My name is Marilyn Baker, and I have horrible allergies. I’m 42 years old and have been suffering from allergies since I was a child. I have seasonal and environmental allergies. Allergies plague me year round. When I was young, my parents even moved to a dryer area in the hope of helping me. Over the past eight years, I have done extensive research both through doctors and online. I have managed to come up with some combinations that have helped me a great deal. My allergies aren’t gone, but they have become manageable. I do have to have allergy shots, but I also use some natural remedies. I am happy to be able to share my findings with you here on my blog. I hope you can find some of this of value.
As you plan out your child's back-to-school checklist, you write down "vaccinations" as something to do just before they go back to class. However, you have an anti-vaxer friends who is trying to convince you to avoid this process. Here's out to talk to these individuals and avoid getting pestered on a regular basis.
Point Out the Importance of Disease Prevention
Many anti-vaxers believe that vaccines cause diseases such as autism, so they will try to argue this point with you. Talk to them calmly and rationally and explain that science has shown, multiple times, that vaccines do not cause autism. Discuss how the evidence by the anti-vaxing side is simply not scientific and how it confuses causation with correlation.
Point out that, among the 176 child flu-related deaths in 2017-2018, around 80 percent were in children who did not have vaccines. Mention that these children did not have autism and that your children, who are all vaccinated, do not have autism. Such an approach may calm them down but may also move them on to philosophical objections.
Honestly Debate Philosophical Differences
When science backs you up and your anti-vaccine friend gets frustrated, they may turn to philosophical debates regarding vaccines. Many people think that vaccines are inappropriate for various reasons, though their philosophies are often quite hazy on why they feel this way.
Let this individual know that you appreciate their stance and their input on the issue. However, you can emphasize that your philosophy is not against vaccines and that you find your child's health to be more important than pedantic debates. In some instances, this may end the argument, unless the individual has strong religious objections.
Stay Strong in the Face of Religious Discussion
Once you have moved past science-based and philosophically-grounded arguments against vaccinations, your friend may argue a religious stance. This issue is one that can be quite touchy, particularly if your friend is honestly against vaccinations for religious reasons. Remind your friend that you do not follow their religion, though you respect it, and ask them to do the same of you.
Never insult them or try to put them down for their beliefs. If they respond to you using such language, either try to calm them down or walk away from the situation. Unfortunately, a friend who cannot respect your decision may be best out of your life. Thankfully, most honest friends will ultimately accept your choice if you discuss it with honesty and integrity.
Follow these tips and your premiere school inoculations should go smoothly and without much of a fuss. Your friend may still not agree with you, but you can at least get them to respect your opinion and stay friends. Hopefully, you can get them to see the light regarding their anti-vaccination stance.
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