Aa
The Great Vaccination Debate...
I'm posting this here because I believe it is useful information for parents-to-be who are debating whether to vaccinate or not. This is a very controversial subject for many people so lets PLEASE keep our comments clean and respectful.
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/measles-outbreak-how-to-protect-yourself
This article discusses how measles are making a big comback in the United States and they find that the majority of the cases are in those who are unvaccinated. They attribute this to the boom of parents who have not had their children receive the necessary childhood vaccinations because of the belief that they can lead to autism. This claim has been disproved by a lot of research.
Personally I have ALWAYS felt that to vaccinate is far better than to not. For me the minimal risks of adverse reactions associated with the vaccinations far outweighed the potential life threatening affects of the diseases that can be contracted without them. I have an uncle who is a polio survivor, I know what he went through/goes through and he is one of the lucky ones, he had a mild case of polio. I also feel (and again it's personal and does not mean that I will dislike or hold it against someone else for their choices) that children who are not vaccinated put others at higher risk. Simply because they are far more likely to contract one of these illnesses and create a larger exposure to these viruses in areas where they are limited.
Anyway, this is just personal opinion. My point in posting this was to give other parents some very useful information for when they are deciding whether to vaccinate or not.
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/measles-outbreak-how-to-protect-yourself
This article discusses how measles are making a big comback in the United States and they find that the majority of the cases are in those who are unvaccinated. They attribute this to the boom of parents who have not had their children receive the necessary childhood vaccinations because of the belief that they can lead to autism. This claim has been disproved by a lot of research.
Personally I have ALWAYS felt that to vaccinate is far better than to not. For me the minimal risks of adverse reactions associated with the vaccinations far outweighed the potential life threatening affects of the diseases that can be contracted without them. I have an uncle who is a polio survivor, I know what he went through/goes through and he is one of the lucky ones, he had a mild case of polio. I also feel (and again it's personal and does not mean that I will dislike or hold it against someone else for their choices) that children who are not vaccinated put others at higher risk. Simply because they are far more likely to contract one of these illnesses and create a larger exposure to these viruses in areas where they are limited.
Anyway, this is just personal opinion. My point in posting this was to give other parents some very useful information for when they are deciding whether to vaccinate or not.
Sorry to sound ignorant about this subject but this baby will be my first so I don't know anything about this. They give shots at the hospital after birth? I wasn't aware of that. What is the normal immunization schedule? I do plan on vaccinating my son, I just want to learn when the best time is. Also, is it recommended that you spread the vaccines out over the course of a few months or get them all at the same time?
Thank you for posting this, very helpful information.
Thank you for posting this, very helpful information.
When my daughter (now 6 yrs) was born, I did refuse the hepatitis shot in the hospital & opted for her to get it a month later. At the time she seemed so new & fragile. also all the stuff about shots & autism was all over the news.
Do they still give hepatitis shots at birth? Is that the only shot given at birth?
When I became pregnant this last fall, my husband & I did some thinking on whether or not I should get a flu shot. I was unsure. He really wanted me to get one. After some consideration, I did get the flu shot, since I was UNSURE myself, & he was so positive. I thought... well, this is his child too, we have to come to compromises in all things regarding its wellbeing. About 2 weeks after the shot, I got really sick. I couldn't really take anything, because I was pregnant!!! I still don't know if I got sick because of the shot, or just because. I had flu like stuff for a few weeks - a month. My family had it too. Maybe I would have been a lot worse if I hadn't gotten the shot. Who knows.
I read an earlier post about polio.... My dads brother DIED from polio. He had no vaccine.
Do they still give hepatitis shots at birth? Is that the only shot given at birth?
When I became pregnant this last fall, my husband & I did some thinking on whether or not I should get a flu shot. I was unsure. He really wanted me to get one. After some consideration, I did get the flu shot, since I was UNSURE myself, & he was so positive. I thought... well, this is his child too, we have to come to compromises in all things regarding its wellbeing. About 2 weeks after the shot, I got really sick. I couldn't really take anything, because I was pregnant!!! I still don't know if I got sick because of the shot, or just because. I had flu like stuff for a few weeks - a month. My family had it too. Maybe I would have been a lot worse if I hadn't gotten the shot. Who knows.
I read an earlier post about polio.... My dads brother DIED from polio. He had no vaccine.
I opted not to get the flu shot for myself or my kids because the vaccines they were given here were flu and swine flu combo and I did NOT want any of use receiving the swine flu vaccine. My 2 year old got the swine flu when he was 8 months old and while he was sick, it wasn't that bad, he's fine now and the side effects from the vaccine weren't worth the risk to me.
All 6 of my kids have had their vaccinations. I've never been asked about vaccinating at the hospital. I have never heard of that. But I think 2 months is early enough. I do try to limit how much my kids are around other people and out in public, until they start vaccinations. Doctors will recommend the same thing. As far as side effects...some of mine have gotten the slight fever or loose stools for a day or so and some have not gotten any type of side effects at all. I now just give them some Tyelnol/Motrin right before I leave home for my appointment. Next month is my 3 year old's 4 year appointment and that one is the worst. Um yeah, my husband will be doing that appointment. LOL!
I even made my kids get the flu shots this year. The health department was doing them at the schools free of charge. My kids were NOT happy that I chose for them to get the shot rather than the mist. The mist contains the live virus. The shot has the weakened one. Oh well...none of them got the flu :)
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.
