This opinion editorial was originally published in the Lansing State Journal.
After becoming a parent almost two years ago, I’ve done my best to maintain a practical and pragmatic approach to raising our little guy. Despite the best intentions of overly-cautious books, blogs and Pinterest boards – and those who dole out unsolicited advice – I have a pragmatic approach to parenting.
Edmond crawls around on the floor, spends most of his days with either our dog or the babysitter’s dog and puts everything into his mouth. We let him do it, because we know it’s good for his immunity and because I can’t spend every waking moment sanitizing each item he touches.
My laid-back attitude changes when it comes to vaccines.
The U.S. is currently experiencing the worst measles outbreak since the disease was considered eradicated in 2000. Nationwide, more than 1,000 measles cases have been confirmed across 28 states this year.
In Michigan, the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed 44 total measles cases statewide this year – including 40 cases in Oakland County, one in Wayne County, one in the city of Detroit and two separate cases related to international travel in Washtenaw County and St. Clair County.
As the parent of a young child, the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases is horrifying. Children aren’t able to receive the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine until age 12 months. They don’t receive the second dose – and have full immunity from the disease – until they are between ages four and six.
This means an infant younger than 12 months depends on other people being vaccinated to lower their risk of exposure to serious diseases. To put it bluntly, the health of my kid is dependent on your kid being vaccinated.
We stay current on all vaccinations, not only for the baby, but for ourselves too. Vaccination is more than a personal choice – it’s a shared responsibility. By choosing to vaccinate, you help protect the public health of those in your community who are too young or too sick to be immunized.
Measles isn’t the only vaccine-preventable disease on the rise.
Michigan has seen one of the worst hepatitis A outbreaks in the nation, with more than 900 confirmed cases and 28 deaths since August 2016. In Michigan in 2018, there were 658 reported cases of pertussis (also known as whooping cough), 486 reported cases of varicella (also known as chickenpox) and 81 reported cases of mumps, according to provisional data from MDHHS.
As parents, we love our children and want to do what is best for them. It’s fine to have questions about vaccines, but it’s imperative to get answers from trustworthy sources.
Talk to your pediatrician or visit your local health department. When turning to the internet for answers, make sure to consult credible resources such as IVaccinate.org.
You have the power to protect your family, your community and public health. My son and thousands of other kids in our community are counting on you.
Gabrielle Lawrence is a mother, attorney and blogger, and a Lansing resident.