Teen Who Defied Anti-Vaxx Mom Speaks Out: Vaccinations Are 'Good And Beneficial'

A teen whose Reddit post seeking answers on how to get vaccinated went viral explained why he defied his mothers anti-vaccination beliefs, stating his decision wasnt out of spite but based on science.

Ethan Lindenberger, an 18-year-old high school senior in Ohio, said he began to fear for his health after reading scientific papers about the benefits of immunizations.

I had grown up just hearing that I wasnt vaccinated because it was best for me, and that it was healthy and that vaccines were bad and that they have these bad side effects, Lindenberger told ABCs Good Morning America in an interview that aired Tuesday.

He continued, I saw that there were a lot of people with different opinions, and as I explored those opinions, I came to the conclusion that they were good and beneficial. ... Theres a distinguishing difference between disagreeing with a parent and trying to disobey with them out of spite.

\"I've never been vaccinated for anything, God knows how I'm still alive.\" An Ohio 18-year-old went against his anti-vaxx mother's beliefs and fought to get vaccinated when he turned 18. @LinseyDavis reports. https://t.co/7uPNW231Zv pic.twitter.com/P8IFBev1rv

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"I've never been vaccinated for anything, God knows how I'm still alive." An Ohio 18-year-old went against his anti-vaxx mother's beliefs and fought to get vaccinated when he turned 18. @LinseyDavis reports. https://t.co/7uPNW231Zv pic.twitter.com/P8IFBev1rv
Good Morning America (@GMA) February 12, 2019

His mother, Jill Wheeler, vaccinated her eldest daughter and eldest son, but refused to do the same for five younger children, including Lindenberger, when she realized she wasnt required to do so by law.

Ohio is one of 17 states where parents can opt out of vaccinating their children for philosophical reasons. All but three states California, Mississippi and West Virginia allow parents to opt out for religious reasons. And all 50 states grant exemptions for medical reasons.

Wheeler said she believes the injections pose a health risk, but the Centers for Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, say serious side effects are very rare. Most immunizations are extremely effective. For instance, two doses of the vaccine against measles is 97 percent effective, according to the CDC.

Lindenberger first crowdsourced advice on how and where to get vaccinated in a Reddit post on Nov. 16, 2018.

My parents think vaccines are some kind of government scheme, he wrote at the time. Its stupid and Ive had countless arguments over the topic. But, because of their beliefs Ive never been vaccinated for anything, god knows how Im still alive.

The post garnered over 1,000 comments, including from people who identified as health care professionals and provided information on how to pursue immunizations without parental permission.

Just over a month later, Lindenberger received vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza and HPV at an Ohio Department of Heath office, reported The Washington Post .

Wheeler told online science magazine Undark that her sons decision felt like a slap in the face.

It was like him spitting on me, she said, saying You dont know anything, I dont trust you with anything. You dont know what youre talking about. You did make a bad decision and Im gonna go fix it.