By Judith Andras, Health Practitioner and Store Manager, Germany.
I was greatly inspired by the blog: My Experience of Vaccination and Self-care by Jennifer Smith, a registered Nurse in NSW Australia.
It made me aware that I had avoided this subject and simply ignored it, despite the fact that my GP at my last check up explicitly talked to me about the importance of vaccination.
After reading the blog I made another appointment. Whilst I was waiting to see my doctor I had the opportunity to read through a brochure about vaccination, which was available in the waiting room and provided me with a good basic understanding about the subject.
I also had a chat with my doctor, before I got the shot and he answered all my concerns, from: “Can I get sick from the vaccination?” to “Are there any risks involved with vaccination?”
Talking to him allowed me to feel that this is really a field of competency for him. He has administered vaccines to hundreds of people and their families over many years and besides his knowledge about official statistics, he actually has his own experience about adverse reactions, etc. I could feel his lived knowledge whilst he was talking and that he really knows what he is doing.
Talking to my GP about vaccination raised my awareness on another level as well, and made me stop and deeply consider. I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself. But by making sure I am vaccinated I actually take care that others are also protected from that disease.
What we need to understand in this context is that vaccination is a protection from infectious diseases, and a lot of these diseases actually decimated whole villages, even cities, not that long ago and still have the potential to do so.
Whereas my body may be strong enough to deal with a particular disease if I get infected, it could actually be so strong that I may not even notice that I am carrying the pathogen! I may just think I have a cold or a cough or have eaten the wrong food. In that case, whilst I would be fine and go about living my life as if nothing was wrong with me, I actually endanger others who may be weaker (e.g. elderly or sick people, babies, etc.) that may get infected through me.
So I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community. And also I saw that by walking around without being vaccinated, I could potentially cause harm to others. And furthermore, by getting vaccinated I also help the whole community to eradicate that specific disease.
The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise. And for me, vaccination is one of those choices that I now choose – for me and for everyone.
You can read more about Serge Benhayon’s views on vaccination on the blog “Serge Benhayon on vaccination – choice and responsibility”.
Medicine and Serge Benhayon 
How often do we make a choice or choices without any consideration for ourselves or other people. We just make choices automatically without considering the effects of the consequences. This is a interesting blog as it highlights how we can just be thinking of ourselves with no consideration for the outplay those choices may have on others.
Judith what you have shared here is spot on, it isn’t just about us, but everyone around us. There has been a recent outbreak of measles in Sydney, and the media were asking people if they had been around the places this patient had visited, to be aware and they may need to consult their GP. I have been a health care professional and I haven’t seen a case of measles and hope I never do so.
Our babies are protected from certain disease, so the parents and adults are asked to be vaccinated to protect the newborn from contracting the disease, as it can be fatal to a newborn.
We have to consider the responsibility we have for protecting the others, for the sake of a possible sore arm or a few aches and pains here and there, it is a vital program to caring for others.
A choice made for love to ourselves, it can’t be but a choice for love to others, as love always includes everyone in it.
Amparo, love for ourselves leads to love for others, with the former and the latter, we can’t be one or the other, it is for the all. Love has no boundaries, it doesn’t pick and choose, it is inclusive of everyone. So let’s be responsible in that.
Yes Sushila, that is exactly what I meant with my comment.
What I can feel from this is how we could be so disconnected from something that we wouldn’t even have questions to ask and have a discussion even if we are in no way fully informed and have real clarity as to what then to do, and taking responsibility restores connection and invites more awareness.
“I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community.” By taking care of ourselves with vaccination we are taking care of others.
I love this approach to life, our choices don’t just impact us but everyone around us equally – and vaccination is such a great example of this, if we are unvaccinated we are not only risking our health but everyone else’s too.
Vaccination is indeed a responsibility that we have not only for ourselves but for everyone else as well.
Showing care and concern for our health and wellbeing is a truly great thing, vaccinations give us the opportunity to also care for our communities by not carrying illnesses that could impact the people around us.
We often think that the choice to get a vaccination is a choice just for us, yet it is clearly a choice to protect not only you and your family but the community as a whole, a much bigger responsibility and not one based on self.
We impact others and in ways we often forget, and while as is so rightly said here we might be fine with those impacts on us we need to consider how they impact others … and vaccination is one such an example, and reading this today reminds me that how I am with my body impacts all others in every detail.
I have found it very interesting and liberating in a way recently to be making choices in my life based on the bigger picture of how they will affect my whole community rather than just focusing on what is best for me.
A couple of years ago I got to see the consequences of our irresponsibility of not having one of our children vaccinated for measles, when they contracted it. The whole school had to be informed, everybody who visited the doctors practice that day and they had to clean the whole practice and these were only the practical consequences. A big lesson that every choice we make influence others too.
I love the responsibility that you are bringing in this sharing Judith. We can so easily get into a strong belief and run with it and even preach it without truly considering the consequences that this has not only for ourselves, and our family but the community as you say.
Choices we make differ very much whether we think we are all solo units operating with no connectivity whatsoever in-between and what we each individually do does not affect others as long as it is not physical; or, we recognise and understand the inter-connectedness we all belong to and everything we do has a knock-on affect on everyone else.
We generally as a humanity need to live with far greater awareness of the inescapable fact that we are living together and all that we do and the quality in which we live greatly impacts the well-being of our community, local and global. When this level of awareness and responsibility is embraced and claimed we will begin to realise what it is to live the power of brotherhood.
Last winter they were giving out free flu jabs for healthcare workers and elderly, worker as the former with the latter I took it up straight away. We have the potential to pass on everything to each other as everything being energy, being aware of what we carry (conditions / energy) can help us be aware, responsible and also appreciate what we do bring to others.
People say they are scared of needles, or that you hardly ever hear of anyone getting that disease anymore, and they don’t get themselves vaccinated, yet there is a much bigger picture here, some diseases we don’t hear of that often as people are vaccinated against them and I myself am not keen on needles so I don’t watch the needle go in, but I do choose to get vaccinated.
I have heard health practitioners speak of those who are vaccinated as being the ones who are holding the rest of the population who are not vaccinated. And I find this beautiful and makes me wonder what else, in this sea of energy, we could all be holding for each other…
” Vaccination – more than just self-protection ”
This is an important point here understanding about Vaccination .
To vaccinate or not is an interesting debate because people have become scared of the vaccinations but have no lived experiences of what it means to have these diseases back in our lives and the devastating effects that can result. It’s as if things aren’t real until they happen to us.
We are blessed to have eradicated so many truly awful diseases through vaccinations. As a result of not seeing or experiencing these illnesses we may not truly realise just what value vaccinations have.
We can never act in isolation from others and need to consider the impact of our actions on everyone. Thank you for the reminder to take responsibility for how our choices affect our community in ways we may never be aware of.
Judith this is a clear example of becoming more responsible and seeing how your choices could affect the community and cause harm to another, when we look beyond our own ‘self’ we begin to see how our choices impact on everybody around us.
Judith, you are quite right. It seems the Incas and Mayans were wiped out by being infected from healthy Spanish carriers of the diseases.
This is a great example of how awareness can bring in more love and care in the choices we make. Like, a possibility of carrying a pathogen but not feeling sick therefore putting others at risk of catching it is something I had never considered. And it is also very empowering when we can make a choice knowing full well why we choose to do what we do or don’t do, instead of avoiding or ignoring the subject matter.
And what if we extended this to our emotions and saw them as a pathogen? That can be carried, passed on and infect others.
Great reminder Judith of the responsibility we have for ourselves, and for others too.
‘I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community’. Well said Judith.
It’s great that you committed to asking questions and raising your awareness on a topic so that you could make a more informed decision and in this case learn that vaccinating was about not just your protecting yourself but those around you. People often ignore the impact that their actions can have on others with sometimes dire consequences.
Vaccination = love of self + love of all. Beautiful.
“I could feel his lived knowledge”. When knowledge comes only from our head, it lacks something, it feels like words only and can be easy to tune out. When knowledge comes from living, it feels much more tangible, full, and real.
When a healthy individual chooses not to be vaccinated they are relying on everyone else to choose to be vaccinated so that they are not exposed to a potentially life threatening disease.
Judith this is spot on – “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.” – everything we do, everything we say and even the way we move affects others, and so too does the fact of making a choice of vaccination or not.
Once upon a time I was anti-vaccination, having been ‘taught’ all sorts of awful things about it and the potential and supposed harm it has done to so many. Today, thanks to the perspective offered by Serge Benhayon, I have a much broader understanding of its necessity and support of communities as a whole.
I would not approach it the same way I did when my son was young if I had my time again, as there was a level of irresponsibility that was part of those choices back then.
It’s true that so many of us think of vaccination as a personal issue, so what you discuss here Judith is really important for the health of our communities and worldwide family. Of course it must always come down to being a personal choice, (I don’t advocate that it should be compulsory) however in that choice we need to consider that every decision we make affects everyone equally, so whether it’s choosing what to eat or whether we vaccinate ourselves or our children, true responsibility would be to consider all in every choice.
Vaccinations are a great support to ourselves and the society we live in, if we look at countries were there has been little or no vaccination available you get to see the devastation illness causes and when a simple vaccination can make the difference between illness, death or life in some cases, we need to look after ourselves and the rest of humanity too.
To vaccinate or not vaccinate is a great metaphor for the wider responsibility that is on offer in any small or large choice in our day.
Choosing to vaccinate or not is a great reflection of the responsibility that we all have to live in a way that is not harming to others. For me this has always been clouded by the corruption and greed that I could feel from pharmaceutical industries but what I am now recognising is that by opting out of any vaccination programme the impact of my reaction potentially has far reaching consequences which I need to consider and address. Thank you for exposing my arrogance and irresponsibility towards this area of my health and well-being.
This topic is an extraordinary point of reflection for us all… If we simply went back 100 years to the plagues that literally wiped out tens of millions of people, fast forward to today, where some of the best aspects of conventional medicine can be seen in the vaccination programmes for the children around the world, and yet in our arrogance, we will choose to endanger not just ourselves, but those around us.
For a long time Judith, I shied away from having vaccinations. Now seeing the bigger picture of my responsibility to the community and especially those who are vulnerable my feelings around vaccinations have changed drastically. In the hospital I work at each year we are offered flu jabs and it feels great to all come together in this way knowing that we are supporting something bigger than ourselves.
Thank you Judith, it does come down to taking responsibility of ourselves and being truly caring towards others. It seems that when a disease has been out of the public eye for many years the ferocity of the illness gets forgotten as there are no living examples or family stories to pass on, and then it only takes one to start the ball rolling by refusing to vaccinate their children, and very quickly the disease is re-introduced into communities. This surely clearly shows us that what we do effects everyone and has the potential to devastate communities.
It is great to make choices for the benefit of all, and having some vaccines seem to benefit the wider community. Unfortunately there is so much corruption and greed within the pharmaceutical industry that many are left unclear what is true.
A great way to look at vaccinations – taking it bigger to ask yourself what does that mean for humanity – and as you share – we are taking the care to not affect others. To see a vaccination as something that supports a community is a beautiful way to look at it and makes a lot of sense to me.
Choosing to have vaccination is a clear example of how every choice we make affects everyone else.
It is a responsibility for us all to not do ourselves and others harm through these diseases. We are all vulnerable to these pathogens, and it is an arrogant thought that we can’t be harmed, as when we choose to not vaccinate we are also harming others.
Yes, we underestimate the detrimental effects of infectious disease, they have the potency to debilitate our bodies for life.
understanding that vaccination is indeed a responsibility that we hold within our community, and also to see how irresponsibility can spread through small communities fuelled by rumour and myth.
Your point about not knowing you are a carrier is a very important one, some people just do not show symptoms. It really is about as many of us as possible supporting the more fragile in our population and taking the time to develop a relationship with your primary carer so you learn from them, from their experience. If you are not satisfied and don’t trust, then get a second opinion.
What a beautiful reflection of responsibility and brotherhood, considering how not being vaccinated can affect others. Where several infectious diseases were thought to be a thing of the past such as whooping cough, they are finding there way back into community, with the dropping rates of vaccination.
It is very well worth keeping this energetic fact at the forefront of our awareness, that “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.” Our choices are not just therefore for ourselves, they are for everyone, whatever the choice.
A really important point you raise here Judith concerning our responsibility to all in our community!
From reading your blog here Judith, it really opened my awareness to something that I had not felt into for myself, which was…..”I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community.” this is something that had not occurred to me. That when we vaccinate, that it doesn’t always have to be a personal choice, but one that is for everyone.
“Whereas my body may be strong enough to deal with a particular disease if I get infected, it could actually be so strong that I may not even notice that I am carrying the pathogen!” and this means that I can inadvertently pass on the disease to those who are not as strong or as able to deal with challenges to their physical body. Most of the information I have come across pitching toward not needing something like vaccination rests on the fact that “you” would be okay without it or how it may affect “you”, but rarely is there the care and responsibility to consideration of the whole the bigger picture that we are each part of and what would be the most way forwarding and responsible way forward in that. Conversations such as these which consider our level of responsibility to the whole are very much needed in the world.
