Intro

I am a mother of three, who was previously in the grips of the anti-vaccine movement. I spent years arguing with my husband, pediatricians, specialists, etc about the safety of vaccines, and why my children would not be getting them. On a smaller more personal level, of course. I wasn't going to rallies or  protests. I was, and am, simply a mom trying to do her best to do what is best for her children. 

My kids are now 15, 13 and 10. I am currently getting my children up-to-date with their childhood vaccines. The older two have most of their baby vaccines, but I stopped vaccinating them at a year old. I wasn't staunchly anti-vaccine, mostly vaccine hesitant. My youngest only had three vaccines up until recently - no boosters, just three jabs, as a baby. I recklessly thew her into daycares, school, etc. Leaving her vulnerable to diseases, and leaving others vulnerable as well. That is slowly changing. 

I am making this blog to help ease the fears of other parents, hoping to save you from the years of torment that I put myself through. Hours of arguments with my husband. Embarrassing myself in front of Pediatric Infection Disease doctors (something I will get into in a later post), losing friends, arguing with family, and our Pediatrician. 

It took a global pandemic and my middle child being one of the vulnerable (on immune suppressants for kidney disease) that herd immunity protects, to put things into prospective. It was the anti-maskers and COVID non believers that made me really think about things. I was on several anti-vaccine groups on facebook and followed the leaders of the anti-vaxx community (if you're reading this, you know who they are) and had a friend group of many vaccine hesitant or anti-vaccine moms. I could not believe the nonsense some were spewing during an actual real-life pandemic, a pandemic which was killing and causing serious issues to so many. I took a good hard look at what I believed to be true in my gut, and slowly started leaving those groups. And I am so glad that I did. That allowed me to start looking in the other direction. Searching for truth, without being spoon-fed conspiracy theories and propaganda. 

It's easy to get into an echo-chamber and allow fears to make you anxious, making it nearly impossible to listen to rational, medically trailed professionals. Especially when literally anything that happens post vaccine, can be twisted into "it was the vaccine!", by those who are in deep.  It's crippling. And I hope that sharing my story will ease some fears if you're on the fence. Or, if you're currently not vaccinating, knowing that it's ok to change your mind. Because when you know better, you do better. And that's growth. 



*I am not a medical professional. Just a mom who has changed views on childhood vaccines, and I want to share our family's story. Please seek the medical advice from your trusted medical doctor. 

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