Stand By Your Jab

For years we proclaim everyone should vaccinate.

The benefits to each child and community we restate. 

History's tiny tombstones give weight to our keens.

The risk of diseases outweighs the risk of vaccines.

But somehow we also say, "See you next time." So polite!

We grit our smiling teeth, "The customer is always right."

"You have the right to refuse," we softly say,

“You don't believe in vaccines for your child?” Oh. Okay.

They say, "Vaccines are risky, diseases are not!

Vaccines are not needed, it's too many shots!"

But their great grandmother would give up her arm

to avoid these diseases and their inflicted harm.

If the horrors they’ve heard about vaccines are true,

why haven't we seen it? and how could we do

what we do for so long without shame?

How could most all doctors play this con game?

If we offer poison each day to each child

why trust our advice? All we say should be reviled. 

When will they value a real doctor over a tweet?

Who will they blame when history repeats?

We question ourselves, are we enabling failure?

Is it malpractice to allow parents to demur?

What if medical expertise they could no longer acquire

unless their child gets ALL the vaccines that are required?

We cannot sound the alarm, then quickly press snooze!

Nor pretend healthcare is a haircut that parents get to choose,

Ignoring the risk to their child and to others.

No, it's time to let science speak over their druthers.

The golden rule is to do unto others.

This is our teaching to fathers and mothers.

For safe communities, vaccines are the backbone.

No need to repeat what history has shown.

But we cannot use anger and fear in our paradigm

We cannot use threats (or poems that rhyme), 

To persuade requires connection, personal and kind,

patience is the virtue that can change parents’ minds

Acknowledging uncertainties is part of our science.

With decision makers, we must forge an alliance,

We recognize that good intentions are not enough

And the fear of unknowns as a parent is tough.

Lawyers and politicians might make docs sound slick

But they won’t be the ones to care for the sick

And when that time comes, we can’t hold a grudge

Our patients deserve us to care, and not to judge.

So let's spread information, not avoidable germs,

with caution to speak with compassionate terms,

but then stand firm when the talking heads blab

and link knowledge to power as we stand by our jab