Wow – thanks for opening my eyes on this very controversial subject Judith. I’ve been too and fro with vaccination and have not really settled on a definite feeling towards it, yet what you have expressed makes very real sense to me. I never considered that I could be strong enough to carry a disease that could then be passed onto others. That brings a whole new level of responsibility to the fore and even though I am feel very grateful that my mum vaccinated me as a child, I can see that the responsibility is now in my hands.
This blog really does expose the self mentality when vaccinating only for the individual or choosing not to vaccinate at all. My children have not been vaccinated but I have had a reminder through the post recently to have them vaccinated as there has been an outbreak of measles close to where I live in Wales, UK. I have talked to them about it and shown them a clip of the procedure. They are a little nervous but they understand. Discussing this blog offering them greater awareness in the responsibility they have towards our community is my next step.
Me too Judith I choose to be vaccinated for the responsibility for all I live with and come into contact with in our community.
Great point here Judith. If we acknowledge how vaccination programmes have eliminated a large number of diseases in our world we can appreciate their value more fully – and our responsibility to accept them as part of a self-loving way of being in a community or wider society.
It is very important for us to appreciate that vaccinations have supported a significant reduction in or complete eradication of infectious diseases that ‘actually decimated whole villages, even cities, not that long ago and still have the potential to do so’ and the more people who are not vaccinated the higher the risk of this occurring again is.
I love how you bring to the awareness that vaccinations are not just for you to not get ill but also to protect people who are weaker physically than you are at a certain moment. It makes it very clear we as a community, society, countries and in the end as humanity are all connected and all have the responsibility to take good care of ourselves so other vulnerable people are not affected by our unloving choices.
Concepts and beliefs… We can see in the vaccination issue how these plagues can really start to affect the well-being of our society.
You make a really import point here, Judith.
Before my husband and I had a child, I was very opposed to vaccination. I did not trust our government and the pharmaceutical industry to make safe vaccines, and bought into the belief that they were worse than allowing the body to fight off infection naturally.
When our daughter was a baby, I spoke with a friend who also didn’t vaccinate her child, and her child had contracted a serious illness that could have easily been avoided with a vaccine. I started to question my stance, and to feel guilty for my choice to not protect my daughter in this way.
In hindsight, I knew that, for my family, the decision to not vaccinate was actually not taking responsibility. But it took a few more years before changing our course and getting her properly vaccinated. Once we did, I knew it was true, and no longer have doubts or worries about vaccines.
Judith has opened my understanding in regards to the why we vaccinate. I have always seen it as a form of self- protection. Judith has made us aware that there is a greater responsibility to the community when we choose to vaccinate that supports all.
It is a really lovely perspective that something like vaccinations are not just for us, but are a responsibility to the wider community, and then we can reflect upon whole communities that do not understand this, and then the energetic quality of those communities are truly revealed.
Whenever there is anything like a flu epidemic, it is always the elderly, sick or babies that can really get hit the worst, so it is the responsibility of all to be as responsible as possible and if this means getting a vaccine, well that’s what we must do for the benefit of all.
Working in the health sphere I have noticed an increase in some of the diseases that are largely preventable through vaccination eg whooping cough. I have also been told that there is concern that statistically not enough people are taking up the opportunity for vaccination against such diseases so as to create ‘herd immunity’ which is where the community is protected only if the vast majority are vaccinated. This just proves your point Judith that our decisions have a huge impact on everyone else.
Thank you Judith for a great blog, I especially liked the sentence, where your body may be strong to deal with the disease, and so strong that you may not realise you have it and can be infecting other people who are weaker. great to share this level of responsibility.
How concepts and beliefs can lead to separation and isolation in society can really be felt in something like the vaccination issue, where we should be working together, understanding what we can and are doing as a collective to improve the well being of everyone, rather then keeping ourselves isolated.
‘I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself. But by making sure I am vaccinated I actually take care that others are also protected from that disease’. When you look at vaccination in this context you realise the responsibility we have to all others and that we never should doubt the impact that our choices has on others. Beautiful sharing Judith.
It is awesome that you have highlighted that the choices we make do not only affect us, for this is too often ignored…. and through inviting us to consider responsibility here, much harm can be avoided.
Thank you for sharing your experience with vaccinations Judith – I totally agree with Terri-Anne in saying ‘You bring a whole new meaning to the word responsibility here Judith.’
In no way are you swaying or telling others what to do – but simply presenting what your awareness is and how you understand the massive responsibility we have to vaccinate. It is very much about life isn’t it! All our choices impact each other.
Well said Judith. A sentence that stands out for me is “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.” These choices are about everything, not just vaccination, and in realising the responsibility I have to everyone else shows me that selfishness is harmful, but when every choice affects all of us, this brings me to understand the power of true brotherhood.
“I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself. But by making sure I am vaccinated I actually take care that others are also protected from that disease.” – Living in the area of Australia with the lowest immunisation rates, and so the lowest herd immunity to measles and whooping cough (and the highest risk of contracting these dangerous illnesses) – I can’t help but wish your common sense community minded approach was able to be heard by so many more people who have been led astray by some of the common fear preying myths (and lies) about immunisation. I’m sharing your great article to my facebook page – it just makes so much sense.
Thank you Judith for this insight. “I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself.” You’re addressing the larger whole and inspiring me to be more responsible with my own vaccinations.
You bring a whole new meaning to the word responsibility here Judith. I have two GPs that I see regularly, one for whole wellbeing, blood tests and checks ups, and minor ailments and general wellbeing and the other for all female/gynaecological things – and generally I am in excellent health – both doctors comment and are amazed just how excellent my health is. However, I never considered keeping up to date with my vaccinations outside of school (I left some 20x years ago) and travel, after reading your blog this will be the very next thing I attend to.
That is beautiful Terrianneconnors, to be responsible for our health also when we are not directly working in the health care inviroment, we meet equal people – and we have to keep our whole environment healthy. It is beautiful that you do check ups now and then – to make sure your health is checked and in a good state. Honestly, I enjoy going to the GP now, knowing that I am much more than any disease or illness that I carry on that moment, sharing and expressing how I feel with it. As health issues do not effect just physicality but everything around it: be it your being, body, spirit, soul and all people around you. So medicine is never just about you!
Judith this point that you raise, ” And also I saw that by walking around without being vaccinated, I could potentially cause harm to others. And furthermore, by getting vaccinated I also help the whole community to eradicate that specific disease,” to me is the most motivating reason to follow a vaccination programme that I have encountered. Thank you for highlighting this so well.
oh my I am just coming to realise how vulnerable I am leaving myself to be and how this puts others at risk on a daily basis.
The way I see it is that we live in an era where we have been given a means by which to help prevent serious diseases – so why would we hold back from accepting the support for our own and society’s health when it is available? What is the resistance and hold back really about?
It wasn’t until I worked in an environment with people who had suppressed immune systems that I realised how many people were vulnerable. Until then I hadn’t stopped to consider the implications of going to the supermarket with a flu or a cold . The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.
‘By making sure I am vaccinated I actually take care that others are also protected from that disease.’ Judith, this is a good example of how our choices can affect everyone and yet so often we make a choice from a self-centred position making it about ‘me’ and my wants and concerns. This separates us from humanity.
‘This separates us from humanity.’ Here here Sandra.
We are part of a much bigger picture and our connection far surpasses those in our close proximity. We are all connected and our choices either support that connection or reject it.
Beautiful point. I can feel the responsibilty to our community when being vaccinated. I can feel the truth of having to make sure that , if I am not sick, this does not automaticly mean that I can not endanger others. I like this form of attention and to also take delicate care of others – by being responsible for yourself first.
“I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself.” This is the point. What we do or not to ourselves has consequences upon others. The case of preventable diseases if vaccinated is a very clear one. It helps us to be a moving point of health and not of disease.
This is such a good blog to view your health, that it actually isn’t just you that you should consider, but your entire community. Great to think about and bring into my outlook. Thank you.
Loved this blog Judith. It opened up my awareness to the responsibility towards others when we vaccinate. I can see how I have held unhelpful views which I didn’t realise I even carried around vaccination that prevented me from fully considering others. Thank you.
Great comment ginadunlop. My sentiments exactly.
Gina the same here, it’s made me consider how many other things do I view solely from “how does this affect me?” rather than “how is everyone affected by my choices?”
Thank you Judith, Gina and David. Life is like a merry-go-round, we are all going in the same direction, so we have to consider all equally. What ever our choice, this will effect everyone, so choose wisely!
Great blog Judith, thank you for sharing your experience with vaccination.. I did not consider up until recently that vaccinating ourselves means that we are looking after the well being of our whole community, not just ourselves.
Thankyou Judith for sharing this. I am about to recommence an immunisation programme again soon, not having had any for about 30 years, so am re-reading around the subject again,
Inspiring and thought provoking Judith, thank you. The discussions arising from Serge Benhayons views on vaccinations are bringing a much needed new approach to how we live together on this planet.
Great blog Judith and something I too have been pondering on for some time now.
I am realizing the huge importance in vaccination and how this can affect everyone.
Thank you Judith. At the heart of what Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon present is always what is good for humanity. There is always a bigger picture, and in this we have a small but telling demonstration of someone feeling the innate responsibility of being a member of a community, acting in a way that has the wellbeing of the community truly at heart, moving out of old fears and prejudices that are simply that … preconceived opinions that are based on reason or actual experience, and that have had deleterious effects on our society.
This is very true, what has been consistently shown throughout the years by Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon has been how there is always a bigger picture, and how every choice, every thought , every action impacts everyone. My understanding of the depth of this keeps going deeper. Appreciation of our choice on vaccination and how that can physically impact others is a small example of the responsibility I have learned, that we all have in life.
Absolutely Golnaz – Universal Medicine has shown me that true responsibility is not simply something you are, but something that is lived through every choice in every moment. The depth and power of this understanding brings greater appreciation of one another, of our role & purpose in society.
Yes, well said – ‘there is always a bigger picture’ which Serge Benhayon opens our eyes to so we don’t make it only about ourselves but see ourselves as equal members of humanity with a unique part to play which can benefit the whole or harm the whole, according to our choices.
I never would have imagined that I would be in support of vaccination. It is only through having a greater understanding of the responsibility that I hold towards people everywhere that this change has taken place.
Jane this is such a valid point. Choosing to be responsible supports us all and prevents one more person putting extra stresses and strains on our health services.
It’s great to consider vaccination from this perspective and to appreciate the level of responsibility that we all have. Being the brave person carrying on working with all one’s ills without the proper protection is not brotherhood. Let’s be clear – it’s not a weakness to stop and allow the body to recover and nor is it a weakness to prepare the body against an illness.
So true Michael, it’s not a weakness to stop and allow the body to recover. It is such a loving and nurturing deed to do for ourselves. I recently was unwell and allowed myself the whole week off to fully recover and nurture myself and I must say I felt amazing, even though I was unwell on another level. This was new for me – usually I would have pushed on through or had a couple of days off and gone back to work feeling ok but not fully recovered.
Yes, Michael and Margaret, lovingly taking care of ourselves is an important part of health care and stopping and taking a break when needed is absolutely part of that. In fact, as you are saying Michael, it can be somewhat quite irresponsible and selfish to continue working, if it puts others at risk. Sometimes we just don’t want to accept that it is time to stop and re-consider how we have been living.
So awesome to read a man clearly rejecting that “tough it out” mentality towards sickness and vaccination, Michael. So much clarity and power in your phrase “it’s not a weakness to stop and allow the body to recover and nor is it a weakness to prepare the body against an illness.” I would love to see that as part of Parenting Boys 101- thank you, Michael: this is inspiring role modelling.
Brilliantly said Michael. This article and thread is really helping me to see the importance of making this decision and why. I have a strong constitution. I was vaccinated as a child. However, l have not considered it for wintertime. This year l got really sick for 2 weeks solid. Now l can see the greater perspective of my community responsibility. I work in a school, can you imagine winter time? It would certainly assist in this environment to choose to vaccinate.
That is a very clear and powerful comment Michael. And the best is that there is also so much tenderness and caring in it – wunderbar.
Totally agree, supporting the body by staying away from work when unwell is truly serving humanity.
Whilst growing up I never had any vaccines as my mum didn’t see the point, I then continued with this belief when it came to choosing for myself if I wanted one offered in school so I said no to that. A year later a different vaccine was offered which I didn’t actually get done in school but I went to the doctors to get done. ‘The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us’ this doesn’t only apply to vaccines but purely everything around us
Judith I, like many people, would probably assume that the reason you get a vaccination is to protect yourself. I always thought health workers got one to simply protect themselves – perhaps why its optional. Yet knowing now from your blog the reason for the vaccination is to protect everyone in the community it puts a completely different perspective on it. Perhaps it’s assumed, but how great would it be if that message of responsibility for the community was general public knowledge?
Yes David it would be great if we all knew how important it is to get a vaccination – not only to protect ourselves but also all around us.
Judith, I agree completely – we can be a carrier of a disease like a woman dubbed “Typhoid Mary” who was healthy but infected a lot of people, but there is also the incubation period where we are still going out and meeting people and infecting them before we are too sick to do so.
I once had an employee with a virulent type of flu show up for work and, even though we realised what was happening and sent her home within an hour, she managed to infect the entire office. Vaccines stop this.
