It's a hotly contested issue and as a woman about to have a newborn my head is swimming with arguments from both sides.

As this pregnancy gets closer to the end, everything I do seems to slow down.  It takes me longer to move, to think, to write.  Just a result of the baby sucking up all my energy I think. :)

That's my excuse for not updating the blog for a while.

I was also working on some reports for our sweeps period here at KSPR. One of them was about Immunizations.  I guess I didn't realize how many people are opposed to childhood vaccinations until I started researching.  If you follow the issue at all, you know actress Jenny McCarthy has brought the connection of vaccines and autism to the forefront recently with her son's battle.  She's convinced the MMR vaccine contributed to her son's autism.   She's not alone.

I interviewed Ruth Dunigan, a mother here in Greene County who believes her son's autism stems from a vaccine he received. Ruth doesn't tell parents not to get vaccines.  But she does tell them to ask for one vaccine at a time.  I remember taking my son Joey in for one of his appointments when he was really young and they gave him 4 shots at once.  I shudder to think about it now.  Common sense tells me, that's too much for a little baby.

And yet, as the CDC points out, we follow that schedule for millions of children every year and the reports of adverse reactions are minimal.  I know there are questions about how much is reported, misdiagnosis and what is minimal?  I don't know the answers.  I do know I am concerned.  When my baby girl comes, I'm pretty sure I don't want to follow the recommended schedule for vaccines.  I believe I have a right to say one shot at a time.  I'm sure my pediatrician will love me for this.  But then I remember that I am the number one advocate for my baby.  If I don't stand up for my child, who will?

I don't want to disregard the importance of vaccines.  I interviewed Dr. Robert Steele at St. John's Hospital.  He's on the Missouri Board of Immunizations Advisory Committee and he's very educated on the issue.  He mentioned that Vaccinations were recently ranked as the #1 public health policy implemented in the past 100 years.  I can see why.  When you think about it, we don't have to deal with a lot of deadly diseases that used to claim lives in this country.  With Measles, Mumps, Diptheria out of sight, it's easy to say, we don't need those vaccines.  Our children can build up immunity and survive without the shots.  But then I remember that when these diseases were epidemics hundreds of children and adults died from them every year.  Many more than are reported dying from vaccines.

It's such a quandry for me.  As a parent you want to protect your child from everything.  I can't ignore the stories I've heard.  I really believe in a Mother's instinct.  If they believe vaccines caused autism in their children, who am I to argue. 

I know a lot of you will be tempted to send me studies or reports on both sides of the issue.  You don't need to.  I've read more about it over the past 2 months than is probably good for me.  I feel informed.  Maybe too much so.  I am not advocating either side.  But both sides, did convince me of this.  An informed decision is best.  So study up on it.  Make the decision on who's right for yourself and trust your instincts.