Mandatory Pertussis Vaccine in California

This post was inspired by and mostly taken from a thread that was started from a friend's FB status.  She wanted to know how others felt about the mandatory pertussis booster requirement to be in California public schools.  I know I'm a hippie, but I've always made myself very clear on the topic of vaccines in this blog and in other venues.  Indeed, I feel the need to educate others by any means necessary to get the message across that vaccines are vitally important.

I've come to the conclusion that most people grossly misunderstand vaccines.  They either think that it's not necessary because the illnesses prevented "aren't that big of a deal" or they think that it isn't necessary to expose their children to "toxins" because enough other people vaccinate their kids.  How do I feel on the mandatory pertussis vaccine requirement in public schools?  Come on, can't you guess?

I am strongly libertarian.  That is, I strongly believe in individual rights and would prefer to live with very little interference or so-called assistance from the government.  Certainly much less interference/assistance than is currently experienced in modern US society.

I chafe under many government-mandated requirements.  It seems that a day doesn't go by that I'm shaking my tiny fist of impotent rage at some dumb requirement that the government has determined is necessary.  Seatbelts, carseats, and helmets are but three examples of requirements that I think are ridiculous.  Understand that I'm not saying that I wouldn't use them if it weren't the law (actually, I wouldn't put a helmet on my son when he's on a bicycle if I had a choice), but I am irritated that the govt says you HAVE to use these safeguards. 

I'm further irritated when the government has safeguards in place to protect the individual, but not society at large.  Choosing not to vaccinate has far worse implications and can injure far more than just the one refusing the vaccine whereas choosing not to use a seatbelt (in the event of an accident) only can injure the one refusing to use it.  Yet, somehow, the government is more concerned about the health of the individual versus the health of society.  Does that make sense?

I think this analogy illustrates my thoughts on vaccines in general:  You certainly have the right to swing your fist to and fro.  However, your right to swing your fist ends at my face.  You have the right to willfully choose to do things that could be damaging to yourself or your children.  However, your right to do those things (or, more accurately, refuse those things), ends when it can be damaging to me or my children.  And, make no mistake, refusing vaccinations has the potential to impact more than just those who refuse.

Of course, it is only my opinion that vaccines should be mandatory for even enrolling in school.  We all know what they say about opinions, right?  An uninformed opinion is like a sapling, it bends in whichever direction the strongest wind is blowing, so I am going to offer up the actual reasons why I have an opinion that so wildly is at odds with my personal political philosophy.

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Let's look briefly at how vaccines work.  First, it's important to realize and accept that there is no vaccine that has 100% efficacy rates.  That means that even one who has received all of their shots still has a chance (slim, but it's there) of getting the illness they were vaccinated against. Generally speaking, it's a much milder case, but the risk is still there.

Also, it's important to realize that vaccines work on the premise of herd immunity.  If everyone were vaccinated against an illness, it would cease to exist.  Think I'm just making that up?  The very last known case of smallpox was in 1977.  How did smallpox get wiped off the face of the Earth?  Through a massive world-wide vaccination campaign.  Smallpox was only eradicated by 100% herd immunity! 

The flip side to the awesomeness that is herd immunity is that once we get a certain percentage of people not vaccinated, watch out!

On vaccines in general, I kinda think they have worked altogether too well. No one remembers a time when people (often children) where stricken, disfigured, crippled, or killed from what are now pretty much entirely preventable diseases. Or a time when most families had at least one child who was injured or died from an illness that we have the ability to prevent today!

Even illnesses that aren't generally thought to be a big deal can absolutely be a big deal.  Take chicken pox.  I know someone who won't vax their child against chicken pox because "it's no big deal." I guess she's never known anyone who was left with a scarred up face from it or, worse, someone who has died from it/it's accompanying fever. On varicella (the virus that causes chicken pox), most people don't realize that you are NEVER totally free from the virus because it lives dormant in your nervous system. Ever heard of shingles? It's extremely painful and is what happens when varicella is somehow reactivated later in life. Naturally, my son received his varicella vaccination to spare him any suffering from an initial outbreak of chicken pox or the possibility of future pain from shingles in his later years.