This is such a great point you have raised Judith – ‘Whereas my body may be strong enough to deal with a particular disease if I get infected, it could actually be so strong that I may not even notice that I am carrying the pathogen!’ I used to have a head strong anti-vaccination belief as I had studied natural medicine and only read studies that supported this belief, and I was only considering the potential harmful effects for myself. Through the presentations of Universal Medicine I have come to understand what true responsibility is. And how our choices have an effect on all those around us. With this understanding I now realise that choosing to be vaccinated is a responsible loving choice, that by truly caring for myself I am also for caring for the community that I live in and am in constant contact with.
Yes, this is such a powerful point. Often the choice to vaccinate comes from a fear – in the example of parents wanting to protect children or babies from getting sick; or if travelling and you don’t want to risk becoming ill. However, the greater responsibility we each hold within society is not something that is often considered. This is a great reminder of the part we each play within the all, and our health and our choices are not isolated or separate from every other human being in this world.
Yes, well said Kylie. I feel your point that our choices are actually not separated or isolated from people, it all has an effect on each other. This points out that we are never alone and that we are always responsible for ourselves and that irresponsible living can harm or effect others.
Kylie often having vaccination comes from fear rather than a responsibility. Especially with new born babies. When everyone truly understands the importance and the responsibility of vaccination then people will possibly start to take more responsibility ensuring their vaccination is up to date.
The choices we make are never in isolation and whether or not we are prepared to admit, affect much wider than our own immediate personal space. I have Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine to thank for inspiring me to consider the true role of responsibility in everything we do, be it our health choices, our work choices, relationship choices etc.
It is strange that ‘natural medicine’ claims that it is more caring than conventional medicine but then takes what is in my view such a selfish and actually unjustified approach to vaccination.
I agree Christoph – well said. I also came to realise that I was being irresponsible. True responsibility is about being aware that the choices we make about our health, including prevention of disease, can affect the health of an entire community, a community that I am a part of and truly care for.
Yes, we are a role model in everything we do, both in a good way or in a bad way.
I agree Christoph. It would be like a doctor operating without the support of a nurse. All play a pivotal role and bring much needed support to all.
Judith, you have raised an important aspect of taking care of our health and that is the impact of our health decisions on others around us. It is so easy to get caught up in the arrogance of telling ourselves that it is our right to decide etc but the reality is that we also have a responsibility to not play small and to consider the greater good for sake of humanity.
It is interesting to look at this subject from a point of view that considers everyone equally instead of only thinking about ourselves. I suppose the question is- are we willing to do what is needed for the greater whole?
Thankyou Judith for your wisdom shared. The take home message for me here is not necessarily about vaccination, but about RESPONSIBILITY. When we stop seeing the world through the spectacles of the ‘little self’ we are able to see and feel the enormous responsibility that we each have for ourselves and for all others. Far from being a daunting thing, it is simply an act of love to honour the ‘bigness’ that we are and that we come from. Every move we make, every thought we think, everything we feel affects each and every person. And while this level of responsibility may make many run for the hills, it makes me smile knowing that together we are ONE and from this point we can trust ourselves to do what feels true for us all.
I agree Judith, a lot of people do avoid this subject and, I also simply ignored it. Your blog is clear and makes much sense, and when we have any concerns over anything that troubles us over medical subjects the best person to speak to is our GP as you did.
It is refreshing to read an article where the author is considering everyone and not just themselves. Thank you Judith.
Thank you Judith for your informative blog on vaccination. I feel it is a great topic and much needed now, as many are not informed about the risks verses the benefits, especially when it comes to vaccinating their own children or not. As a young mother many years ago, I just followed what I felt was right at the time and had my children vaccinated, but I did meet a couple of other mothers who had children that had bad reactions to vaccinations; it was not something I had heard of before. Things have changed and we need to be kept up to date, especially as parents of young children. I agree that we need to consider the wider community and vaccination and realise our responsibility is to all, not just our own.
Thank you Judith. I did not realise that adults need to be vaccinated as well as children. (Unless you were working in the healthcare industry) Indeed this blog has certainly got my attention.
Judith, I like where you say: “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise”. This really encapsulates the truth behind every choice we make, be it vaccination or otherwise.
Thank you for sharing this blog Judith. When people think about vaccination they tend to see it as something that affects them and only them. As you’ve expressed, it’s about protecting our community as well. Even if our bodies are strong enough to fight off the illness/disease, others close to us / living near us may not be and we could carry the illness and infect them.
Well said Judith, ‘The choices we make do not only affect us’. This is the true meaning of responsibility.
It’s not often we think about vaccination and social responsibility together. Vaccination is usually only thought of in terms of protecting an individual from getting ill. This discussion has opened up a whole new awareness of responsibility, not only in this area, but in every area of life.
Thank you Judith for the reminder of the importance that vaccinations are for the whole community not just to keep ourselves safe and healthy. This can be easily forgotten when we bring it back to ourselves and our own needs. So true Sara Harris, through Universal Medicine responsibility is taken to a whole new level, it is no longer just about us, but about everyone everywhere all of the time.
This is a beautiful example of how one choice impacts so many…and we may not realise, but all of our choices are impacting others all of the time. Should we choose to be aware of this, we are called to a new level of responsibility, one that the world very much needs. Thank goodness for Universal Medicine showing us the way with true responsibility.
Judith, your article has helped me consider the wider implications of the importance keeping my vaccinations up-to-date. It is not just to protect ourselves, but it is also a protection for the wider community.
Judith, it’s funny it’s so easy to make it be about us, are we able to handle that bug and for many (me included), until recently I’ve not truly considered how it impacts on others and as you say we could unknowingly be carriers and affecting others without being seriously impacted ourselves which is why it’s key to consider others too. I also like what Esther had added, it’s about finding the time when our own body is well to get the vaccine, it’s doesn’t have to be by a set rote.
Great blog Judith, thank you for expressing and sharing your understanding and your evolution on this subject many feel strongly about – either against or for vaccination. One beautiful point to consider is the perspective Serge brought to it, that we choose to have the vaccine when we are feeling strong and well. This will help handle the vaccine much better. It’s not supportive to have it when we are already run down or have a lot going on. That sounds so self-loving and very responsible to me. The care for oneself and others in this consideration feels beautiful.
Yes thank you Judith, I agree we can be a carrier of bugs that don’t affect us and have a responsibility to look after more than ourselves who may not have such robust immune systems or just simply be doing it tough and not be well, thus more susceptible to infectious diseases at times.
All these articles about vaccination are great. I have had a very anti vaccination stance since studying herbal medicine and reading all the bad side effects. I can honestly say and feel that somehow I have been stuck in a one sided view, and have not been open to the other side… as in my case, I would have never considered vaccination.
From what has been presented about vaccination, I am now considering that perhaps I was only thinking about my daughter and not about everyone. I have done this a lot in the past, and am only now starting to realise that it is not all about just us two, but about all of us.
I even talked to her about getting a tetanus shot last night, before reading this blog which for me feels like the right thing to do, and in that I can see how irresponsible I have been by denying that care and support to her in the past.
What I also have to share is that, at no point have I been told by anyone associated with Universal Medicine to vaccinate or to not, and what I love most of all, is that I am not judged or put down for whichever choice I make.
I have had the same opinion as you Rosie coming from the perspective of only considering my children but never about the rest of the community. Our communities have grown enormously but the concept is still the same to consider everyone no matter how far a field they are in our large communities these days.
‘So I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community.’ This alone inspired me to change my view on vaccination. I am now pro vaccination and see it as a privilege and responsibility I have towards my community and the world.
Beautifully shared account of the responsibility in the community in vaccinations and not being just about oneself. It brings another very real understanding to the vaccination decision for us to consider. Thank you judith for sharing this.
“The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.”
Thank you Judith for highlighting this for us. No more playing in our little corner anymore – now is the time to consider everyone else when we make a choice however small.
Thank you Judith. Vaccination is a responsibility and our choices affect everyone.
“The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise. And for me, vaccination is one of those choices that I now choose – for me and for everyone.”
Thank you Judith for making these responsible choices for us all.
Judith, great point to consider whether our choices are for ourselves or for humanity.
Thank you Judith for sharing. As you can see reading the comments a real awareness was brought around it not being about self and rather the greater community which is awesome.
Agree Ariel, we have to consider how everything that we do actually affects another. Far too often we choose to be blind to that fact.
Absolutely Elizabeth, it is so easy to ignore or dismiss issues by turning a blind eye to things and thinking that it does not affect me, so why should I have to get involved?
That seems very responsible to make a choice not only for yourself but also for everyone you will be in contact with.
“The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.” Such a true statement for all that we choose.
Indeed Heidi. Amazing that we often do not want to see this and prefer creating our own little universe in order not to have to look at the responsibility we would have to take otherwise.
A great sharing, Judith, regarding your decision to be vaccinated. I was particularly interested in the point “I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself. But by making sure I am vaccinated I actually take care that others are also protected from that disease.” Although I had heard that remark before, it had not really sunk in properly that we all have such a responsibility to be vaccinated for the sake of the many others that we may be in contact with as well as to oneself. So it comes down to a self-loving act to have oneself vaccinated, as well as being a loving act for all others as well. This point is GOLD.
Thank you Judith. I really enjoyed reading this and of particular note – we not only have the responsibility of our own health to consider, but also all those around us as we go about our lives in society. There is a reason many diseases have been virtually eradicated, and vaccination is that reason.
Thank you Judith, I held the view that I was having the vaccine for myself. You clearly highlight the bigger picture here.
It’s heartening to read this blog and comments that draw such attention to the effect our choice to vaccinate or not can have on many, many more people than just ‘oneself’. There’s a sense of piercing through a great distrust here – a distrust that has kept so many of us largely concerned only with ‘that which may hurt/cause discomfort to ME’, forgetting and neglecting the bigger picture impact of such a personal decision.
I can’t help but consider just how much we do this, in so many areas of our lives… keeping it ‘about me’ and not considering the whole – our neighbourhoods, our communities and societies. Most certainly the work of Universal Medicine has opened my eyes greatly (and continues to do so) to our impact upon the whole, yet there is, indeed so much more yet to go for us to truly live in a way that honours each other as the one humanity that we are.
Very true Victoria. The act of responsibility seems to only go as far as the end of a person’s arm and never byond into the community, very short sightedness indeed with a disregard for anything or anyone.
Indeed Matthew, Victoria it puts a whole new perspective on the way we care for ourselves, the way we take responsibility for ourselves when we start to consider the impact everything we do (or don’t do) has on society as a whole. Vaccinations is one thing i simply would not have considered affecting others before reading this.
All it takes is a simple conversation and asking questions to neutralise the ‘thoughts’ we may have about vaccination and if it is good or bad. Sometimes these thoughts in our head are not coming from a place of sensibility, but a playground of thoughts that aren’t exactly correct and true in their origin.
After reading your article, Penny’s one and Serge’s view on vaccination it has become obvious to me that it is irresponsible to not vaccinate, as not only are you putting an individual at risk, it may affect whole communities from this one choice.
Thank you Judith for bring the importance of responsibility to others up. I am in the process of immunization catch up with my two kids and can feel old beliefs pop up in my mind. The words responsibility to others is a strong commitment for me and has helped heal some of the old beliefs that are arising. Yes it is our responsibility, I can feel how people don’t want to look at what that entails because it’s to much to feel. I was one.
Judith, thank you for writing this beautiful and powerful blog. It has caused to me stop, reflect and ponder deeply and has actually changed the way I feel about vaccinations. I have made appointments to have my self and my husband – who have avoided them for years -have our shots updated, as part of our responsibility to the whole community.
I have never been anti vaccination but this whole article has helped me understand more fully the responsibility of it for us all, as responsible members of society.
Thank you Judith a great reminder that we have a responsibility to the wider community, that vaccinations are not just about us, but can stop the spread of many contagious diseases. Due to the many scares over the last decade or so many parents have opted out of vaccinations and we have begun to see an increase in diseases such as measles, typhoid that had almost been eradicated in many parts of the world.
Great blog Judith. Vaccination does generate discussion and your blog brings clarity to its importance as a public health initiative. I love how your decision to vaccinate took into account not just yourself but its benefits for the whole community.
Johanne its great that the discussion is starting to happen as I am sure there are many other things that people do or don’t do that are considered “private” for them only – yet perhaps these all have a wider impact on the community as a whole. What I really enjoyed is how it takes the responsibility and care that we have for ourselves to another level when we consider everyone else with that same care. The “Should I” or “Should I nots” are much simpler when we look at a big picture impact instead of just about protecting ourself/our family.
Judith I have to honestly admit I’d never considered the wider community that I live in with regards to vaccination. ‘I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community.’ I’m going to have to re-think my view on not needing the annual flu-vaccination and find out more about it. Thank you
It’s a funny thing that we get so scared of what vaccinations will do to us. I guess it is just that we don’t get the diseases they protect against or see them very often so we have an arrogance about not needing vaccination. It is the responsible choice of so many to vaccinate, however, that means we do not see these diseases. I have done a complete turn on my vaccination stance, with the support of Universal Medicine’s balanced and pro medicine approach.
