Today I awoke to the news that our government has announced a plan to supress financial aide to parents who choose not to immunise their children. I’ve never ever been tempted to talk about immunisations publically I know that this issue wreaks havoc in the emotions of parents near and far. Wether you agree with immunisations or you don’t the prospect of your child being hurt in anyway is terrifying. Nobody in their right mind wants to see their child hurting, sick or ever need go through the pain of losing a child. And so I’ve always kept my views to myself, and shared with people who can speak about the issue calmly, rationally and with true perspective for everybody’s differences.I wont lie I’m scared to hit the publish button on this. I know I’m going to receive nasty emails, I know I might lose friends and even family who disagree, but I can’t sit by and be quiet about this. Already i’ve been abused and banished by parents even those who live in the ashes and recovery of Stevens Johnson syndrome. But I’m terrified for my daughter’s safety; I’m terrified for the safety and choice of parents around the world. This news, this decision that now affects me and my ability to care for my children has directed me to speak out. I realise that by doing so I’m subjecting myself to abuse, I’m subjecting myself to having people unfollow my page and supporting my business, but this is important, this side of the story needs to be shared. I need to stand up for myself. I need to stand up for all of us.
As some of you might know, our daughter Chasely recently recovered from a severe allergic reaction to Nurofen. Her body burnt from the inside out, the syndrome attacked her mucous membranes and she was incredibly lucky to survive. I cradled her in my arms for days, just hoping and wishing she wouldn’t die. I was blessed in that instance that she fought on and fought strong and still remains with us. Every single day since I have spent time researching her condition, speaking with other survivors and family members of those who didn’t. My goal is to arm myself with every single piece of information I could find to protect her from ever having to go through this again, and to inform and educate other parents who may have been through the same. My motivation is simple, protect my daughter from severe illness and death and empower her to greater health and knowledge of her condition and its triggers.
Upon speaking to a few mothers of survivors of Stevens Johnson Syndrome and learning their condition was triggered by routine immunisations it became clear to me that avoiding SJS might mean avoiding immunisations. Upon researching I found credible research that linked the two together as well. I’m not saying Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a risk for all recipients of immunisations, but for Chasely who has already had one incident, the risk is very real for her. Along the way I’ve read countless stories of children who have had severe reactions to immunisations including brain damage and death. My heart has broken every single time I’ve spoken with these mothers, and every time I’ve read their stories. They receive no answers, no apologies, no media attention. Nobody cares for those kids, nobody is outraged at the lack of emotional and financial support for vaccine injury.
I’ve always felt like a mother’s ability to care for her child is ultimate. A parent knows how best to take of their child in any circumstance. Before Chasely was ever sick I felt that the added ingredients in immunisations over such a small time frame on a tiny developing immune system might be a little too much. I always felt that a delayed schedule was safer, and avoiding immunisations for things like chickenpox when the child had already had the chickenpox was smart practise.But that was only my opinion and more than anything Ive just felt really strongly that if somebody reads, researches and practises common sense and comes to a decision that agrees with their morals, their knowledge and experiences then the choice is for them and them alone.
I always trusted my doctor and the medical community I always followed their guidance,I was never an ” anti vaxxer” and I never believed immunisation to cause autism. But when we visited my doctor for a routine check up he was satisfied that her syndrome was isolated to this incident, he even suggested that we rechallenge her for the culprit drug that triggered her condition in a few years time. He is happy to immunise her without ever investigating her immune system, with by his own admission only treating two other patients that have had Stevens Johnson Syndrome. he never wanted to see my evidence, he didnt want to listen to what I had to say. He is happy to roll the dice and see what happens. If we object to this, it is our choice, an objection against the wishes of what the medical community wants to do to my child. So if I line up to get her jabbed, knowing full well that her Stevens Johnson could be triggered if she should get sick again or she should die, am I an active contributor to her death? Would anyone even be outraged for her? I wonder if anyone that thinks this is ok has ever held their baby tight and asked her not to die.Is her sacrifice worth it? These are the questions I ask myself everyday since.
