Saturday, December 11, 2010

Our Vaccination Journey


Our vaccination journey began when I learned that the Rubella vaccine contains aborted fetal lung cells (http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM123789.pdf).  After I learned this, I learned that other vaccines contain aborted fetal cells as well.  Because we believe that God gives value to all human life, and as a result it is wrong to use that life for experimentation when it is unwillingly given.  Those fetuses had no choice.  The cells were obtained in the 1960’s, and have been in the vaccine ever since (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/505950).  Some might say that good has come of those abortions, and I would agree, but that does not mean it is good to use that option when other, clearly viable options also exist (see prior link).  The argument about embryonic stem cell research is similar: “We could find a cure!”  But what value is the cure if it kills other lives?  Would you ok a treatment for your child that was developed using embryonic stem cells?  I know I would not, because I don’t want myself or my child to profit from another’s murder (which is what abortion and embryonic stem cell research are) or pain.  Additionally, I have a moral objection to injecting my child with the cells of another, when those cells were not freely given.

Thus, the Rubella vaccination was eliminated from our options.  Merck no longer makes Mumps and Rubella vaccines separately, now only making the MMR-II (Mumps, Measles and Rubella) or Attenuvax (Measles only) (http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm093833.htm).  Measles is fairly uncommon, with 71 reported cases in the USA in 2009 (most were linked to those traveling from or in close contact with those from developing nations), and the death rate is 1-2 per 1000 people infected (http://www.cdc.gov/features/measles/).  It is easily treatable.

So, the MMR-II is eliminated, with Attenuvax remaining an option.  Additionally, I learned that the Varicella vaccines, some Polio vaccines, Hepatitis-A vaccines, Rabies vaccines, and Shingles vaccines all contain aborted fetal cells (http://www.cogforlife.org/vaccineList.pdf and the FDA/CDC ingredient lists for individual vaccines).  Thus, more vaccines were eliminated from our options.

We eliminated the Rotavirus vaccine because there has been some controversy about its ingredients, and we felt that since breastfeeding is the best protection against Rotavirus’ main effect (dehydration), we didn’t really need to worry about it.  We also made certain we were aware of symptoms of dehydration in small infants so that we could be on guard.

Hepatitis-B is a blood-borne disease common to IV drug users and those who have multiple sexual partners, so there is little risk of my infant contracting it.  We will reconsider it when we have teenagers.

Polio has been eliminated from the Western hemisphere per our pediatrician and http://www.polioeradication.org/Infectedcountries.aspx

DTaP:
Diphtheria (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001608.htm) is a rare disease with risk factors of poor hygiene and crowded environments, and is usually only seen in developing countries.  Although it is fully treatable, it has a death rate of 10%.   The vaccine is not fully effective, and can only confer immunity for 10 years, after which a booster is necessary.  Most adults are not up to date on their booster shot (the DT vaccine).
Tetanus can be life threatening (45% will die), but there is both treatment and a passive immunization option available to those who have a potential infection.  It should be remembered that tetanus infection is actually quite rare (approximately 600 cases in USA in 1950 (population was 152,271,417 in 1950, making it a 0.0000039% infection rate prior to vaccine development)).
“Almost all reported cases of tetanus are in persons who have either never been vaccinated or who completed a primary series but have not had a booster in the preceding 10 years. From 1995-1997, 54% of the reported cases in the United States had an unknown tetanus vaccination history, 22% had no known previous tetanus vaccination, 9% had 1 previous dose, 3% had 2 previous doses, 3% had 3 previous doses, and 9% had 4 or more previous doses.”
Pertussis has cyclical outbreaks every 3-5 years and is rarely serious in those older than 3 months.  Additionally, vaccination does not prevent infection or transmission, with incidence most common in those who are vaccinated.  See: http://www.vaccines.me/articles/vvjak-whooping-cough-pertussis-in-the-fully-vaccinated.cfm and http://www.vaccines.me/articles/vprkm-pertussis-vaccine-unreliable---study-from-new-zealand.cfm (I could not find any reports from the CDC on this, but lots of news stories and independent news articles.)


Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal (PCC) Meningococcal (MCV)
These are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis, and Hib and Pcc are the primary causes of bacterial pneumonia, a leading cause of death in young children in the developing world (but relatively uncommon in the USA) (http://www.who.int/immunization_monitoring/diseases/meningitis_surveillance/en/index.html).
Hib is commonly found in the noses and throats of healthy individuals living in regions where vaccination is not carried out. Almost all unvaccinated children are exposed to Hib by age five. The bacterium is spread by exhaled droplets. Occasionally, Hib can invade the bloodstream and cause infection and disease in other parts of the body, including the meninges (membranes enveloping the brain and spinal cord) leading to meningitis, and the lungs, causing pneumonia. [emphasis mine]
AND
“Studies showed rates of Hib meningitis at 20 to 60 cases per 100 000 children under five years of age in the United States (before immunization began)”
                   http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs294/en/

World Health Organization’s data on vaccine preventable diseases: http://apps.who.int/immunization_monitoring/en/globalsummary/countryprofileresult.cfm
This (http://thinktwice.com/) site gives lots of anecdotes about vaccine effects.
Here (http://www.whale.to/vaccine/ImmunizationGraphs-RO2009.pdf) you will find graphs (with source notes) showing how many diseases became less common as sanitation improved, prior to vaccine introduction (note: I have not personally reviewed each source that was used in this document).

