When Do the Amish Get Vaccines?
Better late than never, right?
It is a common anti-vaccine talking point that the Amish don’t vaccinate.
Of course, that’s not true.
Sure, they may not follow the traditional immunization schedule and get each and every vaccine that is recommended to them, but there is nothing in their religion that forbids them to get any vaccine.
When Do the Amish Get Vaccines?
So when do the Amish get vaccines?
Mostly, it seems like they get vaccinated and protected when they think it is necessary.
Unfortunately, the thing that often triggers them to think it is necessary is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, like polio, rubella, or measles…
For example, in 1979, when a polio outbreak started, Amish leaders initially refused to get their members vaccinated and protected.
That later changed as more and more people got polio though, but not before at least 14 people had developed paralytic polio.
So they do get vaccination, but only after the outbreak has affected enough people to help them understand the benefits of getting vaccinated and protected.
They get vaccinated when they see the need for it.
Like to prevent people from being paralyzed by polio or to prevent babies from getting congenital rubella syndrome!
Did you know that a rubella outbreak among the Amish in 1991 led to many babies being born with congenital rubella syndrome.
“Using nurses and other staff, the 1991 launch of ChildProtect resulted in 5,000 children receiving vaccinations in the first year.”
With free vaccinations, ChildProtect program helps Amish communities stay healthy
And it eventually led to many Amish children getting vaccinated and protected!
What about measles?
“Kauffman says the outbreak has changed other customs, too. "We're just now starting with weddings," he says. Spring is the Amish wedding season, a time when hundreds come together, often traveling from other states and sometimes Canada. Those weddings were postponed. Church services, typically held in family homes, were also curtailed. "We didn't have church for almost two months because of the measles, so we wouldn't spread them, so we kind of tried to put the clamp on them," he says.”
Measles Outbreak In Ohio Leads Amish To Reconsider Vaccines
During outbreaks, many of the Amish get a measles vaccine.
Miller, the Ohio furniture-store owner, says the measles episode in Knox changed his mind about the MMR vaccine. His wife got a bad case, and so did his son-in-law. "On their worst days, we were wondering if they're going to make it," he says.
"We all took the vaccine after that. I had one shot, and I still took the other one and we had all our kids vaccinated, too. After people saw how sick people got, they changed their minds."How an Amish missionary caused 2014’s massive measles outbreak
In some circumstances, they might even get vaccinated before starting an outbreak!
Some of the unvaccinated missionaries told local health officials they would have been vaccinated for measles before going to the Philippines if they had been told there was an outbreak there, Palm said. “One guy we spoke to feels just terrible that he brought the measles back and exposed his family.”
Ohio measles outbreak tied to Amish missionaries
Of course, since vaccines are always necessary, getting vaccinated before anyone gets sick is always your best bet.
“On May 15, 189 people were immunized for a whooping cough and 30 were given measles, mumps, and rubella(MMR).
The need to immunize people was so great that health officials set up a second mobile clinic on May 19, immunizing 147 more members of the Amish community with more people also receiving MMR vaccines.”
Webster Co. Helping Amish Community Combat Whooping Cough
It is also best to get vaccinated before unvaccinated babies are hospitalized with pertussis…
“The Amish have closed three of their 10 schools in the Lawrence County area because of the measles.”
Measles outbreak hits Amish
And before measles outbreaks close your schools…
“Plain children contracted both Haemophilus influenzae type b and tetanus more frequently than non-Plain children.”
Study: Low vaccination rate in Amish children linked to hospitalization :
Or your kids end up in the hospital with a life-threatening disease, like epiglottitis, meningitis, or tetanus…
Or your child dies…