Dear Judith, I like you was inspired by Jennifer’s blog about vaccination, I am equally inspired from reading yours. Both of you clearly bring across the message that vaccination is not just about ourselves, that in fact we hold a responsibility to the wider community and how vaccination can completely eradicate a disease, this being of a major benefit for future generations.
That was the thing I’ve taken away about reading both these blogs on vaccinations. It brings back a responsibility to our actions to the wider community and society. How small minded of us has it been to consider that it’s just about us or our family? I love the fact that we can truly see that our choices and the way we live affects everyone else.
Well said David, a great blog and an eye opener on a subject I was very unsure about for many years. Looking at our responsibility for ourselves AND our part within society – therefore everybody else we meet on a daily basis makes the choice to have vaccines much easier.
Thank you Judith for high lighting the importance of self vaccination. I grew up at a time when it was common for everyone to get vaccinated, the knowing of the implications of the potential diseases that we could suffer with was enough incentive for parents to vaccinate – no questions asked. They did it because they had seen first hand the effects of the diseases when they were young, things such as measles and polio.
You make a very valid point about being an adult and walking around not knowing that you could be carrying the pathogen and infecting the more susceptible members of our communities – believing that you have just a common cold.
A great blog Judith. I like how you shared about taking the responsibility to learn about vaccination and ask questions that arose for you – rather than ignoring your concerns and just getting the vaccination without first taking the time to consider the implications.
I agree it is great sharing to understand and bring that to the fore. Why do we have them and really what are we taking them for. Even just having the discussion is pretty big because everyone stays closed and does what they think is best.. Talking about it lets us bring more awareness as to why we would have vaccinations and they support that they offer to the whole not just ourselves.
I agree Simone, it is so important to make an informed decision around vaccinations.
It seems that the vast majority of commenters on this blog, myself included, have not considered that vaccinations play a part in protecting our society and community, from infectious diseases, and that we all play a part in it, whether we think we are susceptible or not. Which, to me, shows that we have lost touch with the fact that vaccinations were engineered to begin with to stop disease outbreaks that in the past affected whole families, towns and cities, and that these diseases still exist. As do new diseases also now affect us. We may not have such dire consequences of these diseases now, but that is in part because we have vaccinations. Thank you for bringing this to our attention Judith.
Yes Judith I agree with what you say – vaccination is a choice, but the choice impacts in a larger way than most of us think. I remember being told by a good GP years ago that vaccination only works when the majority of the population partake. With an anti-vaccination/pro choice stance as I had at the time, having been through Naturopathic studies, this made sense and opened me up to a broader perspective. When I heard Serge Benhayon present a few years later on it – again making good sense and supporting the fact it was something that was a community-benefit choice and not just a personal one, I could not longer sustain my objections.
Yes Lisa, this is very true. We have lost touch with choices we make being about our communities, however big or small, with the vast majority being made with only our selves in mind. This is indicative of the state of affairs in a much broader sense, so little wonder. It is important to be reminded of this greater responsibility we have to each other, and to make choices from this place is far more uniting. Vaccination it would seem, is one of those choices.
Interesting Jenny that you say having come through Naturopathic studies you had an anti-vaccination/pro choice stance. Although it is clear you are not ‘blaming’ the studies, I feel that many of us (I too did my studies in Naturopathy) have taken that similar stance. For me this was easily done following the experience of having my first child have a reaction to her immunisations, AND, rather then have proper support as to why this may have happened and how to deal properly with this, I turned away from the western view of vaccination, feeding into the fear and panic around this topic.
Thanks Judith – you have clearly expressed the choice we make can either be for ourselves or for humanity.
Hi Nikki. Your words have just helped expose something that can often run me. If we make it about the ‘self’, all others miss out, this is true. But there is also the temptation to make it always about humanity to dodge what the self needs to see. This is pure illusion because it is the ‘self’ working for the ‘self’ in the guise of working for the all. We cannot evolve the all without first honouring ourselves and we cannot evolve ourselves without first honouring the all. Such is life on a sphere.
When we choose to make it about humanity, we have to make sure it is a choice that comes from all of us and not just an ideal we are subscribing to. If it is not in full, with a body or a ‘self’ that is able to do so, then perhaps we are not quite ready and the self needs some more time and work. And all of that is ok. We need to work on our ‘selves’ first.
Love that Liane, such is life on and as a sphere, all encompassing!
Judith your blog is making me rethink my stance on having the annual flu vaccination. I have really been looking at it from my perspective rather than the community as a whole. The discussion here has affirmed for me how we are all helping each other to evolve!
Me too Anne – the flu vaccination is something I never get- my dad has always been anti-needles so I adopted this line of thought. But now I have a sense of a much bigger picture of responsibility it has really changed my view – and it feels great to make my own decision as oppose to follow in someones footsteps.
What if the topic of self responsibility re vaccination was applied to all our actions and their possible effects on others. When we stop to consider whether we put the rubbish out or leave it to others, change the toilet roll or ensure that the way we park our car leaves room for others ~ it all impacts. Self responsibility and its ripple effects are so significant.
So true Bernadette.
I totally agree Zoe. I once held the individual view and feel very blessed that a view that takes the whole of society into account was presented. It feels truer and makes a lot more sense.
Absolutely Bernadette. Everything we do or say has a ripple effect, whether we chose to be aware of it or not, or whether we choose to be responsible for ourselves or not. How amazing would it be where everyone chose a level of responsibility for their words and actions – thinking and feeling how it could possibly affect the whole.
I absolutely agree with your analogies Bernadette. Everything we do affects others, so it simply, but most importantly, comes down to total responsibility for all our actions.
Yes, I agree Judith, in our society we are very individualistic, we do things to better out personal lot or our immediate family. I like your connection with the fact that vaccination is not just about you but your wider community.
I agree Zoe, this is what stood out for me in Judith’s article. I had not before considered that in choosing to vaccinate this is a choice I am making for the greater community. I can see this now very clearly, and for me this is a grand reason to take vaccination more seriously
Considering not just ourselves when it comes to vaccination is a responsibility we all have and one that I would not have considered until Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon presented that everything I do, say and think is connected to everything and thus affects everyone.
Thank you for your blog, gave me a new perspective
Judith you reminded mind me that there many important aspects of medicine. As a tradesman I have often received a tetanus vaccination when I’ve injured myself but it’s always been after the fact. There are many other diseases out there that I could easily come into contact with and by that time the vaccination could be too late. I get the tetanus vaccine because it protects me, but as you said, what about the people around us? What would happen if I weren’t properly vaccinated? How would that affect myself and my family?
“I could feel his lived knowledge whilst he was talking and that he really knows what he is doing.” Fantastic line Judith, it is great when we can feel the life experiences of those we place our trust with, and because our bodies hold all our lived choices this can come across in just one conversation.
You have raised an amazing topic of conversation – Vaccination – pro or anti. I have found the information around vaccination to be quite confusing and conflicting, as each camp tries to convince you of their view – which always puts me on guard, for if you have to try to convince someone of something you are more likely to stretch the boundaries of truth. I feel that the 3rd camp – choice, is too often forgotten. If someone is given all the facts – the pros as well as the cons, and the responsibility to the community at large is explained, not from moral high ground, but from care for others, then a person should be free to choose and that choice be respected.
Yes absolutely. It is being aware of all the information, it is lovely that Judith came to the realisation herself with regards to how if she didn’t get vaccinated it could affect others within the community.
I agree Vicky, so often in many areas we get given the wrong information, to create fear or simplY because it’s misguided, and it shapes our perspectives for the rest of our lives. That is why balanced research and reliable sources are so important, and finding a doctor willing to talk about any issues you have come across in a fair and non biased way.
I’m feeling that too Matilda. I can see that many choices made by individuals to make their life better, or easier, may actually be to the detriment of those around them when the bigger picture is ignored.
Beyond vaccination, your article raises the super important subject of our responsibility in every choice we make and the need to see the bigger picture when we make decisions about everything. Thank you.
Yes, Matilda this article does make me think about how we affect everyone with every choice we make. Often in areas we don’t even realise and that’s a whole different ball game to the way we currently live life. Alexis your comment feels true… “What we’re going to eventually get to is a one united race where everybody considers everybody else in everything that they do.” Now that really will be something!
Great point Judith – I’d not considered that by being vaccinated against a contagious disease, you are not only looking after yourself, but you are being responsible for not carrying the disease and putting others at risk. That feels like true responsibility and a deep care for yourself and for others. Beautiful, thank you.
Judith what came to mind when I read your article is that currently we have such a vast array of different ways of thinking about everything. In that some people believe that life is about making themselves comfortable and secure, others see life about looking out for their immediate families and groups and a lot of people actually live with an attitude of ‘I’m alright Jack’ which is an English way of saying ‘as long as i’m ok I don’t really care. What we’re going to eventually get to is a one united race where everybody considers everybody else in everything that they do. Therefore there will naturally develop ways of thinking which will be held by all and so things like whether or not to vaccinate will be topics that we all naturally agree on as we will all share the common goal of serving humanity. I am wondering out loud if it will negate the need for discussion ?
I feel what a one-unified all encompassing loving consideration for humanity will negate Alexis, is the need for protecting ourselves against others in all the obvious and more subtle ways that we do. Even not choosing to vaccinate is a protection mechanism. Imagine what no need for protection looks like – to me it feels so lovely, like we would all be free to be who we truly are. Divine.
Thankyou Judith. A commitment to others must always come first and foremost, and in that, you commit to yourself. Thanks
A great point Judith raising awareness to the personal and wider responsibility we have regarding vaccination.
This is showing us our responsibility of looking after ourselves personally, but caring for all, as we live together in communities. It is down to personal choice but great to look at the bigger picture too.
Yes, this definitely looks at the bigger picture and the responsibility we hold. There is a lot to ponder on here.
I think this is one of the most challenging blogs I have personally read, simply because it really does present quite a different truth to the belief system that I have bought into. Also I can now feel the disregard and selfishness that I have had in relation to vaccination. I feel like I have been rebelling against the medical profession, rebelling against society and rebelling against the true needs of humanity in this regard. Some spiritual pride to release it seems. Thanks for a great article Judith.
I agree Paul and I keep coming back to it because I can feel that there is more spiritual pride to release.
Hi Judith, such a great points raised in this blog. When we vaccinate ourselves or our children we are in fact supporting vaccinating the community. When I see it in this way, there is a bigger awareness and responsibility that I didn’t have before.
I understand the point being raised here, but I am still concerned with the dangers of vaccination for the body. I read an article yesterday that tells of stories of children developing autism and brain damage after receiving vaccines. In cases like these, where is the healing for all if our own bodies are being affected in such a drastic way?
Hi Rebecca, yes I too have heard about certain vaccines being linked to the development of autism and there is a lot of evidence out there that does support these findings. I think it’s important to consider all options and make a choice that feels right for you and your family. I know some families/individuals have said yes to vaccinations and others that have said no. Neither I think should be judged as being ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the other.
I too still have concerns. I did not vaccinate my child until he was 4 after I re-assessed my decision. I still have many concerns regarding vaccinations of young babies as I’m not so sure I would want to introduce that into an immune system of a new born. And I have concerns as to what is in the vaccinations. But I now try to make my decisions based on what feels right. The head is a very confusing place from which to make this decision because of all the information, a lot of which comes fully charged with an agenda. So I go back to what feels right for myself, my child and my community. It is very challenging though.
I just loved this – ‘So I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community.’
I’ve never seen vaccinations in this way – and I haven’t really made time to get them unless they were really needed.
But you are so right that it is a responsibility to treat ourselves in the same way that we want the world to be treated – so if we know the world is sick, then why would we not do something that supports us to not pick up or pass on certain sicknesses.
I didn’t vaccinate my daughter when she was a baby. I was too scared of what it might do to her little body. I realised recently that I had left her open to so much more than what the vaccine would have done though. She is now being immunised and I do see it the same way as you now, that this is a responsible thing to do. It was quite reckless not having her immunised, for her and those around her. I couldn’t see that through the fear then though.
I loved reading your article Judith. I have always declined getting the flu vaccine as I didn’t feel ‘I needed it’, however, as you beautifully share, it’s not just about me, it’s how I could be affecting others. Thank you for offering me this awareness.
Thanks Judith for raising my awareness on this subject that is often debated heatedly. Growing up near Nimbin there was always a mini war going on between parents who vaccinated and parents who did not. I never thought much of it but after hearing your comment that explains there is a possibility that we may carry a disease unknowingly, that stopped me in my tracks. Whilst we have the freedom to do as we please we also have a responsibility as a member of society to not harm others. Another example of how our choices affect all.
Judith what you say is so true that its not always all about ourselves but how our choices affect humanity.
It’s so true what you write Judith, that “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.” Thank you for the reminder by way of such a tangible example – the choice to vaccinate.
This article points to the importance of many things in our lives we may see as being about our own care and safety, yet extend out to many others. I have recently felt the importance of living in connection and staying present with myself when with others. There has mostly in my life been a subtle tendency to lose myself in the company of others, whether it be worrying about what they think, or feeling less or more and so on. This may not seem to have much to do with the topic, but it does because when I stay with myself, I offer people a depth of relationship where others benefit, as surely as when I am not a carrier of a disease. It is interesting the word dis-ease and how that relates to the example I have offered. Surely, bringing ourselves to our true potential in life, includes becoming aware of how everything we do affects everyone around us.
