OT: Did you give your dc the chicken pox vaccine?

[erik'smom]

We vaccinated our son and he developed a mild rash and a fever, but it went away within a week. I had the chicken pox and was hospitalized. I missed 1.5 months of school. My DH had a pretty severe case too.

 

[katerkat]

Some of the complications you are exposing your children to by not getting the vaccine include viral pneumonia, brain infection and flesh-eating disease.

He got coxsackie last year and could have died from dehydration - but we still go to the playground where he caught it. (And the playground where he got pinkeye.) He could have been a flying projectile on several flights as a lap baby. He could have been smothered while co-sleeping. He could drown in a kiddie pool because he's convinced he knows how to swim. (But hey, he gets bonus points for breastfeeding longer than a year. That outta counteract some stuff.)

I'm not trying to make light of things, but we all take different risks with our kids. Not doing some MINOR vaccines is mine. I also don't give him antibiotics unless really necessary and he doesn't eat things with Red 40.

 

[jodifla]

He got coxsackie last year and could have died from dehydration - but we still go to the playground where he caught it. (And the playground where he got pinkeye.) He could have been a flying projectile on several flights as a lap baby. He could have been smothered while co-sleeping. He could drown in a kiddie pool because he's convinced he knows how to swim. (But hey, he gets bonus points for breastfeeding longer than a year. That outta counteract some stuff.)

I'm not trying to make light of things, but we all take different risks with our kids. Not doing some MINOR vaccines is mine. I also don't give him antibiotics unless really necessary and he doesn't eat things with Red 40.

One of the problems with vaccines is that you're taking risks with ALL of our kids by your actions, or inaction.

 

[meandtheguys2]

One of the problems with vaccines is that you're taking risks with ALL of our kids by your actions, or inaction.

Excuse me, but haven't you been fussing on another thread about your right to have your parent subject kids (and put people at risk) at WDW to cigarette smoke?

 

[katerkat]

One of the problems with vaccines is that you're taking risks with ALL of our kids by your actions, or inaction.

I was under the impression that children who have been vaccinated against chicken pox will get a mild case, if anything, if exposed to a child without the vaccine with chicken pox. That's one of the benefits being touted of the vaccine.

Children who go to the playground with communicable diseases put my child - all children - at risk. Russ landed in the ER from his bout of coxsackie. But I can't ban all kids from the playground - I can only take care of mine.

And hey - you've been in the lap baby debates. Lap babies put everyone around them at risk because they will be a projectile in heavy turbulence.

 

[jodifla]

Excuse me, but haven't you been fussing on another thread about your right to have your parent subject kids (and put people at risk) at WDW to cigarette smoke?

Yes. So?

Edited to add: I hardly think smoking in the great outdoors is a danger to anybody but the most sensitive asthmatics, and even then, I'm pretty skeptical how these folks manage to make it through the day given their alleged reactions to outside triggers.

 

[jodifla]

I was under the impression that children who have been vaccinated against chicken pox will get a mild case, if anything, if exposed to a child without the vaccine with chicken pox. That's one of the benefits being touted of the vaccine.

Children who go to the playground with communicable diseases put my child - all children - at risk. Russ landed in the ER from his bout of coxsackie. But I can't ban all kids from the playground - I can only take care of mine.

And hey - you've been in the lap baby debates. Lap babies put everyone around them at risk because they will be a projectile in heavy turbulence.

Like that's ever actually happened.

Interesting argument though.

 

[ZuZugal]

I'm not trying to make light of things, but we all take different risks with our kids. Not doing some MINOR vaccines is mine. I also don't give him antibiotics unless really necessary and he doesn't eat things with Red 40.

One of the problems with vaccines is that you're taking risks with ALL of our kids by your actions, or inaction.

I also take the "herd immunity" position when it comes to vaccines, and I think that children should be vaccinated, but I think also believe katerkat has some good points. (I think I remember you from another thread about Aspergers maybe?) Anyway, if her son gets immunized against the majority of the deadly diseases, but not chicken pox, I don't think it is our place to judge. I'm sure as a family they discussed/debated whether or not to vaccinate. (ie: didn't make the choice lightly.)

I also do not think that vaccines have any connection to autism, but I certainly cannot be sure. We all have our own beliefs and have ways to back those beliefs. We all want to protect our children, and we go about it in different ways.

 

[Mandygrrl]

My DD got the vaccine when she was a year old. She didn't have a negative reaction to it. I relied on her pediatrician's advice to get the vaccine.

 

[flying_babyb]

wait!!
If your child has had a vacine and another child hasnt, YOUR child whos been vacinated wouldnt be at risk. So why are we arguing? the only children who would be at risk are other unvacinated kids.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Yes. So?

Edited to add: I hardly think smoking in the great outdoors is a danger to anybody but the most sensitive asthmatics, and even then, I'm pretty skeptical how these folks manage to make it through the day given their alleged reactions to outside triggers.

With a lot of medications, that's how they make it through a day. But that was covered on the thread too, not that you paid attention.

My kids aren't vaccinated, DS had an adverse reaction so they recommended delaying the girls. When DD#2 started having unexplained seizures on top of everything else she has going on her pulmonologist said no to any vaccines. Yup, her doctor said not to vaccinate her or her sister and this is at a top children's hospital.

