Com 098 November 25, 2008 Why Vaccinate? Most parents do not even think twice about immunizing their children. They just know that it is something they are supposed to do and some even think that it is something they have to do. But what they may not realize is they really do have a choice, but then the choice becomes which is better, to immunize or not to immunize? At birth babies have protection against certain diseases because of the antibodies that have passed through the placenta. After birth, breastfed babies have the same continued benefits, but with both of these the protection is only temporary. This is where vaccinations step in. Vaccinations can be traced back as far as the end of the 18th century. As far as for today there are nine mandatory vaccines for infants and children. These vaccines start as early as birth and go to age five with boosters up till age twelve. These nine vaccines immunize against such diseases as hepatitis B, rotavirus, diphtheria, tentus, acellular pertussis ( whopping cough), haemophilus influenza type b conjugate, pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, hepatitis A, and meningococcal. Most of these diseases have not been seen in over fifteen years because of the immunizations. But one might say why are still immunizing then? Why are they mandatory if these diseases almost no longer exist? To answer both of these questions you have to look at both sides. The risks can be seen if you do vaccinate and if you don’t. As reported in the Atlantic Monthly, the risks of not vaccinating children can be in seen in Boulder, Colorado. Nearly half of the students attending Shinning Mountain Waldorf School have not received all their vaccinations, with some students not receiving any at all. The result of this has been an out brake of whooping cough. This could happen even more wide spread if this trend would continue throughout the country. This is why some believe that the only way to go is to vaccinate. On the other side...