OT: ease my mind about immunizations!

[rluey29]

Well, my baby is nearing his 1 year vaccinations and my paranoia is in overdrive. I'm referring to the whole immunization/autism thing. I've made sure to see the ingredient list of all his prior vaccines to make sure there was no thimerosal, which I think has been phased out, but he is about to get his first dose of the MMR which some people think may also be linked with autism. He is a perfect little child now and I'd hate for something to go wrong. I know the whole "benefits outweighs the risks" speech. I get it from all the doctors when I voice my concerns, but I can't help but worry.

Has anyone else had these concerns?

 

[kidshop]

You don't have to do the MMR at 1. The range 12-18 months, I think, and I have not done it before age 2. I do all the others, but the MMR I wait on. It makes me feel better! My dd is 17 months, and I'm may wait longer than 2 this time. It's your choice when you want to do it.

 

[krystalleigh1]

I've known people who have broken up the shot into 3 seperate shots. Just a thought if it makes you more comfortable with it.

Krystal

 

[LanaJae]

I completely understand your fear. I have a friend with a profoundly autistic son and his coincided with the MMR.

I personally believe that it isn't the vaccination, but rather the vaccination is more of an autoimmune-type trigger and maybe complicates a pre-disposed condition. Many parents saw other signs prior to vaccinations, but a drastic change after the vaccination.

I would still want to delay the vaccination to somewhere in the middle of the time range and I would want to make sure my child was in optimal health at the time of the vaccination, and most importantly (to me), I would want to make sure any fever was kept under control with Tylenol/Motrin.

 

[java]

Make sure you are getting mercury free if it eases your fears. Thimerosal goes by some other names as well. If you request mercury free you should be ok. What I found however is that not all doctors are aware of which preservatives have mercury or do not. Also you can have the shots split up not in one big dose shot.
Now all this might cost you more depending on your insurance. And I became a vaccine freak after my dd stopped breathing after her first dpt shot. So be an advocate for your child. I do get my kids vaccinated but I do it in a way that I am comfortable with.

 

[synclair11]

ok here is what i think, i have 2 girls 7 and 3 and they will not be getting anymore shots. a good friend of mine had a son a month before my 3 year old , he was a wonderful baby until he turned 1 and got his shots and now he has autism, she has taught me alot about it stuff i had never thought of before ( my girls got every shot up until now) i know tons of people will disagree but i know what i have seen in her child and i know if i have another child i will not give them shots. i do know that if you can wait until after the age of 3 and get them it is less likely to happen. also she says if you use anything for pain after their shots , make it motrin she says anything else increases the risk. i know i don't make alot of sense because i am not using the right terms for everything but she emails me everyday with tons of info of it, she spends thousands of dollars a month trying to help her son it just breaks my heart because i believe that the shots do cause autism in some children again just my 2cents and i sure you will get plenty!

 

[PatMcDuck]

I work in a pedicatricians office. Get your shots, is all I can say. There is no evidence about the link with autism, none. It is the same age that autism symptoms are often picked up, a coincidence.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Just want to add in my 2 cents. If you are someone who is considering NOT vaccinating your child, please check with your local school systems. I know lots of children who have had issues getting into school because their parents chose not to vaccinate (unless you are not vaccinating for religious beliefs)

 

[java]

Just want to add in my 2 cents. If you are someone who is considering NOT vaccinating your child, please check with your local school systems. I know lots of children who have had issues getting into school because their parents chose not to vaccinate (unless you are not vaccinating for religious beliefs)

I was given the clear through the school system as a result of my dd's issue. But I have gotten my other children vaccinated. I do think it is important(hey look at that recent messles outbreak who would have thought that?) But I don't think the timeline that the doctors and your HMO want necessarily are the best way for your individual child. Which is why I mentioned the extra cost stuff. I found it unusual that to order mercury free I had to pay out of pocket for it. (then I was reimbursed partially by insurance- so clearly they do cost more)

 

[zgirl]

There is a ton of information on the internet about vaccinations and whether you vaccinate or not can be a highly debatable topic. Here is a link to some resources that I found through a google search - Vaccination Resources

Good luck making your decisions.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't have the concerns about the autism thing (though who knows if my boy has a mitochondrial condition that might react with the vaccines and cause autistic symptoms like the girl whose case was just lost by the vaccine people).

I do have concerns about screwing up an immune system by injecting junk into my kid's body, though. I would much prefer he get the illnesses themselves, b/c with an illness, as long as you have knowledge and find a doctor who has knowledge (rather than a doctor who skipped the classes b/c "everyone gets vaccines"), you've got a very good chance of the kid healing. If a kid has a vaccine reaction, they have it, can't really heal from it. Cost of vaccine outweighs the possible benefits to me.

Therefore, I cannot help ease your mind. But if your mama mind is having concerns, why ask for an eased mind? Why not look further?

I found the book written by the founder of this site was a wonderful place to start.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I have a daycare parent that works with autistic children, plus has two nieces that have it. She holds off the shots as long as she can, not before 18 months, and closer to two if I am not mistaken. She also does NOT let them have it if anything else is going on, cold, runny nose, etc.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I do a delayed vaccination schedule for ds (who is 2.5) and decided on that course of action after much research. (And please keep in mind that many links to sites that you'll get from people might not be impartial!)

I decided this NOT because I think vaccs cause autism, because I don't believe that. I do it because I don't see the sense in loading up kids with multiple vaccinations all at the same time. Yes, I believe in vaccines...but one at a time, please.