The worst part of refusing vaccination is that herd immunity only works when the vast majority of the herd is vaccinated because it doesn't allow an illness to get a toehold in society.  And who is injured the most when the herd's immunity is diminished?  Who are the ones who suffer when a large enough percentage of people refuse vaccinations?  The most vulnerable members of society.  The sick, the old, and the very young; cancer patients, HIV/AIDS patients, those with any autoimmune diseases, grandparents (& some of our parents), newborns.  Remember that vaccines do not carry efficacy rates of 100% and these people are counting on the rest of us to get our vaccines!

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I think the reason they are pushing pertussis in California right now is because of the amount of infants who were stricken and died last year. I remember reading that, although the number seemed small to me (of course, it wouldn't seem that way to me if it were my own infant who died), it was the highest number of whopping cough deaths in some number of years. If memory serves, they have to be at least two months old before even beginning their series on that one so they are completely vulnerable (less so if breastfeeding, but still vulnerable) until at least 2 months of age.  If you expect to be around any infants, do that child a favor and get your Pertussis booster to help protect the lil' one.

I'm guessing that the reason they are pushing it on school kids is because education is mandatory so there's less chance of falling through the cracks and avoiding it. But ideally we all would keep up on our vaccine boosters and we certainly should if we will be around any young infants.

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I've read that I'm excessively verbose on this topic.  I guess it's because I read and hear so much faulty information that I think most people don't understand any of this.  I'm not trying to impose my will on anyone, but I'm trying to explain the "why" in a way that makes sense to those who don't want to do the research for themselves. 

And, yes, it should just be your choice. Unfortunately, parental choices as it relates to vaccines can threaten the general public.  Parental freedom is infringed upon all the time and this is one of the rare cases where I believe that the government needs to make a mandate.  Frankly, I wish they'd made the vaccines mandatory years ago so it would simply be second nature now, just like wearing seatbelts, because not vaccinating threatens a helluva lot more people than just yourself and you're the only one who suffers if you get in an accident while not wearing a seatbelt.

If a parent doesn't care that their own child might suffer due to a preventable illness because "it's no big deal" or they believe in a fraudulent study and discredited researcher linking vaccines to autism, that's their business.  But it is absolutely my business if my child may suffer due to your choices.  Remember the swinging fist analogy?  Choosing not to vaccinate your child can end with my child getting hit in the face by your decision and that is why I am so passionate on this topic.

Feel free to comment and debate on this, but do back it up with facts and not simply opinion or fears.  I do have strong opinions on the topic, but I'm not unreasonable and am willing to change my views in light of new facts.  But do note that anecdotes, while usually profoundly sad, are not facts.  And play nice with each other. . .none of us intentionally wants to harm their children so personal attacks aren't necessary or welcomed.

He's Becoming One of Us!

I freaking love my husband!!!  LOVE HIM!!!  I'm sure we seem like we're an odd couple to a lot of people, but sometimes I'm shocked at how well we get along and how we get each other.  That last bit is something that I never, never, never thought that I'd experience because I'm a weirdo with some crazy ideas.  My hubs may not always agree with my opinions (I think we're around 90-10), but he gets where I'm coming from and he understands me.

I confessed that I'm officially a hippie just last week.  It looks like living with me for nearly eight years has started to rub off on my hubs.  No, he isn't creeped out by meat and dairy products.  He isn't railing about the big business of childbirth and baby feeding.  And he certainly isn't eschewing deodorant and wearing patchouli.  But he totally supported me and my hippie tendencies this weekend.

We've resumed house-hunting and I always choose to wear our son when we walk through any property that is currently inhabited.  My thoughts are that it is far easier to focus on the faults of the house if I don't have to divide my attention to keep an eye on him.  Yes, I look for the problems in a house before I look for things that I might like about it - I waste less time that way.

Anyway, we popped in at a couple of open houses on Sunday; one we specifically planned to check out and one was spontaneous.  We aren't particularly looking in the neighborhood of the second house because it's geographically less desirable to my way of thinking, but we had time and we spotted the sign so we stopped.  I wore my son on my back in the Boba at the first house and I pulled out the pouch to let him ride on my hip at the second house.  I never have a stroller on-hand (since he outgrew his stroller), but I always have at least two carrier options in my car.

The agent opened the door and looked surprised to see my son was cozied up on my hip in the pouch.  She commented that the pouch was an ingenious way to tote around a tot and keep my hands free.  She wasn't snarky or anything; she just seemed to think that it was pretty cool that I was wearing my son.  I told her that I agreed that babywearing is a smart way to keep your kiddo safe and out of mischief.

