Just Saying No To Vaccines

Perhaps its our own childhood fear of needles or living in the over-abundance of information age, but many new moms and new dads are taking a risk by refusing to allow their children to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. We know, we had to look up rubella too.

Currently, most states require immunizations unless there is a medical or religious reason to forego them. Twenty states have provided for personal exemption, according to a recent poll by Johns Hopkins University. Even though parents know a child may contract one of the diseases, they choose to believe unfounded speculation that vaccines may cause autism and neurological disorders and keep their kids from receiving vaccines.

Vaccines have been extremely successful at keeping children healthy and staving off outbreaks of once deadly diseases, and there is no concrete evidence to support any ill effects. Experts strongly advise that children be inoculated, both for their own health and the health of other tots. [New York Times]