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Monday, October 20, 2008
Should flu shots be mandatory?
New Jersey has passed a law requiring flu shots if young children want to go to daycare or preschool. And many Jersey parents say it violates their rights. What would you do?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Would you give your kids the flu shot if your state said you had to?
New Jersey has passed a state law that requires children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years have a flu shot before they attend preschool or daycare.
Many of the parents are protesting with the argument that they should have the freedom to control what chemicals are put into their children. Here’s the story.
Ever since we lived in New York City I have been a big advocate of flu shots and have always gotten myself and my children vaccinated. I even did it while I was pregnant with all three children. However, as we’ve discussed in the past I have grown a little leery of vaccinations in general. And many of the flu vaccines still contain the mercury preservative known as Thimerosal, which the government says is not a problem but many parents are concerned about. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do this year.
I did a little poking around on the CDC’s web site, and here are some relevant pages that I found.
From the CDC Flu shot fact sheet: “Some inactivated influenza vaccine contains a preservative called thimerosal. Some people have suggested that thimerosal may be related to developmental problems in children. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine reviewed many studies looking into this theory and concluded that there is no evidence of such a relationship. Thimerosal-free influenza vaccine is available.”
From that sheet: “There is no convincing evidence of harm caused by the small amount of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor effects like swelling and redness at the injection site due to sensitivity to thimerosal. Most importantly, since 1999, newly formulated thimerosal preservative-free childhood vaccines (Hepatitis B, Hib, and DTaP) have been licensed. With the newly formulated childhood vaccines, the maximum total exposure during the first six months of life will now be less than three micrograms of mercury. Based on guidelines established by the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), no child will receive excessive mercury from childhood vaccines regardless of whether or not their flu shot contains thimerosal as a preservative.”
But I also found where you can go to complain if you feel vaccines have injured you. That doesn’t really promote confidence.
After reading these links, I have learned that there are some Thimerosal-free flu vaccines, and I may call my pediatrician to find out if he has them.
What do you think: Are you going to give the flu vaccine this year? Does it worry you? Would you give the flu vaccine if you state mandated it? Is that a violation of rights?
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