I feel incredibly distraught that our right to protect my daughter has been taken away; I mean of course we will continue to protect her, but ultimately any chance of childcare, and financial help for our family has been taken away. Apparently our tax dollars are okay to be taken, but not to be received. Remember my husband and I both work hard, in our businesses and in our communities. And now we are being punished, and without adequate childcare and support who knows what happens with the work we do.
My name is Jen Shaw, I am sad and I am angry. I’ll keep fighting this as long as I have to; I’m fighting for all of us on every side of the debate. Our right to be informed, our right to be independent in our health and our right to choose is important. Sooner or later it might be your rights being taken away and I hope that by my standing my ground and fighting back it may give you strength to do the same.
I’m a good parent who loves my child. I feel like we have been subjected to bullying of the greatest kind. If the gun were in your hands, would you pull that trigger on us? Australia I think you have already.
Sign the petition here :https://www.change.org/p/minister-scott-morrison-don-t-punish-parents-for-making-an-informed-choice-about-their-children-s-health-all-parents-deserve-to-make-an-uncoerced-choice?just_created=true
http://www.jpma.org.pk/full_article_text.php?article_id=4221
http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)62605-0/abstract?cc=y
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11224848
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/stevens-johnson-syndrome
I couldn’t agree with you more Jen.
Beautifully said. It almost brings me to tears with anger and frustration every time I see it in the media now, how dare they tell me what to do with my child? And use money as leverage. I don’t believe for a SECOND that ANY parent would take this situation lightly, money is irrelevant. It’s disgusting.
Hi there just wandering can’t you still be excused for medical reasons. They are still allowing religious reasons as far as I’m aware. If you don’t immunize just in case you may put your baby in harms way for other diseases. Very hard one.
To date our doctor still wants to immunise our child, against my concerns.
I would seek second opinions. I’ve always been for vaccinations but I understand they’re not safe for all children. I’d be seeking as many professional opinions as possible and having your daughters health conditions as a reason to be exempt from vaccinating. Obviously your daughters health is your top priority so I sure wouldn’t be taking one doctors opinion and leaving it at that. She is lucky to have parents who are aware and educated on these issues.
Hi Jen, if you look up the ACNEM, AIMA, or A5M website, you will find a list of GP who practices integrative medicine in your town who might be able to help. In your case, it should be a choice for you to immunise rather than the other way around. Immunisation requires the body to have a balanced immune system for it to work and do no harm.
Too much happening to children with increasing vaccinations at early ages. Check out this research:
http://het.sagepub.com/content/30/9/1420.full.pdf+html
What will happen to your lovely child if she gets any of these diseases that are becoming more prevelant? Is there any research on this? The risk could be huge no matter which way you go. If your Doctor wont look at your research find a Doctor that will.
Brave words Jen! I commend you on speaking up. Our story isn’t as scary as yours, but my daughter had an allergic reaction after the MMR- bad eczema flare up, red and itchy eyes and nose. I’m too scared to risk another vaccination as who knows how serious the next one could be? And like you, I am angry that my choice will mean we are shut out of government payments.
I will sign the form, but I highly doubt they will change it. Money saved for the government, and I’m sure big Pharma are giving some money to help make this decision. Sad times for families and informed consent.
With everything, there must be exception to the rules. I am saddened by this news, our rights I’m my opinion have been violated. I will hope that this rule will not go through. Australia fight for your rights.
Good luck, and keep on fighting,
Love
Martina Rabbani
i think people need to weigh up risk versus benefit. For you and chasely the risk of a re-trigger probably far outweighs any benefit and for that I understand your position. But for the majority of the population the benefits outweigh the risks. I think of it from the other perspective. If my child’s immune systems was poor and I needed others to immunise to help protect my child ( which is the whole concept of herd immunity.) then I am advocating for the majority, those people need our assistance. If people choose not to immunise then that is their choice. They have weighed up the risk and benefit for them. Their choice should not then be risking others.
