The Big Stick

I am not going to tell you what is right for your families value system. But, as you know, the debate over vaccinations and their safety are very heated.

Many women/families who choose to vaccinate, though, do so relying on the advocacy and accountability of independent medical professionals and organizations that tout the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines.

I would welcome you, no matter what your stance on vaccinations, to read How Independent Are Vaccine Defenders, an article written by CBS as an investigative report.

I, personally, cannot take the word of someone who takes money from an organization for it's promotion - not when there are so many questions surrounding it's safety and effectiveness. Can you say ethical issues?

Before you dispute this, consider the following conundrum:

I have a wonderful breastfeeding relationship with my child. There are no indications that there is anything amiss. I go to my pediatrician, who weighs my child and then says "I think it would be healthier to give him formula. We can measure it, there are no side effects or harm to it, and it will show that we did everything in our power to circumvent an issue cropping up later in life where he was malnourished".

Later, once my child is sucking away on formula and refusing my breast, I realize he has allergies to the formula content, gets more ear infections, has upper respiratory infections, etc... on a whim, I look into formula funding and find that my pediatrician gets a 'bonus' from the formula manufacturer for every sample he leads a woman toward, hands out, or otherwise encourages.

This is the same situation (BTW, the above situation does occur as well). Yes, most everyone receives payment for their work, but when their work could be detrimental to my child's health, or there is a strong possibility of risk or harm, shouldn't we, the consumer, know all of the facts, who is lining who's pockets and at what expense, and what political and financial agreements these professionals have with other companies?

This undermines the credibility of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Every Child By Two, and pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, in my opinion, and strengthens my belief that we don't know enough about the majority of our vaccines to be pushing them so staunchly on the public.

Do your research!

Thank you, Corinne, for bringing this to my attention.