This is the recommended vacc schedule for my state, CT. Your state probably has something similar. I printed a copy and went in to discuss it with ds's pediatrician.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/coc/PDFs/immunization/immun_sched.pdf

Let's use the 6 mo recommendations for example: they said my 6 mo old should get a combined vacc shot for tetanus, diptheria and pertussis AND a Hib shot which protects again meningitis AND a pneumonia shot AND a rotovirus shot. Whew...I'm tired just thinking about all MY adult body processing all of that foreign 'stuff'...and to me it seems like it's no wonder that some children's bodies become overwhelmed and they have reactions. So we decided that he'd get the DTaP...and then 6 weeks later the Hib and then 6 weeks later the pneumonia, etc....giving his body time to adjust to each and to develop the appropriate antibodies to each. Over time he started to still be 'behind' in shots when the next major milestone appointment came up...I just made sure to be 'up' on what they'd be expecting to give him and let THEM know what his vacc schedule would be. I had some resistance from the nurses but I was backed my the ped and politely stood my ground.

 

[PiratesRock]

Was reading this post to my Sis-n-law because I knew she'd find it interesting. She said she's been watching shows on tv about the mmr and autism and that her understanding is that pushing it back greatly reduces the risk. Like a PP said, not at 12 months but more like 18-24 months.

I know this may sound like a lame comparison, but before I had my kids I had a beautiful Persian furbaby who I loved with all my heart. I got her all but 1 vaccination because I was in school and just couldn't afford it. At 4 years old she was diagnosed with an incurable disease (the one she wasn't vaccinated for) and eventually had to be put down because she was suffering. When I had my kids, I got them vaccinated.

It's still up to the parent to research and choose, this is just what I did and why.

 

[gillenkl]

As the parent of a child on the autism spectrum I will give my 2 cents. Given the chance again, I would still get my son immunized. I do not believe his autism was caused by the immunizations or in anyway a result of or related to the immunizations. That is my son, I know other parents of autistic children have had totally different experiences and I wouldn't want to minimize their thoughts or feelings on this issue.

 

[Ariel8676]

I think if you are unsure..wait. Do research and get as much info as possible, then make your decision.
We delay all of our girls' vax and don't do much before the age of 2..and would never give more than 1 at a visit.
You have a long time before you have to think about your DS going to school...take your time and don't let the docs rush you, tell them that you want to hold off for a bit...you're the parent, they can't make you stick to their schedule.

 

[Momtoredheads]

I actually just did a CE (cont. education) on this topic and there is NO correlation between the vaccine and autism. It seems as though there is a possible genetic link and lead and vaccines are not at all related. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[LanaJae]

I do have concerns about screwing up an immune system by injecting junk into my kid's body, though. I would much prefer he get the illnesses themselves, b/c with an illness, as long as you have knowledge and find a doctor who has knowledge (rather than a doctor who skipped the classes b/c "everyone gets vaccines"), you've got a very good chance of the kid healing. If a kid has a vaccine reaction, they have it, can't really heal from it. Cost of vaccine outweighs the possible benefits to me.

That's just it, how many doctor's know about immunology? I have an appt. for myself with an immunologist at the end of April. It's taken 2 years just to get the referral and 2 month for the appt.

It's all about antibodies. There are UK studies that show that autistic children have a higher level of MMR antibodies so they could be attacking self-tissue, in the same way autoimmune disease does. How do we know which child would retain more of the antibodies? We don't. A person could get their child HLA tested to find out which known disease they are pre-disposed to, but again, that would be more fearful, because it does not mean they will get them, it only means that it's a possibility based on their genetic makeup. There are families that have had one child with autism and then didn't vaccinate their other children, but some still developed autism.

Because of my own situation, I am concerned about introducing foreign antibodies from vaccinations in my children. My autoimmune problems started after receiving the hepatitis B series as an adult working in a healthcare facility. Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it. The risk of my getting hepatitis B was rare, my chances of being cured of it if I did get it were good. I was an idiot for not researching the hepatitis B vaccination and blindly accepting that it was something I "needed."

 

[momof3littlelilos]

I recommend reading Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives (Paperback) by Aviva Jill Romm.

It's a fair book, it gives advice for minimizing the potential side effects of vaccines if you choose to go that route. She head on addresses the issues many sceptics have with vaccinations, instead of dismissing them out of hand like many vaccine advocates do. I think reading it will make you feel more comfortable with whatever decision you make regarding vaccines.

I think thimerisol was supposed to have been removed from vaccines. While I'm not so worried about autism, I am concerned that there's a seeming correlation between rise in vaccinations and the rise in allergies, asthma, adhd and some other auto-immune disorders. I also think the medical community gives too much weight to the value of vaccines in preventing illness - indoor plumbing and improved diet are two other factors in the decrease in vaccine preventable diseases in this country.

 

[debbi801]

As the parent of a child on the autism spectrum I will give my 2 cents. Given the chance again, I would still get my son immunized. I do not believe his autism was caused by the immunizations or in anyway a result of or related to the immunizations. That is my son, I know other parents of autistic children have had totally different experiences and I wouldn't want to minimize their thoughts or feelings on this issue.

parking myself here. My 6 yr old DS has Asperger Syndrome. if I had it to do over again, I would still get him all his vaccines according to the pediatric schedule.