To vaccinate or not vaccinate… that is the question. This issue is currently heightened because of two reasons: one, there are over 100 cases of measles confirmed in the United States right now; and two, there are seemingly over 100 people running for President. 🙂 Note that any time campaigns are current, so is the motive to pounce upon an issue, politicizing something that should by no means be political. The politicizing pollutes the objectivity necessary to wrestle with an issue wisely.
Having thus invested much in this issue, I am struck by many aspects…
- I am struck by the number who feel so strongly — by the parents… the educators… my respected friends in the medical community.
- I am struck by the passion — the passion that prompts such strong, emotional expression — even, often, not always respectfully stated… I get it… I don’t always like it, but I get it… the harsh words many of us employ are not based in hate; they are based on the emotion this issue uniquely seems to elicit.
- I am struck by how we individually weight (either overtly emphasizing or discounting) the opinions of others — from the medical experts to the holistic bloggers to the likeminded thinkers to also the non-parent — acting, for example, as if a person with no biological children has no valid vantage point.
- I am also struck by how this issue knows no ethnic, gender, educational, partisan, religious, stereotypical, you-name-it bounds. Again, it’s not a political issue. (Caution: as one of you duly noted, beware of the political opportunist who attempts to now turn this into a targeted voter pool). Of the huge number of you who gave me feedback (thank you!), I heard you. Let me also add that you and your opinions do not fit into any nice, neat, descriptive, demographic group.
Here is the issue… We live in a society where freedom is cherished. We like freedom. We like choice; some of us embrace it more than others. But we are selective in when and where we embrace it. The key is how an individual choice affects other people. That’s what makes so many arguments so hard. As a culture, we tend to gravitate toward advocacy of government mandates when we believe individual choice infringes on another. Pick your issue; pick your controversy; the perceived harm on the life, health, or values of another is at the heart of our most challenging, cultural issues.
Like I said, I heard you… I am tremendously moved by the image of the African mother who walks miles just to ensure her child is vaccinated. I hear the deep, deep gratitude in those of you who lived through or parents lived through the painful, polio outbreak. And my heart breaks for the family whose sister contacted measles one year before the vaccine was approved, drastically altering each of their lives. Actually, I cried.
I also respect the parent who prayerfully pours into research and intentionally chooses not to vaccinate. I grieve for the mother who shared with me how her four month old daughter stopped breathing two weeks after her shots — or the infant male, who could no longer hold his head up, also two weeks later. While non-vaccination has not been the choice of this semi-humble parent, I will always respect the freedom of another to choose what they believe to be wisest and best.
Every choice, no less, has consequences. And when we make a decision that has the potential to negatively impact another, we must also be humble enough to accept the accompanying consequences… consequences such as the pediatrician’s office, which limits their practice to those who vaccinate their children — or the public school, which requires vaccinations to attend. Such are not unreasonable stipulations when we consider the so-called “greater good” — the life and health of others.
Note additional random feedback received in preparation for this post: I’m uncomfortable with increased government mandates; where do they eventually draw the line?… What role does big money play in the promotion? Pharmaceutical companies stand much to gain from a country that mandates medicine… How has the immigration influx changed the need for vaccinations? Their exposure to disease is different… Professionally, my job requires it… Mandatory flu shots — why does the union oppose?… People seem to pick and choose… So many vaccines taken at one time — that can’t be healthy… What about vaccines designed more to combat disease contacted via behavior as opposed to happenstance? My choice may differ there… There are many valid questions. We should all be asking questions.
As said from the start, this is a tough issue, and it’s tough to talk it well. As you know, I am no medical expert. But I believe in individual freedom. I also believe in “loving my neighbor well” and considering others in my choice. I respect the medical community. I respect the educational community. And I respect the parent — both in making a choice and graciously accepting the consequences.
Let me briefly share as I conclude, that one of my children once caught a life-threatening disease from another child. Because my own son’s immune system was compromised, it evolved into a gut-wrenching, critical situation; we spent 21 days in cardiac ICU — 2 of those weeks on a respirator. But one of the nuggets of wisdom I adhere to in life is that I refuse to allow my individual circumstance to dictate the totality of the truth. Do I wish that other child had already received that vaccination? You bet I do. But should that experience cause me to deny the individual freedom of another? Great question. Hard one, too.
May we be respectful of others in our answer. May we each accept the consequences of our decisions. And may we always love one another well.
Respectfully… with great grace…
AR