For kids with cancer, other families’ vaccination choices can mean ‘life or death’

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.livewellnebraska.com/health/grace-for-kids-with-cancer-other-families-vaccination-choices-can/article_05a9836f-9f07-5780-bfe9-cffdaea98278.html

Posted: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 1:00 am
By Erin Grace / World-Herald columnist

Sammy Nahorny strode into Children’s Hospital on Monday with one black Croc and Spiderman sock on, one Croc and Spiderman sock off.

He’d walked through some slush, explained his mother, and now had a wet, cold foot to contend with besides the reason bringing him here: cancer.

Sammy is 7 and has spent half his life battling something called neuroblastoma. He’s had so many chemotherapy treatments that his mother has lost count. The treatments have knocked out his immune system, making Sammy at risk for an old-fashioned disease that has resurfaced — measles.

Sammy is too sick to get a second measles shot. The first vaccine he got, at 12 months, is no longer good after all the chemo. So Sammy, who has beautiful blue-gray eyes like his mom and an affinity for the iPad like just about every other child, is a human sponge for germs. A cold can be serious. The measles could be a killer.

FULL story at link.

[Tanuki]

1. k & r

[HappyMe]

2. k&r

Chemotherapy completely destroyed my immune system. I had to rely on those around me to not get me sick, and not just your family.

[xmas74]

3. Rec and kick

[Brickbat]

4. I've heard them say it's not their job to keep other kids from getting sick.

Horrifying.

[dembotoz]

5. not just kids-years ago my immune suppressed wife also was at risk

nasty form of leukemia

i remember wanting to bring her a food treat from the local taco joint and having it politely but firmly switched to McDonalds Yes mcdonanlds, by her oncologist because he was concerned about the lettuce and tomatoes for contamination

I remember the fever spikes-normal folks take some nyquil and go to bed---we would take a bunch of tylenol and head to the hospital er where her infectious disease specialist was waiting--yes she had her own infectious disease specialist....


so the parents do not want vax their kids--if their little germ factories were to kill my wife the parents would have had to worry about me.....

[HappyMe]

8. Yes, I agree.

The rest of us should consider their precious feelings and concerns, but it's completely okay for them to dismiss science and put vulnerable people at risk. Special snowflake attitude gone mad.

[ColesCountyDem]

6. I wish I could rec this post 100 times!

[BlueMTexpat]

7. Having grown up in an era when even

the "three-day measles" (aka "German measles&quot affected fetuses (deafness, birth defects, etc.), these diseases also affect healthy persons, either primarily or secondarily.

Unless there is a medically justifiable reason from a medical professional who is not a quack for not vaccinating one's children (or oneself for that matter), all people should be vaccinated. It is a responsibility that we all owe to society.

Vaccination should never be a matter of personal choice. Ever. Period.

[sheshe2]

9. KnR