Vaccinations

• 11-12-2008 12:31 PM

  In reply to

  Keeger Joined on 05-06-2008 BC Canada Posts 1,016

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact I can see that this is an older post, but consider with a daughter that there are things like Rubella and Chicken Pox that children are vaccinated against that can cause serious complications is she were to contract them when she is grown-up and pregnant. You are protecting your potential grandchildren, but giving your daughter some vaccinations. Just something to think about.

• 11-17-2008 1:43 PM

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  don'tswiminthemainstream Joined on 08-31-2004 Posts 2,664	Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact  We no longer vaccinate.  But I will be giving my children the option when they are older to get some like rubella.   They are a bit safer when the person is older.  Also, many outbreaks are among the vaccinated. The vaccine does not eliminate the chance of getting the illness.

• 11-17-2008 5:19 PM

  In reply to

  Jamie2544778 Joined on 05-22-2008 Elk Grove, CA Posts 1,094

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact actually the rubella vaccine can "wear off" by adulthood. Just an FYI but I had to be re- vaccinated in the hospital after I had Tessa in July. They gave it to me before they released me. Apparently I went through the entire pregnancy with no rubella immunity and may have went through all 4 that way. kind of scary since I work with kids. I would suggest all women in their childbearing years be tested and get a booster if you need it. So by vaccinating them as children you aren't protecting them from everything for life.

• 11-17-2008 9:20 PM

  In reply to

  Mrs Garcia Joined on 09-03-2007 The ax forgets; the tree remembers~African proverb Posts 426

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact Rubella and Chicken Pox vaccines both require boosters. It's safer for kids to get Chicken Pox when they're young. We declined it for now, but if Callie hasn't contracted it and gotten natural immunity by the time she hits puberty then we'll do the vaccine. Other than that, we vaccinate. But we do it on an adjusted schedule. I have preemies with very weak immune systems as it is, so we like to not compromise it too much with all the vaccines at once.

• 01-05-2009 6:57 AM

  In reply to

  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-20-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 15,946

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact michelleb+1: I give it 5 years before they make the "scientific" correlation between vaccines and nuerological disorders (if the big pharm corps allow it)   I don't necessarily agree with this.  Outraged parents have been trying to prove this and get studies to show some kind of correlation for years.  Had there been a correlation, it wouldn't be "hiding" in the information that has been collected from the studies that have been done.  They are constantly changing the schedules of various vaccines to try to get parents to calm down.  I understand it can be very frustrating for parents of sick or diseased children, but a lot of the issues that many claim have developed from vaccines are relatively new issues.  Vaccines and their base compositions have been around for decades.  There could be many, many reasons why children get so sick, it could be something we do during pregnancy, or a new prenatal vitamin that we took the whole time that hasn't been on the market that long; it could be a vaccine, who knows.  Some believe the cure all is not giving them formula, feeding their children purely organic foods, keeping them away from electrical towers, things that people go to great lengths to make sure they do everything "right," when no one fully understands what and why something went wrong.  It is of concern to me as well that parents continue to blame vaccines for developmental issues without the real reasoning behind it and don't vaccinate their children.  When I was interviewing pediatricians, I was thrilled that mine does not accept clients who won't vaccinate their children, for the very reason that last year 5 infants under 1 yo in my area contracted measels after being at a doctor's office with a patient (an 8 yo boy) who was being seen for the disease.  There are many Mexican immigrants in my area that travel back and forth to their country where a lot of people are not vaccinated, and bring back disease with them.  The risks of my son contracting one of these diseases and being sick from getting one, seems much higher to me than the risk of him having developmental problems.  I don't doubt anyone's parenting abilities or their choices as to vaccinate or not; to each his own and I'm just throwing my opinion out there.  Its all in the eye of the beholder, and for my personal situation I think the vaccines benefits outweight the doubt of certainty that is of controversy at this point in time.

• 01-05-2009 8:38 AM

  In reply to

  Chamelyan Joined on 10-30-2007 Midwest Posts 76

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact  It depends on who is doing the study.  When a study came out about the dangers of co-sleeping, it was being endorsed by crib manufacturers and was skewed to show how crib sleep was "safer" than co-sleeping.  While studies have been done, they've all been handled by the pharmaceutical companies, who no doubt want to continue promoting the vaccines.  Parents have been demanding an independent study so non-biased results can be revealed, not the resultes either skewed or mis-interpreted by drug companies.  I disagree with any doctor who will refuse patients for not vaccinating.  We don't vaccinate for a variety of reasons, including religious stand point.  Should my religious views allow a doctor to refuse treatment?  What about the fact that I did have an adverse neurological reaction to an MMR booster at age 5?  Should I simply throw caution to the wind and assume that it will never happen again?  Why take that risk with the people I love most, my children?  Also, most of these conditions are not life-threatening.  Proper heigene keeps most of these diseases at bay, and keeping the immune system healthy by breastfeeding and eating well, avoiding toxins (and there are PLENTY in the vaccines) and managing stress, will keep us from getting sick, as well as fight whatever ailment we receive, if at all.

