A 4-year-old boy has died from the Flu in Colorado after his mother refused to follow doctors’ advice, instead opting to follow tips she picked up from an anti-vaccination Facebook group.
According to NBC News, the mother of the boy posted in a Facebook group — called “Stop Mandatory Vaccination” — that two of her four children had been diagnosed with the flu, leading a doctor to prescribe Tamiflu antiviral medication for the entire household.
When a third child (the four-year-old preschooler, identified as Najee) began to show flu symptoms, including a fever and a seizure, his mother still ignored the doctor’s orders, defiantly posting in the FB group, “The doc prescribed tamaflu (sic) I did not pick it up.”
The woman also wrote that she had been treating her four children with combinations of peppermint oil, vitamin C, and lavender, but complained those methods weren’t working, leading her to ask for advice from the Facebook group, that currently has more than 178,000 members.
Many members advised the mom to use ingredients like breast milk, thyme, and elderberries. “You’re better off taking Vitamin D and C, Elderberry, Zinc, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables,” one group member replied. The posts have since been scrubbed from the page.
The family refused to comment on whether or not the Najee had been vaccinated but did set up a go fund me page to help with expenses.
“I’m hurting so bad right now, and so is his dad and brothers,” Najee’s mother told KKTV 11 News. “Our whole family is hurting, and it feels like we failed him because we did what we had to do.”
Not going to bash,im so sorry for your loss..tamiflu does not cure the flu but reduces the symptoms some babies immune systems arent strong enough from the beginning to fight the flu.this has nothing to do with anti vaccination. Diseases are coming back which were once eliminated from the us after doctors found a way to avoid catching them..its your decision on wether or not you want to protect your kids from deaths like those who died all those years ago.my question is this imagine you and your inquisitive toddler are sunbathing on a beautiful beach,water crystal clear and blue,sun just right..perfect temp..then the skies get darker around you,wind picks up water starts rising you look around and every parent is packing up and headed home with their kids..”are you the type of parent who isnt leaving because you figure it will blow over or are you the type who would pack up just to make sure you and your child dont get hit by the tsunami rapidly approaching?