Thursday, March 19, 2009

Pertussis Outbreak at Davis Elementary

This post is to satisfy a burning desire I have to exercise my freedom of speech a time when the local media is totally ignoring this story! I know that many of you may not be interested in a central AR local news story (or what SHOULD be a news story!) but I simply have to get this off my chest.

At an elementary school in our school district there have recently been multiple cases of pertussis. My friend Meghan says that the two kids that sit on either side of her son in class have it, as well as others at the school. Therefore the Arkansas Health Dept has mandated that ALL students at this elementary, immunized or not, take anitbiotics. They are not providing the antibiotics unless a family is financially incapable of providing them themselves.

I know that many worry about immunizations, and many even avoid them completely. That is fine with me, as long as they homeschool!

But for the state to ALLOW un-immunized children to attend public school tramples on my rights as a parent to keep my children safe!

I don't blame parents who don't immunize their kids--they are totally receiving the natural consequence in this case. I DO blame the state of Arkansas for this. Not only should they never have allowed these children to register in public school, they should now accept the blame and provide the antibiotics. The media should be covering this, so that more people are aware of it, and can insist that things change.

Our society seems to have developed this belief that you can and SHOULD be able to have whatever you want. This makes me crazy! We are so insistent on our rights that we don't care when they infringe on others'. Let's just leave it with "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"! Pertussis is a deadly disease. My children have a right to live! If pertussis hits my kids' school, there may just be a lawsuit in the works.

 

Thank you. I feel better now. I hope no one is offended by this! (But I don't regret posting it. :)

 

How I love living in a country where I can say these things freely!

~ regular, nice-Michelle post coming soon :) ~

9 comments:

snbjork said...[Reply to comment]

YIKES!!! Just one more thing to dread about sending my kids to school in a few years. Not looking forward to it.

It seems extremely ridiculous to me that the parents are responsible for paying for the antibiotics! I agree that the parents of the unimmunized children should have to pay for the medicine!!!

Michelle said...[Reply to comment]

No, not the parents. The school district or the state! Whoever it is that said it was okay for those parents to go ahead and enroll their unimmunized children.
I'm not advocated forced immunizations. I love my own freedom too much. But I do think it's necessary for public schooling.

I love your new profile shot, Suzanne!! That is the cutest!

Stephanie Johnson said...[Reply to comment]

I have several friends who don't immunize their kids and I just don't get it. They will be in for a wide awakening when they send their kids to public schools. I agree with your passion about the subject and I'm glad to hear you voice your opinion. You're so down to earth and I love it!

Cindy said...[Reply to comment]

Oh my stars! I would feel exactly the same way you do! In SC you have to provide proof of immunization in order to register your child for school. Sheesh.

Unknown said...[Reply to comment]

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Anonymous said...[Reply to comment]

Hey Michelle.
Channel 7 news ran a story about this on the 6pm news today. About time I say.
Amanda

Amy said...[Reply to comment]

Really? I thought that you had to be immunized in order to attend public school. Does it vary from state to state? I really don't understand people against immunizations. There is no proven link to them and any thing bad (e.g. autism). Plus, to me, the risks way out weight the chance I'm willing to take of them getting a deadly sickness.

Michelle said...[Reply to comment]

Yes, supposedly it is required. I had to furnish proof of immunization before I could register my boys. But evidently some parents have managed to receive a waiver.
Crazy world!

Andrea said...[Reply to comment]

SO not offended. ... I will have to tell you my thoughts about this. It is a long story, but it has affected my kids as well.