In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off–one of my favorite movies— Cameron said, “I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong, I’m going to defend it.”
I think we could all take Cameron’s advice to heart. I did.
One of my patients, Steve, informed me that my Synagogue of 15 years, Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, MI, decided that if a child does not have all of his/her vaccines they cannot attend their preschool. My patient was very upset as he informed me that both he and his wife were not comfortable giving their children all the vaccines that were recommended and they wanted to space out the vaccines. These parents are both intelligent and caring parents and had done their research about childhood vaccinations. Steve said, “Nearly all the {Detroit} Jewish temples {such as Temple Israel, as well as Hillel Day School and the Jewish Community Center} are mandating full vaccination or your child cannot attend. I can’t believe this is happening.”
In Michigan, in order to attend public school, the citizens are allowed a medical, religious or philosophical exemption from childhood vaccinations.
Steve told me that he met with Rabbi Miller at my temple to discuss his concerns and that the Rabbi was not receptive to his viewpoint.
I called Temple Beth El and asked if they had indeed instituted this new vaccine policy as I was not aware of it. I did not recall seeing this new vaccine edict in any Temple Beth El publication. I was told that this was the new policy. At this point, I told an employee that I could not be a member of a Temple that supported such draconian policies…
I really appreciate what Dr. Brownstein has to say.
So many of those that we associate with and care so much about are ill-informed when it comes to the risks, history and evidenced-based science on vaccines. It’s the biggest sham I have ever come across.
Of course, our associates wouldn’t want to support injecting carcinogenic and poisonous substances into anyone let alone a baby. As hard as it is to broach such a topic with someone that hasn’t come across the truth in this area, it is still so important to get the word out.
Just let our inner compass be our guide.
