There’s a lot of discussion these days about vaccines. Many parents still holding to debunked theories about a connection between vaccines and autism have refused to vaccinate their children. As of this writing, there is a growing epidemic of measles around the country, a disease that is not without serious consequences — including death.
This is unfortunate and unnecessary. Links between autism and vaccinations have been disproved. As Christians we have to model good thinking, and, in this case, it’s good thinking for parents to have their children receive vaccinations. This isn’t to deny that side effects and adverse reactions can occur! But, on the whole, vaccines are probably safer than the antibiotics we take so happily for every viral upper-respiratory infection.
Of course, with influenza still swirling all around, I find myself having to say to people with flu, “I know you were vaccinated, but this year it didn’t work very well.” Like every medical intervention, there are times when a vaccine doesn’t work, and this year’s flu vaccine was far less than optimal. Furthermore, a large review of relevant research now suggests that antivirals like Tamiflu and Relenza are not very helpful at all (despite being pushed by drug companies, government agencies and physicians). My point is, there are good vaccines and marginal vaccines (good drugs and marginal drugs), but, on the whole, vaccination is good for individuals and society.
However, the discussion is not being framed very well. From what I’ve seen online, it comes down to this: “If you don’t get your kids vaccinated, you’re stupid, because we know it works and you should be forced to do it.” This is not how I would approach a frightened or concerned patient. “You should get a cardiac cath because you have to have it, and you’re stupid if you don’t.” Insults and coercion make for poor public health policy.
Furthermore, it’s tremendously ironic to me that there are other things which very clearly are issues of health and well-being but which many in society find laughable. For instance, the one surefire way to avoid an STD is to remain a virgin until marriage and to have sex with only one’s spouse for life. In an age of deadly hepatitis and HIV, that seems a no-brainer. But when we discuss abstinence education, it’s treated as a backwards, ridiculous idea, even as the sexual revolution is in free-fall due to concerns over sexual assault and the objectification of women.
In addition, we know that the best guarantee of upward mobility for a child is to come from a stable home with a mother and father*. This is a “vaccination,” of sorts, against poverty. Other research has suggested that having a father at home is a “vaccine” against things like drug use, criminality and promiscuity in kids. But there are still “anti-vaxxers” in this arena as well who believe that those are out-of-date ideas and that any parental arrangement is equal to any other. And yet I wouldn’t call those detractors stupid.
It’s important that we be wise in our decisions about health. And it’s important that we use relevant information, respect the science, and listen to those who have spent their lives studying diseases and their treatment.
But it’s also important that everyone speak the truth in love.
— Edwin Leap’s latest book, “Holidays & Holy Days,” is available at BaptistCourier.com/publishing.