ASK 8 BEFORE YOU VACCINATE- A PARENTS GUIDE TO GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION BEFORE VACCINATING
The National Vaccination Information Center or (NVIC) is dedicated to the prevention of vaccine injuries and deaths through public education and to defending the informed consent ethic in medicine. West Virginians for Health Freedom works in conjunction with the NVIC to bring the most up to date information regarding the issues associated with vaccination. We want parents to ask their providers the right questions before they vaccinate to ensure they have as much information as possible to make their decision.
- Am I or my child sick right now?
- Have I or my child had a bad reaction to a vaccination before?
- Do I or my child have a personal or family history of vaccine reactions, neurological disorders, severe allergies or immune system problems?
- Do I know the disease and vaccine risks for myself or my child?
- Do I have full information about the vaccine’s side effects?
- Do I know how to identify and report a vaccine reaction?
- Do I know I need to keep a written record, including the vaccine manufacturer’s name and lot number, for all vaccinations?
- Do I know I have the right to make an informed choice?
Providers should have the answers to these questions or direct the patient or the patient’s family to the non-bias research supporting their answers to these questions.
VACCINE REACTIONS
Parents and patients experience and report vaccine adverse reactions to their providers, but have been made to feel irrational and have been left without the appropriate evaluation, treatment, and follow-up. West Virginians for Health Freedom is working to change the culture surrounding vaccination by first educating law makers and providers with the tools to recognize vaccine injury.
Parents may have children who are experiencing an adverse reaction and yet are told it is normal. We want parents to know that while the reaction may be happening often in a patient population, that does not make an adverse event normal. All adverse events including hospitalizations need to be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). If the provider will not report the reaction or event, the patient CAN. You may need to request your medical records to report the adverse reaction.
Below are some examples of reaction symptoms. If you observe any of these symptoms – or any other symptom that causes you concern – please consider getting medical help right away.
- Rash, hives or severe itching
- Swelling, redness and pain at the injection site
- High fever over 103F
- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Rapid heart beat or chest pain
- Dizziness or sudden collapse/fainting
- Paleness or changes in skin or lip color
- Muscle weakness or limpness
- Excessive sleepiness or lack of responsiveness
- Loss of vision or speech
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe diarrhea
- Unusual irritability or other behavior changes
- Prolonged crying (especially high-pitched screaming in infants)
- Seizures or convulsions (shaking, twitching, jerking)
- Joint and body pain
- Head pain
- Excessive bruising under the skin
- Numbness or tingling in hands, arms, feet
- Paralysis
