By Humble Mom
Among friends and family, I have a bit of a reputation for telling non-stories. Let me set the scene for you. Imagine you're not curled up in a big, comfortable chair. Imagine you don't have a warm hand-knit blanket around you, and you're not holding a mug of hot chocolate. Imagine that the fire isn't crackling in the fireplace, and, in fact, that there isn't a fireplace at all. Now you're ready for a non-story.
As a child and teenager, I received all recommended vaccines, including Gardasil and the chicken pox vaccine. Nothing happened.
When I was pregnant in 2009, I received the H1N1 vaccine. My arm hurt.
A few weeks later, I received the seasonal flu shot. Nothing happened to me, nothing happened to my baby.
When my son was two days old, he received his first hepatitis B shot. Nothing happened.
When my son was one month old, he received a second hepatitis B shot. Nothing happened.
When he was two months old, he received the rotavirus vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine, and Pentacel, a shot that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenzae b, and polio. Nothing happened, and nothing happened at four months when he received another dose of each.
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He is now nearly two and a half years old. He's healthy, active, fun, and seems pretty smart. Yawn.
Before I can end this non-story of mine, there's something I need to clear up.
Earlier I said "nothing happened" but that just isn't true. Behind the scenes, my son's body was mounting antibodies to the antigens in the vaccines, a response that, should he ever be exposed to the actual disease, will help protect him.
Look, this vaccination thing... it's not exciting. Seeing as this is a non-story, it's only fitting that my son, upon being vaccinated, didn't suddenly sprout a shiny purple superhero cape with the words "I'm immune!" on it (I expect royalty checks from Marvel Comics when they introduce the character Immunity Man!).
The anti-vaccine movement, to be honest, is a lot more interesting than reality. Their rants and theories are the stuff of trashy novels and Michael Bay movies. I can't compete with their creativity. All I've got for you is this non-story, and with the help of these boring vaccines, I hope my son's medical records remain unworthy of a blockbuster.
Humble Mom is a young vaccinating mom living in a place where neither of those things is common. She runs a Facebook page called Vaccinated and Awesome.
Note: If you are a parent or a grandparent who vaccinates, we would love to help you share your story. Please e-mail us at momswhovax AT gmail.com
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