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- I grew up anti-vax, but I’m now vaccinating my kids. I want other parents to know it’s OK to change their minds. (businessinsider.com)
South Carolina Mom Rejects Childhood Upbringing to Vaccinate Her Children
A South Carolina mother of two recently shared her story of growing up in an anti-vaccine household and her eventual decision to vaccinate her own children. Raised in a family where vaccines were viewed with suspicion after her own infancy reaction, she was never fully opposed to vaccination. As a young adult, she even received some vaccines before traveling abroad.
The COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point for her. Observing the positive impact of vaccines and the government’s cautious approach to safety, she began to reconsider her stance. Discussions with her husband, who works in a hospital, further solidified her belief in the importance of vaccination.
Finding a pediatrician who addressed her questions and concerns was crucial. Together, they developed a vaccination plan for her sons, now 7 and 9, who recently received their MMR shots.
This mother acknowledges the emotional difficulty of going against her upbringing, but she emphasizes the importance of respecting individual choices and engaging in open, non-judgmental conversations about vaccines. She hopes her story will inspire other vaccine-hesitant parents to consider vaccination for their children.
She stresses that changing one’s mind about vaccines is a process that takes time and understanding. She encourages respectful curiosity rather than judgment, believing that even small conversations can plant seeds of change.