Over the last few years, Alaska Wellness has run several articles on the issue of childhood vaccinations. This year, the topic is especially relevant, as the state of Alaska now requires all children to receive three additional vaccines (for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and mumps 2) in addition to the existing six (diphtheria; tetanus; pertussis; polio; measles; rubella) before starting school. Children attending childcare facilities will also be required to receive immunizations for influenza (type b) and chicken pox.

The campaign in Alaska for mandatory vaccination states that any child lacking proof of immunization or a valid exemption will be excluded from school or childcare. What many parents don't realize, however, is Alaska does offer exemptions from this mandate. Unfortunately, our state does not yet offer philosophical objections to this law (as do several states), but parents can choose not to vaccinate their children by filing either a medical or religious exemption form. Medical exemptions must be signed by a licensed physician, osteopath, physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner, stating that in this professional's opinion, immunizations would be injurious to the child or members of the child's family. A religious exemption is much easier to obtain in that parents simply sign a form (available through most school nurses) stating that immunization conflicts with the tenets and practices of the family's religious denomination.

The vaccination issue is drawing heated debate from both sides. This is understandable, for not only has there been illness and death from the diseases these vaccines are supposed to prevent, but deaths, injuries and long-term complications have resulted from reactions to the vaccines themselves. What's a parent to do?

Given the proliferation of books, articles and web sites warning about the hidden dangers of vaccination, it is clear that a major storm is brewing. As such, it is necessary for parents to remain calm, clear-headed and begin to explore both the pros and cons of this issue in order to make a responsible choice for their children and family. Information about anything can be skewed, and it is up to us to discern truth from hype.

When I told a physician last year that I was choosing not to vaccinate my daughter, she shook her head and said, "I suppose you've been reading horror stories on the Internet." It was true; I had read a number of horror stories. But I had also visited sites that were clearly pro-vaccination and had read much of the data on this side as well.

Many years ago, when first confronted with the information that vaccines may be harmful, I didn't want to believe this could be so. I wanted to be a responsible parent; of course, I would vaccinate my child. Years later, I still don't believe that most physicians would intentionally harm a child in any way. And yet, I have come to realize that a physician's information is only as good as his or her training. Within the standard medical paradigm, vaccines are viewed as saving lives. Just like the rest of humanity, there are many physicians who are resistant to exploring information that exists beyond their paradigm, even when confronted with alarming evidence to the contrary.

In this issue, we bring you the true story of an Anchorage family whose life was changed dramatically when their 4-month-old son Cael experienced a grand mal seizure within hours after a standard DPT shot. What is truly beyond belief is that over 150 reactions and three deaths had been reported from this particular lot of vaccines before Cael ever received his shot. You may be surprised to learn -- as Cael's family was -- that our government has paid millions of dollars to families for vaccine-related injuries and deaths.

We urge all parents to read more before making a decision regarding vaccination. Alaska Wellness currently has eight articles on vaccinations (see http://www.alaskawellness.com/archives/index.html) available in our on-line archives. Of particular interest for those who may choose not to vaccinate is Dr. Robert Wheeler's article on "School Vaccinations: Your Parental Rights," which addresses the exemption process in Alaska in more detail. For the pro-vaccination viewpoint, see the state's official position on this at:
http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/programs/infect/izregsinfo/reginfo.shtml