Weighing in on vaccinations

Weighing in on vaccinations

When I was a teenager a major reason for not wearing safety belts was the danger of being trapped in a burning car. The fear was real and supported by “facts.” Convincing people to wear safety belts for their own good was a battle. Though statistics clearly showed that wearing safety belts dramatically reduced the severity of injuries and the chance of death many people clung to their “facts.”

A recent Fence Post writer casts strong doubts on the efficacy and safety of whooping cough vaccine and encourages us to do our research before choosing to have ourselves and our children vaccinated. The writer stated that Dr. Werner (author of an earlier letter encouraging all to make sure that our immunizations are up to date) did not tell the whole story about the “uptick” in whooping cough cases and the safety of the vaccine. The writer sites research that supports his case against whooping cough vaccine programs.

My “research” shows that there are efficacy issues. Whooping cough vaccines are not 100 percent effective; over time the vaccine can wear off and there have been revisions regarding how many and at what age booster shots are needed. Almost all children and adults can be vaccinated safely. A small percentage of individuals should not get the vaccine because of previous reactions.

Ask a health professional if there are any reasons why you or your children should not be vaccinated. We are in danger of health crises because parents are refusing to have their children vaccinated for whooping cough and other diseases. Please do your research.

Dennis Reynolds

Glen Ellyn