Health agencies stand behind safety of vaccines

The safety of childhood vaccines has been a matter of debate for years now. I'll never forget having a conversation with a good friend of mine. She chose to get her son vaccinated and her neighborhood "mommy group" all but shunned her. They treated her as a pariah because she made the choice she thought was best for her son. She respected their decision not to vaccinate, but they couldn't respect her decision. It's just one of those hot topics that makes emotions run high.

Recently, the government has consented to pay a Georgia family a settlement out of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The family's little girl developed neurological symptoms after being vaccinated and was later diagnosed with autism. US officials say that the shots did not cause the autism, but rather exacerbated an existing condition. The girl is said to have had an issue with her mitochondria (cellular structures that generate energy). The CDC states that this is a rare case and childhood immunizations are lifesaving. This case does not change government recommendations about vaccinations.

What's your opinion?