Vaccination Schedule Question - No Debates Please!

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Please don't turn this thread into a debate on whether or not to vaccinate.

Has anyone vaccinated their child on a schedule different than the state "recommended" 3 or 4 shots per visit? We have been researching and wish to space out Mason's vaccinations (but still have him fully vaxed). Dr. Sears has a spaced out schedule in his Vaccination book that suggests getting Measles, Mumps and Rubella as 3 separate shots spaced out over a couple of years instead of the bundled MMR at 12 months.

Our Pediatrician has been very critical of any questions we have had and basically told us that both Dr. Sears (father and son) and their books were "a bunch of nonsense". Our (soon to be ex) Ped also told us that in the US that they didn't have access to these "separate" shots and could ONLY administer the MMR.

I can't seem to find any information about this - does anyone know for sure if these shots can be administered separately?

 

[mom2aredhead]

I have heard of people splitting the MMR up, but have not done it myself. We have rescheduled some of them so that he did not get more than one vaccination at a time, and my ped never had a problem with it - probably because she makes me pay a $15 office visit co-pay for each one.

This is kind of a biggie - it's definitely something where you and the ped should be on the same page. Hope you're looking for a new one!

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I have several friends who've opted for an alternative vaccination schedule. It's entirely up to you. If your pediatrician is openly hostile and/or bashing your inquiries about a modified schedule, I would suggest you immediately find another provider. It's important to have your doctor be on the same page as you regarding care for your child.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't know on the MMR. I know we chose to get the MMR at 12 mos. and wait on the varicella until 15 mos. because if DS had a reaction I wouldn't know what he was reacting to. Our ped was fine with that. DS is 12, so I don't even know what the schedule is now.

I will say that single varicella shot at 15 mos wasn't that helpful because he got chicken pox anyway! I think they have added a booster at age 4, which might have made a difference for us.

 

[hmacmahony]

We split vax, all that can be split. We have split the MMR three times (three kids)
I will only give one shot per visit, and there are some we skip completly. I also don't start vaxing until at least 6 months old.
I apoligize if I don't know the name of the shot, we would not get it, there is a new combo vax out that you are supposed to get at the 2 month visit (and I think 4 month visit). I believe it has 5 or 6 different vaccines in it, plus they get at least 3 other shots at the same visit. So, you are shoving almost 10 different vaccines into your 2 month olds brand new body, it just doesn't sit right with me. So, we split them all, and slow it down.
I think vaxing is important, some of them are just plain silly, and we don't get them, but my kids have most of them.
Yes, they go to school, we just sign a waiver to get them into school.
GOod luck, be careful what you read, some sites are just so anti vax, it is hard to get a good solid background into vaxing.
Our ped, may not agree with how we vax, but he does what we want, and he does not grumble about it. He does not push us, or make us feel bad.
Do not beleive they can not split them up, tell them either you split up the shot, or we don't get it period. See how fast they find the single vaccanation!!
Good luck
Heidi

 

[nov02mom]

We've split the MMR and we're in the US. It's just more hassle for the doc's office so they try really hard to force you into accepting the single vax.
We VERY selectively vax. I've been lucky with our ped to not get too much crap.

Good luck!!!

(BTW- Dr. Sears (the son, not the dad) was at our LLL conference last yer speaking on The Vaccine Book. He was wonderful.)

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I have heard of people splitting the MMR up, but have not done it myself. We have rescheduled some of them so that he did not get more than one vaccination at a time, and my ped never had a problem with it - probably because she makes me pay a $15 office visit co-pay for each one.

This is kind of a biggie - it's definitely something where you and the ped should be on the same page. Hope you're looking for a new one!

YES we are shopping for a new Ped now - have an appointment with a new one tomorrow. Our soon-to-be-ex Ped told us that their practice is going to start refusing to see patients that don't vaccinate on schedule because it is just too much of a hassle. Nice, huh?

I don't know on the MMR. I know we chose to get the MMR at 12 mos. and wait on the varicella until 15 mos. because if DS had a reaction I wouldn't know what he was reacting to. Our ped was fine with that. DS is 12, so I don't even know what the schedule is now.

I will say that single varicella shot at 15 mos wasn't that helpful because he got chicken pox anyway! I think they have added a booster at age 4, which might have made a difference for us.

DD9 had the single varicella shot and got chicken pox anyway but a less severe case. They now recommend a varicella booster. The MMR is the one that concerns me the most though.

We've split the MMR and we're in the US. It's just more hassle for the doc's office so they try really hard to force you into accepting the single vax.
We VERY selectively vax. I've been lucky with our ped to not get too much crap.

Good luck!!!

