The pharmaceutical industry with its strong legislative and marketing arms have led the public to believe three myths.  First, that vaccines are safe, two, that vaccines are totally effective, and third, that every child has to have them.
 
First vaccines are not safe.  Our government has paid out over a billion dollars to compensate families who have children that have died or become injured from a vaccine.  Also it is widely accepted that only a fraction of the true number of vaccine injuries and deaths are reported or compensated.
 
Second, vaccines are not totally effective because there are many documented cases of diseases or outbreaks in the vaccinated population that were supposed to be protected.
 
Third, not every child has to have vaccinations.  In most states there are up to three exemptions from vaccination.  You can either use a religious, medical or philosophical exemption to avoid vaccination.
 
Childhood vaccination is not primarily a chiropractic issue but a freedom of choice issue.  A parent needs to be fully informed and have a choice if their child is being subjected to a medical procedure that carries a risk for serious injury, disability or death
 
Vaccinations do contain toxins and carcinogens that are used to manufacture the vaccines.  If you are interested in preventing vertebral subluxation in children, we need to look at the role of vaccines in producing a chemical cause of vertebral subluxation in children.
 
Many people would be surprised to know that congressional hearings have shown that up to seventy percent of the individuals that make up the FDA advisory committees that approve new vaccines to bring to the market have conflicts of interest and financial ties to the vaccine manufacturers.  Also researchers that test the safety of certain vaccines before approval check the safety of an intended vaccine compared to another experimental vaccine instead of a placebo.  Those of you familiar with proper research protocol know that this method is flawed.
 
The following top seven list is a good starting place to start a parent's journey on getting informed and making a decision that is best for their child.
 
1. ASK, "Is my child sick right now?
 
2. ASK, "Has my child had bad reactions to a vaccine before?
 
3. DID YOU CHECK your family medical history for records of vaccine reactions, convulsions, neurological disorders, severe allergies, or immune system problems?
 
4. DID YOU GET full information on vaccine side-effects and how to identify a potentially severe reaction?
 
5.DO YOU UNDERSTAND how to report adverse reactions?
 
6.DO YOU KNOW the vaccine manufacturer's name and lot number?
 
7. DID YOU VISIT the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) website (www.909shot.com) for more information and updates on vaccine research projects?
 
A great resource for parents to get more information or for professionals and doctors to purchase books and newsletters or get advise and support is the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC).  This top seven list was developed by Barbara Loe Fisher and Kathy Williams cofounders of the NVIC.  If you are passionate about this issue you can also contribute to the NVIC to help expand vital scientific research and public education.  Check out their website at www.909shot.com