 

[jodifla]

wait!!
If your child has had a vacine and another child hasnt, YOUR child whos been vacinated wouldnt be at risk. So why are we arguing? the only children who would be at risk are other unvacinated kids.

except for, then the unvaccinated child becomes a typhoid Mary of sorts, spreading to many, many others during the long incubation period before you know he has the virus, including infants who don't get the shots until they are older.

 

[jodifla]

With a lot of medications, that's how they make it through a day. But that was covered on the thread too, not that you paid attention.

My kids aren't vaccinated, DS had an adverse reaction so they recommended delaying the girls. When DD#2 started having unexplained seizures on top of everything else she has going on her pulmonologist said no to any vaccines. Yup, her doctor said not to vaccinate her or her sister and this is at a top children's hospital.

Oh, I paid attention to that thread. I just don't believe that everyone and their brother has these extreme illnesses.

Not saying YOUR children don't. And of course, you shouldn't vaccinate if doctors say your children are not good vaccine candidates.

But MOST kids are good candidates for the vaccines, and parents ignore their doctor's advice on the subject.

 

[emh1129]

Only read the first page of responses..
No, we don't do the chicken pox vaccine. DH and I both felt it made no logical sense (after researching the topic) and our pediatrician agrees.

 

[cajunpeach]

I opted to get the vaccine for DD when she was 18 months. She came down with the chicken pox, she was very lethargic and ran a high temp (103 but she is normally a 97.6 kinda girl)for several days . I felt terrible (and still do now and it's been 9 years) that I purposefully inflicted it on her. I can still picture how unresponsive and lethargic she was. I had the cp when I was in elementary school and again when I was 17. Although it was a horrible episode when I was 17, it was not nearly as bad as my poor dd as far as the temp and lethargia....If I had the choice again, I would let her take her chances and get it the old fashioned way.

That's my 2 cents for whatever it's worth (stepping down off soap box )

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

We did vaccinations but in a delayed sense. We did all vaccination up until we got to the MMR. We broke MMR up into three different shots. When it came time for his 18 month shots (including his Chicken Pox vaccine), we delayed a few months. We waited until he was 2 years old.

Had I thought about it a little more thoroughly, I probably would have delayed all of his vaccinations until he was a little older. Fortunately, he had no adverse reactions.

 

[Pennykay]

I just want to add that it is so easy to say that "the benefits out way the risks" or that you should "vaccinate for herd immunity", etc. until you have a child with a major reaction. Those of you that are so judgmental should take a step back and think for a minute if you're views would change if you're child were harmed or God forbid die from a vaccination. Vaccinations do harm children. That is why their is a government program to compensate vaccine injured children. Thank God in the US every state has some form of exemption. You're child cannot be forced to have their immunizations to attend school. It is a parents job to research this issue and decide for themselves what is best for you're child. It is not the governments job to force everyone to inject their child with whatever they decide is necessary. Do you know that most of the members of the FDA, the people who approve these drugs/immunizations, are on the payrolls of.....or own stock in the drug companies? How can we trust that the FDA is looking out for the consumers when they are profiting if they approve the drugs/vaccinations?

 

[TheDizMom]

Can we not have a discussion about this subject without it getting nasty and judgemental. This is a personal choice for every parent. It belongs to them and them alone. The good thing about this and the other thread is that you can do some UNSCIENTIFIC research by talking to parents who have been there. You can get honest opinions that are not in some study that, yes, very often are payed for by the companies who make the vaccines and so may not be confidence building. It helps to talk to parents and make a decision based on what they have experienced. There is no doctor telling you you have to do it. You then have to take those experiences and decide what is right for your child. I made the decision to have them because I wanted to make sure my kids were protected, something I couldn't do for the child I lost. There was no choice for her as she was stillborn, but I wanted to give my kids protection from what I could to try and make sure I never lost another child. That is my experience and I am not saying I am right or wrong, only that I felt it was the right thing for my children. If you feel it isn't the right thing for you then so be it. It doesn't make you a bad parent just a concerned one, just like my decision doesn't make me a good parent just a concerned one. I will say that with many parents opting out some diseases we thought were irradicated in this country are coming back. There were several cases of polio in Minnesota last summer and if I am remembering correctly not all the children survived. There are some serious pros and cons and it is up to every parent to determine what they are willing to risk and what they aren't. Either way having that choice is why we live in this country.

 

[maidenfairy]

Both my boys received all their shots on time for the most part. My youngest had some delay due to ear infections. I'm all about vaccinating, but it is a parents personal choice. My kids had no bad reactions, it didn't effect them. Maybe i'm lucky but i think I'm with the majority of people out there. If we'd had a family history of a bad reaction I probably would have had different thoughts on the subject. To each their own.

 

[MommaPooh217]

My DD7 and DD4 both were vaccinated with the Chicken Pox vaccine. DD7 got a mild case of chicken pox and DD4 never has contracted Chicken Pox. Obviously the vaccine was'nt around for my older kids older DS 23 and DD 20 so they both caught them . DS then 5 caught them from a little boy in his K class and DD then 2 caught them 2 weeks to the day after DS. The were both literally covered in chicken pox, they had them in their mouths, in their ears ,between their toes poor things. Now I'm sorry I did'nt get pictures of them to show them what they looked like lol. I can laugh about it now but then I was worried I might catch them because although I thought I remebered having them my Mom could'nt remember if I had had them or not .


Blessed Be,
Tina