Great point Simon. I can certainly relate to difficulties staying present when with others, because of a lack of ease with myself. This impacts other people as well as me, just as if I do not take responsibility for my own health I affect other people because of my choices. We are all so inter-connected that ‘everything we do affects everyone around us’ and the more I realise the truth of this the more I am inspired to look at every aspect of my life.
Great point Simon. I too was just pondering about how if we don’t deal with our emotional hurts, one of our symptoms may be angry outbursts with others. So, if we are walking around feeling angry (or sad or frustrated), then that’s exactly what everyone we meet gets to feel from us.
Judith, that point about our responsibility to vaccinate for the sake of others as well as of ourselves is a great point, and one I had not considered before.
And it is indicative of the set-up of life as well: that our responsibility in life extends well beyond our self and our families, but out into our communities, and into the world at large – the global village. And our responsibility to take full care of ourselves is one of our foremost responsibilities in this set-up – and if this means vaccination, then so be it.
Absolutely Conor – our responsibility and choices affect many, many more people than we often think.
I had always been up and down about vaccination more so once I had children. They were vaccinated but I never truly felt confident about my decision… I had a lot of doubt but this was about everything in my life. Once I started to get informed and actually feel for myself I am now strong in my decision and just this year felt to get my first flu shot. I love how you have presented another side of vaccination with the responsibility to not only ourselves but to others also. I agree it is a personal choice.
When my children were very young my partner and I had very different opinions on this matter. I felt torn as to what was the right thing to do, to vaccinate or not. I read up about the pros and cons. I must admit back then I ended up making my decision based on fear and wanting to protect my children. I would have dealt with this very differently now, to decide without fear, approach from a point of understanding and what is best for my children and the community.
This is a great way to view vaccination as another aspect of our responsibility to others. Good blog Judith. Thank you.
Judith, this is a great post! As you said vaccination protects others, especially if you are a silent carrier. Vaccination also supports others because we never have that acute infection and therefore don’t spread it to others in the incubation period or afterwards. Hence a population is protected when a certain percentage of people (the percentage depends on the disease) are vaccinated (or immunised from having had the disease) but not when the percentage is lower. For example in the case of measles well over 90% of the population need to be vaccinated as it spreads particularly fast.
A great addition to the conversation Christoph. When I was young, where I lived had periodic episodes of highly contagious diseases and there would be mass immunisations including all schools. Your comment brought a clearer context for such instances worldwide and brought a greater understanding of the responsibility Judith mentions in her blog.
This got me thinking, “What we need to understand in this context is that vaccination is a protection from infectious diseases, and a lot of these diseases actually decimated whole villages, even cities, not that long ago and still have the potential to do so.”
If we were to believe in reincarnation there is every chance that we have previously passed from an infectious and potentially entirely preventable dis -ease. By being vaccinated we are likely clearing those past experiences and at the same time protecting all others. It is curious to note that vaccination and public health initiatives such as sewerage and safe water supply had a greater impact on longevity than ‘modern medicine’. I’m a huge advocate for modern medicine and the amazing things that can be achieved but if we apply a ‘back to basics’ approach – vaccination is the most wonderful ‘breakthrough’ in dis-ease control. A responsible and loving choice to make.
Thanks Judith you have highlighted for me the fact that vaccination protects others and not just myself, I have considered and acted on this with regard to more serious diseases but not the flu. As you say in people with a weakened immune system something such as the flu can be very serious so this winter I will reconsider my past choices.
I also am not sure how I feel about vaccinations although I did have my children vaccinated with what was advised when they were young and also myself when I travelled overseas. Thank-you Judith for bringing this to my conscious awareness, as to be honest I hadn’t considered the effect this could have or really even thought of the responsibility I have to other people whether I chose to vaccinate or not.
This is a very emotive topic, and one for me that I am still very hesitant about. In theory vaccines sound fine, and how it is your responsibility to our fellow brothers and sisters makes complete sense, especially regarding some of the more serious diseases. However, this is a stance that pharmaceuticals put forward, when in fact there is evidence to show that vaccines have weakened communities resistance to certain diseases.
Personally, being someone who has been seriously poisoned by mercury, and still living with those consequences, I am now very wary of anything that contains mercury. Mercury poisoning affects every system in your body, and is really devastating in many ways. When your body is extremely weak from the consequences of mercury it is very difficult to detox the mercury.
Unfortunately many vaccines still contain mercury, even though they are supposed not to. We have to have an impartial system in place, that is in no way connected to the pharmaceutical industry, to regulate and thoroughly test vaccines and other medicines.
Well said Lorraine. Vaccines contain so many hidden substances that can seriously affect the body and actually cause all kinds of conditions. It is well worth knowing all the facts before choosing to be vaccinated, not only from the GP but from other trusted sources too.
I used to get prescribed antibiotics all the time for a reoccurring illness that I brought on myself when ‘burning the candle at both ends’. I didn’t ever take the complete dosage because I didn’t really like the thought of taking medication, so I would stop as soon as I started feeling better. Sometime later it was explained to me that the reason for finshing the dose was because the initial dose would kill off the weak bacteria first, but the stronger ones would need more, so not finishing the packet of antibiotics could leave the stronger bacteria behind, perhaps the reason for the repeated illness. I guess it goes to show how important knowing the full story is, and having that conversation with your doctor is when you’re unsure about something.
This is interesting Laura…I have also heard that, by not finishing the full course of antibiotics the stronger bacteria begin to become resistant to the tablet leaving the next person who gets ill unable to use the medicine as it no longer works…. this takes the responsibility of completing courses of medicine to a whole new level. What we do can affect everyone else as Judith describes with vaccination. When we take antibiotics for us as individuals, we take antibiotics for us collectively.
I am starting to see how everything we do can be done in consideration for just ourselves or encompassing humanity as a whole.
I often hear people admit that alcohol can be a problem, but that they themselves drink in moderation and so it is not a problem for them. But in seeing the harm that it does do to others, would it not be more responsible to not drink in recognition that many others have a big problem with it, and to support them by not adding to its acceptence in society?
Wow, Rachel, I had not considered this either, that the bacteria becomes resistant to the medication from one person not treating it in full. That is awesome to understand, thank you for sharing that.
My stand on vaccination has also changed. I went from being terrified of vaccinating my children to making a choice to get them vaccinated. Over the last 8 years I have been learning life skills at Universal Medicine, where the foundational principles are to have love and respect for oneself and one’s neighbour equally so, truth, self-responsibility, and self-care. Whilst I have never heard Serge Benhayon tell anyone what to do, what I came to learn about my own choices not to vaccinate was the enormous amount of fear and emotion that they were based on rather than love, respect and equality.
So true Nicole, many of our decisions around vaccination are based on fear and emotion rather than proven fact. The clear proven fact is that they do prevent the spread of disease. I too have broadened my life skills thanks to attending Universal Medicine events and in doing so I have come to realise that our allopathic medicine has much more to offer us than I had truly appreciated before, vaccinations being just one part of that service.
Judith I’ve never thought of vaccinations that way before.. That by taking care of yourself, your also taking care of others by making sure the diseases aren’t spread. Great thing you have pointed out there.
I have noticed that vaccination can be a very heated topic amongst people, but i have not heard until this article a discussion about the broader social responsibility of considering vaccination.
Lovely realisation that vaccination does not only impact on the individual but the whole community “So I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community.” I also appreciated how you write of the doctor’s own lived knowledge and how many hundreds of people they had had given vaccination to, a great reminder to listen and consider what others have to share. There s always something to learn.
Some great points here Judith, our choices to be or not to be vaccinated impact our community and society at large in more ways then we often consider. I have always felt vaccination was important but it was not until I had a baby of my own that I realised the extent to which we can impact others in our choice not to immunise. Babies, the sick and the elderly are much more susceptible to illness, so it makes sense that to look after these valuable members of society that we work together to boost our vaccination levels and eliminate the possibility of deadly conditions (some thought to be previously eradicated) from becoming epidemics again.
Vaccination is one of those subjects that seems to divide communities. I must admit I have been on both sides of the fence! I now feel that it is a choice for each individual and needs to come from what feels true in their body rather than the beliefs of the mind. All of our choices do affect everyone else so it is great that you have raised this for us to consider.
Well said Fiona. The pro and anti vaccination camps do tend to be divided when putting forward their arguments – at least this is how it appears to me as a lay person. Many parents are often concerned and confused and have resorted to academic research to understand the pros and cons of vaccinating their child to make the ‘correct’ choice. The black and white perspectives, anti and pro, right and wrong approach to vaccination are looking for a one size fits all approach to medicine and health. One of the pro vaccination arguments I have heard, especially for school age children is that the vaccinations of some children are protecting the children that are not vaccinated from diseases that historically as Judith points out have been fatal. It is therefore argued if all children were not vaccinated the risk for fatal childhood diseases would be much higher and it is therefore selfish to not vaccinate all children.
Judith brings through this point with love and understanding rather than moral high ground. The division of pro and anti vaccination makes it difficult for those wanting to make an informed choice, literature around vaccination can be fear mongering and propaganda like.
Fiona brings a lovely ‘grey’ that is lacking when it comes to vaccination, there is incredible support and love on offer from vaccination, yet individuals should be left to choose if vaccination feels like a suitable choice for themselves. This may include individuals with strong and excellent health choosing to vaccinate for the benefit of their community and other factors such as exposure to others that are more vulnerable such as workplace exposure in fields such as child and aged care.
Vaccination feels like it has been polluted, the moral high ground, propaganda and fear mongering surrounding this subject are due for a clean up, so that the choice to vaccinate or not can be introduced as a loving choice.
What Fiona wrote about making this choice from what feels true from each person’s body rather than the beliefs of the mind is an approach to medicine that has hardly been explored, yet it could prove to be a revolutionary approach to vaccination and medicine across the board. The evidence based system of health care that currently predominates especially when it comes to public health policies might struggle to integrate such a view in the short term. The pioneering ground work, perhaps outside of conventional medicine will be made by individuals addressing their health decisions from what feels true from their body. To this end it feels important health care legislation and regulation supports the patient to be informed, responsible and free to make decisions for the health care of themselves and their family.
Very true Fiona and I too have been on both sides of that same fence. What I find interesting is how it’s a topic with such strong views and like you say, it divides communities. Mostly the views are so strongly based in the mind and there is very little heart involved. Both sides have such a heaviness that comes with them and all the information is so often extremely biased and convincing. Why is this topic this way and why can’t society have a real discussion about it?
I had not ever considered vaccination in this light. It has only been recently, thanks to Serge Benhayon and other students sharing about their own views, that I have started to become okay with the idea of vaccinations in the first place. And now with your blog I find an invitation to expand my understanding – a deeper level of responsibility for me to consider.
Wow, I never actually saw vaccinations in this way before, that’s cool and makes a lot of sense actually. By vaccinating in this way it could inspire others to do the same, to support others by themselves not being a carrier of a certain infectious disease. And as Andrew above has highlighted some very key questions I will certainly sit with. Are my actions just to serve me or am I supporting myself so that I am in a position to support others? The more I feel a sense of the real me, an essence that lives within everyone and can be seen and felt in those such as Serge Benhayon – a man who lives and breathes making life about people and supporting by just being who he is, the more I feel this essence within me that is worth supporting and building and developing into my life. Because that essence is equal in all of us, it becomes a natural extension to support another. Thus responsibility doesn’t become a burden or have to, but a willingness to support the well-being of another as we have already started to support our own well-being.
That makes sense Jane, what I am wondering is from my own experience I have started to notice that the ‘doing it only for myself’ comes with a coldness. If I don’t clock this feeling when it arises there is a lack of confidence, backing out happens then feeling bad when I see others struggling – with the knowing that my support was needed. I could continue to beat myself up about having made that choice OR appreciate that I allowed myself to notice and feel how my choices impact others. And from experience we learn.
Yes the greater responsibility to humanity needs to be considered and is a great point that has been raised here. I feel it is really important to allow the ‘grey’ area between either being ‘pro’ vaccination or ‘against’ it. There is a danger of judging people for doing the opposite of what we ourselves choose.
Hi Judith, I have never looked at vaccination in that respect before and you are right, there is a bigger consideration for us all here. Thank you for highlighting this important topic.
I had not considered that I could be carrying a pathogen, that my body is strong enough to deal with, that could endanger others who may be weaker. Much to consider here, thank you.
I had not considered this either Ruth, so thank you Judith for bringing this to our attention.
Judith, this is a completely different way of looking at vaccination for me, to consider that vaccination is not just for me but for those around us. It is so true that particularly the old and the young may be more vulnerable to sickness and therein lies a greater responsibility to consider in whether or not we vaccinate. A powerful piece for sure that has given me plenty of ‘food for thought’.
Thanks, Judith. You article is very exposing because I can remember as a parent see-sawing between the should/shouldn’t choice to vaccinate my children. It felt like such a big decision, but not once at that time did I consider the effect on the community. It reminds me that if we lose the bigger picture we are not able to see the full truth of a situation and get locked into and get lost in our own stuff.
