The Great Vaccination Debate...

[LosingMyMindInGA]

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.

[chantal21]

http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/against_natural_processes.aspx

I'm sure I'll be the only wacko on here who doesn't vaccinate, but I have my reasons for not doing so and have lots of friends who don't as well. My first son, only had a couple of vaccines (the ones my homeopathic doc recommended he should get) Well he got the whooping cough vaccine and what do you think he ended up with at just 5 months old? Whooping cough. It was a nightmare for 2 months straight.

My second son, was only vaccinated because he had a rare liver disease and his immune system was so compromised to begin with, if he had gotten a simple cold, it could have been life threatening. (he was going to have a liver transplant and once you get one, you can no longer receive any live vaccines anyway so he needed all of them early on) He is no longer with us, but I understand why he actually needed to be vaccinated.

I was vaccinated as a child and used to get every sickness that came down the pike and was on anti-biotics for most of my life. My immune system is just horrible to this day.
My brother and sister were never vaccinated and they are 2 of the healthiest kids I know with great immune systems.

It's not for everyone and vaccines haven't been proven to prevent life threatening diseases, not to mention some of the horrible things they add to vaccines.
I'm not willing to take the risk and my 3 year old has been just fine as well as my brother and sister and all the kids and families that I know who do not vaccinate.

But we all need to do what we feel is best for our family. Right now, this is the best option for my family.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Hmmm...that's interesting GA.  I will have to ask and pay more attention.  Here ours do get the 2, 4, and 6 month shots.  I think they get more at like 12 months, 15 months and 18 months.  But they don't get as many by that time.  I just took Mary a couple of weeks ago and got her 15 and 18 month shots together because it was only 3 sticks.  She should be good until she's 4 I think.  The 4 year appt. is the "bad" one.  They get boosters I believe, and then get poked in their finger and then their arm for something.  Can't remember off the top of my head.  They do get the boosters like you said, at about 12.  They have also started the Guardasil vaccine here.  

I will def ask about the thing at birth, but I don't recall ever hearing about or being told about it.  But I also know that vaccine requirements probably vary somewhat state to state, although I don't know how much.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

In my experience they give the Hep B in the hospital. Some hospitals ask if you want to give a vitamin K shot as well.  I've always gone ahead and signed a release to do the Hep B in the hospital and have not had any ill experiences out of 5 kids.  As for the immunization schedule they get shots typically at 2, 4, and 6 months then age 2, 3 (sometimes 4) and 5.  Then some of them they get boosters around like 12.  Some vaccines have to be given in 2-3 doses spread out for effectiveness.  

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I don't think they vaccinate here in the hospital.  The only poke that our babies get is the PKU test, which is given by taking blood from the infant's heel at birth, and then again when they are 2 weeks old.  Here, at least where I have delivered, they don't even take the babies out of your room unless your request it.  One hospital even bathed my little one in our room.  So, I don't think all hospitals do it but I would certainly ask.  I would think they have to inform you BEFORE doing it and I have never been told or seen a foreign bandaid on my infants.  Just the on the heel.

I have no problem w/ the flu shot, but I did get it for my kids one year and most of them ended up w/ the flu; a couple of them twice.  But those vaccines only protect against like 3 flu viruses and there are literally thousands out there so I don't know how much it helps but again, I have no problem w/ the vaccine.  When I worked, I used to get it every year, because they gave them to us and our spouses for free.  I am home now and homeschool my kids, so we are at lower risk.

[Ashelen]

I've vaccinated both of them as well. As a person who has autism in my family (2 autistic cousins) I've researched it highly and feel that there is a genetic/environmental trigger, and I feel that the benefits FAR outweigh the risks for getting vaccinations...so both of my little ones are protected. I would not bash a woman who chooses not to, but no one will ever change my mind - #3 will be vaccinated as well (not even conceived yet lol), any any more we choose to have in the future. I will never be able to justify to myself not vaccinating, although again - I have no problem with people who feel it's not right for their family. After all, we're all only doing the best we feel we can.

[Clysta]

I vaccinated as well. The diseases themselves are far worse in my opinion. Many cite that autism is on the rise, BUT it's not only in the US. We're on par with Third World countries, and many of them don't vaccinate either.