especially thankful for all the people I’ve come to know through my work here on Shot of Prevention.  I couldn’t begin to name them all, but they are the moms, dads, bloggers, healthcare professionals, scientists and public health specialists who work so hard hoping to spare others from the suffering they’ve come to know from vaccine preventable diseases.

I hope you will read this guest post from Frankie Milley  and take a moment to reflect on all the blessings in your life.

‘Tis the Season,  by Frankie Milley

Tis the season…. Today is my husband’s birthday. Sixty one of them he has had now. We were married 38 years ago and thought, by this time, we would have some beautiful grandchildren and they would be here with us, along with our precious son Ryan and his wife, to celebrate this day, and Thanksgiving, and Christmas. However, vaccine preventable meningococcal meningitis took that away from us. 

I started this day off like every other reading about meningitis around the world.  I leave my comments on various articles and hope that if one person reads them and becomes educated, then one life might be saved or spared.  They may not come to know the tragedy of this nightmare I am living.

Today my heart is breaking. Read more…