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The tetanus shot is coupled with the diptheria shot. There is currently a limited supply of the diptheria, tetanus, pertussis shot - but if you are in the recommended groups, do go and get it!!

Indiana had the largest measles outbreak this year. 33 cases in 2 counties. It was in an unimmunized community (didn't believe in vaccinations). Minnesota has a case of polio - once again, infant wasn't immunized...

Pertussis is a big deal... talk to the moms whose infants have died... Visit the Immunization Action Coalition website for great information and personal stories about how these vaccine preventable diseases have destroyed lives...

PS - I believe that quarantines should be enforced and not voluntary!!! People can be stupid, esp. when sick!

Thanks for the information. I am 62 and am exposed to the general public, including Amish. I will talk w/my MD.

You can talk until you are blue in the face and get nowhere w/some people/groups.

A physician friend of ours has a med student on preceptorship at the moment. I don't know the entire story (privacy issues), but the student was shocked yesterday when a patient refused either treatment or immunization for themselves or for a child.

I know something about the belief system involved and the doc asked me to give the student the 30-second version (busy day).

I condensed it to: the germ theory of disease is incorrect. Disease strengthens and increases spiritual purity. Evidently this jibed with what they had experienced, but the student looked like he'd just been socked in the solar plexus.

I know the feeling. I used to attempt to speak rationally to these people until one turned to me and said, sweetly:"We don't like people who know things."

It has gone beyond religious groups and cults, IMO. My DIL was telling me about some former friends who are simply trendy, yuppie, vegan Greens. The friendship ended when she told this young mother precisely what the risk was w/rubella. The woman's husband ordered his wife to stop speaking to my DIL because of her *negativity*, which is evidently far more damaging than any illness.

These people will be the first to yell *fascist* if God forbid we have a real need for quarantine. I go further than you: I think immunizations need to be mandatory, barring allergy or other medical reason.

I subscribe to Promed. I am amazed that I haven't seen the Indiana measles outbreak or the MN polio case.

I had pertussis at age 7. I remember how it felt to not have the energy to do anything except give in to the bouts of coughing, which HURT. I recall my father walking the floor with me at night. I ache for these babies.