Vaccinations

[jschoch8]

How have u all decided which vaccines u will give to ur babies? I was originally doing a drawn out schedule skipping the roto. The more I'm learning the more I want to skip more, particularly the dtap shot. I'm not concerned with her catching diphtheria or tetnus right now, but of course I would worry about whooping cough.  I dont want to be a crazy mom and have to get exemptions before preschool and kidergarden but I am pretty uncomfortable at this point putting all these things in her body, and then also of course her catching these things. I have spent a lot of time reading and being pulled in each direction on what to do. I know how beneficial they can be, but also how unnecessary and how harmful they can be. Any input or advise would be great. If anyone would like me to elaborate on any of these vaccines let me know. I have a lot of info on how each one is made and what is in each brand. the last thing I want is to scare people and make them unsure of themselves, but I also think people should be educated. Sorry I'm rambling but there is a lot in my head and would like to talk to someone who has done some research too and how you all have made your decisions.  

[jschoch8]

Pameladawn- I understand the fact that you don't want to vaccinate your child and trusting in her immune system. We didnt have half of these vaccines that they give now. The fact of knowingly injecting aluminum, formaldehyde, alcohol, mercury (yes still in some), monkey kidney cells, fetal cow blood, genetically altered organisms, msg, and cell line from aborted fetuses. A problem is some of the vaccine only protect against some strains, making room for new strains. New vaccines in the works for these new strains. By the time our grandchildren get vaccinated they'll probably be up to 50. And yes, vaccines are part of the problem.  There are numerous studies linking SIDS, autism, seizure disorder, juvinelle diabetes ( which they're looking into making a vaccine for),  guillain-barre syndrome to vaccines, but certainly not the only cause. You can even find this in the vaccine inserts.

Losing- I also understand why you choose to vaccine your child. And that some outbreaks happen because of unvaccinated children. But I also believe that there are things to "freak out" about when it comes to vaccines.

All in all, I have chosen to fully vaccine lily and a drawn out schedule mostly just doing one at a time as she has had no reaction thus far. I don't want to worry when traveling, preschool etc etc and I certainly don't want her to live in a bubble.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

the vaccines had pretty well erradicated the diseases until parents started freaking about potential reactions to them and possible links to things like autism...thats when many parents began choosing not to vaccinate....THAT is why we are having outbreaks...because more and more kids arent being immunized and even if they themselves do not contract the diseases they can be carriers

[pameladawn414]

I have to ask, if children are getting all these new vaccines then why is it we are experiencing more outbreaks, and worse outbreaks, then ever?

Anyway I'm choosing not to vaccinate my daughter. I never had any vaccinations myself growing up and I never caught any diseases, and have an extremely strong immune system.

[jschoch8]

I'm leaning towards just doing them because she has had no reactions yet not even a fever. Thank u all for the advice, I'm doing 1 at a time - no roto and I'm not going to do a second prevnar till after 1

[LosingMyMindInGA]

BTW out of all the shots my 5 kids have received collectively the worse reaction/problem we have had has been low grade fever for the next 24 hours and mild crankiness.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I have had all of my kids vaccinated with all of the recommended vaccines. Even the rotovirus though it didn't do much good with my now 2 yo.  I firmly believe that while there may be a handful of people who have had bad reactions to vaccines that in the vast majority of cases they do more good than harm.  I would far rather vaccinate my children than risk them getting one of the diseases that used to kill thousands of people every year.  I went and got my DTaP booster shot as well.  I also do not believe that vaccines have anything to do with autism.  

The only shot I have refused was the Gardisil for my then 12 yo and only because there were many documented cases of adverse reactions/problems.  

[nola0805]

I understand your concerns and I really worried about this as well.  I have done a lot of research on this and put a lot of thought into it as well.  I ended up getting Finn all of the major immunizations at 2 months and 4 months - I only skipped hep B and roto virus (I also declined hep B at birth).  I know that there is a lot of information out there about the dangers of vaccines, but I am a scientist and frankly, I have not really seen anything that convinced me that vaccines are that dangerous.  And, don't get me started on Autism and the MMR (I am an autism researcher at Columbia Univ) - the Dr. that published that original paper has lost his license because that data was falsified and many many studies that have been done since have shown absolutely no link between the MMR and Autism.  Dr. Sears is the biggest advocate for this but there is no real science or research backing his claims.

Yes, children now get more vaccines but it is important to realize that their immune systems are not getting any more of an antibody load because the vaccines are much more efficient than when we were little.  So, our immune systems took more of a hit than our little ones will.  

You have to make the choice that you are comfortable with but I would really look at the research first and talk carefully with Lily's pediatrician.  I have not found one medical specialist or researcher that recommended delaying or skipping vaccines and I have talked about this with so many of them - and these people have no hidden agenda or anything to gain by recommending vaccines.  

In my opinion, whooping cough is one of the most important ones to get now - there is a major outbreak across the US and babies are dying.  You might be able to find a pediatrician to break up the vaccines and just get the pertussis one.  My pediatrician recommended against breaking them up because it meant more shots for the baby and more days of them feeling under the weather (and there is no evidence that the combined shots are bad).

Good luck - I know it's a tough choice.