This from a bachelor’s educated Registered Nurse (RN) and Certified Public Health Nurse (PHN).  I was taught “all children should be vaccinated against Rubella so that a woman, when pregnant, if exposed, will not potentially transmit the disease to her unborn child who could then suffer an ill effect such as a heart defect.” (That was a class discussion and part of a lecture on the vaccine schedule when I was in nursing school.)

So, what do we do, having decided to delay and possibly never give those vaccines we do not find morally objectionable?  We keep our kid(s) out of daycare, nursery school, the church nursery and away from those whose health status is unknown/we cannot guess what they’ve been exposed to or may carry, until they’ve reached an age where any such infection is less likely to severely affect them, which is 2-3 years old for most diseases.

We study the signs and symptoms of these “preventable” diseases, so that if our child should come down with something, we will know and respond appropriately.  We are not afraid to seek treatment of disease beyond our home efforts of rest and hydration, knowing that medicines can be very useful and effective.

We eat homemade, mostly organic foods, forsaking fast-food and prepared foods almost entirely.  We make healthy life choices, avoid addictive behaviors, and exercise and play.  We trust God to provide and protect, we pray and rejoice.

Monday, October 4, 2010

glory

When the Lord calls someone home, there is pain, and there is joy.  Tears of joy, smiles of sorrow; blessed be the name of the Lord.  In the wee hours of Sunday night my beloved Grandma Re went home to Glory.  She's through with the trials of this life, she's through with the pain and in His wondrous light.  We will miss her gentle spirit, her loving touch and her delicious food.  She'll not see her great grand-babies grow up, she'll not see them learn to walk or fall in love or have children of their own.  That's our responsibility now, not that it wasn't when she was here, but now she cannot share in it.  The beauty of eternity lies in that one day, we will see her again, full of hope, home, safe in the arms of Jesus.  Jesus, what a wonderful name, unlike any other name; the name of my Redeemer, of Him Who Saves.  Grandma came to know Jesus, and let Him know her, through a Billy Graham TV evangelism special about 40  years ago.  A woman who was born before the TV becomes reborn through its use, ironic, no?  She fed us love, literally.  If it was made by her hands, and went in your mouth, it was the equivalent of love; we ate it regularly, and she taught me how to make it, one time and one dish after another.  She wanted to go, she was ready, and she told us so, to my uncle, her firstborn, "I'm not to wake in the morning."  She'd given us plenty of warnings, "I'm dying, but these babies are full of life!"  She got her desire, to go easily while sleeping, from arms of earthy love to the wonderful arms of Jesus.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Mighty footsteps of God walking on the roof

Tension had been building in the air for days now; we've had really unusual weather, first scorching hot, then tremendous amounts of humidity.  For the last few days, I've felt like the sky should pop.  And it just did.  The thunder started at about 8 am, and and 9 am the sky broke open, and flooded our lawn, driveway and the street out front in a matter of minutes.  Mighty footsteps of God walking on the roof, baptizing us with His mercy and grace.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The Kitchen

I am making chicken stock.  Something about September does that to me; the air smells different and the desire wells within me to put the stove to work.
Chicken Stock:
A Stock Pot, 3/4 filled with water
Chicken (whatever you have will do) including bones and skin, about 2 lbs
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
3 Sprigs of Green Onion
1/4 Lemon
1 Clove Garlic
Cover pot and bring to a slow boil, then reduce to simmering, cook 4-5 hours
When chicken is tender, remove and discard bones and skin; set aside.  The chicken can be used for soup, sandwiches, chicken salad, etc.
Strain stock, then return to pot, bring to slow boil, and cook, uncovered, until reduced by half.  Cool in refrigerator over night, then remove crust of fat if desired.  Store in jars in freezer for later use.

Chicken Salad
Large Bowl
Chop Chicken into coarse chunks
finely chop:
     2 Stalks Celery
     1 Sprig of Green Onion
any other veggies/seeds/nuts you desire
approx. 3 TBSP Mayonnaise/Sour Cream/Plain Yogurt (enough for it to be moist, but not sticky)
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1 TBSP Dijon Mustard
Place everything in bowl, mix together, and enjoy on a bed of Lettuce

mmm!  Now I'm hungry.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

and so it begins

We are a family of three, trying to figure out how to live a right life.  A life right with God, right with fellow man, and right with the world.  Some things we understand how to do, some make sense in theory, some are just confusing.  We know how to live right with God, but the dad-to-day right living is not as easy as it seems.  Living right with fellow man sounds great, but there are too many people to try to please them all, so I'll go with, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Romans 12:18 NASB).  As for living right with the world, and understanding that those who live right with God are called to be stewards of the world, we are trying to figure this out, one cloth diaper, one recycled container at a time.