My children sport amber necklaces—a little secret that tells the world, “This mom embraces the crunchy lifestyle.” We check all the boxes that come with that label. I’m still nursing my nearly 3-year-old, and I breastfed my other two kiddos until they were 3 and 4 years old. I’ve even lent a hand by nursing other moms’ babies. We prioritize organic food and have transformed our sleeping arrangements into a cozy family bed with a queen-size mattress and a twin pushed alongside. I wholeheartedly believe in the gut-healing properties of Kombucha. If we measured our coconut oil consumption, I’m confident we’d rank among the top tier of crunchy families.
Yes, I’m a free spirit, but my kids are fully vaccinated—and they always will be.
There’s this stereotype that families like mine, adorned with those amber necklaces, must avoid vaccinations. Many free spirits are wary of chemicals, viewing them as anything unnatural. This fear often stems from a distrust of the mainstream medical community, which some believe is too closely tied to pharmaceutical giants. In the process, they often disregard alternative medicine and lean towards a more holistic, natural approach to health.
However, you can be a free spirit and still appreciate the groundbreaking work of people like Jonas Salk, recognizing how a small injection of antigens can shield us from some of the most dangerous illnesses. Initially, we were hesitant about vaccines, influenced by Dr. Jesse’s ideas about spacing them out to prevent “chemical overload.” We believed that minimizing exposure would better support a child’s developing system.
Unpacking the Vaccination Debate
Let’s unpack this notion. We thought the vaccination schedule was overwhelming, potentially leading to harmful build-up in the body. We wanted to give our kids a fighting chance by allowing them to handle one vaccine at a time, rather than multiple doses all at once.
Sure, we’ve been taught that man-made additives are harmful. But the components in vaccines? They’re actually quite safe. Take aluminum, for example. While large amounts can be toxic, the aluminum salts used in vaccines are harmless in the quantities administered. Interestingly, your baby receives less aluminum from a vaccine than they would from a liter of infant formula or even breast milk.
Formaldehyde, often feared for its toxicity, is used in vaccines to neutralize viruses and detoxify bacterial toxins. The amount left in vaccines is minuscule—far less than what’s naturally found in a newborn’s body.
And the claim that kids today receive too many vaccines? Not true. In fact, children today are exposed to far fewer antigens than they were in 1980—about 153 compared to over 3,000 back then. So, as free spirits, we can’t idealize the past when it comes to vaccinations. The advancements of modern medicine are a step forward.
Once we delved into reliable research—steering clear of alternative health influencers—we understood that vaccines are safe. Yes, I acknowledge that some individuals experience vaccine-related injuries, but the numbers reported are often exaggerated. In my view, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.
The Risks of Avoiding Vaccination
Let’s consider the alternative. I was once invited to a chickenpox party, but I politely declined. According to immunize.org, before the vaccine became available, around 150,000 to 200,000 people developed complications from chickenpox annually, with thousands requiring hospitalization and about 100 fatalities. The CDC highlights the potential complications, which can include severe skin infections, pneumonia, and even encephalitis. I would never take that risk with my children. The CDC confirms that the vaccine is a safer option than facing the actual disease, so we opted for vaccinations. It wasn’t always pleasant, but it was certainly preferable to serious complications or even death.
You can embrace all things natural for your children while still supporting vaccinations. You can fill your home with wooden toys, brew your own kombucha, and still recognize the importance of vaccination for both personal and public health. I’m a free spirit, I did my homework, and I trust in the value of vaccinations.
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Summary
Embracing a natural lifestyle doesn’t mean shunning vaccinations. As a free spirit, I’ve researched and realized that vaccines are safe and crucial for my children’s health. I prioritize both holistic living and the necessary medical interventions that protect against dangerous diseases.