Sir, - As a sociologist with a particular interest in health issues, I am becoming increasingly aware that the subject of immunisation has become one of the last remaining taboos in Irish society.
While there is now open discussion of such previously closed topics as sexual abuse, suicide, abortion and domestic violence, immunisation must now rank as one of the most sensitive matters in this country.
The reason seems to lie in the belief among many medical personnel that if there is any public debate about the merits or otherwise of vaccines, this will give rise to panic and hence a decline in uptake.
I would argue that the current downturn in immunisation is itself very much due to a sense among the public that they are not being provided with the full facts on vaccination and that the strenuous and intimidating efforts by health boards to "encourage" parents to have their children immunised are being viewed with great suspicion.
Although I am fully in favour of vaccinations in principle, I would greatly welcome a qualitative change which would see the general public being treated as intelligent individuals rather than as captive patients to be pressurised into having vaccinations for themselves or their children.
In my own case, I received a rubella vaccine three days after the caesarean birth of my child six years ago. I subsequently developed ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which has greatly reduced my quality of life and has caused enormous pain and expense.
I am quite certain, as is my consultant, based on reading the relevant research, that receiving the vaccine while at such a low ebb was the catalyst for this syndrome. What a pity I was not advised to wait until I was feeling back to normal before receiving the vaccine. What a pity the hospital personnel seemed to feel that I must be vaccinated while I was captive in hospital. Or were they unaware of the potential dangers?
How many others are suffering because they have received vaccines unnecessarily when their immune systems were under stress? The main objective now must be to ensure that no one else suffers needlessly because of either bureaucracy or ignorance or the effects of vaccines.
I hope the forthcoming National Health Strategy will open the way for people to have a much greater input into decision-making about their own health and that of their children. - Yours, etc.,
Jean Tubridy, PhD, Sweetbriar Lawn, Tramore, Co Waterford.