Since vaccine’s introduction to modern medicine, it’s difficult to imagine living in a world without it. This is why many find it puzzling when some parents refuse to have their children vaccinated.
Australian mom Cormit Arvital was one of these parents, but soon came to regret her stand against vaccination after her daughter Eva fell ill.
She had been offered a vaccine for pertussis or whooping cough during her 28th week of pregnancy, but being “the healthy, fit, organic woman I said, ‘Leave me alone, I don’t need this crap,’” Avital said she thought at the time.”
READ: Studies reveal anti-vaccine parents contribute to measles and pertussis outbreaks
Shortly after Eva was born however, Cormit fell ill with pertussis and passed it down to her newborn.
At first she said it was just like any other cold, but Eva’s health was quick to deteriorate.
“For a moment there, you think they’re dead in your hands,” she said in a Buzzfeed News report. “[It’s] a lot of suffering for a tiny little cute thing you love so much.”
READ: Toddler dies after anti-vaccine parents tried to cure him with maple syrup
Baby Eva spent a month in intensive care, where she was closely supervised by the doctors at Gold Coast Health. Recent report on this front said that the newborn’s health is improving.
After the terrifying ordeal, Cormit has had a change of heart, regretting her decision not to be vaccinated.
“If I could turn the clock back, I’d definitely take 10 of those vaccinations ‘cause there is nothing more painful than watching your little, tiny [baby] and they can’t breathe in your hands,” she said.
Pregnant woman and vaccines
According to the CDC, it is important for women to get the whooping cough vaccine in the third trimester of every pregnancy. Vaccines are the best way to prevent this disease.
“There’s always a feeling of pregnancy being this special state and you don’t want to put anything into your body, but what’s really bad for your baby is to get whooping cough or influenza,” said Dr. Paul Van Buynder, Gold Coast Health’s Staff Specialist.
Cormit‘If I could turn back time I would protect myself.’ Cormit’s baby has contracted Whooping Cough. Watch this clip to hear the first-time mum bravely talk about her decision to opt out of vaccination during pregnancy and how hard it is now coping with her new baby being so unwell. For the facts on Immunisation go to bit.ly/1PJ6Cc0. #vaccinationmatters #immunisation #preventabledisease #GoldCoast #publichealth
Posted by Gold Coast Health on Monday, April 4, 2016
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