When you choose to immunise you take the risk for 1. When you choose not to you risk many more
I work in healthcare and see the cost of people’s health choices. I have not yet come across a side effect from a vaccination but I have seen a lot of the effects from if you don’t
Hoping chasely stays well and good on you for being her advocate. That’s what we are here for until they can be their own
Problem is, we don’t know who is at risk and who is not until a reaction occurs. 18 years ago, my daughter was healthy and making all her milestones age appropriate until she had her MMR at 1. After her MMR, she began having seizures which caused brain damage and her development slowed considerably. Most doctors will not associate these things with vaccinations. They will fob you off with ‘coincidence’. Research is key – unfortunately, I didn’t do research, I took it for granted that vaccinations were safe because the doctors told me so. That was 24 years ago for my eldest child. I didn’t have information at my fingertips like we all do now. One size does not fit all – like with any medication.
I totally agree with you and the term “herd immunity” should be replaced with community immunity!! Nobody realises how terrifying whooping cough and rubella is!! They are nasty and the reasons we aren’t reminded of their terrifying nature is because immunisation has largely kept it at bay….
I also think that if you decide against immunisation it is never a wise decision to promote anti immunisation on a website like this unless you have credible research and a some sort of certification that you are a health professional and understand a very complex immunity.
I actually never used the term herd immunity. Did you even read our story?
Things like whooping cough?! Do you realise that vaccinated people are more dangerous than unvaccinated?? Whooping cough does not fall under herd immunity and if people actually researched they would know this. Or if the government and vaccine manufacturers would be honest then we would ALL know this.
If a unvaccinated person get’s whooping cough, they are isolated. It’s clear they have whooping cough. They are no danger to anyone but themselves.
A person vaccinated with Pertussis protects no one but themselves. If they are exposed to the bacteria that causes whooping cough, they might have cold like symptoms. Do you stay home when you have a cold? No I bet you don’t. That trip to the shop just exposed 50 people. Do that all week and you’ve just passed it to hundreds.
That’s the best case scenario because the reality of it is that vaccinated people (like myself and my children) are exposed to the bacteria we will carry it around in our airways for up to 6 weeks, infecting the vaccinated and the unvaccinated alike. Being completely asymptomatic. That is more scary to me than an unvaccinated person. It scares me as a person who is vaccinated against whooping cough that I might potentially give it to my newborn or someone elses newborn and have no idea I’m even carrying the bacteria around.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm376937.htm
How did I find this out? Because I’m pregnant with #5 and decided to research possible ways to protect my baby for it’s first couple of months prior to being vaccinated. Then I stumbled upon the FDA released piece (yes, we use the SAME vaccination, acellular) saying they think that’s why whooping cough numbers have increased. Not because of all those ‘evil anti vaxxers’.
Instead of blaming anti vaxxers for things we should be demanding honesty from the vaccination companies. We should be demanding safer vaccination and more research into what these vaccinations do to our body and how they work. It’s scary to think that we’ve been using this vaccination for 15 odd years and it’s taken almost that whole time for them to figure out that herd immunity doesn’t work with whooping cough.
As a mum who FULLY VACCINATED her 4 children and is vaccinated myself, THIS IS NOT OKAY!
As for the original post, this is also not okay. To get a medical exemption is ridiculously hard. It shouldn’t be that hard. I’ve got friends whose child has seizures and stopped breathing a few hours after having their 2 month needles. Did they get a medical exemption? No. It was put down as a coincidence. Then they were told to have the 4 month old ones done in hospital so “if it happens again we can resuscitate”.. Ah hell no. This child should get a medical exemption but they can’t. It’s not okay that these vaccine related illnesses and reactions happen but they aren’t recorded. They are put down as coincidence. This doesn’t help improve vaccine rates because the educated know that they are being lied to.
Hey Jen,
I Really feel for you it is incredibly difficult to make decisions that go against the norm, when the health of our children is at risk though, that certainly points us in a certain direction.
I heard that you can get out of the immunisations if you have credible medical reasons or specific religous views, perhaps thatnis you’re answer with Chasely having her syndrome. Good luck and the best of health to you all.
I am all for vaccinations for children who can medically have them. I’m hoping the government will make exceptions for children like Chasley.
