UPDATE: Child vaccination debate rages on

THE debate as to whether or not parents should vaccinate their children, continues unabated.

The safety aspect of vaccinations has been questioned globally in recent years following a UK study some years ago which linked the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism.

Although recently proved ‘fraudulent’ by an investigation published in the British Medical Journal, the damage had already been done.

Last week Zululanders were asked to participate in a poll in which they were asked if they were for or against vaccinating their children.

While the article reached more than 7 500 people online, of the 22 who participated in the poll, 16 (which equates to 73%), said they were in favour vaccinations, while six (27%) were opposed to it.

‘Not only are they putting their children at risk, they are also putting our children who have been vaccinated at risk when they get in contact with them,’ said Nothando Khuluse.

ALSO READ: Don’t vaccinate your child at your peril, warn experts

Disagreeing, Nadine Brits said, ‘ If you are not a parent of an autistic child, you will not understand. How can you sit there and point fingers? You have no idea the struggle parents face each day with our kids… Negligent? Lets not go there.’

‘Perhaps those reluctant to vaccinate would be more willing if the producers of the vaccines were more transparent about what the vaccines are made of and the very real danger of permanent side effects. We are expected to blindly trust medical opinion and protocol without being given the opportunity to make informed decisions,’ responded Lisa McNeill, raising a valid point.

‘Just as cancer is clearly not going to be eradicated, so measles and other diseases are not going away, and making pincushions of children is not going to eradicate any disease. Deal with disease,’ said Retha Van der Wath Bremer.

Although this poll is far too small to scientifically gauge the sentiment, it does appear that Zululanders are overwhelmingly in favour of vaccinating their children against dreaded diseases, including measles.

In the last six weeks alone Germany has reported more than 500 cases of the potentially deadly disease, compared with just 33 cases in the same period last year.

ALSO READ: Richards Bay infant recovering after last week’s life-saving resuscitation

According to the German Health Ministry, kindergartens are being asked to report parents who fail to prove they have been counselled on child vaccinations.

Parts of Gauteng and the Western Cape have also reported a measles outbreak in recent weeks.

Although much smaller in number than what is being experienced in Europe, experts have warned that the measles outbreak in South Africa is a ‘direct result of parents refusing to vaccinate against the illness’.

Annemarie Blackmore, Pharma Dynamics’ Anti-microbials Portfolio Manager, is one such expert, who says vaccinating children is paramount in the ongoing fight against super bugs.

‘Antibiotic resistance is when an antibiotic has lost its ability to effectively control or kill bacterial growth and is exacerbated by the unnecessary and incorrect use of antibiotics,’ she said.

‘Vaccines have the potential to decrease disease, which can in turn reduce the need for antibiotic use.’

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world and could cause brain damage, pneumonia or blindness.

Look out for a high fever and flu-like symptoms and, after two or three days, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth, followed by a rash, which usually starts as tiny, flat red spots on the face, neck, trunk and extremities.

If measles is suspected, parents are urged to visit a GP or clinic immediately.