My name is Stacy and I am a new mom to my first child, who is currently four months old, and I decided to get him vaccinated according to the recommended schedule.
I currently have an aunt with stage four cancer and I am sure her immune system is not at its best. I want to be able to bring my son to visit her often, and if he were not vaccinated, I would worry about her getting an infection from him that might make her very sick or even kill her. I do wonder about what is in the vaccines for my son, but would I rather not vaccinate him and risk him getting very sick? Or would I rather get him vaccinated and lessen the chances of not only him getting sick, but getting others sick as well?
My son is only four months and he is not yet of age to get the measles vaccine. This concerns me very much since there is a national measles outbreak and there has already been a measles scare close to home. I am very cautious about where we go, and I make sure my family members and friends are vaccinated. I try and stay away from the places that have had a measles outbreak, but one can never be sure where it might pop up.
There are many members of our community who have chosen not to immunize their children against measles, so it certainly could happen here, too. I feel that everyone in a community who can get vaccinated should get vaccinated, not only to protect themselves, but to protect others such as my son and my aunt, and all those who are too young or too sick to be vaccinated against measles.
Stacy Nawrocki
Northampton