I Grew Up in an Anti-Vaccine Cult
My parents were brought up listening to the radio broadcasts and reading the literature of the Worldwide Church of God, a cult/fringe religion that was…
To Those Opposed to Vaccinations
When I was five, I got whooping cough (pertussis). It was horrible. Aside from nearly dying, I couldn’t stop coughing. I have a vivid memory…
Coming Soon to a Theater Near You
Vaccine-preventable diseases are making a comeback in the US, and community immunity may be at risk. Less than 20 years ago, measles was declared eliminated…
Protecting Those Who Need It Most
When my son was 3 years old and my daughter 5 months, a woman emailed a local mothers’ listserv and revealed that her son had…
Say Something
I can still see myself now standing in front of the closet with a baby in my arms. There was a blue dress with yellow flowers,…
Growing Up Unvaccinated
I am the 70s child of a health nut. I wasn't vaccinated. I was brought up on an incredibly healthy diet: no sugar til I…
Why I’m Telling my Vaccine Story, Pt. II
A recent study in Pediatrics looked at the rates of religious exemptions for immunization in New York state, and then looked at pertussis (whooping cough) rates across…
An Unwelcome Visitor
Our household has many family and friends come through our door. Last month we had  an unwelcome visitor. Pertussis/whooping cough got through what I thought…
Learning from the Past: Gae’s Story
I am a sixty-nine year old Australian, which means that I benefited from a totally free childhood immunization program.  I started school in 1949 and was…