As the debate continues between anti-vaxxers and pro-vaxxers, (or as I like to call them, those who believe in science and medicine and have common sense), will there be a time where vaccinations are before the court and considered a necessity of life? The Australian government has recently drawn legislation where those parents who rely on government welfare to get by, who don’t get their children vaccinated, will stop receiving their dependent income allowance. Perhaps if measles outbreaks keep resurging like it did in southern Alberta recently, the Canadian government will consider putting this practice into policy.
Bringing a child into the world comes with a great responsibility. Feeding, clothing and housing are a few of the basic necessities as is health care. When children are too young or too sick to verbalize their pain, loved ones provide comfort and take care of their health.
What happens when your loved ones choose to approach your medical care from a natural remedy standpoint? Rather than seek the advice of a medical doctor, someone who has spent years of their life learning the causes and consequences of illness in the human body, they seek the advice of a naturopath. That’s not to say naturopaths don’t have years of education behind them. I have sought out a naturopath on many occasions to help where I felt my overall wellness was lacking. However, a naturopath is not my first call when I have a high fever, a rash and a debilitating headache.
The difference in this situation when compared to that of a child suffering from these symptoms, I can tell someone exactly what is wrong. In the current court proceedings where a former southern Alberta couple are being tried for being unable to provide the necessities of life for their 18-month-old child, the Alberta justice system is deciding how to handle this challenging case. Many believe the loss of a child is punishment enough for this couple, many believe it’s not.
I would argue that vaccinating your child is also providing the necessities of life. If there’s a way to immunize your child against diseases that could kill them or make them seriously ill, why wouldn’t you take it? Farmers vaccinate their livestock against common diseases, border agencies prevent you from taking fruits and vegetables into new countries and states in case they carry insects and pests. Isn’t the health of your child worth the same consideration?
For those who argue the point that most diseases we vaccinate against aren’t even common anymore, it’s because of vaccinations. Polio isn’t a common occurrence in Canada because we have been immunized against it for decades. An analogy on government website, healthcanadians.gc.ca, speaks to this issue. “It’s just like when we started bailing out a boat that had a slow leak; the boat was full of water (full of diseases). We have been bailing (vaccinating) fast and hard, and now the boat is almost dry. If we stop bailing (vaccinating) the water will continue to come in as there is still a leak (infectious diseases are still present).”
While natural remedies are often praised for the overall health and wellbeing of many, I believe they are best used in conjunction with modern medicine. If I’m ever unfortunate enough to be struck down by a serious illness, I’ll be putting my health in the hands of physicians and science, not in herbs and hope.