Jen, I fully understand your stance on this but at the same time I can’t help but think that the benefits of having children immunized far outweighs the risks! I realise that is easy for me to say as I have never experienced either children or Grandchildren having severe or life threatening reactions to immunisations. My first thought, when Riley died as a result of Whooping Cough, was to barr all unimmunized children from Day Care Centres & Schools (which I think is the case anyway). The Government has taken this one step further by now saying that benefits will be cut for those parents who choose not to immunize. Do I agree with that? My answer is Yes, if it saves even one little soul from dieing needlessly!
I certainly have no intention of abusing you or no longer following you on FB! I think you are an incredible Mum & businesswoman. I held my breath when Chasely was so sick & my heart went out to you in the same way it went out to Riley’s Mum & Dad when he succumbed to a completely preventable disease.
I dont believe children should have to die at all. Not from disease, and not from drugs, unfortunately both do from both instances. ONly now, we lose our ability to use child care, any additional payments and who know swhere this heads next, her right to go to school? i supose homeschool is our next step to 🙁 thankyou for your comments and for not being nasty to us xx
Thank you for speaking out and sharing your story. I’m a mother of three and my eldest has severe autism, we won’t risk vax’ing him or his sisters. As much as we desperately need to family assistance (therapies are expensive) we will have to learn to do without.
I too find this debate to be controversial. I have 3 immunised children but my second and third child had many difficulties including severe allergies so I chose to immunise my children a bit later and also spread the immunisations out. Does it make me a bad mother, I don’t think so, I made informed choices for my children and worked with the doctor and did what was best for them. This point is obviously mute for me now as they are immunised but I don’t think the government has the right to make these decisions because sometimes things are not black and white.
Jen, I see where you are coming from in regards to the recent scare you had with Chasely. But as I understand it, you would be excempt from the new rule based on Chasely’s medical history. Religious and medical reasons are to be excepted – but not conscientious objection. Perhaps you should look into this further.
The opposite to your apprehension of losing friends and followers – you’ve just gained another one. Love and peace to you and your family xx
Beautifully said Jen. If there can be one positive from this it is that people like you are now speaking out. We can now longer stay quiet about this issue, I’m in the same boat as you, I researched, researched and researched some more and decided not to vaccinate my beautiful girl. Thank god as I see sick children all around me and she is thankfully doing so well. My husband works full time and I run my own business, without daycare, I don’t know how I’ll be able to do it. But I will find a way, there’s no way I’ll ever vaccinate her. There are so many highly educated and intelligent people behind us, I hope they find a way for us all to circumvent this injustice before it comes into effect next year.
I agree with u ……I have a 20 yr old and a 15 yr old , who are not vaccinated , I also missed out on $1000 for my 15 yr old from centrelink because i did not vaccinate him,I am a single mum and have just had a baby, there is no way im going to vaccinate hium just for $ Ive missed out once and i will do it again if i have to.
Well said. Xxxxxxx thank you for speaking up
While I am a firm ‘pro immuniser’, like you I have also whispered “please don’t die” to my 4 week old baby when she was severely ill so I absolutely understand what kind of decision you have to make after this government announcement. I think you’re exceptionally brave for speaking out and am 100% behind you in your fight to not have Chasely immunised (no nasty FB messages or unfollows coming from me 🙂 ). Maybe a new GP might be worth looking into, I have an amazing one who I have no doubt would not be so willing to roll the dice with my daughter’s life. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, you’re an incredible Mum who is standing up for what is best for her children, if only all kids were lucky to have someone willing to do that for them, remember that if the nastiness comes after this post.
You have my full support .. no question.
Thank you Jen.
We live in Ontario, Canada and are pro – choice when it comes to vaccinations. We have done the research over many years and feel it is best for our family not to vaccinate. We have free choice here, so far, but we want to support families like yours who are already under fire.
Bless you for speaking out when it is so scary to do so. I shared your post to the Freeschoolin’ FB page in solidarity for what Australia is going through right now. I was afraid but because you were so brave, it was easy to follow suit.
May we all have choice for our lives and not be forced one way or another on anything. We learn best that way and the whole Universe benefits.