Your blog brings a level of awareness I had never considered about vaccinations. I am not anti vaccinations but reading your blog made me realise how over the last number of years I have been taking on a lot of the negative press that have been making vaccinations something to fear without realising it.
I’m so glad I read this blog. I only ever considered myself in the equation of getting a vaccine, and I didn’t really give it much thought, as I don’t have kids and am healthy, however I do get offered the flu jab because I have asthma, and my mum had it because of her age and my brother due to compromised health. I also spend a lot of time with young nieces and nephews, so of course it is a topic that affects me and people in my life, and not just immediate family. I’m now realising the lack of care and consideration in this attitude, there is a lot more to consider, so thank you for sharing.
I agree Laura, I personally hate needles, and wasn’t vaccinated as a child and for a long time never wanted to be. However this approach – that vaccination is not just about self-preservation but can be as a care and consideration of your effect on others – puts vaccination in a whole new light. I still hate needles, but I am now up to date with all my vaccines and it feels great.
Now you mention it Rebecca, I hate needles too and have avoided vaccinations for years. As a child I had a vaccination that caused a scar on my leg which remains to this day. My Mother had insisted on it being done there instead of my arm but I guess it has left a fear in my body. I have only just now made that connection. Reading all these comments has helped me to re-evaluate and consider others in future.
I have found that my fear of needles doesn’t fade, but the way I have approached having blood tests or vaccinations has changed completely. I now talk to the nurses about my fears, and ask them to be gentle and if I can lie down. I take a friend and treat it as a responsible action and embrace it as a weakness of mine that I don’t allow to stop me being healthy and proactive about my health and the health of others.
I also had not considered getting a flu vaccination because I only maybe get a cold once a year and it passes quickly – but now I am thinking of others around me who may be more susceptible or fragile.
Suddenly, everything becomes a little different when we are considering everyone within each choice we make. I have heard Serge Benhayon present how when he wakes, the way he gets out if bed is in consideration for how it affects someone on the other side of the world. This example of vaccination gives me a more practical understanding of how this actually plays out in life, and how incredibly loving it is. I can also see how it is not something you do for others, it is having a level of love for self first that means you don’t dismiss vaccination before really choosing what the most caring thing to do for yourself is, and then not wanting to keep this for yourself. Very loving.
Yes Laura there is much more to consider than just ourselves in this situation, but not just this situation, we should be bringing this consideration into everything that we do, as All is Energy and Everything that we do has an impact on all around us.
Totally, Natalie, if we could start considering others in every single choice we make, can you imagine the differences we would begin to see, and the support we would feel from each other?
Thank you Judith for raising the topic of vaccination, and how we have a responsibility to the whole community in our choice to vaccinate or not. I am not sure how I feel about it , but you have given me food for thought.
You raise an important question Judith about how much do we really consider the level of responsibility we have to all those around us? Or are we making choices in life based on how it will affect us only?
Absolutely it shows us there is a much bigger picture here than we tend to see. By using something so simple as vaccination, Judith brings an awareness to us as a community in that what we choose has an effect on others.
This is true Andrew, our responsibility to ourselves is one thing, but responsibility to everyone can be too big to contemplate, but essential none the less.
Great point Andrew, do we consider others in our choices, and not just those close to us or do we consider the effect on everyone? And Judith’s blog has really brought this home with addressing a question about vaccination, it applies everywhere.
Yes to all the comments above – it really does raise the question of our responsibility to all around us. Making decisions for ourselves, that included others.
I agree Andrew – we are very good at looking after our own so to speak – those closest to us – but often we don’t stop to consider our effect on everyone else. Judith’s story gives a great example – but even when you have picked something up in a shop and put it down in the wrong place – it doesn’t affect you but it makes a lot of work for the people working there and it’s something we often don’t think about.
What a great insight and way to look at this. Thank you Rebecca, it puts into perspective our responsibility.
This is a great point Andrew. Surely we want to make it about the bigger picture for, as Judith beautifully points out, ‘the choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.’
Thank you for opening this up further Andrew, as Judith’s closing paragraph is very poignant. Her words are far reaching, asking us to consider whether we are living for self or in consideration of one and all. Something I will definitely ponder on.
So true Andrew. I’d highlighted the line from this article: ‘ Whereas my body may be strong enough to deal with a particular disease if I get infected, it could actually be so strong that I may not even notice that I am carrying the pathogen!’. I hadn’t considered I might be in this boat, blithely infecting people as I go. I’ve been totally self-centred in this regard.
Hello Judith, thank you for what you are bringing to us about responsibility and how what we do affects everyone. This line, “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.” is huge for all of us. For it seems we choose things without the full awareness of everything around us. I see this as not just a blog on vaccination, but more on the awareness of our responsibilities towards ourselves and others.
This article has challenged me to look at my attitudes towards vaccination. I now understand that there are deeper social issues here that I need to come to terms with. Thank you for sharing your experiences and what you have found from exploring the huge amount of information both for and against vaccination.
Thank you Judith for sharing your blog and the awareness you have offered, as what and how I choose not only affects me but also every one else.
Judith you raise a very good point that “the choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise”. When we start to think in a broader sense, this can apply to everything. Your blog Judith is a great reminder for me to consider myself as part of a whole, that how I live and the choices I make aren’t just affecting me, but they will have an impact on others. Now that is calling us to be accountable for all of our choices.
As presented in this article, vaccination is something that is most effective and works as a “whole (or collectively)”. It would be very interesting to find out a statistics of ratio of vaccinated babies (or children) and non-vaccinated babies worldwide and infant mortality together with the cause of death (which illness they died of).
I really enjoyed what has been shared here, as in the past I was against vaccination choosing, after reading lots of information and through my own experience of them, to not have any more vaccinations or for my children to be vaccinated. I often heard that those who are not vaccinated are responsible for others getting the disease and my answer would be ‘well if the vaccinations work and they’ve been vaccinated what is the problem?’ Now after reading this I can feel the arrogance and irresponsibility of this way of thinking and how it was just in consideration of myself. This blog has brought another level of understanding in that we can still be carriers of the disease and therefore pass onto another who may be more vulnerable. It is is time to look into again. Thank you Judith.
Thanks Judith, there are many arguments for and against vaccination and I have never really given it much thought, other than I choose to be vaccinated as it prevents certain diseases to become rampant and have enormous effects on people and our health system. And I understand that there is always a risk of side effects that can be very detrimental and debilitating. However the key that you have raised is that our choices affects others, our community and in relation to this and you take it to a bigger picture. This is the determining factor in considering vaccination….
I love the expanded sense of responsibility you talk about Judith. That any choice or decision we make needs to reach beyond just us. Vaccination is a big topic and your article encourages me to explore it deeper. A lot of medical comment says that the disappearance of some diseases was based on improved living conditions (sanitation, hygiene etc) rather than vaccination, and that there is concern that as with over use of antibiotics, diseases mutate and re-appear as something else through the vaccination process. Alongside this we have the points you made about the fact that if the majority of people have vaccinations we are protecting vulnerable communities from diseases that, for them, are dangerous. All rich pickings for us to take deeper responsibility as we make our choices; and great conversations to be having about the impact our choices and the way we live have on others.
Taking responsibility for one’s health is paramount and understanding how our health affects others is, too. Imagine us all as little particles belonging to the one body…..on every level – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – the state of our health can have either ill or well effects on the whole. Choosing to be responsible for our particle, the role it plays, is being responsible to all others. I feel this is a great blog to explore the issue further, Judith.
This is such a big topic, and you have approached it in a very wise and sensible manner – seeing not only yourself and your own well being, but the responsibility you have for everyone in your community.
Ah, so beautiful Judith. Indeed the choices we make do affect everyone – and this is such a great example. Of course it is for each person to discern what is right for them in that moment, but a reminder of the responsibility we have to all on this planet is beautiful and so very needed.
Absolutely Amelia; each of our choices brings a lot of responsibility, as not only do we have to choose things that are true for us, but also – as they affect everyone – we have to think about the bigger picture and what outcome will follow the decision.
Thank you Judith for offering that vaccinations helps a whole community eradicate specific diseases. In the past I vaccinated myself and my children in fear for their lives but your article made me realise the responsibility we have to everyone to keep ourselves well.
Judith, this is a very insightful blog, as there are many set beliefs and ideals that people will have about vaccination — many of these being that vaccination is ‘bad’ and to steer clear from it. What you’ve raised here is the importance of the responsibility we all hold to be open to what is needed, needed not just for us but for our communities as a whole, and that the choices we make have a ripple effect on everyone. If we held that as our foundation it would perhaps make it much easier to make a choice that is more open minded as it were, instead of a likely knee-jerk reaction to a belief that’s popular at the time (such as that vaccination isn’t necessary and it’s ‘bad’.)
I struggle with this subject. I know that there can be many side effects to having vaccines, and people have become ill from receiving them, though also it is obvious that many lives are saved from vaccines. I feel strongly that it is everyone’s choice whether to be vaccinated or not.
I agree Rebecca, it is every one’s individual choice. I know quite a few people that have been severely affected by vaccinations, with their quality of life and their loved ones dramatically changed. Thank you Rebecca for speaking your truth. It has helped me to comment too.
I am a great supporter of complementary medicine – in the true sense of the word, that it is there to complement and support the marvels of conventional medicine.
Hi Judith, the blog you talk about: ‘ My Experience of Vaccination and Self-care by Jennifer Smith, a registered Nurse in NSW Australia.’ also made me look again at vaccination. I work in an NHS department and rarely catch the flu but by not being vaccinated I can be a carrier without realising it and this year I chose to go and get that vaccination since I come into contact with a lot of people much less well than myself and it is my responsibility to ensure I do not adversely affect others by my own lack of consideration. I enjoyed reading your blog and how you had discussed with your GP your concerns in order to be fully informed.
Thank you for opening my eyes to this Judith, and showing me the bigger picture. I have always avoided vaccinations as my body is so, so sensitive to any medication or injection. However, I haven’t even been to my doctor to talk about this problem. And even if I was going to have a big reaction and get a dose of flu, for instance, is that such a big deal? The feeling of undergoing that for the benefit of everyone outweighs the discomfort and interruption to my life, and who knows, that may be just a fear, and all could be well and it be a loving thing to do for myself as well.
The trust and appreciation you had for your doctor to help you with everything you wanted to know is very inspiring, it is so important to realize that those people have such an experience and feeling of care for their community, we all should appreciate that fully!
‘So I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community’ – That’s amazing Judith. I have never seen vaccinations in that way before, so thank you for bringing my attention to how my choice doesn’t just affect me, but everyone around me.
This was great to read, Judith. You make it so clear from a personal perspective how getting vaccinated is not only a personal health choice, but also a social responsibility.
It’s an interesting topic, I have always felt it was good to be vaccinated but appreciated everyone’s opinions when they have felt differently. Looking back I remember doing it selfishly, thinking that I was keeping myself and my family safe from diseases, but your description of the the bigger picture taking it deeper, and not spreading it to others is a great point to make. It will feel really wonderful when polio has been eradicated from the whole world.
Awesome read. I have been silently wondering and questioning about vaccination for the last 2 months because it’s flu season coming up again. I have never been clear on how I feel about it, but you have offered some very interesting points here to ponder on. I love your stance on each one of us having a responsibility for all, and that that is something we need to deeply consider.
A very sobering and illuminating insight, vaccination being a responsibility we individually have for all we share life with.
The fact that our every choice affects everyone whether we realise it or not is a vital part of our education that is sadly lacking at present. Very well made points, thank you.
Thank you that’s really beautiful. It’s amazing what we have available with conventional medicine these days. Sometimes it does feel scary, I feel only because we are not aware of the benefits and fear the side effects. I think the best thing to do if you do not understand something or fear medical support in any way is to talk to GPs family, fiends, work colleagues. Not everyone has the same opinion and what I found is that the first person may have had a bad experience in some area, but if I didn’t talk to 6 who all had good experience I would only be left with the bad experience and it would be difficult for me to decide if this is right for me or not.
Thank you for your blog Judith. It makes me reconsider the importance of vaccination which I have been quite fearful of and not clear on, after having to make the choice of vaccinating or not my child.
This Winter in Germany the flu hit us quite severely. Many people got sick and had to stay away from work for 2-3 weeks. Apparently this was due to a wrong prediction about what viruses would hit us this year and consequently the flu vaccination was not as effective as in other years. It gave us a taste of what could happen if we would not vaccinate at all.
Thank you I had never thought to appreciate the work done to predict what flu viruses needed to be protected against. It is amazing how we take things for granted until something goes wrong.
Good to have a wider social responsibility perspective presented for consideration in amongst other arguments for and against vaccination. It’s a minefield out there, so any view unimposingly presented leaves us all still free to choose what feels right for us at an individual level.
Thank you Judith for highlighting that if I don’t have a vaccination I may not only be affecting my own wellbeing but those around me and beyond. For so long I saw myself as invincible – that as long as I followed a certain path that this would guarantee me good health – now I am learning with humility that this is not so.
