Kevin, just for clarity: immunization does not necessarily protect your child. What population immunization does is reduce the possibility of exposure and therefore of catching a particular disease. If enough people don't immunize, diseases can make a comeback including among people who *were* immunized. IOW not immunizing risks other peoples' kids too. The only reason the "intelligent" people get away with it is because they are relying on everybody else to make sure their kids won't be exposed. Whether this is cool behavior depends on your POV I guess. Certainly it is true that some people do experience unfortunate reactions but you have to balance that risk against the particular disease and consequences of it.

FWIW the scourge of smallpox was eradicated by immunization. Right now Bill Gates is trying to achieve the same for Polio. The only reason we don't have people in iron lungs or calipers from Polio anymore is because of immunization. Polio is highly contagious and wild viruses are capable of infecting the entire susceptible population if given a chance. If enough people don't immunize, Polio could be seen again in the first world.