Much love,
Wendy – Freeschoolin’ Mommy
This is what I said about the government on my Facebook Wall….. “This is a load of political BS & makes me sick!! If your child is vaccinated, then WHAT do YOU have to Worry about?? Your child Should be Protected from getting sick/diseases vaccinated against right?? It should be the Unvaccinated Children who need to worry about getting sick…. Coz they aren’t protected right??
Unless of course the reason you are worried is because vaccines don’t really work! If they Do…then nothing to worry about! It’s like Not Letting your Virgin Daughter into a room with Pregnant women in case She Gets Pregnant!! If She IS Actually a Virgin…then that is Highly Unlikely to happen!! Same with your vaccinated children. Think About it & Cut the Crap!! Either your children are protected or they aren’t. Only non vaccinated children should worry about getting sick… Rant over!!”
So over the utter stupidity of it all!!
Well said Sarah! I am not a fan of vaccinations at all. I feel like I’ve been bullied into vaxing my kids by society and the govt. but I’m fortunate to have a Biomagnetism therapist here in my town and the therapy removes the heavy metals and viruses from the body after the vax. I think I’ve freaked out every time my 2 kids have had vaccines because I just feel like our rights have been violated. Now I’m just outraged because the parents who have been brave enough to not vax or those forced not to due to illnesses, are all just being trodden on right now. It’s the big pharma companies ruling our world. I’m a massive fan of natural therapies but I’m sick of being bullied by society to follow the pharmaceutical way of life. My body does not like synthetic or toxic medication. I’m so glad we don’t get sick now since having Biomagnetism therapy.
As soon as you said that an immunized child/person should notnot getget sick you showed how much you don’t know. I am fully immunized and even have been back and had boosters at 28 years old. I now have several autoimmune diseases and am immune compromised. If an unimunised child/adult has any communicable disease I am likely to get it. Even if I was vaccinated against it. And on top of getting the disease I could get more sick and am more likely to end up in hospital with complications too. So the unimunised person is still a risk to some members of the community.
I understand it is wrong for the government to force us to do things but some people need to understand the very real risk they are to vulnerable people in our community. BTW I am only 34 and can’t spend my life at home without contact from the outside world!
I am not talking about those with a, medical exemption either.
I think you may have misread my article, I’m not sure where I said an immunised person should not get sick.
Hi Ruth, sorry to hear you have so many illnesses… My daughter was also fully immunised and now has auto immune disease….Hashimotos disease… It has been directly linked to her last vaccines… Her immune system was damaged because of it… Have you ever considered that maybe your vaccines triggered your illnesses…? After all… Vaccines do impact on our immune systems… I just don’t think people realise that… It was after many vaccines that my daughter finally became very ill, as it’s not always an immediate reaction… Just thought that you might like to consider this as a way of understanding what may have caused you unfortunate illnesses…
The government has always tried to use scare tactics but this is the worst of all. It is nothing short of blackmail. My brother was affected at 3 & 1/2 months by the triple antigen injection. That same day he stopped smiling, stopped trying to roll over and started taking little seizures. He ended up with brain damage, his whole right side was affected, was told he may not walk or talk and was taking epileptic fits on a daily basis. 40 years on he still takes epileptic fits several times a day, looses control of his bladder most times, falls over in the most harshes places and hurts himself so often even with taking a massive cocktail of drugs his whole life. Lots of behavioural issues with frustration and his brain damage. As kids it turned our family upside down. It is has been a massive burden and huge stress on my parents and our whole family. Where are the doctors responsible then when everything goes totally wrong. When I was pregnant with my first I read every book, went to a conference and did as much research as possible. My final decision was the risks far outweighed any benefits. So with everything I researched, I refused to have my two girls immunised at all for anything! I got lectured from a doctor once, he told me I was an irresponsible mother. But I was bomb proof on my decision and just as well because they tried the bullying tactics. My two girls have never been to a doctor for sickness and they are now 19 and 21.. I used natural remedies for everything. I urge every mother to do their own research so you are informed before you make any decisions. Let it be your decision as to whether you do or don’t. Don’t be bullied into it.