When I truly consider all that I am offered by conventional medicine it is amazing. Where would we all be without the support of all the dedicated doctors and nurses, and the research scientists who dedicate their lives to health care. I am full of appreciation for their commitment to humanity.
Thank you Judith, great article. I have been considering vaccination recently and your article has brought clarity and a greater awareness to the responsibility that goes with this.
This article has at it’s core a very world view, all of humanity, not a ‘just me’ attitude which by the comments which have ensued, is very inspiring indeed. Thank you Judith.
Thank you Judith for raising this subject, I too have had a resistance towards being vaccinated. But as you remind us they have saved millions of lives over the years. My main concern over some types of vaccines particularly when used for common ailments is that it can cause an over dependence on them, rather than encourage individual responsibility for self care and conscious daily living.
Like you Kehinde and Judith I have had a resistance towards having vaccinations and to be honest I still do. I have always had them when going of travelling as I wanted to be sure I was protected against anything that I know would not be pleasant to ‘get or catch’. This has always come from ‘looking after’ myself and not thinking of the bigger picture like you have presented Judith. That actually taking that responsibility is supporting the community as well. I also agree with Kehinde that to some degree we need to develop our own self care through our daily choices and not become reliant on some vaccinations to do this for us.
Thank you Judith for this appreciative blog about vaccination and the doctor who dealt with you so supportively which has given me a different perspective on the subject. I recognise that vaccination has saved many lives but also have concerns about the commercial aspect nowadays and agree with Kehinde that it must not replace individual responsibility for the way we live day to day. It is a very useful tool that should be used carefully.
Yes I also had a resistance to vaccinations, but with the understanding support of Universal Medicine I came to realise their validation and purpose; to see the benefits they provide. What you share Kehinde is valid that perhaps an over dependence is used, and individual responsibility may not be taken? Speaking with many people I have found that they have resistance to them too, so could we not also say that it is tremendously self-caring and responsible to get vaccinated?
It’s beautiful to read your appreciation and respect for your doctor in this blog Judith. The inspiration you felt in Jennifer’s blog, your choice to go, the way you listen and the bigger picture that you see, all seem to flow from the way you hold yourself.
Joseph very true – it turns the tide on the normal relationship many of us have with our doctors. In what Judith shares about truly connecting and discussing with her doctor, not simply doing what she is told rather than allowing the time to understand why. I must admit I never knew half the stuff that Judith shared about vaccinations and perhaps never would have if someone (Judith) had not taken the time to stop and explore what was behind her understanding of vaccinations.
Thank you Judith A beautiful example of how vaccination affects not only us but the community that is around us.
Thank you Judith for a clear and simple reflection of vaccinations. In the wider community this still remains a hot issue between those who do and those who do not vaccinate, particularly amongst the rates of vaccination in school age children. It is a public health incentive with the purpose to prevent the spread of communicable disease, and ultimately improve the health of a community people, the health of a city and the health a country. The spread of communicable diseases between people, and equally how vaccination does halt the spread of disease, is evident how we really do have an impact on the health of each other. Through vaccination we can see this, it is tangible and concrete cause and effect. However it can’t help but raise and extend the inquiry that, how different really is it… between the spread of diseases compared to the way we are (live, speak, behave) towards one another because both require close proximity between people? Could the way we live equally have impact on the health and well being of others too?
Good point Johanne, the spread of disease has a tangible outcome that we can see, identify and alter the course of its action. But what happens if we change the word ‘disease’ for ‘behaviour’, ‘attitude’ or ‘language’? The outcome of these things may not be so tangible but they definitely affect us and can spread through a community faster that any infection or bug and at present we don’t have a vaccine against them. But we can develop a vaccine and an immunity by taking responsibility for everything we say, do and think and choose in our everyday lives. True health naturally incorporates all of these things.
‘Could the way we live equally have impact on the health and well being of others too?’ Absolutely Johanne I feel this is a really important point and for too long I did not take responsibility for how I was living and other people suffered the consequences of that when I got sick and insisted on carrying on regardless.
Yes Johanne, this is huge, ‘Could the way we live equally have impact on the health and well being of others too?’, and we are only just beginning to understand the full consequences of this.
I for many years was against vaccination, and I am still in two minds about it. Last year I did get vaccinated because I am working with vulnerable people and wanted to take responsibility for not spreading any illness, nevertheless I ended up with a serious lung infection and two weeks off work. This illness was spoken of as a great opportunity, by my health practitioner, to continue clearing my lungs and was not to be looked at as a bad thing, and as discussed with my practitioner, two people could be in contact with the same illness or disease and perhaps only one person would become unwell, only if you have an opening, belief or need to will you contract it .
My own experience with vaccination is not the only one where I have seen people vaccinated become unwell with the illness they were vaccinated against. What if illness is a way of clearing something from our bodies? What if illness for some, at this point in time, is still needed?
I welcome your article Judith, the self care and self love, and the responsibility of considering all others is beautifully felt throughout your article, but I am still to be convinced one way or the other in relation to vaccination, there are still too many unanswered questions. In the end it all comes down to feeling into it for yourself.
This is an issue I’m not clear on either yet I know there is definitely a place for vaccinations. It’s a great point Judith you have made re our responsibility.
This is an interesting article and I agree it is very relevant we think as a community – for me vaccination for the serious diseases is not an issue – however – I am concerned that the pharmaceutical industry has a tight hold over this issue $ and quality control is not yet in place to the degree that it should be. I would like to see the medical profession listening to the parents whose children do have a reaction so the issue is properly documented and we can all feel confident about it.
Absolutely Debra, I agree with all you share.
I appreciate that you bring this subject to the fore Judith, since as you pointed it is available to us in order to overcome diseases that can decimate masses of people and is not only affecting us individually. Making the choice being vaccinated or not is not only a decision we take for ourselves only but for humanity as a whole. For instance we as parents have the responsibility for having our children vaccinated or not. By choosing to have our children not vaccinated we do bring them to a possible risk of side effects of vaccination. By not taking the responsibility as a parent we displace the responsibility to our children to take by themselves when they are able to make such decisions. Until we choose to take our own responsibility and choose for participating in vaccination programs, we will not add to the effort being made by many to stop the harm caused by these diseases in our societies.
Yes this makes me consider how the good health we enjoy from being responsible can in an odd way become an excuse for us to choose to be complacent. It’s like when we exercise so we can drink. Loving choices are there for us to continually build on.
Great that you had this opportunity to talk through any concerns about vaccination with your doctor Judith – so often, for what ever reason, we don’t ask the questions that are concerning us. Personally, I have loved building my relationship with my doctor over the years and appreciate being able to have these kinds of discussions.
Yes I agree Rosanna, the fact that Judith took the time to ask her doctor, a person who has been administering vaccines for years and has plenty of experience to share, is very supportive. For so long I viewed my doctor’s surgery as a place to avoid at all costs, but now fully appreciate the care, concern and experience they have for dealing with our health issues. The turn around for me was that I stopped looking for answers to my self imposed ills and instead look for support to live a healthy life and vaccination is a part of that too.
Caring for us is caring for all – how ever this look like, if it’s done in love it is love for all.
Thank you for sharing Judith, some great points made and yes we need to consider everybody when we make our choices, “The choices we make do not only affect us – they affect everyone around us, sometimes in ways we don’t see or realise.”
Judith thank you “So I realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community. And also I saw that by walking around without being vaccinated, I could potentially cause harm to others. And furthermore, by getting vaccinated I also help the whole community to eradicate that specific disease.” I had never quite seen it this way yet what you say is so true. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Judith,
I like what you have shared about informing ourselves by reading up on the subject and talking to people with experience, and then making a decision based on the greater good/health of all – this could be applied to many elements of our lives not just vaccination. It brings the responsibilty back to us as consumers and living microcosms on the planet that we all live on together 😉
I agree – this principle can be applied to so many areas of life – the way we work, drive, eat, shop etc., would be completely different if we considered others in our actions.
Thank you Judith for exposing the bigger picture of self-responsibility…that all our decisions affect everyone, whether we are aware of it or not.
Echo that Paula.
Fantastic blog thank you Judith. Your experience of coming to be vaccinated is very inspiring. It is super supportive when you find a doctor who practices with a wealth of lived experience and who lives the advice that they give their patients.
I had never thought about vaccination from this point of view. I have also never been against vaccination, but the idea that being responsible for me is in fact being responsible for all is something that I’m really starting to get. My choices absolutely affect those around me, it would be negligent of me to think otherwise. Thank you Judith for this little reminder!
Judith your approach to vaccination makes good sense.
I have never been clear about vaccination. I have never liked that big business profit from it. I can see there there is responsibility to myself and my community through vaccination.
Thank you Judith and a very emotive topic to bring out into the open. At a time when there is much in the news about children being negatively affected by vaccinations, we forget the bigger reasons why vaccines were invented in the first place. The diseases they protect us from are extremely severe and while conditions like Polio have been largely erradicated in the western hemisphere, it still affects thousands of people in third world countries. I love your point about how we are not just making this choice for ourselves, but for whole communities. Western medicine has gone a long way in developing ways to keep us well and when ever we feel the need to criticise it, just stop for a moment and ponder on how our lives would be without it.
Well said, Rowena. It is important to take a moment to feel where we would be without western medicine and vaccinations, and also to be responsible in the process of choosing what is true for us, our families and our community at large. Everyone has this responsibility equally and things go awry when we stop holding each other accountable for our choices.
An awesome blog and an awesome way to look at vaccination. This is the concept we are taught in biology – that when you get vaccinated you not only protect yourself but everyone else. For me the decision to recently make an appointment and get all my jabs and updates was really great, because it not only felt responsible and caring for me, but for everyone I come into contact with.
What an amazing way to see this Judith, thank you. It has recently been suggested to me that a vaccination for the flu jab is needed for some work I am about to undertake. I felt hesitant as it’s not something I would ordinarily take and my immune system is healthy, but when you break it down like this that others could be affected even though we are fine, this makes total sense and makes having the vaccination for me a no-brainer.
I remember that, as I child in a different country, vaccination was emphasised as not only protecting oneself from disease but also as protecting others. The collective factor was very present in all of us and for me it is greatly reinforced when viewed in the light of Universal Medicine.
Judith this blog is a true responsibility to itself. Vacinations are an important choice for not only our own health but for the greater community. Responsibility is key for living a truly loving a supportive life because without that we are choosing to live with old comforts and beliefs that need shaking up and shedding to reveal our wonderful selves beneath.
Great point Judith and one that took me a while to come to in all honesty. I was defiant when my son was born and said no to all vaccinations because of the potential side-effects I had read about and not wanting to be controlled and told what to do! Over the next 4 years I listened, observed and sometimes fought on this debate about the right and wrong of it. Then my son and his entire kinder got whooping cough (a kinder where many were of the same mind-set) and then it dawned on me the potential impact of what could happen…and even though this incident was somewhat contained, it wasn’t really. At this point I let go of the ‘fight’ and decided to go ahead and catch up with his vaccinations…and now as a teenager, he just had another round yesterday. And this is the very conversation we had, that as much as he didn’t like needles, that it is important to do this for everyone, the whole community. Essentially it really isn’t about what is right or wrong, simply what is needed to support the all.
Vaccination is something I have questioned. I have always felt that my body belongs to me and that I have a responsibility in the way I care for it. This included making the choice to allow or not allow foreign substances to be injected into it. My feeling was that if the contents of that vaccine were meant to be in my body then wouldn’t they already be there? When I was about to embark on a trip oversea’s to a country in which I would be exposed to harmful and contagious diseases, I had to sit in stillness and talk to my body about what was felt to be true. How would it be, to be open to accepting the contents of these vaccinations, allowing injection, and the side affects that may arise? Today I reflect on that experience and see it as another opportunity of building connection with self. I had those injections and did not suffer any side affects afterwards. By making the process inclusive and truly being present in my body through the whole experience brought me to another level of understanding and connection.
Awesome point made here, never thought about it from that angle even though I have been always pro vaccination. Beautiful example of collective responsibility!!
Thank you Judith for shedding light ion this very relevant subject from an angle that I did not consider before in this depth.
Thank you Judith, what I love, and can feel very strongly is the ‘care for community’. Imagine if we all came from this perspective – seeing our part in the bigger picture – how everything we do is either brings care or potential chaos to our community, it can either help or hinder.
I love how you bring the topic of getting vaccinated or not back to our own responsibility to make sure we will not be transmitting viruses or bacteria to other people who might be weaker besides caring for ourselves.
A great point, as already commented upon, that our choices and actions affect not only us but others – I had not thought of vaccination in that way.
Reading this blog has given me a deeper understanding of vaccination in preventing disease in our communities. It is a much bigger picture in that vaccination is a responsibility to not only protect ourselves but others equally so.
It is a really great point about looking after our whole community with the choices that we make. I also think it is important to ask questions as Judith did, when needed, so that we fully understand any healthcare intervention, it’s worth and how we can best work with it to support ourselves. I don’t know about every vaccine that is available so wouldn’t personally say I’m pro all vaccinations but there are many that I do feel are a great aid for all of us.
Having never been averse to being vaccinated against any form of illness or disease, as it was a requirement in my flying career, I did kick up against the flu vaccination, as it made me ill. I did give it a miss for few years, but as I got older, my GP advised me to have it, and gave me very good explanations on why to have it.
