(Dear Readers, this is not directed at any of you; it comes up periodically among my acquaintance and irritates the living daylights out of me.)
Public Service Announcement: Sex is not the only way to acquire hepatitis B! Infants and children can and do acquire it from other people. This happens with distressingly high frequency in countries where hep B is endemic. Fortunately, it's not endemic here. However, can you be sure nobody with hepatitis is ever touching your child? Nobody at daycare? Nobody at school? They're never going to get a cut, or bite another child?
Or, here's the short version: Vaccinate your children, do.
Indeed! Exactly! And this doesn't even touch on the fact that: yes, in fact, your children might one day have sex. Imagine that. Or don't, if you prefer not, but at least realize it's true. Criminy.
ReplyDeleteThe people who don't vaccinate make me seriously reconsider moving back to the Bay Area (aka land of the unvaccinated child).
I agree, but I still think instituting universal vaccination at birth for that one costs more in good will/trust than it gains in public health. For babies born to mothers known to be negative and not in a high-risk group, waiting a few days makes no difference. Meanwhile, jabbing freshly born babies is the kind of thing that gets emotions running high. The way I see it, you have people who will oppose vaccines no matter what (who are a lost cause here), people who are going to in general trust vaccines (who aren't likely to be swayed, either), and people who are on the fence. The third group is reachable by either side, and I think we should be thoughtful about under what circumstances we let policy play right into the hands of the crazy shit group A spouts about government control, not caring about your precious baby, etc.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Sugar thinks I'm a nitwit for thinking the above, so, you know, your mileage may vary.
We vaccinated both kids at 1 month, which gives better immunity anyways, being as waiting a few days does make no difference. I'm talking about people who don't want to vaccinate for Hep B AT ALL. Until their kids are teenagers. I think this is stupid.
DeleteThis really comes up among your acquaintance? I just must not talk to many people about vaccines. Now, GMO food and artificial sweeteners come up all the time. People think DNA from their food is going to "infect" them, and drink a ton of fructose-laden soda to avoid the "dangerous" sweeteners. I wish people would do a little research before they freak out.
ReplyDeleteIt is to weep. My favorite is... "but it has FISH DNA in it." Which is so different from non-fish DNA. (As opposed to epitope-producing fish proteins, which might actually cause problems.) Sigh.
Delete"it has FISH DNA in it!" Well, SO DO YOU! :) ok, now I have a comeback in my next discussion with my smart and nice mom friend, but who is wield about GMO foods.
DeleteLMAO at "fish DNA". Too funny.
DeleteActually, that's one of the things I actually like about my current area where we live - the vaccination thing, or GMO's, nothing like that ever comes up in conversations.