I am against anti-vaxxers because quite frankly, not one of them has ever proven they have substantial information to show that vaccines don’t do what they are supposed to do. I’m not talking about Googling for information, but hard evidence. I also don’t agree it is our right to choose not to vaccinate – why should my grandchild have to live in a world where preventable diseases are reoccurring because the community as a whole doesn’t do what needs to be done to protect our children. I do however agree with your right to choose not to vaccinate your child based on medical grounds. I believe you need to seek further medical opinions because your daughter obviously has a condition that nobody would wish upon anyone’s child and if it can be prevented from reoccurring via non vaccination then you have my absolute support to go down this path (not that you ever needed my support). I wish you well with keeping your little one safe, after all that is all we are all trying to do.
Having been in the nursing field and having had to see children suffering with diseases that should not exist I simply cannot condone this “right” to not vaccinate based on some loosely read information that someone found on google! There should always be an option not to vaccinate on medical grounds or religious grounds if a parent can prove they have been part of a religion for an extended period of time.
Google contains links to credible research on every side of the fence. I spent a few years at uni and was taught how to find it. Yes Wikipedia and the likes are not credible but self determination through independent research is valid
Hi Jen.
Thank you for writing this article.
A little person that I have been blessed with, has scaring on his brain. It feels right not to vaccinate to,protect him from further scaring….
This life has given me many blessings of meeting beautiful young individuals that have the labels of disabilities. So many parents have shared stories about vaccination been the cause to toxic environments.
I dearly pray that this choice gets overturned and taken away. Freedom of choice is most important in this world….
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jen. I am sure the debate will continue for eternity. I too have held a baby in my arms, helpless and not knowing if she would live or die. No parent should ever go through that. My Aunt did hold her dieing son in her arms … A rubella baby. My uncle sterile from mumps, our family friend a cripple from polio. My daughter had chickenpox in her brain and lives her life with epilepsy and lifetime medication. The difference with your situation is that there is a real risk to immunise. This should be reason enough to exemplify you from this ruling … Fair and square. At the end of the day as parents we do whatever we believe is the absolute best for our children … we vow to protect them from harm. I respect every parents right to choose whether they immunise or not. Like you I have my reasons for feeling scared … mine is at the increase in non immunization. I do understand completely why you’ve made your choice. It is a completely different set of circumstances and allowances should be made in your situation. Put up a petition for excluding children at risk from the legislation and I’ll happily sign it and share. Keep fighting the good fight Jen xx
Bravo ! We need more pieces like this to get to people who have a very closed and one sided (formed by reading too much daily telegraph-where does a lot of their advertising funds come from??? ) view of this topic. We need to be able to keep our ability to decide on what medical procedures our bodies are subjected to. Shame on you tony Abbott!
Hi Jen
I couldn’t agree more. I have made that choice on a number of occasions to not vaccinate. My children have had some but I chose not to for certain ones. And I am glad I did. I have already been punished for that by government not paying allowances but when it comes to my children’s health, I can do without an allowance even though I work hard and pay my taxes and feel I am as entitled as any other parent. What goes on with a lot of things appals me and scares me on a lot of government misinformed decisions. I have signed the petition. And also want to say I love your work and support you whole heartedly.
Regards
Janette
Well said! You have gained a follower 🙂
I can completely appreciate your reluctance to immunise, and from what I know would be well within your right to refuse and still be eligible for government funding because it’s medically based. However, I have a friend whose daughter nearly died from whooping cough because she was too young to immunise. The more children who don’t have immunisations based on choice, not medical reasons or because they are unable to, the more those children, such as Chasely, are at risk. I would have thought you’d support the government’s move as it is one that will help protect children like yours.
To make sure children who need exemtions arent victimised instead fo completely apposing the law?
Sorry silly phone bosted the other bit before I finished my sentence.
Thank you Jen for speaking out for yourself & others like myself who believe the risks for vaccinating far outweigh any benefits.
I had my first child vaccinated & my 7 month old daughter had her shots up to 4 months, It wasn’t until someone started to tell me some of the risks associated, that I started to question just how safe vaccinations are & research for myself. After what I have learnt I feel like sticking a needle in my daughter would be like playing russian rulette with her life, as you just don’t know if that needle will cause an adverse reaction or God forbid death!
