An independent study recently presented to the Front Porch suggests that some Stapleton schools have a lower than expected percentage of kids who have had all of their appropriate vaccinations. The study indicates that not only do some local schools fall below the preferred vaccination percentages, but the average percentages across all Colorado schools also falls short. “These recommended percentages are put in place for a reason,” says Dr. Craig Sifers. “Not all vaccinations are 100% effective, so if you have a child where the vaccination didn’t work, you want them surrounded by people where the vaccination did work, so they do not get one of these terrible diseases. There is no proof of long term side effects, so EVERY child should get their vaccinations. When you choose to not get vaccinations for your child, you are not just putting your child at risk, you are putting many others at risk as well.”
Stapleton mom Kate Logan disagrees. “Parents should have a choice,” says Logan. “The truth is we are not sure about what the long term effects can be for vaccinations, and even though the particular study linking autism to a measles vaccination was proven false and retracted by the publisher, who’s to say their wasn’t a little truth in it. Parents need to be making their own educated decisions about what is best for their kids.” Dr. Sifers strongly disagrees. “The thing is, you are not just putting your own child in danger. You are putting society in danger. Not to mention, if your child gets the mumps, measles, etc., that is significantly worse than the current known possible side effects of sore arm and possible fever.”
Unfortunately, numbers indicate that several Stapleton parents disagree with science experts, and are willing to roll the dice. “We see that there are many people not just in Stapleton, but across the state who prefer to not have their child vaccinated,” said DPS Board member Chris Parker. “For that reason, DPS is announcing that we will be building another school in Stapleton, which will be for all kids who have not been vaccinated. Other kids may choose to go there as well, but only if there are open spots from non-vaccinated kids.” Parker says DPS hopes the new school has a two pronged effect. “First of all, we hope it will bring all of the vaccinated levels up to 100% in the rest of the Stapleton schools,” says Parker. “Secondly, it will be a place where parents who have similar mindsets on public health can have their kids all attend the same place.”
Dr. Sifers is not so keen on the idea. “This is a way of encouraging kids to not get vaccinated,” says Sifers. “All of our resources should be going into figuring out a way to educate people appropriately so all kids get vaccinated. There are so many disastrous consequences that could come of this.” Logan is excited about the new school, and is apprehensive about previous claims from doctors, research, and science. “It will be neat to have our child attend a school where we all have similar thoughts on the subject. I mean, you hardly even hear of measles and mumps anymore. Are they really that bad? I’m not so sure measles have ever killed anyone. I don’t know anyone that has been killed by measles.” Unfortunately for Logan, that could change soon.
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