Vaccination is a natural way to use your body’s own immune system to prevent debilitating and potentially deadly infectious diseases. There are risks with them of course, as there are with all medications.

I personally have had two experiences that reinforce my belief in them. The first occurred in med school when a classmate caught measles. It was ugly. And very painful. Her greatest risk was catching pneumonia. She didn’t because of great medical care, but it was touch & go the whole time.

The second case was when a 9-year old (or so) girl presented to the ER in Baraboo, WI with whooping cough. Her parents “didn’t believe” in childhood vaccinations yet she was the one who had to suffer for their ignorance. It was a horrible sight.

While I support vaccinations, I do believe that their use is up to the parents. In my opinion, governmental mandates are forms of assault & battery. However, one of my Rules of Life is, “You Can’t Make People Smart.”