I can't believe my oldest is off to college at the end of this month! It seems as though I have just blinked and she's gone from a beautiful newborn to a beautiful eighteen year old!
She's off to college in MA. and here is the scoop on the "Important Health Information" packet that is required by the school. As you probably know form reading the blogs of other NEDlife coaches, the vaccination debate continues. MA colleges "require" the meningitis and the HepB vaccine. There is a waiver in the packet for meningistis because there is currently a huge shortage of the vaccine. I haven't sent in my packet as my daughter just had her physical last week. I received a 4 page letter from the college pointing out that they had not received her health information and the importance (2 full pages) of the meningitis vaccine. I noticed that there was not a waiver for the Hep B vaccine, so I called the school. Wow, did that phone call take on a chilly tone! After being told that she could die if she contracted HepB I reminded the nice lady that she is neither a prostitute or an IV drug user and I didn't see contracting HepB as very likely. She is required to write a letter and explain why she won't be vaccinated.
I have read research on this HepB vaccine and there are far too many cases of permanent neurological damage as a result. The same goes for meningitis...we were on a head coach conference call last week and one of the effects of the vaccine was a near death experience with regressive autism as a result. The girl that received the vaccine as she was going to college was a fun and athletic student and sounded exactly like my daughter- what a tragic result! She is recovering and cod liver oil is one of the main reasons. (Cod liver oil is available through NEDlife at www.nedlife.com/evelynwhite) My heart skipped a beat when I heard that! Please realize that I am not suggesting that you don't vaccinate - it is a personal decision for everyone. I encourage you to do the research and make your own decision! As for me, I am comfortable and confident with my decison and look forward to seeing my daughter go to college and have the time of her life! I am sure I'l be blogging about the college experience...stay tuned. :)
1 comment:
I think it's a wonderful thing when parents question the "norm" and what everyone else is doing. The power of the "pack" is amazing and it's hard to break away from. It's important to find people that will support you no matter your decision and will encourage you to keep looking and examining all of your options. Good luck!
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