• 01-05-2009 12:29 PM

  In reply to

  Coastiewife Joined on 12-06-2006 Elizabeth City, NC Posts 753

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact Chamelyan:  It depends on who is doing the study.  When a study came out about the dangers of co-sleeping, it was being endorsed by crib manufacturers and was skewed to show how crib sleep was "safer" than co-sleeping.  While studies have been done, they've all been handled by the pharmaceutical companies, who no doubt want to continue promoting the vaccines.  Parents have been demanding an independent study so non-biased results can be revealed, not the resultes either skewed or mis-interpreted by drug companies.  I disagree with any doctor who will refuse patients for not vaccinating.  We don't vaccinate for a variety of reasons, including religious stand point.  Should my religious views allow a doctor to refuse treatment?  What about the fact that I did have an adverse neurological reaction to an MMR booster at age 5?  Should I simply throw caution to the wind and assume that it will never happen again?  Why take that risk with the people I love most, my children?  Also, most of these conditions are not life-threatening.  Proper heigene keeps most of these diseases at bay, and keeping the immune system healthy by breastfeeding and eating well, avoiding toxins (and there are PLENTY in the vaccines) and managing stress, will keep us from getting sick, as well as fight whatever ailment we receive, if at all.  Totally agree with everything said here. My previous dr was very supportive of my no vax stance because he doesnt believe in them either. My new drs are against it but I have stood up to them about it... end of story. My 21 month old dd has had none at all and my 3 week old will not either. Me and my 2 brothers were not vaccinated at all until 7th grade when the schools told my mom she "had" to. I freaked out and passed out and got really sick and have not had  one since. We all got a very mild case of chicken pox but that is it. I do think there is a reason that so many people are standing up agaisnt vaccines.

• 01-05-2009 5:09 PM

  In reply to

  Dave's Buttercup Joined on 06-20-2008 Victor Colby Born 100% Naturally 1/12/2009 Posts 15,946

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact Don't forget that the vaccines are there to protect from disease.  In my area, vaccines are the way to go; there are too many locals immigrants that are not vaccinated that go in and out of Mexico, where there is poor health care in most areas, for my liking.  Its all in how you pick and choose to protect your child from these diseases.  One major thing that people forget until it happens is how damaging disease is, especially to the body of a child.  It can have life altering effects.  I don't trust my child to have wonderful hygiene when I'm not around him in the future and you don't know who has what out there.  Care providers have the same right to pick and choose their clientele as you have the right to pick your care provider.  Its a lot more on their shoulders if they have patients who don't vaccinate and bring in disease to the office where there are healthy people who have not been vaccinated.  They can lose their patients based on this or spread illness.  Its totally up to the care provider, and they shouldn't be forced into adjusting their rules because one patient doesn't like a particular vaccine for whatever reasons.  It just sucks if you want to change your ideals when you've already found a practitioner that has been taking care of one child where you had a different set of rules.  Like I previously said, to each his own.  I have to do what my husband and I believe is best for our child in our particular area.    Its not an easy decision to make, so whoever is left out there wondering what to do, good luck!!!

• 01-07-2009 11:39 AM

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  JessicaP Joined on 02-06-2007 Miss Morgan born January 17/09 ~ Ontario, Canada Posts 5,324

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact  Christine I agree with you completely! You can criticize the studies all you want to but it doesn't negate the fact that there are many documented cases of huge outbreaks of disease in countries when they removed a vaccine program with many fatalities. It also doesn't negate the fact that we are already seeing some of these diseases come back in our countries because so many parents have become too scared to vaccinate....this puts a lot of other people at risk like the young babies and the elderly and also those who can't be vaccinated because of immune problems or reactions. As for developmental delays I find it interesting that everyone is so quick to blame it on vaccines when there are so many other things that have been increasing in use right along with the increase in autism, etc. Epidural use anyone? Pitocin? But we like those things because they make childbirth easier for us so we wouldn't want to blame those! Personally I vaccinated my daughter with pretty much every vaccine. The only thing I've done differently is that I don't get the flu shot and she's getting her 18 month shots (dTap & 2nd MMR) separated so one will be at 18 months and one at 19 months. I believe that the risks of the diseases far outweigh the risks of the vaccines and I also believe that it is the socially responsible thing to do. Oh yeah, and she's now 16 months old and perfectly healthy....she's had at most 2 very mild colds that lasted about a day each.

