Finally, we asked Dr. Geraghty about the recent high-profile legal action pertinent to the vaccination debate and currently pending in the Irish courts.
“I will not comment on individual cases as it would be unfair and reckless. I do hope, however, that the little girl involved makes a fast and full recovery. I’d also hope that it enables parents to see the real and present dangers of the very diseases we are trying to eradicate.”
So what’s your view? Should the decision be taken out of parents’ hands? Or should it remain an individual choice?
Poll: Should childhood vaccinations be mandatory in Ireland?
O Yes
O No
O I don’t know
Comments:
Hunny Bunny: Of course they should be compulsory. I’m anti-Nanny State, but we can’t let the tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorists put our kids at risk.
Sallymander replied: I tip my tinfoil hat to you, Hunny. The last government that rolled out compulsory injections were the Nazis and we all know that didn’t end well.
Bally replied: Your gas, Sally. Not.
5LeafClover replied: It’s “you’re gas.”
Cherylturf: Jeez, how did we get from vaccination to two types of Nazis—real ones and grammar ones? I voted yes. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to mine because of a decision I’d made based on internet rumor.
BillyBray replied: Cheryl, could you live with yourself if one of yours developed complications because of a vaccination? Google HPV side effects and educate yourself.
Cherylturf replied: Billy, thanks for your concern for my education. I never said I thought vaccinations were 100% safe, but I also happen to know these diseases, including cervical cancer, are no barrel of laughs.
PS: I fear for you if you think being able to type something into a search engine is “educating yourself.”
Papajim: Can’t believe how much like sheep people are! Seriously, let the government and Health Service take full responsibility for me and my family? People do realize these people kill as many as they save every year. If mandatory vaccination happens you’ll find me at the airport with my family.
J Adams replied: Papajim, can you post a link to where I can read about all these doctors killing their patients? Also being a responsible citizen and parent is not sheepish behavior, it’s what grown-ups do every day. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Debs415: I do feel sorry for the parents of kids with health issues that prevent them being immunized. A girl in my daughter’s school has some blood disorder meaning she can’t have the jabs, yet there are serious complications for her if she catches measles or chicken pox like that girl in the news at the moment. She depends on the diligence of other parents not sending their kids in sick. There are a few mothers in that school that value their girls’ brunches and morning coffees more than staying at home with their sick children. It’s a Catch 22 really, but I think mandatory jabs might be the way to go. Far more people will be harmed than be affected by side effects if these diseases are not kept in check, IMO.
Johnny B replied: Do you trust the government and big pharma companies though? When you sign consent to have your child vaccinated you are also indemnifying the pharma companies—why? The answer is because their product comes with risks attached. What happens if these vaccines are mandatory? Do me and my family have the right to go after these multibillion-euro industries if something goes wrong, even though we’ve no say in the matter? I very much doubt it. This alone is reason for giving people the right to choose, otherwise it’s a slippery slope.
DollyDo: There should be a mandatory course teaching common sense for people with kids. The amount of loonies not getting their kids vaccinated like that idiot Mummy Blogger on TV is mind boggling! Do people want to go back to medieval times when vast swathes of the population were wiped out by the very diseases that modern medicine has all but eradicated? Until these know-it-all conspiracy theory loudmouths came along. Here we have people turning their noses up at expensive to produce, yet freely available vaccinations that prevent dangerous diseases. A little knowledge in the wrong hands is a truly dangerous thing.
RubyD replied: +1 DollyDo. The mother of one of my daughter’s school friends made a big fuss about the MMR booster shots. Keeping her girl out of school that day in case someone would sneak a jab into her kid’s arm. The same one won’t even allow the kid a treat like the rest of the class on Fridays, and sends us all texts not to allow her daughter sweets or other junk food when she’s over for playdates. She seems to think sugar is the enemy, but allows her kids out into the world with no protection from things far worse than a packet of gummy bears...
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Madeleine took a deep breath as, later the following week, she sat in the makeup chair at the Channel 2 studio, complying when the makeup artist instructed her to shut her eyes so she could apply eye shadow.
This morning was another attempt at rebuilding her reputation and saving face, but Madeleine had expressly checked with the producer about the other panel guests (namely Gemma Moore) on today’sMorning Coffeeshow before agreeing to go on.
While she was surprised that they’d asked her back given the flood of negative sentiment surrounding her just now, she was grateful for the opportunity to face the public, even though she’d been forbidden from uttering a single word about the case, never mind try to defend herself.
“I’m really not happy about this, Maddie,” her husband warned, when she’d told him she planned to face the music and hold her head high by carrying on as normal, rather than cowering in a corner, hiding away from what was being said about her.
Grimacing afresh at the media storm and public outcry that was still raging, she tried to think positive and remind herself that Tom was just as frustrated as she about this entire situation. He was angry at everything, not at her particularly.
At least not much, said a little voice in her head. He was still reeling over that blog post she had published on the day of the first news report, but following a speedy warning phone call from Matt Townsend, almost immediately had to take down.
In her own words, Madeleine had essentially pled her case—she had done her best to be sincere and tell the public the truth. But their solicitor had warned her about practically handing Kate and her legal team a victory and told her not to worry about what the public thought.
