In recent years, the word “antivaxxer” has become a near-curse word in many circles. It’s been tossed around as shorthand for ignorance, anti-science, and even selfishness. I get it. I really do. Modern medicine can save lives. Public health depends on it. But before we start throwing stones, let’s take a step back and think about something that’s been on my mind more and more: Just how broken the American healthcare system is.

Now, before you jump to conclusions and label me an anti-vaxxer too, let me be clear: I don’t care. But if you’ve ever questioned the system, or if you’ve ever been let down by the very professionals we’re supposed to trust, then I get why some people are skeptical. In fact, I get it more than I’d like to admit.

This year alone, I’ve had a couple of eye-opening experiences with the medical system that have made me stop and think harder about all of this.

Like All Great Stories, This One Starts with a Rash

Earlier this summer, I had a random rash pop up on my arm and leg. The doctor’s response? It could be everything from measles to syphilis. Yes, you read that right. The doctor went down a laundry list of possibilities, each more alarming than the last, and suggested I get revaccinated just to be safe.

Naturally, I declined. Instead, I asked for an antibody check. Guess what? My levels were outstanding. Turns out, I didn’t need to get a shot. But for a second, I felt like I was being pushed into a corner for no reason. No real answers, just a bunch of vague “what ifs” and a prescription for a panic attack.

Then, I did what I should’ve done in the first place: I called a trusted dermatologist. It wasn’t a rash of that magnitude, and turns out, the rash was essentially nothing to worry over. No big deal. But in that moment, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had been previously almost pushed toward a solution that didn’t make sense. The system, as it stands, doesn’t always seem to have our best interests at heart.

The Visit From Hell

Fast forward a couple of months to my annual checkup. I had a list of labs I wanted done…cholesterol, vitamin D (because I used to be chronically low), the usual stuff. What happened? The doctor looked at my list and decided they were unnecessary. Nope, not gonna do those. Instead, I spent the entire hour listening to a pitch for prescription weight loss shots.

Now, let me make it clear: if weight loss meds work for you, I’m not here to judge. You do you, babes. But here’s the thing: my weight was down. I had been working out, eating cleaner, getting more rest, doing the things we’re told to do. Yet, instead of celebrating the progress I was making, the doctor’s first suggestion was a quick-fix drug. Faster results, they said. But at what cost?

When I asked about the tests I wanted, that one usually does at their yearly visit, the doctor brushed them off. I left that visit feeling like just another person to be sold something. And I couldn’t help but think: Is this what our healthcare system has become?

Trusting Doctors… Or Not

At this point, I get why so many people are distrustful of the medical system. Trusting your health to a doctor can sometimes feel like dating: you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find the right one. You’re shuffled through appointment after appointment, often just to be prescribed some new medication or to be used as a lab rat for some new experimental treatment. It’s exhausting. And after a while, it’s hard not to start questioning everything.

The bigger issue is that, for most of us, doctors don’t really know us as individuals. We’re numbers on a chart, data points to be analyzed and fixed, if possible. This isn’t to say all doctors are bad, because of course not. But the system is designed for quantity over quality. And I’ve learned that when it comes to my health, I can’t just blindly trust anyone. Especially when there’s money to be made off of pushing the latest pill or shot.

So, What’s The Answer?

Maybe it’s not so much about antivaxxers being “wrong” or “misinformed.” Maybe it’s about realizing that the system, as it exists, isn’t always there to help us. It’s a system built on profits, not on personalized care. And if you’ve ever felt like a cog in the wheel of this massive healthcare machine, I’m with you.

We can’t just sit back and let doctors and pharmaceutical companies dictate our health. It’s time to take our health into our own hands. Focus on the basics: eat whole foods, move your body, sleep better, and practice gratitude. I promise you, a lot of health problems can be solved with just these few things, and you don’t need a prescription to do it.

At the end of the day, if doctors want to sell us quick fixes, we have to be smart enough to recognize when we don’t need them. When you feel your body is being ignored, or when your doctor treats you like another number, don’t just go along with it. Do your own research. Ask questions. Be your own advocate. We have to take control of our health, because if we don’t, no one else will.

And no, I don’t think this is going to change anytime soon. The healthcare system is deeply broken, and it’s not something that’s going to magically improve overnight. But maybe we can start having more honest conversations about it.

So, next time you hear someone question vaccines or the medical system, maybe hold off on the judgment. There’s more to the story than just blindly following what we’re told. People are waking up, and I think that’s something we should all take seriously.

It’s time we trust our own instincts. We know our bodies better than anyone else. Let’s start acting like it.