Whether or not to have son vaccinated again after bad reaction...Please help!

My son Blake is overall a very healthy baby. So when I brought him in for his 2 month check up I knew he was getting immunizations which made me a little nervous but I also have a ten year old son and never had any complications so I assumed Blake would be fine. The doctor gave him one vaccine by mouth which I believe was Rotavirus and 3 shots in the leg which were Polio, HIB, DTaP, and Pneumococcal. He screamed through the entire thing and continued until we got in the car to leave. He was then sleeping very soundly in the car and then at home for about 2-3 hours. He then awoke with an extremely alarming scream I had never heard before. He was crying so hard for almost 4 hours straight. I could not even touch him on the side of his body were he had recieved the shots. He would not eat at all until the next day and he was extremely red, stiff and loosing his breath the entire time. I had given him tylenol after the first 1/2 hr of crying and after about an hour and a half I called the drs office in a panic. They just told me to give him tylenol every 3 hrs and that I could put ice on it. The tylenol did not help at all. He did finally end up falling asleep but he had loss of appetite, fussiness, and diahrrea for about 4 days. He has also been very congested ever since (about 3 weeks ago). Now my question is whether or not to continue with vaccinations at his 4 month visit?? I believe he will be getting 2nd doses of these same vaccines. I have read alot of awful stories regarding this issue and I am so afraid to make the wrong choice and I am also very nervous about being pursuaded by his Dr that this was a "normal" reaction and there is no reason why he shouldnt continue. I was thinking that maybe it would be better if I at least wait until he is a little older. This issue is haunting me...Please help!!! Thank you

[AnnieBrooke]

I arranged with my son's pediatrician to have my son get his shots one at a time, not all together.  We leave at least two weeks between each.  I dislike that our practice usually gives them all together -- they say it is for the convenience of the mother, but if my son had a reaction I would want to know which shot gave it to him.

[4forme]

This does not sound like a normal reaction to me.  Their bodies are so tiny at this age and can't always handle what is being pumped into them--even when it's supposedly for their own good.  You can always wait a year or two to continue with his shots, but if you want to have him vaccinated again at four months I would definitely insist on spacing the shots.  If he has another bad reaction you'll know which shot it is and can simply refuse to have him given that one again.

All the best and I hope your baby feels better soon!  Poor little guy. :(

[kellym]

I'm with Annie on this one. I had my son's split up also. About 2 at a time depending on how many. My son (Blake :) just turned 15mo's and was due for his MMR & 3 others. He has had diarrhea since Friday so I said NO to all of them. I scheduled the MMR for a week from now and the other ones I'll do 2 weeks from then. Just a precaution. The Ped did try to talk me into them but live viruses should only be given to a perfectly healthy person and in my eyes he was sick! Trust your instinct, just break them up a bit. Then you may even be able to pin point the problem one :) Good luck, love the name!

[findinghumility]

I agree with the ladies above.  I would most DEFINITELY split them up and do them one at a time if you are going to continue.  I do have a friend who's children seem to have lots of allergic reactions etc and for her last 2 kids they decided to wait for most of the vaccines (especially any that are live) until their kids turn 2 years old.  Then they split them up at that point and do them one at a time spaced out.

With our second son we are doing an alternate schedule also.  We do the most important, lease risky ones first and split them up.  He didn't have as bad of reactions as what you described, but he did spike really high temps with his first set of shots....Good luck!  Hopefully your doctor is supportive about whatever decision you come to.  

[becca_3456]

I would not give him anymore vaccines. My opinion is that he has already had a bad reaction and I would not continue to put poison in his little body. What happens if it is a more serious reaction next time? If you are going ahead with the vaccines I would wait until he is older, like 1 years old to start them again and I would absolutely space them out if/when you continue.

[melissa1502]

Thanks for all the great advice!!! I'm almost positive I am just gonna wait on them completely for about a year :)