Mom Talk: To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate

This week's topic is on vaccinations: the pros and cons, fears and beliefs and what the implications of doing either or none have on parents.

School registration for the 2011-12 school year is here, and many school districts, including require certain vaccinations in order for a student to attend school in the fall.

What does it all mean for parents?

"I have read numerous studies that indicate that no link can be found between immunizations and autism. Furthermore, I have read, that as years go by, doctors find more and more ways to improve immunizations and make them even safer.

"The chances of your child developing a fatal disease, like whooping cough, measles, mumps or meningitis, are higher than of contracting any side affects from an immunization—especially in an area like the Bay Area, that people from all over the world travel in and out of.

"I'm not willing to take the risk of my child catching one of those diseases and dying."

—Jennifer Van der Kleut, mother of a 3½-year-old and an 11-month old