After all the problems with Ebola, any vaccination that will eventually eradicate all sickness in this world, has to be worth while.
I love the way you allowed yourself to connect with your doctor and listen to his lived understanding of vaccination. You make the case for vaccination so simple, it is clearly about taking responsibility for ourselves and also caring for others as a result. A great metaphor for how we can bring true responsibility to all areas of our lives.
This is such a great point Judith, that taking a responsible approach to vaccination means that we eliminate not only the once-upon-a-time risk to ourselves but also in effect, eliminate the risk of infecting others.
This blog caused me to contemplate what it must be like for organisations like the World Health Organization who, having worked so hard to eradicate society’s crippling diseases through global vaccination programs, are now having to watch as outbreaks of these diseases happen in the so called advanced countries, originating in people making stands against vaccination mainly based on myth, prejudice and rumour, usually stemming from the so-called more enlightened sectors of society.
It could be comparable to someone knowing how simple it was to re-connect to stillness, and through this to connect to one’s inner heart, thus starting the journey of healing a lifetime of hurts and dis-connection leading to a sense of purpose, oneness with humanity, and a strong and clear connection with the Divine, and having to watch what is happening in society as people scramble around for some sense of meaning and truth in the mélange of modern life.
And we could liken choosing not to vaccinate when our own bodies are strong enough to withstand or not even manifest any signs of the illness and thereby endangering others, to knowing how simple it is to reconnect to stillness, and then choosing not to do so, or not to continue to depend that connection, with similar and equally devastating effects.
Thanks Judith. Whilst I have never been averse to vaccination your blog here has given me pause to ponder deeply the responsibility to all, with regards to being vaccinated.
I had not even considered being a carrier of pathogens that may not harm me, but could be seriously detrimental to others.
This perspective is ground breaking and gives us all an opportunity consider our responsibility to ourselves and others.
You are right – not only what we choose in regards to vaccination but in fact everything we choose in life affects all around us, whether we are aware of it or not. We are all interconnected and are living on this earth, universe etc. together and if everything is energy, then it is impossible that all our actions and choices do not have a consequence to them or a ripple effect of some kind.
What an amazing perspective Judith. I love how you have brought everyone into the equation and what you say makes total sense. Although we may not need it, the elderly lady in the train or the fragile baby in the supermarket may fully benefit from us choosing to vaccinate.
Wow. This is a great blog. I had never thought of vaccination as protection not only for myself, but for the others around me, therefore a responsibility I need to consider. A company I used to work for made it a company policy to let all the employees have a flu vaccination every year, unless they had experienced a serious side effect in the past. I used to feel very angry that they were infringing on personal choices. I can now see how I totally ignored the fact that my choice would also have impact to my colleague as well.
I became reluctant about getting flu vaccinations for quite a number of years after getting ‘colds’ after vaccinations many years ago. However, I was more conscious of getting vaccinated and did so when I was mixing with elderly people and patients in the process of looking after an elderly parent. In the last few years, I stopped again. After reading both your blogs, I have become more receptive to vaccination being another way of not only self-caring but also caring for others equally whether in our immediate circle or not. Thank-you.
Regardless of our vaccination choice and our reasons for this, the take away point for me is about taking responsbiliy for our health and in being aware of the fact that our choices can often impact others, and this applies not only to decisions around our health, but to all areas of our life including relationships, work etc.
Thank you for your comment Angela. I am uneasy about vaccination and after reading Judith’s compelling article, I found myself betwixt and between – wondering what was right? I don’t like putting foreign bodies in my body! And a vaccination falls into this scenario. I appreciate your comment because it identifies the core issues, and to me the larger issues, without having it be about should I or should I not get a vaccination.
I’m with you on that Gayle, I am betwixt and between myself – Judith’s blog has certainly given me something to ponder on as to whether I am being irresponsible for not having the flu jab, even though I have never felt the need to have it.
Thank you, Angela & Gayle. I am not yet comfortable with having every vaccination deemed necessary, but agree with having to take responsibility for our health and all out choices and know that they have an effect on everyone around me too. Judith shares that she made an informed choice about having a vaccination and chose what she felt was right for her and her community. Her decision didn’t come from fear, which is unfortunately the basis of many people’s choice on vaccination.
Yes that struck me too Angela, that we not only have a responsibility for our own health but how what we do, in all areas of our lives, affects others too. There is no doubt that vaccinations have stamped out many diseases, but I would ask the question, why do we have these diseases in the first place, is there a bigger picture?
I always looked at vaccination from the perspective of what it could do to my children, not considering the impact on others. I would feel uneasy hearing on TV about people that had contracted a preventable disease and how if everyone had been vaccinated it may have been avoided, but I overrode this feeling and justified in my own way my choice not to have the children vaccinated. I am more aware these days to listen to what I feel and try not to override it.
“I realised that vaccination is something that I am not just doing for myself. But by making sure I am vaccinated I actually take care that others are also protected from that disease.”… Gosh Judith. This is so true, but I haven’t seen it in this light before! It really highlights how all our choices can and do affect everyone.
A lovely blog Judith. Vaccination is a great example of how our choices affect everyone and the responsibility that we hold, not just for ourselves but the wider community.
You bring a much greater awareness to a subject I haven’t even considered; but of course, it makes sense. We could carry a virus or bacteria without even knowing it and it could potentially affect another. We have a responsibility far greater than what we are aware of and I really loved how you showed this through the importance of vaccination and communities. Thank you.
Love the reality check Judith of realising the importance of vacinating for all – we isolate ourselves so much from the broader benefits and consequences of a whole range of choices in life – this big picture perspective is refreshing.
Yes I agree, the big picture is refreshing.
Yes Judith, that is the point, that sometimes not getting vaccinated is ok for oneself, but only if the rest of the people get protected, then you are benefiting from others being responsible. It is great that you see that side of vaccines. And although I don´t necessarily agree with ALL vaccines, it is one of the reasons why, especially the childhood ones, are so necessary.
After reading your article it opened up a whole new approach to getting vaccinated – when you said how you “realised that vaccination is a responsibility I hold towards my community” thank you for this awesome sharing Judith.
Gorgeous Judith! Inspired by an article and now taking it one step further for us all. What a purpose to be vaccinated!
This is a great point that you raise Judith. Vaccination is not just for the person having them, it is for everyone. I feel this way too and very much appreciate that we have the opportunity to have vaccinations in Australia, most of them free of charge.
Yes Robyn we are well supported to have options in this country.
What a top blog Judith and such an important subject. I too was inspired by the blog from Jennifer Smith on vaccination and you both are talking about the responsibility aspect which is saying a lot here to us, the reader. This is not just about you but how it can then have an affect on others. All our choices affect us and everything and everyone, even if we don’t think it does. Thank you for such a simple yet profound blog bringing this to our awareness and seeing vaccination in a different light.
Yes I too have been able to see vaccination and surrounding issues in a different light from reading this blog.
Thank you for reminding me it’s all about all of us.
Life is not only about us, it is about everybody. Every choice we make, and in this case it is about vaccination, has an impact on everybody. How beautiful it is to make choices, realizing that this choice is not just for me, but actually for all of humanity.
I agree with you Judith. If I am enjoying good health it is a very arrogant and selfish attitude to think ‘I’m fine and I’m strong enough to shake off a common illness and don’t need to get vaccinated’. When we stop to hold everyone around us as equal to ourselves then we have to be responsible to others and by being vaccinated we care for the health of all, be it our own child, close family member or any person we may meet.
Thank you for bring this awareness of vaccinations through your blog Judith. The MMR vaccination scare in the late 1990’s, that escalated through the media, made everyone wary of vaccinations. The scare has now been shown to be unfounded, but during that time thousands of mothers stopped vaccinating their children and there was a substantial increase in Measles, a disease that has almost been erradicated. You make a great point Judith when you say we can be healthy enough to carry the disease without noticing the symptoms, yet we can pass it onto those that are more susceptible to the disease, I had not considered this before.
Thank you for this Judith. When we think of vaccination we normally think of it simply in terms of protecting self, or siblings within families. We don’t normally address it in terms of responsibility for the wider community. It is important we start to think in this way because as you say we have an effect on everyone around us. If we want to live in caring communities then we have to stop making life all about self and widen the net to include everyone. In considering the whole we bring everyone closer together without really trying. That natural sense of community simply grows in the support we hold everyone in.
Michelle this is so beautifully said and so beautiful to appreciate that we can make a huge difference in bringing our communities together ‘without really trying. That natural sense of community simply grows in the support we hold everyone in.’ This is wonder-full!
Judith your blog has invited me to look a litle more deeply about what I still believe about vaccination. I used to think it was damaging for a child’s immune system to have so many vaccinations at a young age, but I can feel now that I wasn’t actually looking at it from the perspective of all children. Thank you for opening my eyes to a deeper truth.
Judith, this is an article full of care and common sense on a topic that can be quite emotive. It is great to feel the new clarity in you about vaccination.
Wow Judith that’s amazing. I loved how you just asked everything that you felt needed answering for you, and then through that you could get a sense of your doctor’s expertise but also great care. It’s very true what you say about vaccinations being protective for ourselves, but also for the community as a whole. I know that whooping cough for example is often spread to children by adults who have no idea that they have whooping cough and as adults we may not even consider that we need to update this vaccination. For adults it’s a cough, for children it’s a very serious and life threatening condition. The history if vaccines is quite interesting, with evidence that the Chinese were inoculating against smallpox 1000CE. Looking at the history for me has been super important as it has given me a greater understanding and appreciation of where vaccines have come from and the great efforts made over hundreds of years to reduce dramatically the deadly effects that these diseases were having across the world.
Thank you for writing about the subject of vaccination from a new perspective, Judith. You remind me that “The choices we make do not only affect us”, which is true, so this is worth feeling into.
Well presented Judith. Vaccination is more than just a jab then with a wee plaster afterwards like I would have considered it to be in the past. We often think it is just about us when it is about ALL OF US. We cannot afford to ignore that the disease comes to us from the collective of us all not just a ‘random’ thing that we happen to get because we are predisposed or weaker than another!
Thank you Judith for a great and informative blog, the point you make that life is about people and we all have a responsibility to care for ourselves and with that all of humanity is so true.
It’s an interesting subject. Vaccinations are vastly unregulated, protected from litany in many places and have close ties with big pharma and government agencies across America – who manufacture the most vaccines worldwide. I agree with everything in this blog and in time to come, quality control and understanding of their side effects are hopefully going to get better. It’s great to hear someone thinking twice about injecting their body with something and proceeding with all the care as described.
Hi Judith, I thank you for your article and I must say you have given me another broader understanding of the responsibility we have towards our wider community. This is something I must admit I did not have awareness of. It has been my choice for many many years not to have the flu vaccination for whatever current strain may be on offer as I just trusted that if I looked after myself to the best of my ability I did not need to contract the winter disease, however, you have explained how indeed it could be possible for me to be carrying something that does not necessarily affect me personally, but may be passed on to another of less immunity. It’s interesting, in that I’m still not sure whether I would surrender myself to an annual flu shot – I will have to feel into that more deeply when the time comes.
What a great, clear and informative article Judith. I’ve never felt sure about vaccinations and all that they imply but now I get it – it’s not just for me, it’s about responsibility for all. Talking with our GPs about the possible side-effects is helpful advice too. Thank you.
I get it too Victoria. The thought that my arrogance in the past (I’m fit why should I have a flu vaccine?) may have harmed someone shocks me. I had one this year, and will certainly continue to have one yearly.
Thank you Judith, I like the point you raise that in everything that we do or don’t do we hold a responsibility for the all, even in situations where we might not realise it.
Thank you Judith for a lovely caring blog and for bringing to my awareness the ripple effect of taking responsibility for ourselves. I sometimes forget that what I do can have a far reaching effect on local and wider communities.
This is such an important subject Judith. We live in such of a bubble in Western society. We do not see the devastating consequences of infectious diseases with their shocking rates of death and disability. Polio, diphtheria, measles and tetanus are diseases that have the potential to kill, and for those who survive there is a marked chance of being left with the legacy of permanent physical impairment.
Australia has recently experienced a reminder with outbreaks of whooping cough, a potentially deadly infection in young children.
Vaccination is a matter dear to my heart. My grandfather survived a polio infection as a baby. He died of its complications at age 57, having been left with a permanent limp, ongoing lung damage, and finally post polio syndrome. His brother had died of diphtheria. They represent the human face of these diseases, not a number in a book of dry statistics.
As an adult, whooping cough will make me sick, but it will threaten the life of a baby or a frail elderly person. This is what I most especially love about your blog, you have shown that vaccination is a matter of care for community. It is not just about self.
Well said Rachel and yes, we forget the horrors that these illnesses bring and it makes us arrogant. We do have a wider responsibility to take care of ourselves so that these diseases are controlled if not erradicated altogether. Vaccination is not a cure all, but it is a strong ally in controlling the spread of disease and when we also choose to take care of ourselves in the way we live each day, with healthy food, proper rest and healthy, respectful relationships, ensuring our vaccinations are up to date supports us to build truly healthy communities.