“I want to share my inner thoughts on vaccine politics, a very heated topic these days in our community.”
-Only anti-vaxxers think it is political.
“the animosity toward us, is unfathomable.”
-Because anti-vaxxers know that other people may die for their decision but they still won’t budge.
“Yes I understand you pro vaxxers strongly believe in vaccines, and their safety and effectiveness.”
-because it’s been tested extensively.
“You don’t fear live viruses, in vaccines, as well as additives and human and animal cells and DNA….”
-I do fear those things. I am only willing to vaccinate my kids because they have proven, through extensive studies, that it is safe.
“You trust that the vaccine industry is working hard to protect you and keep you healthy. You trust that they are honest and expose all the truths, never hiding facts that may be important for you to know to help formulate your decision. I understand that fear is something you want to avoid at all costs. So if the government and vaccine producers can limit your fear of disease, and assure your well being, you will choose to follow their advice, innovations and promises.”
-I don’t trust anyone. I don’t trust the vaccine industry nor the government and I definitely don’t trust the anti-vaxxing arguments especially since every single one has been refuted. It comes down to whom should I rely on. Someone is lying. The liars are either 1) the vast majority of doctors, plus the government, plus the vast majority of scientists, plus the vast majority of rabbanim, plus the vast majority of journalists, or 2) a small percentage of doctors plus a tiny percentage of scientists, plus 1-2 rabbanim, plus a few journalists who also think the mossad masterminded 9/11
“I believe all you parents who go to the doctor to vaccinate have the best intentions in mind, and of course you don’t take your doctor’s word with certainty when he says vaccines are very safe, safer than the disease. I believe you take the time to read disease facts. I believe you have the courage to ask your doctor to show you the vaccine package insert, so you can read the adverse side effects related to the vaccine your child is about to receive. I believe your doctor is honest and lawfully hands that to you, the consumer. I believe you read it….I believe you discuss your concerns and take the time to make a conscious choice to allow your doctor to administer the vaccine to you dear child. You are a truly responsible and caring parent who takes the time to educate yourself before allowing the doctor to administer the vaccine. I applaud you for making the choice that’s right for you and your child. You don’t blindly trust the doctor or government”
-I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic but yes that is all true.
“government, who do care about your health, but should ethically never impose on you any health procedure or treatment.”
-I don’t know if that’s true. As an extreme example, if a person has a severe bout of psychosis and they think they need to kill someone, I would hope that he would be sedated or treated even against his will.
“I do fear vaccine components that are known to cross the blood brain barrier, such as aluminum.”
I fear aluminum which is why I don’t use it whenever possible. I use natural deodorant and I line my pans with parchment paper.
“I fear inflammation of the gut and brain.”
-I fear those too which is why I vaccinate my kids against diseases that cause those things.
“I also doubt the vaccine industries intentions.”
-I don’t care about their intentions. I’m sure they have some intentions that are noble, such as to eradicate disease and other intentions that are selfish, such as to make money. However, I’m sure alternative practitioners also have both good intentions.
“Perhaps they’re not sharing with us the full picture. Perhaps not all the facts are exposed to the average consumer, or government agencies or health journals, and the media.”
-Assuming vaccines are all a hoax, I honestly don’t know how they could pull this off in the massive way that they are doing. Not everyone can be bought off with money.
“I’m aware that when disease strikes, I or my kids may be sick for a week or two, but will get over it with Hashems help.”
-That’s really nice to do that to your kids. You do know that encephalitis which comes from the measles can occur 6-10 years after the patient has already overcome measles.
I believe our body was designed with an immune system so that it can deal with illness and then gain lifelong immunity. You fear disease. I fear vaccines.”
-I fear both. I choose vaccines because I would never want to put my child through suffering that could have been prevented very easily.
“You trust the government with certainty.”
-I don’t. I just trust them more than I trust conspiracy theorists.
“I trust Hashem – my body’s designer with certainty.”
-I trust Hashem too which is why I think that if I’m doing my hishtadlus to prevent these diseases, then Hashem will protect me. Hashem knows how much information I have access to and He knows that my only desire is to protect my family from harm and I believe that when I do vaccinate, it is a shemira against illness and I believe that Hashem sees that I am doing my best. When I do vaccinate, I daven that we shouldn’t have adverse reactions and that we should be protected from the diseases.
I think the claim that anti-vaxxers trust Hashem more than vaxxers, is very insulting.
“Can you please understand that there’s another opinion out there by descent, well intentioned human beings?”
-I’m not why this boils down to opinion. It’s not political. Anti-vax think they can do something, knowing that it may (obviously not definitely) kill the immune deficient. Measles is not dangerous to people whose health is optimum. The problem is that not everyone else’s health is optimum and those people cannot vaccinate, through no choice of their own. When a person carries the measles, they risk transferring it over to the people to whom these diseases are life-threatening.
“Can you understand that we never entered an agreement that I, who oppose vaccines will get vaccinated, to help protect you?”
-That’s fine but I hope you can then understand why others find that attitude to be extremely selfish and even despicable.
“I also did research. I do think I’m a responsible adult and parent.”
-I also did and I feel the same way.
“I ask you to stop with the hatred and cynicism that’s driving us further apart as humans on this planet, and as people of one nation.”
-Habah lehargecha, hashkem lehargo. Not that I think that pasuk is completely appropriate in this situation, but it does explain that you don’t have to love another Jew when his belief can kill you.
“Our creator has given us bechira.”
-Bechira does not mean that all options are right. A person can kill, serve avodah zara and commit adultery because they have bechira. However all those things are forbidden and the violater will be punished.
“As true Torah Jews you should not want this freedom to be taken from anyone. For if you fight and scream for this choice to be taken away from others you may one day discover that a choice you hold dear is being taken away from you.”
-There are many laws that restrict our freedoms in some way or another. This should be another one.
“Do you want to set the stage for forceful laws and regulations regarding your health or religion to be imposed on you?”
-No, but I don’t think vaccines fall into that category.
“Or basic human rights to be taken away from you???”
-It should not be a basic human right to be able to infect others with a dangerous illness.
Final thoughts:
Anti-vaxxers think that the diseases that vaccines are meant to prevent are not dangerous diseases. They think that vaccines are dangerous. They also think that everyone is being paid off by Big Pharma. These arguments have been refuted myriad times by many educated and qualified professionals. However, they will not budge. Therefore, I think that this was all a waste of my time.