An 11-month-old baby had a stroke because of a chickenpox complication. The young boy’s case was recently examined by the Journal of Pediatrics, and their report emphasized the dangers of not vaccinating children, as the doctors are blaming the exposure of the baby to his unvaccinated siblings.
The babies mom noticed that his right arm and leg seemed weak when he woke up from his afternoon nap. She immediately took him to an urgent care center, where it was noted by the doctor that the baby was having a hard time moving his limbs and face.
Apparently, the unvaccinated baby has been infected by his unvaccinated siblings that had chicken pox several months earlier. There’s a time lapse between when a child has chickenpox and the stroke hits, according to a research.
This case serves as a crucial and terrifying reminder about the importance of vaccines. It shows the anti-vaxxers that it’s not just about their safety, but the safety of those around them as well. The baby, in this case, was too young to be vaccinated, but his siblings were definitely old enough to have gotten their vaccines, and it could have prevented this awful situation.
There has also been a recent rise in chicken pox outbreaks, which is due to parents opting not to vaccinate their children.
Dr. Tina Tan, a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University notes that the issue is that people are underestimating the potential dangers of chickenpox.
“Everyone thinks it’s a minor illness. There are a number of serious complications. Basically, the chickenpox virus infects the large blood vessels in the brain and causes inflammation in them. The blood vessels can scar and that can decrease blood supply to the brain, which can lead to stroke.” – she explains.
Over and over again, vaccines have been proven to be the safest and the smartest choice for children.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has again emphasized that vaccines have not been linked with development disorders:
“Claims that vaccines are linked to autism, or are unsafe when administered according to the recommended schedule, have been disproven by a robust body of medical literature. Vaccines keep communities healthy, and protect some of the most vulnerable in our society.”