Swine Flu vaccinations are now available to the general public in Tokyo too. But, before we make that phone call to set an appointment, I cannot reiterate enough that as a parent, we must understand that vaccinations come with the risk of a debilitating side-effect. Side effects attack anyone at anytime without any discrimination.
There are few positive developments too.
In late October, NY State rescinded mandatory vaccination to healthcare workers.
Their ‘official’ reason was because there wouldn’t be enough for the general public if all health care workers got vaccinated.
Across the Atlantic, the Polish Health Minster Ewa Kopacz, a GP with over 20 years of
experience, decided NOT to purchase the swine flu vaccinations. Her reasons among
many were because:
• no thorough clinical tests have been conducted and she as a GP does not feel comfortable with the reported results. If she does not want to administer the vaccine to her child nor her mother, why should the rest of the Poles be treated any differently?
• the Law Department find at least 20 points which question the ‘holiness’ of the vaccines. As a Health Minister, she can not justify signing an agreement which is in the best interest of the pharmaceutical companies and not the health of the Poles.
As many of the neighboring countries have stocked up on the vaccines, her decision is under scrutiny. However, I cannot help but applaud.
As a mother and a homeopath, I share her decision.
I’ve grown up hearing many Polish jokes.
Her decision may be food for another series of jokes.
But I wonder who would be laughing now.