(BTW- Dr. Sears (the son, not the dad) was at our LLL conference last yer speaking on The Vaccine Book. He was wonderful.)

I love Dr. Sears (both of them) and we are big fans of Attachment Parenting. I honestly thought about calling LLL to see which Peds in this area they would recommend. Maybe I should do that!

Thanks everyone for the input and advice. I really do appreciate it.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Yes we have. My 7 year old never got the Prevnar. We didn't give him the hep B shot at birth...we also spaced out other shots, not getting alot at once. He did get the MMR the way it was supposed to be. Our pediatrician was supportive..except for the Prevnar. We have a group of ped, and a few of them really pushed for it. I was like, I have 3 other children that have survived nicely without this shot...it is too new, he will be fine without it!!

Do what YOU think is best for your child!!

 

[amarberry]

We are delaying and selectively vaccinating DS. He is 8 months old and has had 1 prevnar, 2 HIB, 1 Dtap, and 1 polio. The vax have been spaced at least a month apart. He'll get his 2nd Dtap at his 9 month appointment. We're not planning to continue with prevnar at this point. Our ped. is tolerant of our decision, but I wouldn't say that she is supportive, although she personally doesn't recommend the rotavirus vax for non-daycare kids and felt no need for us to continue with prevnar at this point if we didn't want to. I did have to sign a release saying that we were going against medical advice by not fully vaccinating our child which I understand. I feel very comfortable with the decisions that we have made, but understand her need to legally protect herself.

My understanding is that the resistance from ped's about breaking up MMR is that most ped's don't carry the seperate shots. I have heard that they are hesitant to accomodate because they have to order the shots in lots of 10 and are worried that the shots will go to waste at great expense to them. We did not want to use the Dtap carried by our ped because she used the one with the highest aluminum content, so I had to hunt down and finally beg my pharmacy to special order the Dtap that we wanted. I'm pretty friendly with the pharmacist who basically said he would order it for me, but asked me to see if anyone else had it first because he figured that he would be stuck with a bunch of Dtap vaccinations that no one (but me) would want.

I love the Dr. Sears' and think they make so much sense with what they advocate. The Vaccine Book was published about a month after my son was born and it has really solidified and confirmed what my gut was telling me about the vaccination issue. I absolutely do not feel that I am "anti-vaccine", but I do not agree with the way vaccinations are administered.

 

[amarberry]

I forgot to mention that the vaccine area of the Dr. Sears website had a listing of ped's who are open to delay/selective vax and non vax families. You might want to see if there is anyone on the list in your area.

 

[Jaxs27]

We are seperating MMR and we chose to wait until at least 15 months to start them. My doctor said it was no problem. Find a different Ped.

 

[two-foxes]

I am having an impossible time finding the MMR separated. Our doc says their offices don't carry them separate. I called our county health dept...same deal....I wonder if it is our state, county or what? Although I am fairly convinced the MMR vaccine is relatively safe in most circumstances, I would still LOVE to find just a plain old shot for measels, one for mumps and one for reubella. What gives on that?

Other than that, I have spread the vaccinations out on DS by weeks. Not as drastic as others have posted, but I will only let him get one shot every two weeks, knowing that at times, he would be getting more than one vaccine in a shot. My doc was more than happy to do that, he just stated they really push them all in one visit because "you should never miss the chance to vaccinate a child."

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I forgot to mention that the vaccine area of the Dr. Sears website had a listing of ped's who are open to delay/selective vax and non vax families. You might want to see if there is anyone on the list in your area.

Thanks for the info!

Just checked and there aren't any listed in my state (Maryland) or the one bordering us (Delaware).

 

[amarberry]

Thanks for the info!

Just checked and there aren't any listed in my state (Maryland) or the one bordering us (Delaware).

Keep checking back because that forum and section of the Sears website is pretty new.

Another place to check is the "Finding Your Tribe" forums at mothering.com. Mothering.com can be a rather...how do I say this nicely..."intense" place, but I have found a lot of helpful information there (even if you don't agree with everything that is advocated there).

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I have refused getting the chicken pox and flu shots for both my girls, but have gotten everything else at the correct time - I never really thought you could say no to them. Truthfully, in my mind.... what if you say, don't get the hep b shot, like someone said on here, and god forbid, something happens, and the baby gets it.... I don't know, maybe I'm just playing devils advocit, but I can't do that. Now chicken pox (to me) is a different story. I know they say that something like 100 or 1000 people die from that every year, but I think those are very extreem cases. I do agree that little bodies don't need all that stuff in them at once, however, Drs and nurses have been doing this for many many years, and they probally know more about it than me. Having said that, you still have the right to your questions and opinions.