• 01-21-2009 1:48 PM

  In reply to

  CrissiLovesDylan Joined on 08-23-2007 Washington Posts 51

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact I have an eight month old, and am holding off on vaxing until age three, when a good part of neurological development has already occured. I'm not choosing to not vax entirely, just not in infancy. Several of my close friends with infants have had very scary side effects, including a seizue that required hospitalization after the first DTP shot. Most states have catch up schedules for parents like me, who choose to wait. I also chose not to beinduced, despite going ten days post due, and refused pitocin. I'm not a wacko, really, just cautious! There is definately a place for vaccines, and they do and have saved lives! But we just can't ignore the fact that the autism diagnosis ratios have literally shot up tenfold over the last two decades, and responsible parents owe it to themselves to do the research, and we have a RIGHT to decide for ourselves, whether the benefits outweigh the risks. In February of 2008, the federal government conceded in it's first ever publicised court case of the subject, awarding the mother of a twelve year old, damages, due to extreme disability and autism from an MMR vaccine redeived at 18 nmonths of age. The child was walking, talking, and pottytraining normally, up until the shot, which prompted fevers, seizures, and acute autism. The boy never walked or talked again, and is still in diapers. Its the worst case scenario, I know, but it was so undeniably a result of a so called "safe" vaccine, that even the federal government could no longer argue the fact, and concedded in court. I hate to say it's a victory for the cause, because it truly isn't. But it goes to show, that more research is needed, and erring on the side of caution isn't bad parenting!

• 01-21-2009 1:53 PM

  In reply to

  CrissiLovesDylan Joined on 08-23-2007 Washington Posts 51	Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact Wow, I typed that one so fast, I failed to proof-read! Sorry about the typos! I guess my passion on the subject prompted me to be more sloppy than usual!
  	Filed under: w

• 05-07-2009 8:10 PM

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  Kerum Joined on 06-01-2004 Hawaii Posts 160	Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact I absoultely LOVED the vaccine book by Dr. Sears.  He did all the research and puts everything out there for YOU to make the right decision for you and your family.  He gives a couple of different vaccination schedules for those who would like to vaccine, but want to hold off on some vaccines or not do select vaccines.  I highly recommend it!

• 05-12-2009 2:50 PM

  In reply to

  ~willowtree~ Joined on 04-29-2009 Posts 6

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact i am a former public health nurse who helped to vaccinate the entire county i lived in, yet i chose to not vaccinate "until later". my oldest is three, and i plan to start with her soon. vaccinations have done much for the health of the public, and i am not entirely against them. but i was lucky in that my children were not premies, breastfed well, were not exposed to cigarrette smoke, and stayed at home with me rather than daycare. with learning disabilities on both sides of the family, i felt that the risk of harm, for my children, outweighed the risk of getting certain diseases. that is a decision only a parent can make, really; and again i was lucky that i had so much information to make it with. one dr told me that they did not feel comfortable being my pediatrician, and i see that as their personal choice, as well. no other doctors have tried to bully me about it, maybe largely because they knew i knew more about vaccines than they did (or at least, i make them think i do! ). it's a hard choice, but kudos to all moms who are willing to put in the effort to figure out what is best for their kids.

• 05-12-2009 9:58 PM

  In reply to

  Musical Christy Joined on 03-21-2008 S11-18-97/S01-13-99 A4-04 D11-18-08 EDD 12-24-09 Posts 559

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact I am someone from the other side of the fence! I was not vaccinated properly (due to a negelctful mother and not because she thought they were bad for me.) At age 12 I got the chicken pox! Not a mild case. I had such a bad reaction that my fever gave me seizures and I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks. It took me 3 months to get back to feeling "normal" whatever that is to a 12yr old... I also have scars from the huge sores that I got. Needless to say.. I could have died. I was in foster care at the time. As a child: I also had several (more than 10) episodes of strep throat, 2 bouts of walking pnuemonia (where I halucinated). A good friend of mine was also not vaccinated as a kid because her parents didn't want it, she got measles and now has a speech disorder (which she didn't have before she had the measles). So I have 3 children (including a preemie) and they are all vaccinated and this new baby will be as well. They are all very healthy and intelligent. I know from firsthand experience what not being vaccinated can do... I am NOT willing to take that chance with mine. It is a personal choice. Totally on subject... did anyone see that Law and Order episode that was supposed to be like the Florida Caylee Anthony case and it turned out to be a case of a mom who didn't have her child vaccinated (totally her choice) but then she took her sick child to a park and infected babies with some childhood vaccinated disease. 1 baby died and the other was hospitalized (they were too young to have had the vaccine yet) I know this is fiction. But I would NEVER forgive myself if my personal choice cost the life of another child! I hope I don't get yelled at... I just wanted to bring up what my life as a child was like not being vaccinated... Not saying that the way i lived didn't have something to do with the illnesses that I got but... if I had been vaccinated would I have gotten them anyway?

• 05-12-2009 11:00 PM

  In reply to

  Coastiewife Joined on 12-06-2006 Elizabeth City, NC Posts 753

  Re: Vaccinations Reply Contact   If the vaccines work so well then my child shouldnt be a threat to anyone anyways.  I would also never forgive myself if I vaccinated my baby and they had a horrible reaction from it that cost them their life. I believe in the natural order of things for my kids and that includes not injecting them with crap. The fact of the matter is that people are not jumping down the throats of people who do vaccinate. They are attacking the people who have done TONS and TONS of researching and made the very hard choice not to vaccinate. I am judged constantly for making the choices that I have. People are still trying to take the rights that we have as parents to make that decision away (not that we have many rights on it anyways).