He recommends that parents get a copy of the package insert of every vaccine their child is to receive before setting up a vaccination appointment and that they prepare questions for their pediatricians. Because some people believe risks for adverse reactions to vaccines to be higher when a child s immune system is weak, Burton adds, The health of the child should take precedence over the convenience of keeping a child on shot schedule. A child with the sniffles or other illness should not be vaccinated. Burton says he has heard reports that some schools have refused to enroll unvaccinated children even when their families have received exemptions allowed by their states. Families need to be informed of their exemption rights prior to vaccination and their decision should be respected by the medical community and school officials.
Bad things happen to people all the time.
Until we do independent scientific studies, allowing subspecialties like immunology, cell biology and molecular biology to come in and evaluate the precise effects of these vaccines on the human body, we re not going to have the answers to the questions we re asking, says Fisher. I think this year has been important because there has been recognition that vaccines do cause significant side effects. And there s beginning to be recognition in Congress that we ve got to fund studies. Indeed, Burton says, I anticipate a series of hearings looking at varying issues regarding vaccine policy development, vaccine research and, where necessary, vaccines themselves. Click here for reprint information.