OT: ease my mind about immunizations!

[MinnieVanMom]

I didn't get DS immunized and guess what? He has autism. Ironic.

 

[chipscinderelly]

For anyone who did the delayed schedule do your children attend day care? I'm concerned that if we would decide to go with a delayed schedule that the fact our child will be in daycare will prevent us from doing so (the delayed shots)?

 

[mickey'sbud]

I believe immunizations have caused autism in many children.
So I say, do what your gut tells you, not what anyone else tells you. Hold to your decision. Others may make you feel really stupid for your concern and desire to wait.....so what? It's not their child. It may be a doctor, friend, or a relative. You have been given the God given duty to raise your child and when/how to make decisions. Follow your gut....believe me your gut will inform you of many things about your child as your child gets older. It's called mother's intuition. ALWAYS follow your gut.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

My daughters are 9 and 7 now, and I made the pediatrician break all the shots up. Some pediatricians won't do it; we have what I consider to be an exceptionally open minded and understanding one who was willing to go through it. My friend's ped claimed you can't get the shots separately, but that wasn't our experience.

Seriously, I think it was like 8 different shots over the course of a year. I didn't want to over tax /over stimulate their immune systems by asking their systems to create antibodies to 8 or 9 different pathogens at once.

The doc really didn't mind, it was $20 every time I brought them in for an office visit to get the shots

Let me add that I do not agree with not having your child immunized. My children did NOT go through 8 shots a year over several years so your kid can get a free ride disease wise.

 

[rluey29]

Thanks to all for the different views on this subject. For some reason, I have always had a bad feeling about the vaccinations with this second child. I have questioned the doctor so many times that I feel like he's annoyed at me. Even though my baby has gotten his 2month, 4month, and 6 month shots, I have literally cringed and been sick to my stomach the rest of the day after each round. It is alot of shots for such little bodies!

Can someone tell me more about spacing the shots out? His 1 year shots will be in a month.

Thanks again.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

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. .

You do know that a lot of the diseases that our children are vaccinated for will KILL them otherwise????

 

[Bren's Mom]

For anyone who did the delayed schedule do your children attend day care? I'm concerned that if we would decide to go with a delayed schedule that the fact our child will be in daycare will prevent us from doing so (the delayed shots)?

My son has been in a state licensed home daycare since 8 weeks. As long as I get the regular state form that must be signed by the Dr's office I'm all set. The Dr's office is ok with signing off because I'm not refusing vaccs, just delaying. And neither the daycare provider, nor the state daycare people, would have any clue what they were looking for even if they DID look at the form closely! LOL I sincerely doubt that they would have memorized the recommended vacc schedule for our state.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We have a waiver by the health dept director in leiu of the vaccinations. It is required to have proof or a waiver.

 

[JennsBabySky]

Based on some of the more recent studies that suggest a microbiological link (i.e. bacterial) between autism and late onset, I'm much more concerned about used clothing, toys, and equipment. If indeed there is a correlation between the bacterial spores and qutism, anything short of autoclaving (high heat and pressure) will not destroy the spores.

Personally, I feel that the immunization theory has been proven incorrect and that the odds are higher that there will be other complications by not vaccinating (maybe not for individual children, but more for the population at large by not having the majority of the population vaccinated).

It is a good question though and I think one day we'll find that there are a number of contributing factors. That is likely what makes finding the cause so difficult, it isn't a simple cause and effect.

Good luck with your decision,
Jennifer

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

You do know that a lot of the diseases that our children are vaccinated for will KILL them otherwise????

I totally agree with your response. What happens if an unvaccinated child comes down with an illness and is in the classroom with my vaccinated child? From my understanding, vaccines are not 100% effective, but still the best alternative to getting a deadly disease. If we have the technology to eradicate a disease, why not use it? If we don't, isn't that an epidemic? I don't fully understand the vaccine and autism debate. Myself, my peers, and most of the people in my generation (and before me) all got fully vaccinated. And autism is not prevalent in our age bracket. We got the same vaccines? In fact, we got the ones with mercury. So what is it then?

