Some people believe that if their children are vaccinated, the decision of others not to vaccinate shouldn’t matter. But I have a different perspective. This is my son, Alex, wearing his first Halloween costume—a thoughtful gift from a nurse at the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit where he received life-saving care. Born with a severe heart defect, he wouldn’t be here today without the prompt actions of dedicated healthcare professionals at Palmetto Health Baptist, who recognized his condition and acted swiftly.
After his birth, Alex was rushed to MUSC, where he was stabilized and prepped for open-heart surgery. For the next six months, our lives revolved around strict quarantine protocols. My wife and Alex had to isolate from others, and I maintained an intense regimen of cleanliness, scrubbing with antibacterial soaps multiple times a day to shield him from any potential infections. Every evening when I returned home, I would create a makeshift cleanroom to avoid bringing germs into our home.
Alex was in a precarious state during this time. The thought of unknowingly exposing him to a preventable disease was terrifying.
Fast-forward a few years. Although Alex has been relatively healthy, he still faces challenges. At 11 months, he underwent another open-heart surgery, followed by another quarantine period. For a while, things were calm, but when Alex was seven, a seemingly minor infection turned into a nightmare. Most children would have easily recovered, but for him, it led to a diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis. After weeks of battling fevers and fatigue, he was hospitalized and required a central catheter for treatment.
This minor ailment—likely stemming from a loose tooth—almost cost him his life. As his heart condition necessitates ongoing care, we faced another surgery when he was older. The plan involved a balloon catheter procedure, but after an MRI, we learned he needed full open-heart surgery instead. The weight of this news was overwhelming for all of us.
Once again, we entered quarantine. The risk of exposing Alex to any communicable disease during this critical time was unthinkable, especially given his weakened state. Thankfully, we kept him healthy, and this is us celebrating his return home post-surgery, with his sister overjoyed to see him.
Why share all this? It illustrates the importance of community immunity. Some children, like Alex, cannot afford the risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite being fully vaccinated, there’s always a chance that those vaccines may not work as intended. He relies on the immunity of others to keep him safe.
This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a real child who depends on the choices made by those around him. Please, vaccinate your children.
For more insights on family health and planning, check out this post on our blog. If you’re looking to boost fertility, resources like Make a Mom offer excellent information. And if you’re interested in pregnancy and home insemination, Hopkins Medicine provides invaluable resources.
In summary, the decision to vaccinate is vital for protecting not just your child but also those who are most vulnerable. Every vaccination helps create a safer community.