My Name is Joycelyn and I'm a Vaxxer.

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I'm about to abandon my funny, lighthearted posts to touch on something a bit more controversial. I've read so many opinions, and seen so many posts regarding vaccinations after the recent measles breakout. Now, before you go saying "Oh great, it's another post bashing "vaxxers" or "anti-vaxxers", this is how I see it and I don't mean it to be offensive to anyone. It's my opinion, I'm entitled to it, and It's impossible for me not to say something.

I'm a "vaxxer". Duh, duh, duh. I was vaccinated on time, so was my brother, and so was my daughter. I can't think of any one I know that was not vaccinated. It wasn't even a choice for me. The doctor told me when the appointment was, and I showed up. No questions asked. 

With all of these outbreaks, I see a clear line of division forming between parents that have all of the same goals in mind; Protecting our children. I see vaxxers pointing fingers at anti-vaxxers for the outbreaks. Yes, I have said things about anti-vaxxers. Yes, I have pointed fingers in blame for the outbreak. You know what I realized? I'm scared. I'm terrified that I had my child vaccinated and did everything I could to make sure these horrible, almost eradicated diseases didn't harm my baby. The anti-vaxxers are terrified too. They are scared that the man-made, mercury-ridden material getting injected into their children may be harmful. 

So who's right? Studies show that the chances of complications from vaccines are slim to none. Any studies linking vaccinations to autism have been proven incorrect. I understand that some parents still do not want to take the risk, but think about it. Do you know any kids or adults that fall into the autism spectrum? I do, and they range from high functioning, to developmentally delayed. Even if it's a one in a million chance that your child would become autistic, would that be worse than a much greater chance of them contracting a preventable disease, and possibly dying?

I spent some time researching the ins and outs of these preventable diseases and their complications. Polio can cause long tern muscle weakness and deformities. When you get the Mumps, your salivary glands swell to an unreal size. Painful, testicular swelling can occur, also. Measles is a rash, accompanied by a high fever. My mother had measles THREE TIMES & Rubella, or German Measles, twice. Yes, it can happen. She was 4 when the doctor did a house call and told my Grandmother that my mom most likely wouldn't make it. Not something I want to experience, let alone willingly, put my kids at risk for. I was given the choice to vaccinate my daughter against Varicella, the Chickenpox. This was before it became mandatory in Ontario schools. I'm young enough to remember having these. Do you remember them? They fucking sucked. A chance to have my child avoid this, or have a less severe case? Sign me up! Why are we questioning this?

Have measles been gone so long that we forgot how horrible they are? No, they're not Ebola. (Don't get me going on Ebola...) You will most likely survive. But guess who died from them the most in the past? Children under the age of 5. 2.6 million people per year before 1980. These are the same young children we're trying to protect by not vaccinating them. See where I'm going with this? There are countries that have not decreased or eradicated these diseases the way we have, that see the damage they can cause everyday. These people would give anything to have the health care system that we do, and to have access to vaccinations and treatments. Did we come this far only to regress to the state of a developing country?

Frankly, I'm scared. Even though my child is vaccinated, I send her everyday to a germ infested school, where she mingles with every germ possible, and shares her germs with other kids. Building the immune system, sure, but what happens when it's something worse? My kid, who I've vaccinated against these diseases, shouldn't live in a bubble in fear. Oh but she's vaccinated, she'll be fine. It's the anti-vaxxers who are the only ones at risk. Someone said this the other day and I was infuriated. Vaccinations are not 100%. If I come down with a cold, and come in contact with someone infected with the measles, I'm at a higher risk. Young babies, too young to be vaccinated are at a high risk as they don't have an active immune system. People that have weakened immune systems from cancer and other diseases are the ones being put at risk. 

While I think it's amazing how some parents take the time to make sure there are no harmful chemicals in their laundry soap, use lemons to clean their houses, and will only buy non-GMO veggies, where do you draw the line? Toxins are everywhere. A can of tuna will make you glow in the dark before an MMR shot will. I read somewhere that we are slowly poisoning our kids. Well guess what? How many kids died before these vaccination were available? How many times do you hop into your car to drive 2 blocks, shooting harmful fumes into the atmosphere? They say it's mostly middle to upper class families taking on the anti-vaxer mentality. Do they wear expensive perfume? Hairspray? Lotions? Take trips on planes? A vaccination is the last thing we need to worry about. 

I'm not asking you to take your kid to Chernobyl and expose them to dangerous levels of radiation. I'm asking you to help protect them, they way I tried to protect mine, which is now compromised because of misinformation. Obviously, these diseases were bad enough for scientists to develop a way to prevent them. I count myself as lucky that I didn't have to live through them being a common childhood occurrence and I don't want to witness a time when they become that again. Are all of these millennial parents too young to know what can happen? Maybe a severe outbreak is what we need to remind us how devastating these diseases can be. That's what it's coming down to and it's only going to get worse.

At the end of it all, it's our choice as parents if we grow our own veggies, or feed our kids hot dogs and Kraft Dinner. Some people will hate me for my opinion and that's fine. If you get your panties in a bunch easily, you probably shouldn't be reading my blog, anyway. If you are a naturalist and actually practice a completely natural, chemical free life, then I respect you and your choices. If you eat at McDonalds and won't vaccinate your kids, you're misinformed and need to reevaluate your priorities.

**Check this website. If you think the government is conspiring to kill you, then don't. That link will take you to the CDC's page for vaccinations. More specifically, reactions to them. Scientific results from actual tests. Not made up bullshit, silver spoon fed to the over privileged.