Dear Anti-Vaxxers, what are you thinking?

I've been trying to understand to my best ability through research and hearing people's reasons why you chose not to vaccinate your kids, but I simply don't get it.

Most of you are basing your facts and opinions off of a man who later had his license taken away because of his allegations that vaccines can cause Autism and was discredited by the entire scientific community. Are you taking these unfactual things this man said and using it as an excuse to not vaccinate your children? How does that make sense?

I understand you are concerned about your children and the "possibility" of them getting Autism. No, Autism is not an easy diagnosis, but I promise you it's not caused by vaccinations. The reason vaccines are so easily used as the culprit for Autism is because Autism can't actually be diagnosed until after 8 years of age. There is a HUGE list of things that need to be present in a child's behavior for them to be diagnosed, so doctors choose to wait until the child is 8 years old. Just because doctors can't yet diagnose Autism after birth or earlier in life doesn't mean children aren't born with it.

There's also the parents that believe putting some "unnatural" substance in their child's body is against their beliefs. You can believe what you believe that's fine, but I also believe, or should I say I KNOW that Measles is now on the rise with 61 cases from 10 different states from January 1st of 2017 to April 22nd of 2017 alone.That's already catching up to the number of overall cases in the whole year of 2016, 70. Measles is on the rise and about 80% of these cases were UNVACCINATED CHILDREN. Yes, with vaccinations there is still a chance of contracting the Measles virus, but wouldn't you rather the chance be smaller? Wouldn't you rather your child be alive and not die from Measles or have them contract the Chicken Pox so they don't have Shingles, a very painful virus, later on in life?

I get it, you're scared and you want to do best for your children. But if you're not vaccinating your kids because you're afraid of them getting Autism or you are trying to keep "unnatural" things out of your child's body, you need to know the facts. Don't be making this decision based on a scientist whose research was discredited and whose medical license was taken away, talk to an actual doctor who knows the facts. Today, vaccines are more effective than ever saving many children from different viruses such as Measles, Chicken Pox, Meningitis, and so much more.

Please, I'm begging you to learn the facts. Learn that your child is in danger if they are not vaccinated; they could die from so many of the viruses that vaccines prevent. If you care for your child, keep them alive and healthy.

Sincerely,

A person genuinely concerned for the children of this world.