Vaccination: ‘It’s Not Just About Your Child’s Welfare’

Reader guest post:
My name is Emma, I’m a mum, a nurse and a staunch supporter ofΒ vaccination. So much so it seems I’ve been ‘defriended’ by a number ofΒ people on FB. All my children are vaccinated according to the recommendedΒ schedule and my sons receive the flu vaccine annually.
My youngest son Oliver (10mths) suffers from eczema, so it wasn’t tooΒ much of a surprise to see a few dots on his face when he woke oneΒ morning. We went about our day until he started being physically ill thatΒ evening. Hmm something was up… Next morning it seemed his ‘eczema’Β actually wasn’t eczema and he was diagnosed with Chicken Pox at our 1st
doctors visit!
I was shocked, devastated and a little embarrassed that my dear littleΒ boy had been exposed to such an illness.
Throughout the 2 1/2 weeks of illness Oliver was also diagnosed withΒ Norovirus, a staphylococcal skin infection requiring 2 differentΒ antibiotics and countless baths and creams and conjunctivitis. HeΒ experienced weightloss, sleeplessness and of course the horrid itchΒ eventually.
I was basically held hostage by this virus, not wanting to infect othersΒ Oliver was rarely taken from the house or car. Oliver isn’t old enough toΒ receive the CP vaccine, he and other babies and the vulnerable in ourΒ community rely on ‘herd immunity’ where the greater population areΒ vaccinated to protect those that can’t receive it.Β Four GP visits and a trip to the ER, and countless medications has also madeΒ for a very expensive 2 weeks.
I strongly urge parents have their children vaccinated. It’s not justΒ about your child’s welfare but our obligation to our community and thoseΒ that need our protection.
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