PS - I will getting my yonger DDs chicken pox shot as soon as her next visit because I had to waist $20 going in for an extra visit for my older DD to get it due to the fact that they MUST have it no matter what for school.

 

[sandrajamrock]

ClarabelleCowFan -
I have found that going to a naturopathic doctor /and or chiropractor for vaccinations has been helpful.(I must say that I have never really been into naturopath stuff). My Naturopath doctor was willing to order the single doses for me, however sometimes they can only be ordered in a large quantity, and that can be a problem if it's just you. If thats the case then perhaps you can talk amongst your friends to see if they are interested in the single doses as well and you can split the cost that way.

I have found this paticular site useful in finding pharmacies that you or your doctor can order single doses from...hope this helps!

By the way im new ! Hello everyone!

autism.com/ari/faq/faq_vaccinations
hopewellrx.com
wellnesshealth.com

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Keep checking back because that forum and section of the Sears website is pretty new.

Another place to check is the "Finding Your Tribe" forums at mothering.com. Mothering.com can be a rather...how do I say this nicely..."intense" place, but I have found a lot of helpful information there (even if you don't agree with everything that is advocated there).

Thanks. I know what you mean. I'll be sure to check those forums as well. I'd be happy for a Pediatrician that would at least discuss the issues with us without immediately jumping on the defensive.

ClarabelleCowFan -
I have found that going to a naturopathic doctor /and or chiropractor for vaccinations has been helpful.(I must say that I have never really been into naturopath stuff). My Naturopath doctor was willing to order the single doses for me, however sometimes they can only be ordered in a large quantity, and that can be a problem if it's just you. If thats the case then perhaps you can talk amongst your friends to see if they are interested in the single doses as well and you can split the cost that way.

I have found this paticular site useful in finding pharmacies that you or your doctor can order single doses from...hope this helps!

By the way im new ! Hello everyone!

autism.com/ari/faq/faq_vaccinations
hopewellrx.com
wellnesshealth.com

Welcome to the DIS!

Thanks for the information and links. I will be checking those out. I know we have been on the autism site before when we were doing our online research.

 

[Minniemouse07]

You should be able to find the specific information out on the Mothering boards...but there is a pharmacy in NJ that will order the separate M, M & R shots for you.

You can also contact Merck directly (they are the only ones that make the shots) and see what they say about ordering and availability.

FWIW, I looked into the separated shots for my selectively vaxed dd...but ended up skipping MMR altogether due to family medical history.

ETA: ...sorry, someone already posted the Hopewell Pharmacy information already!

 

[JoiseyMom]

I have refused getting the chicken pox and flu shots for both my girls, but have gotten everything else at the correct time - I never really thought you could say no to them. Truthfully, in my mind.... what if you say, don't get the hep b shot, like someone said on here, and god forbid, something happens, and the baby gets it.... I don't know, maybe I'm just playing devils advocit, but I can't do that. Now chicken pox (to me) is a different story. I know they say that something like 100 or 1000 people die from that every year, but I think those are very extreem cases. I do agree that little bodies don't need all that stuff in them at once, however, Drs and nurses have been doing this for many many years, and they probally know more about it than me. Having said that, you still have the right to your questions and opinions.

PS - I will getting my yonger DDs chicken pox shot as soon as her next visit because I had to waist $20 going in for an extra visit for my older DD to get it due to the fact that they MUST have it no matter what for school.

Ummm..not for nothing, but hep b is transmitted through sexual contact and blood, not much chance for a child to get that...which is why I didn't have my new born infant get that shot. I did however, make sure my DS's when they were 18 get that shot, that was not available when they were kids. But since they were sexually active they were at risk.

On the other hand, my 2 youngest get the flu shots every year, and they did get the chicken pox vaccine. Heck, I would have been first on line for that shot, if my older boys didn't get it and give it to me in my 30's.

I understand you want to play devil's advocate, but your child has a hugh risk of getting the chicken pox and the flu and practically no chance of hep b. And the chicken pox is HORRIBLE...it really is bad, and I so wish the vaccine came out years before it did!!

 

[holly7347]

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bo...=&ATH=stephanie+cave&WRD=&PRC=&FMT=&AGE=&CID=

I based my DD's delayed schedule loosely on the schedule in the book I linked above. I did make a few minor modifications. But my main priorities were delaying any vaxinations until they were 6 months old and from that point on never getting them vaxinated for more than 2 diseases at one time. So at times that did mean splitting up things like MMR which is for 3 diseases and extra visits to the dr. office. But they let me schedule them as nurse visits and I didn't have to pay a co-pay since insurance fully covered vaxinations and we didn't see the dr. If I had another child I would delay again in a heartbeat.