I was a US Soldier in 2003 when I was wrongfully diagnosed, by a 3rd world doctor, with cervical cancer. I was told to wait for the lab results but that I would likely need to have the essence of my feminity removed.
The day before my scheduled surgery, a happy accident occured. My so-called physician was out for the day and the director of the hospital attended to me. After looking at my records carefully, he deduced that my results had been misread and he gave me another cervical exam.
I did not have cancer, only cervical inflammation. (I was a newly wed.)
He injected me with the HPV vaccine and within 5 minutes, I was dismissed and released for work.
I come from "hearty breeding stock" as does my husband. I've never had issues with my cycles and have been looking forward to having children for years. We've been trying to conceive for over 5 years and I haven't come up pregnant- not once.
It kills me to think that the medical community will think nothing of spending billions of dollars on Viagra and yet balk at the thought of helping women save their ... I don't know, their self-worth. I feel like I've been gypped. I feel robbed. Like the male doctors think my femaleness is a liability and not worth saving.
Vaccinations and Children
I suppose my point is that vaccinations in pets could and should be made safer. Doses need to be adjusted for weight, not "one size fits all". Vets also need to talk with pet owners as to which vaccinations their pets actually need rather than give them all "just to be sure". Vets make big bucks on shots, though, and until enough animal lovers are aware of (and angry about) the potential side effects, pet owners will blindly follow their vet's advice. Look at the original post that sparked this particular debate: "my kitty died of distemper and you're wrong to tell people not to get shots". So I reiterate, I feel pets should not be indiscriminately vaccinated -- we're over-doing a good thing. Some vaccinations are a necessary evil, but all are not without risk. We, as pet owners, must weigh the risk against the potential benefit.
As for humans, we're over-doing on that front as well, in my most humble opinion. My husband contracted a disabling auto-immune disorder at age 48 one month after a tetanus booster, and three months after the flu shot. Coincidence?? Try convincing a doctor of that.
08/24/2008: Jae from Spanish Fork, Utah replies: "In response to Mary's post that "many children DO have severe reactions to vaccines, but so far there is still no public outcry. Like most vets, most doctors will not admit that the symptoms are related to vaccinations. Our health care system - people & animals - does NOT put the interest of the patient first. Just an f.y.i." I completely disagree with this comment. Prior to the administration of any vaccine in children, a parent or guardian must be given a written information sheet on the risks, benefits and alternatives to vaccines. This includes verbage on the side effects of vaccinations, and includes even rare side effects. At that point, the parent has the option to decline the vaccine. Further, prior to the vaccine being administered, the guardian must sign that they have received information on the vaccine and its side effects. This does not occur in animals. I have never been told of side effects of vaccinations in animals. Furthermore, there currently IS a public outcry by parents who are fearing that vaccines cause autism in children (which hasn't been validated). Although new to the subject of veterinary health, I am not new to human healthcare, and with transparency in quality and cost becoming the overwhelming focus, there is no alternative to putting patients first."
08/21/2008: Fran from Spartanburg, SC replies: "To Mary: Mary, many children DO have severe reactions to vaccines, but so far there is still no public outcry. Like most vets, most doctors will not admit that the symptoms are related to vaccinations. Our health care system - people & animals - does NOT put the interest of the patient first. Just an f.y.i.
Vaccinations and Children
08/17/2008: Mary from Southaven, MS replies: "Julie, I think if you read all the stories here, the overall message is not saying to stop all vaccinations on all pets. However, if these reactions were happening in children, someone somewhere would be conducting a study and there would be massive publick outcry. Pet owners should research and decide which vaccinations are needed for their pets. If an animal is immune to rabies from a prior vaccination, for example, giving it boosters will not make it "more" immune. Also, the dosage should be adjusted in most cases, and combo vaccines are especially hazardous. I'm thankful I found this site before I blindly followed my vet's advice to give unnecessary additional vaccinations.
Like I saw in one comment, I believe "less is more."
