New Documentary "The Greater Good" Dives into the Vaccine Debate

Alexandra Martinez Contributor bio | twitter

It took you about a year to plan your wedding, nine months of reading to be prepared for childbirth, and countless hours researching childcare before you picked a daycare. But did you put the same effort into investigating vaccinations before the doctors started giving them to your child? I know I didn't. I had faith in my doctor -- but completely trusting in the medical system is the same as hiring a nanny without first having an interview.

The debate between parents who choose to delay or entirely skip vaccinations and parents who follow the recommended schedule is heated and complicated. Producers Kendall Nelson, Leslie Bradshaw and Chris Pilaro document both sides of the issue in their film The Greater Good, a provocative piece that includes compelling interviews from physicians, scientists, pharmaceutical workers, and government representatives along with the stories of three families who blame vaccines for their children's mental and physical issues.

Raising Organic Kids in a Polluted World

When my daughter was born in 2005, I questioned my doctor about the link between autism and vaccinations that was all the buzz when she was little. He laughed and told me that there was no link, period, end of story. As a young first-time mother, I took his word for it and never questioned him again.

But now, with a second child (a boy) in my home, a few more years of parenting under my belt, and an increased interest in organic living, I would call myself a free-range, natural mom: I clean my counters with vinegar, only buy organic meat and produce, and strive to live a very green lifestyle. I use makeup that is free from parabens (and other icky chemicals) and I always make sure to buy the aluminum-free deodorant.

So I was shocked to learn that the vaccines my children receive are laden with the very list of chemicals that I try so hard to keep out of our lives. As I've met more homeschoolers, my exposure to parents on both sides of the vaccine debate has opened my eyes -- I now have friends whose children are completely unvaccinated. My son and daughter continue to receive their scheduled shots but after watching this documentary, I am wondering if I should reconsider.

The Vaccine Debate

Vaccination is not a black-and-white topic, and The Greater Good raised issues that I was completely unaware of -- from the idea that the government protects pharmaceutical companies from being held responsible for adverse effects to questions about what exactly goes into those vaccines they're pumping into my son's arm. And with so much at stake (our children's health, the welfare of the herd, the potential risk of harm) is it even possible to have a rational discussion about vaccines? Though The Greater Good provides a balanced view of both sides of the vaccine debate and raises legitimate questions and concerns, it lands in the anti-vaccine camp simply because it questions the status quo.

I am now on a quest to find out more, and I'll get back to you on what I ultimately decide.