How I unlearned my anti-vaxx upbringing and started to trust the experts – CBC
My family’s opposition to vaccines led to my mistrust of the health-care system
Jan 26, 2022
Growing up in an anti-vaccination home leads to far more than just mistrust of vaccinations. It affects your attitudes toward the entire health-care system. It’s a danger that persists until you choose to rewire your own mind.
I know what it takes. This was my own history until one patient health-care worker was willing to help me work through the rubble and build a solid foundation of trust in our medical system.
In my early teenage years, my parents began listening to dangerous teachings from extremist faith leaders who preached that only belief could heal. If it wasn’t working, apparently you just weren’t believing hard enough. This pushed them away from the health-care system and pharmaceuticals. I don’t recall if I received my childhood vaccinations. I know that my younger siblings didn’t.
I remember my mother getting angry after another unvaccinated family exposed my infant brother to a child with whooping cough. She never came to the conclusion that vaccines could have been the answer to these problems.
