A Pro Vaccine Approach to the Great Vaccine Debate: Vaccines and Your Child

The book Vaccines and Your Child: Separating Fact from Fiction recognizes that in American society, the word vaccine can't help but have scary connotations. I'm a pro-vaccine mom in an anti-vaccine circle of friends, and so it was especially necessary for me to have a detailed understanding of why I've chosen to put my daughter through the stresses of vaccination.

Of course I don't like watching my daughter cry, and I am less than thrilled about putting foreign cells and chemicals into her little body, but this book gave me a much clearer understanding of why it's the right choice for our family and for her healthy future.

In their book, Dr. Paul Offit and Charlotte Moser explain the pros and cons of each vaccine given in the first years of life and also debunk a lot of major rumors regarding vaccines, their makeup, and the controversy surrounding them. Pulling from scientific studies and facts rather than anecdotes and rumors, their data is reliable and reassuring.

In this age of "Facebook Science," where rumors, celebrity influence, and snarky memes abound, it is important that parents have the truth about their child's well-being. I believe this book does just that. Offit and Moser do not hesitate to tell the drawbacks and negative elements of vaccines; they want the reader to be well-informed. They do a great job of explaining the history, trends, and current recommendations for vaccines without going over-the-head of the average parent in terms of medical jargon.

Yes, Offit and Moser do land in the pro-vaccine camp, but they ended up there due to overwhelming evidence and a logical perspective.

I recommend this book to any current or future parents, caregivers, childcare workers, or anyone who has or will be getting a vaccine. It is important to know what you're putting in your body and your child's body, and the reasons behind it. Or, if you're anti-vaccines, this book will give you the information you may be overlooking.

Photos courtesy of morguefile.com

Check out Dr. Offit (author of the book above) explaining the dangers of the anti-vaccine movement. He gives some really interesting and compelling information. A MUST WATCH if you are on the fence about vaccination, or if you have friends who are.

Vaccination Voices: Where do you stand?

I recognize this is a hot topic. So, where do you stand? Are vaccines doing more harm than good? Are you choosing to vaccinate, delay vaccination, selectively vaccinate, or skip vaccination completely?