I was born in the mid 1980’s and was fully vaccinated as a child in Australia. I was a happy and mostly healthy child, although I did develop asthma (which I grew out of) and I remember numerous bouts of tonsillitis and antibiotics to treat it. My family and I grew up respecting the authority of Doctors, and didn’t question their recommendations, as they were the professionals.
Before starting a family of my own, my husband and I dedicated 6 months to a surfing and cultural vacation in South America. I diligently researched our trip, including the vaccines we needed in order to travel. I encouraged and convinced my husband to get all his travel shots too. Neither of us questioned the safety of the vaccines we were sold.
It wasn’t until we returned home to Canada, conceived our first baby and started doing prenatal research that I started to question vaccines for the first time in my life. I was shocked to learn there were more than double the vaccines on the childhood schedule than when I was a kid. I felt that 9 vaccines for a 2-month-old seemed like too many too young. I continued exploring, comparing the pros and cons of what felt like a very big and important decision.
I collected package inserts for all the vaccines my baby would receive here in BC, I read articles, books, found Vaccine Choice Canada and other online resources, read the stories of parents, watched documentaries, talked to people I trusted, studied the information provided by my Doctor, Public Health Nurse and Midwife – considered both sides of the debate.
With no support from family, friends, or my Doctor, I continued to be open-minded and listen to my maternal instinct that something wasn’t right. By the time my baby was born I had decided to delay all vaccines, including the vitamin K shot at birth, until I was convinced of the safety and efficacy of the schedule. I needed to ask more questions and get more answers.
Now pregnant with my 4th child, after 7 years of extensive research, my trust in the public health system and mainstream media on the topic of vaccines is different to what it once was. I question everything. I have 3 kids (plus 1 on the way), all completely unvaccinated, born vaginally, breastfed, and nourished with wholesome food. They have only ever experienced minor illnesses that have mostly been treated with natural remedies, very minimal pharmaceuticals, and they have never needed antibiotics or hospitalization for infections. They are healthy and thriving physiologically and neurologically.
Although somehow, my children are classified as a threat to society and I am a negligent parent! I am being threatened with legislation that imposes to take away my medical freedoms, as vaccine mandates are pushed by the Government of Canada. The current vaccine debate is completely dogmatic, and therefore the safety and efficacy studies are not being done. I want to see the studies between the health outcomes of the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated population, although this data is not available. I have been observing my own study within my extended family…
My younger sister has 2 children in Australia, both fully vaccinated on schedule. One vaginal, one caesarean, and formula fed despite her best efforts to breastfeed. Her youngest child, born by c-section, had a more sensitive gut and fragile immune system right from the start. He was sick often. His fevers and teething were treated with acetaminophen. His recurring ear infections, chest infections, and throat infections were treated with antibiotics by the Doctor.
Two weeks after his 12-month vaccines, including the MMR shot, his fever spiked, he broke out in the measles-like rash and had signs of brain inflammation. For 3 days he screamed day and night, a high pitch inconsolable cry, refused to eat, drink or sleep, had sharp gut pains and digestive upset, and had aggressive changes in personality.
My worried and exhausted sister took him back to the Doctor, who brushed her off saying it was just a virus. Not satisfied with that, she took him to hospital emergency where Doctors refused to acknowledge that it may be a reaction to the vaccine. They would not test to confirm or deny the measles virus, despite the rash. She had no support, validation, or answers from any professional. Her son healed after a week or two, and the adverse reaction went unreported. I was able to support her through this scary experience and was the only person that believed her.
My sister believes in the importance of vaccines, so when her son was 18-months old and scheduled for his next round, she was encouraged to continue vaccinating. The Doctor convinced her that it was the best choice and refused to acknowledge the previous adverse reaction despite the obvious symptoms. Since then, my nephew has had ear tubes surgery following constant ear infections, his adenoids/tonsils removed following constant throat infections, and numerous rounds of antibiotic treatment for illness. When he turned 3 years old, he was diagnosed with autism.
Australia has a policy called the “No Jab No Pay” scheme, which withholds an amount from the state Child Care Benefit, the Child Care Rebate, and the Family Tax Benefit. It also imposes fines on childcare centres that admit unvaccinated children. My sister is a single parent, hard-working, she needs to utilize childcare and have access to those payments, and the pressure to provide financially and comply to public health standards squashed her maternal instinct that the vaccines weren’t safe for her boy. Now she is learning to support a child with autism and has spent thousands of dollars on therapies and appointments. She is exhausted and overwhelmed, but hopeful he will gradually improve. She is interested in learning about natural remedies and alternative healing modalities.
My other younger sister has 2 children in Australia, also both fully vaccinated on schedule. Both emergency c-sections, formula fed and utilize fever/pain reducers and other pharmaceutical medications regularly. Both children have experienced hospitalizations with upper respiratory infections and been prescribed numerous rounds of antibiotics to treat ear infections, strep throat, chest infections, and regular viral/bacterial illnesses. The younger child was diagnosed with autism, and the older child was diagnosed with ADHD.
My sister trusts the mainstream medical system and has done her best as a Mom to provide for, and care for her children. She strongly believes the recommendations from her Doctor and public health agency, although her Doctor has never discussed the risks of vaccination with her. She strongly believes in vaccines, and during our debates she agreed to disagree with me because I am not a professional.
She cannot see any correlation or causation between her children’s health and diagnosis, and their compliance with the vaccine schedule, pharmaceutical overuse, and lifestyle choices. Her Doctor recommends managing the ADHD with more drugs, and she listens to what her health professional recommends. She is not inclined to access alternative health care, as she is too busy trying work to provide for her family, and function in society as expected.
The health of my sister’s children compared to mine could be coincidence, although I’m inclined to believe it’s an equation of genetic disposition and environmental factors. My maternal instinct, my observations, and the scientific research tell me that this one-size-fits-all, ever expanding childhood vaccine schedule is doing more harm than good these days, and we need to take a step back and question what we know and what we are noticing.
The theory of immunization is fair, but the science is weak and incomplete. More and more vaccines keep being added to the schedule, yet the manufacturers clearly state no interaction studies have been done. The manufacturers clearly list the toxic ingredients and possible side effects on the package inserts, yet they are not liable if their product damages or kills a child. Health professionals, however well-intentioned, are a product of their training and indoctrination. Ask a Doctor or Public Health Nurse if they can tell you the ingredients or possible side effects of a vaccine – most of them simply don’t know. Mainstream media is funded by pharmaceutical companies, so the news is neither balanced nor truthful. The internet is being censored to control access to information and support. Fear and shame tactics keep parents scared and compliant. The vaccine agenda is profit driven, pushing for mandates and threatening to take away human rights to medical freedom of choice.
If vaccines were safer, if they were studied better, if they were proven to be effective, if the topic was open to debate, if we had the choice to decline without being demonized, and if there was balanced coverage in the media…then maybe I could be convinced. For now, I am committed to keep learning with an open mind and heart, I’m thankful for my maternal instinct, and I respectfully decline all vaccines for me and my family. My kids are healthy and thriving.
I am grateful for Vaccine Choice Canada and the work they do to protect our medical freedoms and right to informed consent, and for providing information and resources that our public health system is failing to deliver.
A concerned mother in British Columbia – November, 2019
