Are some lives worth more than others?
In current heated discussions across the United States, it seems like many people are trying to decide just that. I am talking about the anti-vaccination movement that is sweeping the nation, at an alarming rate now that Trump has the presidency actually (and let's not even get into a discussion about the breaking down of the Affordable Care Act). I understand that people have a right to their opinion. I understand that this issue is widely debated on both sides. I understand that this single article probably will not change any minds.
But with all those disclaimers out of the way, I also understand that I would like to live.
Okay, what? You may be asking yourself that right now. I'll explain.
When I was a child, I had leukemia. Leukemia itself is not entirely the most fun thing that can happen in your life, and when you add chemotherapy onto that, it can really...suck. That is the best way I can put it. When you have leukemia, your immune system basically shuts down, because the main cells involved in fighting illness are now your cancerous cells. When this happens, you lack the ability to fight even a simple infection. Imagine being a young, cancer-ridden little bald girl fighting for your life. Now imagine that that little girl died because your child gave her measles. This brings me back to the original statement of: are some lives worth more than others? Is the life of a cancerous child worth less than an unvaccinated child? If you have an answer, please let me know.
Flash forward to me, 20 years old, cancer survivor and nursing student. During nursing school, we had to have blood titers drawn to ensure immunity to diseases like Hepatitis B, Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. When I first received my titers, I was not immune to chickenpox, measles or mumps. At first, this came as quite the surprise to me. I had received my MMR vaccinations at all the right times in life (oh god, please do not try to tell me vaccines caused my cancer, also). I had chickenpox as a little girl, and I even had shingles while I had leukemia. But alas, I learned that a long-term effect of leukemia can be an impaired immune system. In order to up my immunity, I received the MMR Booster and got the Chickenpox vaccination because I do not want to be at high risk for getting those diseases while working in healthcare.
The problems with my immunity did not end there. One year after having my original titers done, I had to have them done again to ensure my employer that I was immune to the same illnesses again. The results came back, and drum roll please......I was not immune to mumps. My body had still not created enough antibodies against the disease. Yet again, I had the MMR Booster. Yet again, I pondered the strength of my immune system (verdict says: not strong).
As this anti-vaccination wind started to gain strength, I started to get concerned as my body has been shown to not effectively make antibodies even when vaccinated. My dream has always been to work in pediatrics. Suddenly I have found myself having to seriously reconsider that as an option, for my own safety. I love working with children, and helping to treat them during illness has always brought me so much joy. But even with proper protective equipment and care, my own health would be at high risk while in the proximity of a child who has mumps, or measles, or rubella. I wish that no child had to go through having those diseases in the first place.
Vaccines prevent the spread of contagious diseases. Would you want you or your child to have one of those illnesses? Mumps has no cure. Rubella can lead to birth defects. Both are highly contagious. Both are incredibly serious. Are some lives worth more than others? Who gets to decide?
