Whether to vaccinate or not can be a difficult decision to make, especially when those on either side of the debate equally claim to hold the truth, and more often than not use fear to coerce you.

To understand where I come from - I have an innate faith that the human body is capable of dealing with any disease if given the necessary resources - physical, emotional and spiritual. In evidence, I continue to witness and hear of people overcoming serious dis-eases, even cancer, using natural means.

I also believe that to truly 'cure' something you need to 'fix' the cause - bandaids only cover up symptoms (having said that though, bandaids are helpful to relieve problems in the short-term while a long-term solution is worked on in some cases). 

Vaccination in my mind is just a bandaid - but unfortunately a toxic one. I did a lot of research when my two girls were born, and continue to collect information. I eventually made the informed decision not to vaccinate, and wow, you quickly realise that there is a lot of extreme prejudice and ignorance ready to be thrown in your direction because of your decision! It is certainly not an easy road...

Personal Experiences

• Both my girls (3yo and 7yo) have not come down with any of the typical childhood diseases, despite being in public daycare from a few months of age onwards, although chicken pox passed through at least 4 times
• The one case of whooping cough I personally witnessed - 1 boy was unvaccinated, 4 were vaccinated
• Two girlfriends had children develop eczema straight after vaccination
• A local GP, on returning from a paediatrician's conference in 2001 confided that one of the leading experts admitted off the record to him that most vaccines, especially MMR, were 'dirty' vaccines despite what he stated on the podium 1/2 hour previously
• I have witnessed most childhood diseases - and they are not pleasant, much like the flu is not pleasant, but they are certainly not life threatening. I believe that complications (and death) only arise from compromised bodies (physically, emotionally and/or spiritually)

Some of the arguments that are used against you often defy logic and evidence

• Unvaccinated kids are the carriers of disease - the evidence is not there. The collection of statistics is often arbitrary (GPs often misdiagnose or don't report, or kids are not sick enough to go to a GP, like mine, so are not included), or biased (cases from hospitals and welfare agencies are reported which will include skewed levels of unvaccinated lower socio-economic populations). I personally hear about outbreaks via parents of sick vaccinated kids! But if vaccinations really do 'prevent' disease as most people believe, then why the worry? You will be protected anyway - won't you?
• Disease can only be kept in check if a large percentage of the population is vaccinated - this is based on simplistic population modeling using unfounded assumptions about the spread of disease, but curiously, by default, it also admits that vaccines are not really protecting you - the individual! In addition, many outbreaks of vaccinate-able diseases have even occurred in 99% vaccinated populations

Then there is the science, which more and more experts are speaking out about

• Most vaccines contain thimerosol - a mercury containing preservative that is known to cause neurological disruptions in the brain 
• Most vaccines contain genetic material from other animals - the recent expose on the likely link between monkey tissue in polio vaccines and AIDS is worrisome
• The link between antibodies and disease suppression is still a theory (yes, antibodies are produced, but disease can still occur and does)
• More and more vaccines are being packaged together with unknown consequences - there are even projects underway to combine over 10 or more vaccines into the one jab
• Vaccines cause reactions, some serious and life threatening - but no-one knows exactly why. In my mind, a reaction is a reaction and should be treated with caution
• There are ongoing claims that wont go away of a link between vaccinations and autism ...
• And this is a curious comment regarding bird flu vaccines from the experts: "Mass vaccination can also serve to disguise the presence of any H5N1 that manages to survive in innoculated flocks, and thus pose a great danger..."??? 

In summary I concluded

• Vaccinate-able diseases are rarely life threatening
• Vaccines do not necessarily 'prevent' disease
• Vaccines cause side-effects
• Healthy bodies are able to fight disease* 

So why do it?

* This is at the crux of my stand against vaccinating and should not be taken lightly....I suggest you browse through this website for information and links to form your own opinion on what boosts health. Generally speaking - eating 'real' food that your body was designed to eat, is a good start!

Do your own research first. These links will help to get you started.

Australian Vaccination Network

National Vaccine Information Center

The Immunisation Awareness Society of New Zealand

Mary Toco Video