Not to compare our children to our pets, but people have their pets immunized against various and sundry cat, dog, horse diseases. Why would they not think about having their children immunized against diseases the vaccines are known to prevent? Whooping cough is rearing its ugly head once again, Clostridium tetani lives in the soil and may remain inactive there, but can be infectious for up to 40 years.

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

What about the millions of illegals that come here every year that are not vaccinated? I would think that if diseases "run rampant" it would have happened by now. We are only talking about a small percentage of civilians here.
Please explain the millions and millions of people who come into this country every year and why we haven't had an epidemic.

I am really curious about all the unvaccinated illegals here. Should we round them up and vaccinate them? Oh wait, I'm sorry, undocumented people. Last I heard we should not stop them when they are suspects because it would be racist.

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

What about the millions of illegals that come here every year that are not vaccinated? I would think that if diseases "run rampant" it would have happened by now. We are only talking about a small percentage of civilians here.
Please explain the millions and millions of people who come into this country every year and why we haven't had an epidemic.

Could it be that there are enough people innoculated? Polio is once again rearing its ugly head in some African countries where the disease was once held in check because people are not vaccinating. Measles is now showing up in more children in the US because there are fewer immunizations. Measles is more prevelant in Europe and it has been brought into the US by travelers. If measles, then other diseases can be brought back to the US also. No one said millions and millions of people, but children can die as a results of having measles and the pneumonia that can develop.

How would you feel if one of the children that died as a result of this seemingly "harmless" childhood disease, was your child or grandchild? Viruses are spread VERY EASILY, and children are notorious for spreading them from one to another. Diphtheria can be a killer, and it is a very contagious bacteria caused disease. Here we have very few cases, but in other countries where innoculations aren't necessary the norm, the disease persists and adults as well as children, are at risk. We are a very mobile global society and just because we have a particular virus or bacteria caused disease under control or eliminated in our country, doesn't mean that the risk to all is eliminated. It's easy to become complacent, bacteria and viruses are ever changing. Influenza is a good example. Do you get a flu shot? After a one month siege with flu many years ago, I will always get my flu shot. I was terribly sick, I can't imagine that type of illness in a youngster or older adult.

Illegals were bringing TB into the US....live in southern CA and you'll be concerned. I know we were. Other diseases, probably.

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

I am really curious about all the unvaccinated illegals here. Should we round them up and vaccinate them? Oh wait, I'm sorry, undocumented people. Last I heard we should not stop them when they are suspects because it would be racist.

That's a different subject.

Yes there are lots of illegals in this country. When talking about illegals, those who manage to get in without proper authorization, we tend to think about Mexican citizens more than those from other countries. They might arrive without "shots" to prevent disease. Is a particular disease rampant in their country? Might not be. Once here, who knows, maybe they do get shots for their children....and even themselves.

What it seems like to me is that Ms. Obama seems to forget that she is not a microbiologist, she doesn't take into account the easy transmission of diseases from one infected individual to potentially many others. Her thoughts "sound" good to those who might not understand the scientific reasoning behind immunizations, but to anyone who has a true understanding of how and why diseases spread and are spread, her suggestion is foolish, at least in my humble opinion.

Where are all those who support Pro-Choice? Where are those who defend the right to make the choice over what happens to one's own body? If it is not fair for a parent or anyone to force a young lady to carry out a pregnancy to full term, why is it fair to mandate any vaccine, complete with preservatives and toxic chemicals, to be taken by any young man, young lady, or child?

Originally Posted by pooh

That's a different subject.

Yes there are lots of illegals in this country. When talking about illegals, those who manage to get in without proper authorization, we tend to think about Mexican citizens more than those from other countries. They might arrive without "shots" to prevent disease. Is a particular disease rampant in their country? Might not be. Once here, who knows, maybe they do get shots for their children....and even themselves.

What it seems like to me is that Ms. Obama seems to forget that she is not a microbiologist, she doesn't take into account the easy transmission of diseases from one infected individual to potentially many others. Her thoughts "sound" good to those who might not understand the scientific reasoning behind immunizations, but to anyone who has a true understanding of how and why diseases spread and are spread, her suggestion is foolish, at least in my humble opinion.

No she isn't. And she is not a nutritionist. She eats junk food and preaches against obesity. I do not think I have heard of our eloquent first lady's opinion on vaccinations. I do not have a very high opinion of her anyways. She was never proud to be an American until her insignificant other got elected.

Originally Posted by buggyone

What happens, though, if a person such as Bachmann gets to be President and does away with mandated vaccinations for school kids? Schools will no longer require them, kids do not get vaccinated, diseases that were about eridicated return in epidemic numbers.

Where I come from in the Washington DC area, if a child shows up on the first day of school without the completed shot record, they are sent home immediately and cannot return until all required shots are up to date. It does not have to cost the families anything to get the shots, either.

The question was: Do you feel that all vaccinations for school children should be at the discretion of the parent or should they be mandated by the government? What is your personal opinion - and what did you do for your children?

Had I known what I know now about vaccines and the roullette of risks associated with them, I cannot say for sure that I would have had my children vaccinated...

When a disease like polio or tuberculosis is acquired by simply being in society, that is a public health problem, for which government, public health officials and departments have a responsibility to protect others. BUT.....

If a disease like HPV is transmitted by sexual contact, how is that a public health threat, when it's an individual, personal choice to have sex??

I think the problem many have with Guardasil being mandated is that an assumption is made that all 12-year-olds are going to have sex in the next couple of years. The presumption is "they're gonna do it anyway", so let's protect them. A similar presumption would be, "Let's mandate all girls age 12 and over start taking The Pill".......because "they're gonna do it anyway". Is that really what you guys want?

I realize family and pediatrics doctors are seeing younger and younger teens and pre-teens being sexually active and spreading STD's. But it's none of government's business to be involved in private activity like that, as Pro-Choice people often say, "stay out of my bedroom" and "stay out of my womb". So now the same people are saying "get in there and do something prophylactic about HPV"??????????

It is irresponsible people who hide their heads in the sand who say HPV vaccine should not be mandated. It is responsible people who want to stop the spread of disease who think it should be mandated.

The 12 year old who has sex is not going to tell parents about it. You do not wait until the child is exposed before getting a vaccination.

That is responsible parenting. Oh, I forgot I was talking to conservatives.

Responsibility? I find it amusing when a liberal says that word. Liberals usually say that it is not one's fault that someone does drugs. It is not one's fault that someone is on welfare. If the government schools taught responsibility, maybe societies ills would decrease substantially.

I remember the 70's when I came home from overseas. All the guys told me that things are crazy now. All the girls are on the pill. I couldn't believe it. It was like a kid in a candy store. I also remember the divorce rate of the baby boomers. Seems half the people I knew were divorced. Nightclubs were very big in the 70's. It took boomer's aging and AIDS to close down most of the nightclubs.

Responsibility? Liberalism has practically bankrupted the USA, morally and fiscally.

Responsible parenting is telling your children the TRUTH.
Truth is, if you a guy or gal is willing to have sex with you outside of marriage, who else have they been willing to have sex...ie, you don't know where it has been before or what disease it has been exposed to?
Truth is, if you have sex without the benefit of birth control, you are running the risk of procreation...ie, are you ready to be a parent?
Truth is, aim for the best and deal responsibly with the rest...ie, we all make mistakes, but how you deal with the mistakes is a test of your true charactor.
Truth is, no one is perfect...ie, there is forgiveness to be found from those who truly love you.
Truth is, as a loving responsible parent, I OWE THEM THE TRUTH!

Originally Posted by pooh

You're not missing anything if we're talking about an innoculated child. The assumption is that there could be a number of parents that decide not to have their children vaccinated. A child gets sick, then passes it along to their siblings, who then go to day care where there could be other youngsters not vaccinated and the disease is passed along.

Kids get chickenpox, they might not show signs of the illness while they are "shedding" the virus. Older adults might now develop shingles, which can be very painful for many. Adults not vaccinated as youngsters are also at risk for developing the disease, chickenpox, and it can be more serious. People travel, bringing along with them various viruses and again, spread disease even while they might not know they're infected.
While these childhood diseases aren't as prevalent in the US as they once were, they could re-emerge once again, in full force.

There is a medication to prevent shingles now...

Originally Posted by ladydoc

There is a medication to prevent shingles now...

That is true, but then again, not everyone takes advantage of the vaccination.

Originally Posted by buggyone

It is irresponsible people who hide their heads in the sand who say HPV vaccine should not be mandated. It is responsible people who want to stop the spread of disease who think it should be mandated.

The 12 year old who has sex is not going to tell parents about it. You do not wait until the child is exposed before getting a vaccination.

That is responsible parenting. Oh, I forgot I was talking to conservatives.

The physiological stress of pregnancy and childbirth can be deadly to an 11- or 12-year-old girl. So should the state or federal government mandate that all girls start taking The Pill when they are 11 years old, "before the child is exposed"?????

Originally Posted by ilovetv

The physiological stress of pregnancy and childbirth can be deadly to an 11- or 12-year-old girl. So should the state or federal government mandate that all girls start taking The Pill when they are 11 years old, "before the child is exposed"?????

That is a good idea. We must stop unwed teenage pregnancy somehow. If a 11 or 12 year old gets pregnant (not through rape) must have been sexually active. The vaccination and one on the pill would not be pregnant and would not get the cancer. If that don't work, you could send them to Bachmann's clinic to have the pregnancy prayed away. Leaving it to chance is irresponsible at best.