Undecided on Vaccines? This Survey Might Change Your Mind.

Until about a year ago, I was undecided in regards to the dangers of vaccines. My gut told me they were probably bad, but it was difficult to take a stand on the issue. The reason why was simple enough. When it comes to the news, I try to read a diverse set of opinions, many of which I’ve come to trust. But what does one do when the sources of information you trust begin to oppose each other on a big issue? How do you come to a decision when both sides of the debate claim to hold all the answers, while adding that the other side consists of liars and special interests?

Suddenly, your news sources are no longer a shortcut to being informed about the world. Now they’re a source of confusion, and I suspect that a lot of parents feel the same way. Ultimately, you have to listen to both sides, and do your own research. If someone gives you a statistic, don’t take it for face value. You’ve got to find the studies behind the statistic, and seek out the finer details. You have to use that big beautiful brain god gave you to find the truth. But if you continue to rely on other people’s opinions, a satisfying conclusion will be elusive.

For me, it wasn’t just one thing that helped me make a decision. It took a lot of time and research to reach that conclusion. And even now, sometimes I still fallback on my gut instincts. When I read the list of ingredients in a vaccine, something tells me that it’s not right. I don’t need the FDA to tell me they’re safe. They don’t sound like chemicals that should ever reside in the human body. But that’s just me. I tend to make intuitive decisions. But hard proof and intuition should go hand in hand, so if you’re looking for something a little more solid, allow me to throw this nugget your way.

The Vermont Coalition for Vaccine Choice has a website with a lot of interesting information. They’re not an “anti-vaxxer” group, and have taken a different approach to informing the public. Rather then condemning people who vaccinate, they just provide information, and are supporters of informed consent.

They recently linked to a survey that is currently being conducted in Germany, which is trying to reach out to anyone who has never been vaccinated. The survey asks them what chronic and acute health conditions they’ve endured throughout their lives (or the lives of their unvaccinated children), and compares the data to official statistics. So far over 12,000 people have answered the survey, and the results are startling.

So is this enough to help you make a final decision on vaccines? Hopefully not. If you were on a jury, you wouldn’t convict on a single piece of evidence would you?

Nonetheless, it is compelling. If you’re still undecided on the issue, consider this a starting point. You should look for as many sources as you can before you make a decision, and no one should condemn you for whatever opinion you settle on. Perhaps if both sides of this debate were to take that kind of open-minded approach, the truth would be so much more clear to us all.

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition