Alternatives to Vaccinations

In general, no matter what the issue, do not allow yourself to be intimidated and coerced by doctors. Read, study, become informed, and remain firm regarding your decisions. You have the right to select the kind of preventive health care that is appropriate for your family. Thus, never be forced to accept any medical procedure against your will.

Although there is a great deal of confusion about vaccinations and the requirements for school entrance, it is actually quite simple: State laws require that children receive the recommended immunizations prior to school entry or that parents sign a waiver stating that all or some of the vaccines have not been given because of medical, personal or religious reasons. It is not legal to interfere with the absolute right of parents to make decisions regarding vaccinations.

Some children have had bad reactions to vaccines involving very high fevers, seizures, "collapse syndrome" and other problems. Some of these reactions strictly prohibit giving another dose of that same vaccine. From a purely medical point of view, most of these reactions do not mean another dose should not be given, but the parents or doctor may be uncomfortable enough to stop that particular vaccination series.

These days, parents are feeling very intimidated by advice of "experts" and are becoming overwhelmed and frightened. There is an irrational fear of infectious disease, as well as of fever. What are the alternatives? Keep your child healthy, and feel confident in your abilities to make sound decisions regarding your child's wellness. Promote the strength of your child's immune system, and avoid things that can weaken it. This will prevent complications of disease.

Here are some suggestions for strengthening the child's immune system naturally:

• Avoid partially hydrogenated fats (contained in packaged snack foods) because they promote inflammation and prevent healthy fatty acids from being incorporated into cells. Read labels of prepared foods and you will find that these fats are everywhere: in crackers, chips, cookies, and desserts. Avoid French fries and other deep fried foods from McDonald's and the other burger palaces. The oils in these foods are rancid. Supplement your child's diet with omega-3 fats that prevent inflammation.
• Avoid foods with added sugar, i.e., sugared breakfast cereals, sodas, cookies, and ice cream. Corn syrup is especially difficult for the body to metabolize. Corn syrup is everywhere so read the labels. Use fruit spreads instead of jam, and other lots of fresh and dried fruits or fruit rolls. Use whole grains and whole wheat bread rather than products made with "wheat flour," which means white flour. Use organic foods whenever possible, and your child will not be eating pesticides that injure the liver.
• Breastfeeding is the best protection you can provide for your child! Continue for at least 12 months or longer if possible. The longer you breastfeed, the more your child will benefit. Breastfeeding prevents infections and the complications of childhood illness. Breastfed babies are immunized; children who are injected with viruses and bacteria are vaccinated. An endorsed campaign by the government to increase Americans' breastfeeding rate would prevent more childhood diseases -and deaths- than all of the vaccination programs currently endorsed.
• Do not give antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
• Decongestants suppress the body's immune system and add more harmful chemicals to your child's body, prolonging infections and causing hyperactivity.

We cannot wipe out every disease on the planet. Many parents feel that it may be more sensible to focus on strengthening our children's immune systems to deal with the increasing number of different "superbugs" created by inappropriate and massive use of antibiotics than to inject numerous foreign materials into their delicate, developing bodies. An increasing number of parents are not willing to accede to a point of view that goes against their core beliefs about health and wellness.

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