Grandparents Have a Role in Vaccination Discussion

Grandparents have an important role in improving the public health of America. They cannot sit idly by, biting their tongues and not saying a word. They must talk with their children who have refused to vaccinate their grandchildren. Their children tend to converse with like-minded anti-vaccination parents and must be exposed to another perspective. Grandparents don't want to be overbearing; on the other hand, they want to protect their grandchildren. It's a difficult path -- one that many pediatricians grapple with. How does one retain the trust and ability to help parents when parents may not want advice, especially when it conflicts with their firmly-held beliefs? According to the World Health Organization, during 2000-2013, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 15.6 million deaths. Yet many parents have trepidations about vaccinating their own children and are influenced by myths about potential harm circulating among their peers, often based on discredited claims. Just because parents do not want advice is not a reason for grandparents to remain silent. The older generation is responsible not only for their own grandchildren's welfare, but for the welfare of the nation's children. The herd immunity, the percentage of children who are vaccinated in each community and overall, requiring between 92 and 96 percent to protect those ineligible for vaccination coverage, influences some parents to vaccinate their children and other parents to rely on the immunization of o...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news