CHILDREN OF PARENTS WHO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT VACCINES NEED LESS MEDICAL TREATMENTS. June 5, 2013 · by Jeanne Ohm · in In the News, Informed Choice imageYou just have to love it when the truth gets published. It almost restores faith in the system. Such is the case with a new study published by JAMA Pediatrics. Formerly the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. In this recently published paper, two matched cohorts were created: 1 with children who were undervaccinated for any reason and 1 with children who were undervaccinated because of parental choice. For both cohorts, undervaccinated children were matched to age-appropriately vaccinated children by birth date, managed care organization, and sex.

Here were the results: Of 323 247 children born between 2004 and 2008, 48.7% were undervaccinated for at least 1 day before age 24 months. The prevalence of undervaccination and specific patterns of undervaccination increased over time. In a matched cohort analysis, undervaccinated children had lower outpatient visit rates compared with children who were age-appropriately vaccinated. In contrast, undervaccinated children had increased inpatient admission rates compared with age-appropriately vaccinated children. In a second matched cohort analysis, children who were undervaccinated because of parental choice had lower rates of outpatient visits and emergency department encounters than age-appropriately vaccinated children. It appears quite evident to me that parents who make informed health care choices in regards to vaccination use less medical care than parents who do not vaccinate (not because of educated choice) or parents who do vaccinate. This really says a lot about the importance of informed choice…this is not negligence, apathy or child abuse as so often touted by pro-vaccine zealots, this is educated, conscious choice at its best. And the conclusion of the study? Undervaccination appears to be an increasing trend. Undervaccinated children appear to have different health care utilization patterns (emphasis mine) compared with age-appropriately vaccinated children. Yes, indeed, different health care utilization patterns… let’s define that… parents who make informed health care choices about vaccinating their children are making informed health care choices across the board. Hmmm.. what do you conclude from this? The way I see it, there is one of two scenarios here. 1. Parents are not pursuing allopathic treatment because they are seeking any necessary care outside of the allopatic box. In other words they are making informed choices about all health care options, not just vaccines. 2- Parents are not pursuing allopathic treatment because they do not need it. I would love to see a follow up to determine which scenario is most accurate. I of course have my theories… Either way, this is a great indicator that parents are seeking truth and exercising their rights to choose for their families. It is a time when status quoa food, health, education, politics, finances, systems are being challenged by conscious, informed citizens. As practitioners and parents, who have been questioning these corporate conglumerates for decades, we can now see that many more citizens are standing up for their rights to choose. Let’s realize, the more consciously we choose our lifestyle options, the more opposition from the Powers-At-Be we will feel. This is why establishing “Our Tribe” is so important. This is why we created Pathways Connect Gathering Groups, to strengthen and support each others choices and the actual right to choose. Attitudes, beliefs and practices are shifting. This is exciting. Let’s connect with like-minded and spirited parents who regard their rights to choose as paramount in their families’ decisions. In our next issue of Pathways, coming out any day, we have an exclusive article written by Barbara Loe Fischer, CEO of National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC). If you do not already receive Pathways, you will want this informative article to show to your pediatricians, your family and friends who are constantly arguing about why we should sheepishly follow the current “health care” rhetoric. It restores our inherent knowledge that we do have the right to choose. This upcoming article, Opting Out: the Moral Right to religious and conscientious belief exemptions to vaccination is guaranteed to be a hot topic in our Pathways Gathering Groups. Be informed. Consciously choose. Find your supportive community with Pathways. 1- A Population Based Cohort of Undervaccination in 8 Managed Care Organizations Across the United States: http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1558057 2- National Vaccine Information Center: http://www.nvic.org/