"During the past 50 years, immunization has saved more than a billion lives and prevented countless illnesses and disabilities in the United States." (www.immunize.org)

A couple days ago, a 21 year old female lost her life to something we hardly ever hear of anymore. Bacterial meningitis. When was the last time we've heard of this? As far as we've heard this has been an incredibly rare disease. Especially where I am from. Which is where this young women was from: Shelby Township, Michigan. Kristy Malter was described as "an upbeat junior at Central Michigan University who loved working with children".

Bacterial meningitis is inflammation of the spinal cord and the brain, more specifically, the meninges around the brain and spinal cord. There are three different kinds of bacterial meningitis with this type being the most serious. It starts off with a stiff neck, high fever, and a severe headache and can be passed person to person by direct contact of body fluids. Fortunately, there IS a vaccine for the bacteria that causes this in people.

Back when vaccines were just starting out, they were all the hype and everyone in went out and got them. When Iron Lungs were shown on the TV containing little kids in them, people practically rushed out the door to get themselves and their kids vaccinated. Unfortunately today, people think they are 'smarter' than medical professionals and can determine what is 'best for them because of what an ex-Playmate stated as 'safe'.

Jenny McCarthy's son was diagnosed with Autism-like symptoms in 2007, well, she was the one diagnosing him. The vaccine combination MMRV which prevents Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella was her explanation for her son's sudden diagnosis of 'Autism'. Later she revoked her previous statement stating that he 'might not actually have Autism'. Regardless, the point is we as Americans need to stop listening to the so called celebrity geniuses and listen to the people who actually spend money and time doing research on these things and the people who actually have medical degrees and doctorates.

There are so many reasons to vaccinate not only your children, but yourself. There hasn't been ONE ACTUAL study that links Autism and vaccines together. In fact, vaccines have caused more harm than they have good. Why is it going to take seeing kids in Iron Lungs on the TV's again until people are scared enough to finally wake up and understand that these diseases can STILL hit us? Even with an advancing healthcare system like ours, we don't have all the answers. If we can eliminate some of these issues on an even larger scale of everything we are currently facing as Americans, why not eliminate something we have EASY ANSWERS to?

Immunizations can save your child's life. They are crucial components in riding the body of things that can be easily prevented. The largest reason people are choosing not to vaccinate is because they believe that the diseases that are being vaccinated against are ones we don't see anymore. THE REASON THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING THESE DISEASES IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING VACCINATED. Without these vaccines these diseases will OCCUR again just like with this sudden case of Bacterial Meningitis. Chickenpox (Varicella), Measles, Mumps, and Smallpox are diseases we are seeing little outbreaks of in the United States. Medical professionals trust them and they are proved efficient in a large amount of people that receive them, they protect, and they keep you around longer.

If we have this small thing that has been shown to do more positive then negative, then why would we not take the small amount of effort it is to protect not only yourself, but also your loved ones? Think before you act of course, but maybe listen to the people with medical degrees before you listen to the celebrities whose one job is making movies? People have the freedom to do what they want, yes but stick to what makes sense, not something you heard in a PEOPLE magazine.