There are many anti-vaccine parents who refuse to immunize their children with drugs against possible diseases. The anti-vaccine current has gained adherents in recent years in western countries, the United States being one of the most affected by this philosophy. 75 percent of parents in that country believe that vaccines are not necessary, while 95 percent of pediatricians have ever encountered an unvaccinated patient.
Following the increase in cases and with the intention of reinforcing the policy of intimidation of the anti-vaccine parents, The American Academy of Pediatrics has decided to protect pediatricians who refuse to care for unvaccinated children.
With the aim of fencing the vaccines, a few months ago Australia withdrew tax benefits to parents who do not decide not to vaccinate their children and now it is the American Pediatric Association that has positioned itself in a belligerent way for the first time until point of supporting specialists who do not want to attend to these families.
If the pediatrician refuses to care for an unvaccinated child, the AAP protects the professional so that invite patients' parents to seek health care elsewhere. "If, after counseling, skeptical parents still decide not to vaccinate their children, doctors may ask them to seek care elsewhere." Said Benard Dreyer, president of the AAP in an interview with The Washington Post.
Convince or reject?
With this attitude, the AAP has moved from public education policy to try to convince parents about the benefits of vaccination to bullying policy.
Pediatricians say that they can't convince families of the importance of vaccines and ensure, bluntly, that non-vaccination is also a risk for the child and his environment, a danger that pediatricians do not want to assume in their consultations.
For its part, the position of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics is to try to educate parents about the suitability of vaccination for the health of their children. "We prefer the scientific and ethical argument of convincing with the word," said Dr. David Moreno, Coordinator of the Vaccine Advisory Committee in an interview with Babies and more.
The true handicapped, the child
However, in the middle of the crossfire between the pediatrician and the anti-vaccine parents is the child's health that is, after all, the most harmed. Not only is he not protected against possible infections that may endanger his life, but he also receives no medical attention.
There are many cases of children seriously affected or even who have died from complications from diseases such as chickenpox, which a priori is a mild disease that is uncomplicated, but sometimes complicated. Or children affected by diseases that should be eradicated such as whooping cough.
As parents, the decision to vaccinate children should be the most sensible and responsible. First, to protect your child against potentially dangerous diseases that could cost him his life, but also, It is a social responsibility. Being children the most easily spread, if a child is not vaccinated, it can be spread and in turn spread to higher-risk populations such as pregnant women, babies during the first year of life or immunocompromised children.
There are those who speculate that group immunity will protect their child, but when all parents stop vaccinating outbreaks of diseases that could be prevented and cost lives reappear, as we see is happening.
What do you think about AAP's position of supporting pediatricians who refuse to care for unvaccinated children? Do you see it right or could it harm the child's health even more?