 

[irish_trip_mom]

I am the parent of two sons with autism, and they are both fully vaccinated.

Thimerisol was removed from vaccines before they were born (although some still have trace amts and there is the possibility that there were old vials on shelves used.) But they did have flu shots at 27 months that did contain thimerisol. They have not had a flu shot since, and neither have I. Is that what caused the autism? Who knows. My mission now is to work hard to bring them to their fullest potential in life, the same thing I do with their neurotypical sister.

I believe in the purpose of vaccines, and I have said this before, I will never tell another person what to do, but to educate themselves on the benefits and risks involved with anything you put into your body and make your own decisions. This has been a heated topic on another group I am in, and one person recommended "What your doctor may not tell you about children's
vaccinations" by Stephanie Cave . I have not read this personally, but it looks very interesting. I am currently reading "Evidence of Harm" by David Kirby.

Best of luck with your decision.

 

[Minniemouse07]

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.

There has never been a full out study comparing vaccinated children against those that are fully NOT vaccinated.

There are correlational studies that have looked at statistics which stated that they couldn't show a correlation between thimerisol (not vaccination) and autism... but that they couldn't rule it out.

Until a full out study comparing vaxed vs non vaxed children (that means not even w/ "just the additives" which is how current safety studies are done) is conducted, the theory that vaccines are connected to autism will not rest.

There are US Congressmen and women currently trying to make sure this study happens, but it isn't a reality yet.

I should add that the MMR vaccine has never had thimerisol in it. Thimerisol is a preservative and the MMR vaccine contains a "live" virus and cannot have preservatives.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I totally agree with your response. What happens if an unvaccinated child comes down with an illness and is in the classroom with my vaccinated child? From my understanding, vaccines are not 100% effective, but still the best alternative to getting a deadly disease. If we have the technology to eradicate a disease, why not use it? If we don't, isn't that an epidemic? I don't fully understand the vaccine and autism debate. Myself, my peers, and most of the people in my generation (and before me) all got fully vaccinated. And autism is not prevalent in our age bracket. We got the same vaccines? In fact, we got the ones with mercury. So what is it then?

Actually, the numbers of vaccines the CDC and AAP insist that children must get has increased from 23 doses of 7 vaccines to 48 doses of 14 vaccines by age six. That is way more vaccines than you or your friends received.

Most of these vaccines were added to the schedule without any large, credible studies proving it is safe for all children.

For example: The Hep B vaccine was tested on children 5+ in safety trials and then added to the schedule for newborns before they left the hospital. All those babies that have received the vaccine since then have basically been their own safety trial!

There are other examples too numerous to mention here.

Another point...which vaccine preventable diseases are "deadly" to a healthy child w/ a good diet and hygiene? If you look at the small percentage of children that would even GET the disease, then take out the even smaller percentage of those that may have a "complication" from it, then look at the even more miniscule percentage of THOSE that would have to be hospitalized.. and then the even smaller percentage of THOSE children my die... you will find that when compared to the very large percentage of children that suffer from reactions from their vaccinations, vaccinations are more deadly than the disease.

We selectively vaccinated my dd (now almost 7yo) until she came down w/ pertussis (whooping cough) at 4.5yo. She was fully vaccinated for it. Dd coughed for two months and that was it. She didn't give it to anyone (enrolled at daycare at the time...noone else there had it at all), she wasn't "sick" other than a persistant cough...she was actually just fine. Whooping cough is only "deadly" to those that are immune compromised where they then contract secondary infections (bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.)...whooping cough itself is NOT "deadly."

I refuse to expose my children to vaccines that "may" protect them from a disease that was NOT dangerous, but could cause serious reactions that could harm my children. With each dose of her DTaP vaccine she reacted more severely. I won't put my son through that and I won't play russian roulette w/ my children.

It is my job to keep MY children safe. It is NOT my job to keep everyone else's children safe.

I did my homework, read everything I could get my hands on, spoke w/ multiple medical professionals and then dh and I weighed the benefits and risks. For us keeping our children safe means not vaccinating them.

 

[Minniemouse07]

If anyone is second guessing giving their child scheduled vaccinations...just postpone them.

