Let’s be honest—I’m the kind of mom who loves amber necklaces. It’s like a secret signal that says, “Yep, I’m a tree-hugging, kombucha-brewing hippie!” We embrace all the crunchy vibes those necklaces suggest. I’m still nursing my nearly 3-year-old, and my other two kiddos were nursed until they hit 3 and 4 years old. I’ve even nursed my friends’ babies! We prioritize organic food, share a cozy family bed that’s a queen with a twin sidecar, and I’m a strong believer in the gut-healing magic of Kombucha. If coconut oil consumption was a contest, we’d be in the top 1% of crunchy granola families.
But here’s the kicker: I’m a hippie, and my kids are fully vaccinated—always have been, always will be.
There’s a common misconception that free-spirited parents who adorn their children with amber can’t possibly embrace vaccinations. Many in the hippie community are wary of chemicals—despite “chemical” being as broad as anything from H2O to hydrochloric acid. We often instinctively avoid manmade additives, as “chemical” has earned a bad rep. Plus, some hippies have a deep mistrust of conventional medicine, with its connections to Big Pharma and its tendency to dismiss alternative treatments.
However, you can be as laid-back and eco-friendly as they come while still recognizing the genius of Jonas Salk and how a tiny shot can shield us from serious illnesses. Initially, my partner and I were “Dr. Johnson vaccine-skeptics.” We thought there were too many vaccinations too soon, preferring to space them out. We bought into the idea that giving two vaccines at a time (instead of a possible six) could reduce the risk of “chemical overload.”
Let’s Unpack This
We worried about the buildup of vaccine adjuvants in young bodies—especially concerning the neurological system. Spacing out vaccines seemed like a safer approach, allowing the body to process these so-called “dangerous chemicals” one at a time.
But here’s the reality: man-made chemicals can be harmful, except when they’re the safe ones found in vaccines. Take aluminum, for instance. While it can be a neurotoxin in large doses, the aluminum salts used in vaccines are completely safe. In fact, your baby gets more aluminum from a liter of infant formula or even breast milk than from a vaccine.
Formaldehyde is another “scary” ingredient used to inactivate viruses and detoxify bacterial toxins, but the amount left in vaccines is minuscule—50 to 70 times less than what’s naturally found in a newborn’s own body. Once you dig into the actual chemical content of vaccines, they start to look much less intimidating and far more essential.
As for the popular belief that kids receive too many vaccinations too soon? That’s just not true. Today’s children actually receive fewer antigens than kids did in 1980—dropping from around 3,041 to roughly 153. Their immune systems are less overwhelmed now than they were back then. So, us hippies can’t long for the “good ol’ days” with vaccines—modern science has improved them.
After researching from trustworthy, peer-reviewed sources—not from alternative health influencers like Dr. Smith—we realized vaccines are safe. Sure, I acknowledge that some individuals may experience vaccine injuries, but I suspect the actual numbers are lower than those claimed by alternative health advocates. However, I firmly believe that the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the potential risks.
Consider the Alternative
I’ve been invited to a chickenpox party—an event I gracefully declined. Before the vaccine, varicella could lead to serious complications. According to immunize.org, an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 individuals developed complications each year, with about 11,000 hospitalized, and 100 fatalities. The CDC lists complications from chickenpox, such as bacterial infections, pneumonia, and even encephalitis. I’m not willing to risk those outcomes for my kids. The CDC asserts that the vaccine is safer than the disease, so my kids received their shots. It wasn’t exactly fun, but I’d choose a quick jab over the risk of encephalitis—or worse, death.
You can embrace natural living and still believe in the importance of vaccinations. Fill your home with wooden Waldorf toys, brew your own kombucha, and devour homemade sauerkraut while understanding the necessity—both personally and for the greater community—of vaccines. I’m a free-spirited mom who’s done the research, and I trust in vaccinations.
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Summary
In this article, Jenna Thompson discusses how she embodies a free-spirited, eco-conscious lifestyle while firmly supporting vaccinations for her children. She addresses common misconceptions about hippies and vaccines, debunks myths surrounding the chemical content of vaccines, and emphasizes the importance of immunization in protecting against serious diseases. By blending personal anecdotes with factual research, she advocates for a balanced approach to parenting that embraces both natural living and modern medicine.