I grew up anti-vacuum and I just received the vaccine against measles to my children

This test also told is based on a conversation with a mother of two children in South Carolina. She asked to remain anonymous to protect the intimacy of her children and her parents. It was published for duration and clarity.

When I was an infant, I had a bad reaction to a vaccine. My mother couldn’t wake me up for a whole day – at least that’s how she remembers.

It was in the early 90s, and my parents lived at the intersection of conservative Christianity and crunchy parenting. They were surrounded by people who did not vaccinated and my reaction frightened my mother. I am the oldest of eight, and after that, none of us had vaccines. My parents are deeper in anti-Vax disinformation.

Vaccines have always been a subject of conversation around me growing up. As a teenager, I read a book by Jenny McCarthy in which she said that she believed that the autism of her son was caused by the measles vaccine, mumps and rubella (MMR) – a theory that many scientific studies have demystified.

Despite this, I have never been one of those people who are anti-Vax all their personality. I was a little open to vaccines – which is more common than stereotypes on the anti -Vaxxers you thought. At the beginning of the twenty, I obtained a few vaccines before a trip to South America. I was anxious to get sick there and I thought that vaccines could help me protect myself from pathogens like those who cause tetanus and diphtheria. I felt that my adult body could manage some vaccines.

The pandemic solidified my desire to vaccinate

My husband had a similar education. When our son was born 9 years ago, I started reading books and research on vaccines. I could see value in some of them, but I had a lot of questions and I was still not comfortable vaccinating. But my son’s pediatrician did not seem interested in answering my questions about vaccines. I do not know if he did not have the time, the knowledge or the will to engage in the conversation.

The following two years were stressful for our family. It was a period of change, including the death of my mother-in-law while I was pregnant with my second child. I started to question my parental beliefs more and to critically assess how I was raised – including what I had learned about vaccines.

Immediately after that, the pandemic started. The deployment of vaccine codes a year later solidified my belief to vaccines. My husband works in a hospital and I saw the immediate benefits that the vaccines had. Later, see how fast the government interrupted the deployment of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine due to rare side effects was reassuring – I thought there was really a responsibility for the safety of vaccines. My husband and I started to discuss children’s vaccination.

I want other parents from Vaccine Lacina to see my story

Having children up to date with vaccines is a long process. It’s always difficult for me and them. Fortunately, our new pediatrician is an excellent resource to create a plan that works for us. They are behind a typical vaccine calendar, but we recently obtained their MMR vaccines, partly because of the epidemics of measles in the United States.

Even if I knew it was the right choice, it was difficult for me. I was proud to have overcome this difficult belief that I used to have. But I also want parents like me to see that it is ok to change my mind.

Change the spirits takes respect and time

One thing that seemed very fallacious in the past was when people who plead for vaccination said that vaccines have no risk. Everything in the present life of risks, and it is important to recognize it. Today, I know that the risk of vaccines is extremely minimal and is delivered with a huge reward. I put it in perspective by reflecting on how driving is a much greater risk and that I take every day.

I was a good mom when I did not vaccinate my children, and I am a good mom now. Any conversation on vaccines should start with this spirit. Be curious for a person’s reasons not to vaccinate. Do not blame, do not judge or try to change your mind – just ask for their beliefs. Maybe they will also ask questions about yours.

Do not expect an immediate change. For me, it took years, and it’s always difficult. But you never know when a piece of your conversation could stay with someone and open it to more honest conversations and without judgment on vaccination.