Immunizations are scientifically proven to save lives

Tulsa World

Public must learn about how vaccinating children saves lives.

This opinion published in the Tulsa World newspaper. In fact, the author, Dr. Grogg, is correct about how parents today are accessing health information, especially when their children are the focus of the researched facts. Unfortunately, parents are relying more on social media for information about vaccinations and appear to be skeptical about the experience and science provided to them from their health carer providers. 

This opinion is Dr. Grogg's good advice. It is excellent advice. Parents must learn to accept the vaccination facts versus the word of mouth information, and about how vaccines prevent childhood and adult infectious diseases. 

Dr. Grogg wrote:  I have watched with increasing concern as more parents have begun to question the safety and validity of immunizations.

Today’s parents are raising their children in the digital age, and they receive information in an entirely different way than their parents and grandparents did.

The once-trusted advice of doctors and medical professionals is often pushed aside in favor of Facebook memes and an ever-growing stable of mythical stories created to strike fear in the hearts of moms and dads everywhere.

Parents want to do what's right. These parents are well-intentioned; they only want what’s best for their children.

But what’s best — what is scientifically, statistically true — is that immunizations save lives.

When a parent fails to vaccinate a child, the parent puts the health of their child and the people with whom that child interacts at an increased and completely avoidable risk.

Under the current law, taking that risk is as simple as signing a form and checking a box marked “personal exemption.” To make matters worse, the form can be obtained on the internet, completely eliminating the need to discuss this ill-informed decision with a doctor.

Risking the return of measles, mumps and polio shouldn’t be as easy as hitting “like” on Facebook. A decision that risks the health and safety of a child — and the community around that child — should require medical consultation.

Stanley E. Grogg, D.O.

Editor’s note: Dr. Stanley E. Grogg is a professor emeritus in pediatrics at Oklahoma State University-Center for Health Sciences. He represents the American Osteopathic Association as a liaison member of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.