My husband chimed in. . .

"This is normal in most parts of the world."

Awesome.  Totally awesome.

Pondering Preschool

When should a kid go to preschool?  My son will be three-years old soon and I've found myself wondering about such things.  I'd like to say that it's because I'm already thinking about his academic career, but it's really that I'm selfish and I'd like a few hours to myself each week.  Yeah, Mother of the Year just put that bit of selfishness in writing.

A friend told me that I shouldn't worry about sending him to school this early since he knows numbers, colors, shapes, and alphabet.  I'm a little concerned that he still can't properly hold a pencil and he sure can't write his own name, but then I remember that he's not quite three yet and I figure he has time to learn those skills.  He's also still very young and very attached to me and I wouldn't want his first educational experience to be traumatic.  I clearly recall howling and crying when my own mother took me to preschool. . .that loneliness and fear of abandonment has stuck with me all these years later.

I'm of two minds on preschool.  One is that I think that academic philosophies in certain preschools are nothing but a glorified daycare.  My kid does not and will not go to daycare so it seems like I'd be wasting my money by sending him to that type of preschool.  The other is that I think that a more academically driven preschool might put too much pressure on such a young little person.  He will be in school at least until he's in his early- to mid-20s so I feel like I should let him enjoy these carefree days since they truly are the last that he'll ever have in his entire life.  I know that sounds soul-crushing, but it really is the truth as I see it.

If you sent your child to preschool, did you think it was worth the expense?  What type of preschool did your child attend?  At what age did you send your child to preschool?  What did they specifically gain/learn by attending preschool?  If you could change the past, would you make a different decision?

It's Never Too Early To Start Training

I took a Lamaze class when I was pregnant with my son, but I never used the techniques even once because I never experienced labor.  I don't think that I have expressed in this blog just how disappointed I was in my son's birth via cesarean.  No, I wasn't just disappointed that I didn't experience a completely drug-free  vaginal birth.  I felt like I was less of a mother than other mothers who did have what I consider to be my ideal birth experience.  Those feelings of inadequacy were terribly difficult to overcome and it took months before I stopped feeling like a birth failure.

I knew as soon as my son was born that I would be seeking a drug-free vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) should I get another birthing opportunity and I had decided many months ago that I'd like to try a different approach than Lamaze.  I obviously never used the method so I can't speak about it's effectiveness, but the patterned breathing of Lamaze felt unnatural and I suspect that it would not help me labor or deliver any easier.  I'm also not thrilled with anecdotal evidence about what I would call the Lamaze success rate.  That is, the percentage of women who experience non-medicated births by utilizing Lamaze.

A fellow mama who I instantly clicked with months ago became a Bradley instructor.  The Bradley method has an outstanding success rate for non-medicated births.  Even better, this mama used the Bradley method to experience her own all-natural VBAC.  Do you sometimes feel like an invisible wave is pushing you toward a making a particular decision?  I feel that way here.  She knows what it's like to feel cheated out of the birth you wanted and her passion is to help other women experience the birth that they want to have.  Add in that she's a fantastically funny woman and I'm really looking forward to taking her Bradley classes sometime next year.  Here's a linky to her site if you are pregnant and interested in Bradley or if you know someone who might be interested.

It's clearly too soon for me to participate in any childbirth classes, but I've already been scouring the internet for information because I'm an overachiever in that way.  The Bradley method, from what I've gathered, places strong emphasis on health during pregnancy to help facilitate an easier birth process.  Part of that healthy pregnant lifestyle includes regular exercise and some specific exercises to help condition the muscles that you'll be working during labor and birth. 

Why, yes, I have been doing prenatal exercises this afternoon.  Squats are fine, pelvic tilts seem useless, and I don't see the point in sitting Indian-style.  In my opinion, the Kegels are the worst!  I mean, I can do them just fine, but they make me, uh, hot.  That's great if I'm doing them before bedtime and my husband & I have the energy to get busy, but not so great if I'm doing them throughout the day.  I can't be the only woman who feels this way about Kegels, can I?

Did you attend any childbirth classes to prepare for labor & delivery?  Which classes did you take?  Do you feel the class was worthwhile?  What do you regret about your birth experience?  What memory do you still cherish from your birth experience?  Did you experience a drug-free vaginal birth?  Do you have any advice to help a mama looking to have the same experience?  Please share below!

