There continues to be an intense debate between those in favor of childhood immunizations and those opposing vaccinations. The US government does not force parents to immunize their children. However, in some states, a child must receive all recommended vaccinations in order to attend school. Most states have special exemptions for children who have not been immunized.
Why do parents reject vaccines?
There are a number of reasons parents site for refusing immunizations. The general belief is that vaccines are unsafe. Parents are worried about side effects, and the possibility that vaccines cause autism. Additionally, parents feel these diseases are no longer prevalent in the US, thus making immunizations unnecessary.
Pediatricians' response
The overwhelming majority of pediatricians encourage parents to immunize their children. In fact, some doctors will refuse to see unvaccinated children. They believe vaccinations are safe and necessary. They often point out that the reason these childhood diseases are not prevalent is because of vaccinations.
The choice
The bottom line is that every parent in the United States has the choice of whether to vaccinate their children or not. Each person has to make that decision for themselves. Many parents struggle with this issue. Some parents take a middle ground approach, vaccinating for the diseases they believe are a true threat. Furthermore, some parents will spread vaccinations out over time, rather than giving several shots to a child at once. The belief is that this is a safer practice.
Most medical professionals believe immunizations are safe and the research generally supports this theory. However, there are risks involved and parents should weigh those risks to determine what is best for their family and their children.