If this “no jab, no pay” scheme comes in, I will not be able to go back to work next year as an Assistant Nurse in Aged care. As childcare will be to expensive. I won’t put my children’s health at risk for any amount of money, so all the government will accomplish is taking money from a taxpaying family.
Jen I would definitely recommend looking around for a doctor that can give you a medical exemption, I would hope there is a Dr who would see with your daughters medical history that vaccination is to risky.
I immunised my daughter homoeopathically, when chicken pox hit her school my child got 2 spots whereas totally immunised kids where struck down far worse. She has never contracted any other of the immunisation diseases while other kids around her have done.
Hi Joy,
Glad to head that someone else has gone down the homeopathic route. I have studied homeopathy and yet it still amazes me how well it works. My child has NEVER been sick (no colds, flus, runny noses, coughs, disease, gastro, fevers, infections – anything). Even after being around other kids who were sick, being wet and cold or eating off the floor (as kids do). Glad to hear that it works just as well once they reach school age 🙂
<3
My children are too old for this debate to affect me, but I see both points of view. People can stop their Children who have a medical reason being immunised, they can be excluded they have a valid reason to not immunise. Just as those with religious beliefs can, but just ask the parent whose has experienced the death of a child, or face a very different life as their child is disabled, because they caught a childhood disease which was preventable with immunisation, how they feel. I know some people blame immunisation for autism or other conditions, but really we probably will never know. If people don’t want to immunise don’t do it, you are only losing money not your principals.
The government only ever use lies threats scare tactics and more threats. When they fail they start on orders. Not one person has the right to judge another. All they need to do is worry about what they do with their children with truthful and informed choices. The government loves these orders as it gets everyone fighting each other and whilst that is happening – whilst we are all occupied- they go in behind and sign off on these disgusting policies. Wake up people. Stop being sheep. There is no way in hell I would vaccinate my child after nearly losing them and that is that. I do not owe anyone anything in life and I would not bury a child just to ensure I had a bit of money from a corrupt government ! I am just so grateful that Chasely is ok and Jen – I am proud of you x x x x x x x x
I hope the government do find a fair way of assessing specific cases where there is legit medical concerns for not vaccinating. But, for those that choose not to vaccinate for no legit medical reason other then their beliefs, then I am all for them missing out on benefits. Preventing preventable diseases will only work if everyone, or at the very least the majority, vaccinate. If not we’re just chasing our tails and there is a very real chance that you will see outbreaks of horrible and unnecessary diseases across our country. It is a very big picture and everyone has an opinion but I do feel my last point is very valid.
Great Job! I would love to sign the petition but can’t follow the link?
Well said Jen. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Thank you for being brave enough to publish this. I hope it will help me and many others start to be braver and stand up for our own convictions. And hopefully the right to have a choice in all matters regarding our children, our bodies and our health will be maintained.
You will be surprised to know that there is a community of people who will only get bigger in opposition of such unjust new rules. This community of people already know the many reasons why immunisations are important for the government, even as far as coaxing people with monetary incentives or penalties. The government has noticed the rise of ‘objectors’ and they are worried, because they know the more people who aren’t vaccinating, the more people who are actually being proactive with their health, and will have less and less need to see a doctor and fund the trillion dollar pharma industry. I refer to parents who are on benefits and smoke, the government raises the taxes and the parents, who never could manage enough money in their week in the first place….they do not then go without their cigarettes because they are more expensive. No, because their cigarettes is most important. And seemingly what the government fails to realize is that is someone is an ‘objector’, they do so and always will do so regardless of any money they do or don’t get from now on. Because the health of their child is more important than money from the government. Period.
