Q:

Dr. Joel,

I never met you but I appreciate your emails and  I like your viewpoints on things.  I would 
like to know your views on vaccinations.  My kids are 7, 5, and 2 and are not vaccinated.  

I often find myself questioning that decision and many times lose some sleep over it.  
Thank God my kids are healthy but I often wonder if my wife and I have made the right 
decision.  Are they vulnerable to illness if they travel when older, or when they have kids 
who might be immunized?  I have read a lot of the anti-vaccination. information and have 
gone to seminars on it.

My wife and I are both vaccinated and have not had any problems.  We also have a lot of 
friends and family who are vaccinated and seem healthy.  I would feel terrible if something 
happened to my children that possibly could have been avoided.  I am very aware of what 
could happen if we did or do vaccinate.  Which is why we opted not to at this point.

A:

Thanks for your reply and more importantly your trust in my reply. 

First .. I have three kids 27 .. 22 .. 18 years old that were never vaccinated and in fact have 
never been to a medical doctor in their life. We are not radicals .. in fact my kids do not 
take vitamins or eat as they should .. they just get their adjustments as needed. The what if 
game never ends and if you start it  .. it is difficult to stop.

I look at results. Most of my chiropractic friends did not vaccinate their kids and they also 
have similar experiences as we. But as you said .. you and your wife .. as well as my wife 
and I were all vaccinated and we seemed to survive the ordeal .. but at what cost .. who廣 
to know? If you consider the signs and syndromes .. aches and pains and general health 
and wellness issues that affect us all .. what if I wasn廠 vaccinated or what if I was .. what 
if?

My wife and I are not radical chiropractically and our circle of friends are not DC廣 .. in 
fact many are MD廣. I do not discuss vaccinations with my patients or friends. I don廠 feel 
it is a chiropractic issue and I can only quote from limited sources. If anyone would ask my 
personal opinion they can have it and it would be no if you utilize alternative wellness care 
(chiropractic) .. as my kids have had since birth .. I delivered all three at home .. but I 
would reconsider if I did not. 

The health of our nation is not the best .. kids are not healthier because of vaccinations 
instead there is more hyperactivity .. allergies etc. The medical testament towards wellness 
care is sketchy to say the least .. their crisis management may speak better. Vaccinations are 
not within the realm of crisis management .. but can slowly turn into one. 

You obviously feel vulnerable and therefore question your stance. I can assure you that it is 
not unusual to question this especially when you are the guardians of your child廣 welfare. 
Other parents are making daily decisions for their children based on what their doctor or 
advertisements say. Decisions opposite to yours. Who is right and what if they did or 
didn廠 make this or that decision. 

Once you decided to become a chiropractor you also decided to look through different 
lenses and using a different mind set. The difference makes the difference. I think you 
made the correct choice with your children as I have.

To conclude .. as parents we are called upon to make decisions that mold the lives of our 
children for life. Your decision to not have them immunized is shared by many .. DC廣 and 
others. Your decision is based on sound ground and I would feel comfortable with it. I 
don廠 doubt the decisions I have made and I hope you and your wife will feel the same way 
.. even if once in a while we are tested in our beliefs.

Have a Great Holiday Season

Dr. M