This will give you more time to gather and evaluate information and feel better about whatever decision you arrive at. Once you give a vaccine, you can't take it back, so waiting isn't a bad thing.

Also, every state in the US allows medical exemptions for school (they must come from a dr though), all but two states allow religious exemptions, and many states allow philosophical exemptions.

Don't assume that your child needs vaccinations for entry to school until you do your research. Additionally, the required vaccinations for school are generally LESS than those recommended by the AAP/CDC so compare the two if you are interested in selectively vaxing or only vaxing for school entry.

HTH!

 

[jodifla]

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpa...32A15750C0A96E9C8B63&scp=2&sq=Vaccines&st=nyt

This is a New York Times story on parents deciding not to vaccinate.

Rising Public Health Risk Seen As More Parents Reject Vaccines

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER; GARDINER HARRIS CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON.
Published: March 21, 2008

In a highly unusual outbreak of measles here last month, 12 children fell ill; nine of them had not been inoculated against the virus because their parents objected, and the other three were too young to receive vaccines.


You'll see in the story states are cracking down on those not vaccinating, and if you follow the letter trail, you'll see lots of anger toward those not vaccinating.

 

[mamalle]

you have to do what you feel is right. Im sorry but this is a topic that no parent can agree on. everyone has their opinion or story. I agree with vaccinations. I medicated my children with infant tylenol and as they got older infant motrin and spaced them out. Mine had no reactions at all. Its probably the nurse in me but I prefer my kids to be vaccinated.

 

[SandrainNC]

I always think of it like this. These diseases still occur in other countries. They are one airplane ride away. My children received their shots.

Sandra

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Thanks to all for the different views on this subject. For some reason, I have always had a bad feeling about the vaccinations with this second child. I have questioned the doctor so many times that I feel like he's annoyed at me. Even though my baby has gotten his 2month, 4month, and 6 month shots, I have literally cringed and been sick to my stomach the rest of the day after each round. It is alot of shots for such little bodies!

Can someone tell me more about spacing the shots out? His 1 year shots will be in a month.

Thanks again.

Mine was pretty unscientific, really, I'd go in about once a month, when the last shot could no longer be seen or felt on their arms/butts and they had no symptoms (if any) from the shot.

Also never brought them in if they were fighting off/had/getting over a cold.


So, sometimes it was a month apart, sometimes several months. We finally got them all done, though, and they're up to date. For boosters I still will only do one at a time, however, and the same rules apply.

I figure if the kid is sick asking her to fight off whatever germ she's fighting off and on top of it make antibodies is a lot to ask...

Ask your doc to use a "shot blocker". Those things are THE COOLEST INVENTION EVER! Your kid literally cannot feel the shot-it's a little ring with pokey things on it that goes on the arm-it has a hole in it and you give the shot through it-the kid's body can't tell what's going on because it's sensory overload in that area-it makes getting shots a lot more pleasant for them.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I refuse to expose my children to vaccines that "may" protect them from a disease that was NOT dangerous, but could cause serious reactions that could harm my children. With each dose of her DTaP vaccine she reacted more severely. I won't put my son through that and I won't play russian roulette w/ my children.

It is my job to keep MY children safe. It is NOT my job to keep everyone else's children safe.

.

By vaccinating my children and accepting some of the risks associated with it, I am helping to keep YOUR children safe. I wish that you would do the same for my children.

 

[chris1gill]

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.

I'm a mother that developed adult onset Mito AFTER I had my youngest DD who is now 10. Both of my children have the gene but are healthy. We have always been careful since my diagnosis about their medications so as to not trigger the mito in any way we know possible.

Believe it or not, I did not get my diagnose until after both had vaccinations & even up until a few weeks ago with the press was I even made remotely aware the vaccinations could have triggered autism, or, mito with brain involvement, however you want to look at it... I'm lucky, this didn't happen with either of my kids, but I did not know about the genetic predisposition until 5 years ago & they are 10 & 13......

Having to do it over, at the very least I would have spread out each shot and given them at a later date than say age 1 or 2