Thank you for being brave enough to speak up and share your position! I know how difficult it is to do so particularly when it comes to the emotionally charged vaccination debate! I am a health care professional who has previously worked coordinating school vaccination clinics. I was 100% pro vaccine and still recall having strongly worded conversations with “uneducated” mothers with no degrees. Explaining to them that I was educated with a degree BSc environmental health. At university we were taught the miracle of vaccination and how many lives it saved. It was not until an unusual coincidence occurred that I was motivated to look into the other side of the debate myself. I received my hep a and b vaccine (free thru work) and felt aweful and had a dead arm. That next day still feeling the effects I came to find out I was going to be a father for the first time! Instead of elation, I struggled to feel happy because of my reaction to the vac. Now my reaction was mild and I recovered however it made me decide to investigate the science behind being cautious about which vaccines are needed and what is contained in them. There is an amazing amount of science demonstrating the dangers of mercury, aluminium, formaldehyde, mono sodium glutamate etc etc. these are just some of the adjunctive a contained in vaccines. I have 2 children not vaccinated and another on the way. We can afford to go without the govt money but I feel for those parents who are more reliant on that and who still want to make an informed choice. I am pretty sure hitler and Stalin also forced “medical procedures” on their populations?? I don’t think we in Australia should be forced by the govt of the day to put any heavy metals or carcinogenic chemicals into our bodies against our will. More and more educated and informed parents who have kept to ourselves are now going to be forced to communicate the risks of vaccination to the general population. This could backfire on the govt as more people become aware and want the freedom to choose what is best for their children they may see an increase in parents choosing not to vaccinate? I firmly believe that if any parent puts some time into reading the science behind the other side of the story they will see that it is not just a bunch of ill informed uneducated hippys making these choices. Trust me, parents who choose the path of not immunising are doing it the hard way, they have to research and research, they have to face doc after doc over the years and deal with the angst, they have to deal with family and friends who hold strong views, they have to learn about the alternatives to mainstream medicine and inform themselves about how to build and maintain strong immune systems. It is NOT easy to choose not to vaccinate. I myself am not able to speak my mind publically as it could cost me my job. There are many doctors and nurses in the same boat as myself who cannot speak their mind for the consequences for them and their family is considerable. Only today I saw the front page of the Courier Mail has highlighted that something like a 3rd of nurses and doctors at the Gold Coast hospital get their flu vax and apparently one of the doctors is blaming that on the fact 2 patients in the hospital have died from the flu. There seems to be a real push by Rupert Murdocks media regarding vaccination and the witchhunt of those who choose not to. To those who believe that non vaccinators are spreading disease, you need to check your facts because there is considerable scientific evidence that the opposite is in fact true. Vaccinated populations are spreading the disease in many instances. The oral polio vaccine is one example (actually the reason it isnt used in Western countries anymore but still used in 3rd World countries for some reason!?). The other is the whooping cough vaccine. It is very ineffective and wains in effectiveness very quickly. This leads to those who dont get the 4 yr booster every 4 years to be only partly protected. This means they dont get very sick when they get it but they can still get it. So think it through a bit, someone gets a slight cough, are they going to bother going to the doc and get tested for WC? Or are they just going to soldier on and go to work and school and continue visiting sporting events and other high populated areas like night clubs etc? When they do continue life as normal while being slightly sick they continue to spread WC, particularly to those who are young or elderly and vulnerable. The whooping cough vaccine is a great example of a vaccine that is doing more harm than good because of this ineffectiveness. See info on this link if you would like to investigate further http://preventdisease.com/news/14/082814_3-Vaccines-That-Should-Be-Banned-Never-Administered-To-Any-Child.shtml
Anyway, well done for speaking up and I hope others that are not able to speak publically for fear of consquenses can support people like yourself that have taken the brave step. Stay strong, you are doing the right thing informing yourself and making your own choices.
Thankyou so much for your comment and taking the time to share your experience, I’ll be reading more from your link x
Hi Jen,
So beautifully and comprehensively and thoughtfully said, I selectively immunise and delayed immunisation so my babies could develop some natural immunity of their own. I do not believe all vaccines are the right choice for all babies and unfortunately we don’t know till we have made that decision. I support your decisions. I believe you are making the best choices for your baby. You are clearly taking your baby’s best interests to heart and that is right and beautiful. best of luck and lots of love to you all. x Lyndal
Is anyone have problems getting their children into childcare and schools when they arent vaccinated in qld?