"A" and "An" Are Not Interchangeable

I'm not a grammar or spelling Nazi, goodness knows I make plenty of mistakes on a daily basis, but I do get worked up when people continue to make obvious language errors.  I try to avoid correcting people because I have found that it isn't appreciated and it makes me look like a total douche.  However, I'm free to rail against poor grammar all I want in this venue as this is my blog. 

What verbal screw-ups get under my skin?  The following are like nails on chalkboard:

~ Double negatives absolutely make me mental.  I have to grit my teeth to avoid correcting this all too common grammatical error.
~ Saying "axe" instead of "ask."
~ Using "how come" when "why" is correct and saves a word.
~ "Expecially" is not a word.  It never has been, it never will be and I'm assuming the word meant by the user is "especially."
~ The "lay" and "lie" confusion that is so widespread, I can't help but wonder if any English teacher has ever been able to educate their students on the correct usage.  My MIL is the notable exception and her sons definitely learned that lesson. . .yes, my husband had to explain it to me because I kept screwing it up too.
~ The gross language abuse that is found in music.  I'm almost on the fence about this because I understand that sometimes proper grammar doesn't lend itself to a catchy chorus.  Ultimately, I roll my eyes and sing along while hoping my son doesn't pick up poor language habits.
~ Children's toys and shows that use incorrect grammar.  Is it really necessary to expose children to worse grammatical skills than they might be exposed to at home or on the playground?  There are several culprits in my son's toy boxes that would have been in the garbage a long time ago if my son didn't love those cuddly toys.

I've railed about a particular pet peeve a time or two and, by far, my biggest gripe lately is hearing newscasters and politicians using "an" when they really should be using "a."  I have heard this many times in the last several years a la "an historic election."  AN HISTORIC ELECTION?!

Are you freaking kidding me?!  I'm a college drop out and even I know that is wrong!  Who is programming the teleprompter for these, ahem, educated people?  Sometimes I feel like it's an epic prank being played and I'm the only one getting the joke.

In the event that any readers find themselves writing speeches for candidates, let me give a quick explanation of this rule.

Use "a" when the following word begins with a consonant sound.  A hotel, a university, etc.
Use "an" when the following word begins with a vowel sound.  An hourly employee, an umbrella, etc.

An historic election is absolutely wrong because the "h" is pronounced!  Why do I get my panties in a bunch over this sort of crap?  I don't know!  But I do and it drives me totally cuckoo.

Note that I do not use correct grammar throughout this blog.  My reason is that I want my posts to sound breezy and chatty.  I write as though I'm having a conversation with my readership.  That's why I frequently begin sentences with "but" or "and."  I'm also very generous in my use of ellipses (. . .) because they indicate a pause.  I'm aware that this is incorrect usage, but it does mirror common conversation. 

A Sad Day and a Way to Help

My family attended the funeral for Wendy Talarico this morning. For a woman who died so young, she touched many lives. There were over 1,000 mourners in attendance.

As is often the case, the most heartbreaking moment was when her grieving husband said a few words. He rightfully kept their private moments between the two of them and instead chose to talk about the last six months. That family has been on an emotional roller-coaster since last September; I can't imagine how awful they have suffered. But he also talked about the good things they've experienced. Thanks to the gift of these last six months, they shared a lot of joy. Wendy was able to see their daughter celebrate her 7th birthday, she was able to attend her daughter's Valentine's Day party at school, she was able to see her infant son's first smiles and cheer for his crawling, and she celebrated one more birthday of her own with her family. They had one last Thanksgiving together and a final Christmas to cherish.

He added that just before she suffered her hemorrhage, the four of them spent a particularly beautiful time together. They had finished dinner and, rather than getting the children ready for sleep or watching television, they gathered on the bed and played. Frank tickled their daughter, Wendy corralled their little crawler. . .it sounds like a moment that takes place often in every family. And they will never experience it again.

Hold your loved ones close to your heart. Every single day that you have with your family is a gift to treasure. Let them know your love through your words and actions. Pray for the comfort of those who have had to say goodbye to their loved ones.


I picked up a flyer today and wanted to let you be aware of a way that you can help this family.

Educational funds have been established for each child: Gabriella Josephine Talarico and Frank Nicholas Talarico. If you would like to donate to these funds, please make your donation payable to either child. You may send your donation to:

Pasquale Talarico
362 S. Shaffer Street
Orange, CA 92886