Vaccination Schedule Question - No Debates Please!

[pigget74]

How???? MMR is a dead vaccine and has nothing to do with getting chicken pox. Mabye he/she was exposed at the doctor's office.



THAT'S GREAT!!!!!!(not that they have to get shots, but that they will be protected!)

Not sure how, but he sure had the textbook case of each - though mild it was. He had the rash all over his body with the measles and then the next week he had numerous pox spots. Called the Dr. about both and they documented it. He said it was rare, but did happen sometimes.

 

[kami2199]

kami2199 -
Just read your post regarding your daughter screaming after her Dtap vax, and wanted to let you know that I was concerned about the Dtap and looked into it after hearing many other parents talk about the "dtap cry or scream" ...so I looked it up and came up with this

mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=618983

dont know if the info is correct on the "encephalitic cry" but thought you might want to see what others are saying....hope this doesnt offend or scare you or any others ...im just another concerned parent trying to figure out what it safest for my child. I understand the importance of vaccinations , I just want to be informed of all of the complications that one may get when you choose a paticular vax. If I were to need an important surgery I would want to be informed of any complications thay may arise due to the surgery so why not be informed of complications due to vaccinations...? Just a thought...

Thank you for the link...I think what upset me the most was when I called and told the doctor (he could hear her in the background) he just said "it's normal, giver her tylenol and call if she doesn't stop by tomorrow" where all the info I had said to call immediately as this is an adverse reaction. I am at least 30 minutes from an ER so that was a big concern of mine. Then at the visit I find out that he didn't even document it in her chart. That honked me off. It seems like I read somewhere that these reactions are supposed to be reported yet he didn't bother to even record it in her chart. My old ped (who died a few years ago) would have been on the phone with me the next morning at the very least. Oh man I miss him.

Hey Kel - glad Mason liked the new ped. Find me one will ya? Oh - I did find out about someone close offering just the DT so we'll look into that once we make the decision how to move forward. Busy day with recital tomorrow so I'll email you soon!

ETA and Off Topic but how do I get rid of the Halloween bouncing head you gave me??? Or do I just leave it until next Halloween??? LOL

 

[Ariel8676]

UPDATE - we went to interview a new Pediatrician today (recommended by a neighbor) and DH and I both really liked her. She is pretty young and very soft spoken. Mason warmed up to her immediately too.

She said she has no problem with having a delayed vax schedule and even acknowledged that MMR is the one that worries parents the most. She recommended giving Mason the MMR at 24 months instead of at 12 months. She also confirmed what a PP stated about the individual vax for MMR no longer being readily available. She also made it very clear that she strongly recommends vaccinations BUT that she respects the parent's decisions about this issue and just makes sure that she passes on the information she has and doesn't try to force the issue if the parents are set against it.

We discussed our other concerns with her about scheduling appointments, her on call policy and how her practice handles sick calls and after hours calls. We liked all of her answers and she took plenty of time with us even though we knew she had patients after us. She also answered our questions about Mason's recurrent ear infections and recommended that we see an ENT if we were really concerned about it.

The entire staff was very nice and kept telling us that they hoped we chose their practice. I think we have found our new Ped!

That is so great that you found someone that you all like, and that understands you feelings!!!!!
About the ear infections..have you ever tried cutting out ALL dairy products??? My oldest has a dairy allergy( and had a ton of ear infections as a baby, and all 3 of mine were breastfed babies) and we suspected the same in our 5 and 2 yo...my 5 yo has been congested and has Asthma since she was born..we cut out ALL dairy (which is SOOOO hard for little kids) and guess what, The eczema is GONE, the congestion GONE and the Asthma...the only time she has a problem now is when she runs around too much!!!!! NOt saying this might be the poblem, but it might be something to bring up to the doc... Good Luck!!!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

That is so great that you found someone that you all like, and that understands you feelings!!!!!
About the ear infections..have you ever tried cutting out ALL dairy products??? My oldest has a dairy allergy( and had a ton of ear infections as a baby, and all 3 of mine were breastfed babies) and we suspected the same in our 5 and 2 yo...my 5 yo has been congested and has Asthma since she was born..we cut out ALL dairy (which is SOOOO hard for little kids) and guess what, The eczema is GONE, the congestion GONE and the Asthma...the only time she has a problem now is when she runs around too much!!!!! NOt saying this might be the poblem, but it might be something to bring up to the doc... Good Luck!!!

