Have you ever watched anyone suffer from polio? Or known someone who lost their sight or hearing to measles? Have you ever listened to the old folks talk about the suffering and deaths of their own friends and siblings from the diseases now prevented by those vaccines?

It’s tragic when any child dies. But, before those vaccines, those diseases were epidemics and pandemics, bodies piling up faster than the grave diggers could keep up. Those who had the diseases and lived, were scarred and/or twisted for life. My great aunt lost three children to polio; one of her sons survived, but was crippled and in pain for the rest of his life. My mother, who was born blind from an unrelated congenital condition, was taught by several teachers whose sight or hearing was lost because of measles. A schoolmate of my grandfather was made sterile by mumps. Those kinds of tales were history in the West for four generations – now, they’re making a comeback.

Yes, there’s risk and we, as parents, must educate ourselves – We must hold Big Pharma and the medical industry accountable. Still, I think it’s always important to push the medical technology and pharmaceuticals to improve the vaccines. There definitely needs to be some form of exam or test prior to vaccinations to assure a child will not die from complications caused by the vaccine. It’s tragic when even one child dies – but, it’s catastrophic when thousands die from preventable diseases. I’m sorry, but it’s irresponsible to condemn vaccines entirely – and thereby condemn future generations to the kind of suffering our grandparents and great-grandparents lived through.