Many parents are choosing not to vaccinate their children because of concerns that some may in fact cause serious health problems. Whole-cell pertussis (DTP) vaccine and combined measles-mumps- rubella (MMR) vaccine, for example, have been associated with an increased frequency encephalopathy or encephalitis.
A new report, however, says that childhood vaccination against whooping cough (pertussis) and measles is not associated with an increased risk for encephalopathy. Even if there were a small increase in the risk of encephalopathy after DTP or MMR vaccinations, which they did not manage to detect, “the absolute risk is extremely small and it is much lower after vaccination than after pertussis or measles.”
The decision to vaccinate or not is a personal one that we should each talk over with our own families and health-care providers. Use the above information in conjunction with further input, and come to your own conclusion. (Wikipedia has a lengthy overview of the vaccine controversy. While I always take Wikipedia articles with a spoonful or two of salt, this one includes a nice list of links to outside articles pro and con. A good place to start your own research.)