Monday, April 23, 2012

Give a kid a Shot@Life

My girls absolutely hate getting their immunization shots and would avoid it if they could, and they do try.  In fact, my youngest doesn't even like getting the FluMist, you know, the little no-pain nasal spray. During one doctor's appointment, B, my middle daughter, actually crawled underneath the examining table, backing into the far corner in an attempt to get out of the doctor's reach. After we finally managed to pull her out, it still took the doctor, a nurse, and myself to hold her still long enough for the injections that would prevent her from getting measles, mumps, rubella, polio, or chicken pox. Her reward was a sticker, a lollipop, and her choice of Dora or Princess band-aids which she gladly accepted for the invasion of her will.
"Maybe if I don't look, it won't hurt"
It's something I don't even give any thought, I don't imagine most moms do. Make the annual doctor's appointment, roll up their sleeves, give them whatever shot is on the schedule for that age. It's a medical privilege I've always taken for granted and we have almost even forgotten what the diseases look like. When my youngest actually got the chicken pox, the pediatrician's office was a flurry of excitement to see a real, live case of the disease.

We rarely, if ever, consider the fact that each year, 1.7 million children around the world are still suffering and dying from the diseases I have automatically immunized my children against.  One in five children don't have access to the basic immunizations that could save their lives.  For a mere $5, a child can be vaccinated against polio and measles. [stats from shotatlife.org/learn/] For the cost of a tall latte, a child's life could be saved.

Mocha Moms has launched a campaign with Shot@Life to raise awareness about the need for greater worldwide access for childhood immunization.  For more information, check out ShotatLife.org or MochaMoms.org.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have you done any actual research on is in the vaccine. Also have you research the connection and the ingredients of autism and other disorders. Do you know the history of vaccines and the agenda behind them. I think we should look deeper into vaccine. I work in medical and have observation and research. I'm just asking have you researched what you are putting into your child's body!

Mommyx4 said...

thanx for your comment. There is various research out there about the potential risks, side effects, and complications from some vaccinations, some known and listed for parents on the consent form, others unknown, others still being studied. As with all things, I guess each person has to weigh the pros and cons, benefits and possible risks, when making a choice.