Wow. Guess I'll have to try that. He didn't really have any dairy products until he hit 12 months (about 3 weeks ago) and has been breastfed and supplemented with a hypoallergenic formula Alimentum. I'm not sure if the Alimentum is derived from dairy or not but I'll try anything to help this poor baby. Those ear infections are no fun!

Kami - go to "user cp" then "edit signature" and delete what is there and your magical bouncy pumpkin will disappear.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

 

[maymom96]

We don't vaccine our children (6 & 12). I have had the best experience using a family practice doctor instead of a ped. The kids used to go to a ped but he told me I had to vaccinate the kids or leave his practice. So we left and have never looked back.
Our family practice doctor is wonderful. He will ask me if we will be doing shots when the kids go for their yearly checkup. All I have to say is no and the matter is dropped. Plus it's nice that the whole family can be seen by the same doctor. So my first suggestion is to check out family practice doctors also if you want to do a different schedule for vaccinating.
My next suggestion is to check around for East Meets West type of doctors. We have one who will prescribe traditional medication or will treat you with alternative treatments. It's up to the patient. Since this doctor uses both styles, they do have the single dose vaccinations.
Another option is to call chiropractors and ask if they can suggest a M.D who would be willing to order the single dose vaccines.
Good luck!!

 

[Sandy321]

Thank you for the link...I think what upset me the most was when I called and told the doctor (he could hear her in the background) he just said "it's normal, giver her tylenol and call if she doesn't stop by tomorrow" where all the info I had said to call immediately as this is an adverse reaction. I am at least 30 minutes from an ER so that was a big concern of mine. Then at the visit I find out that he didn't even document it in her chart. That honked me off. It seems like I read somewhere that these reactions are supposed to be reported yet he didn't bother to even record it in her chart. My old ped (who died a few years ago) would have been on the phone with me the next morning at the very least. Oh man I miss him.

Hey Kel - glad Mason liked the new ped. Find me one will ya? Oh - I did find out about someone close offering just the DT so we'll look into that once we make the decision how to move forward. Busy day with recital tomorrow so I'll email you soon!

ETA and Off Topic but how do I get rid of the Halloween bouncing head you gave me??? Or do I just leave it until next Halloween??? LOL

Just wanted to jump in - I'm an "OLD" mom!! ( My ds's are 22, and 21 yrs now) But I too was a Dr Sears reader, etc... there are so many many vax now then back in the "old days" I commend all of you for doing your research, and following the "mama instinct"

I know how hard it is to change doctors!! Follow your "mama instinct"

I know how hard it is to stand up and ask for the vax schedule to fit your "mama instinct"

Back in my day there was so much concern over the DPT shot - (now I see its the MMR!) the book that gave me the info I needed was "A Shot in the Dark" not sure if it will help anyone - but I so got a red flag signal from your post Kami and just wanted to offer support, and

you may not want to read a Shot in the Dark, it may not even be available at the Library - but you are having a red flag, a 'mama instinct' - go with it!! The book talks about people that have reactions do not use the "P" part of the Dpt shot - granted that was a few years ago... things may have changed...

 

[maymom96]

Thank you for the link...I think what upset me the most was when I called and told the doctor (he could hear her in the background) he just said "it's normal, giver her tylenol and call if she doesn't stop by tomorrow" where all the info I had said to call immediately as this is an adverse reaction. I am at least 30 minutes from an ER so that was a big concern of mine. Then at the visit I find out that he didn't even document it in her chart. That honked me off. It seems like I read somewhere that these reactions are supposed to be reported yet he didn't bother to even record it in her chart. My old ped (who died a few years ago) would have been on the phone with me the next morning at the very least. Oh man I miss him.

My 12 year old has not been vaccinated since he was a few years old. I never wanted to vaccinate him but I was young and did what everyone told me to do. When he was 18 months old, the ped convinced me that my child had to get the chicken pox and flu vaccine. He had a severe reaction that no one took serious.
First he quit walking because his leg hurt. The doctor thought he broke his leg. The X-Rays came back normal. Then he started breaking out in a whole body rash. I was accused of taking my son out in the snow, letting his clothes get wet and never changing the clothes. Then the rash turned into what looked like someone put cigarettes out all over his little body.
The doctor did blood tests and something in his blood came back 10X higher than normal. I was instructed to rush him to the children's hospital 2 hours away. The doctor thought my son had e-coli. At the children's hospital, they looked at my son and said "He's having a reaction to a vaccine. He'll be fine in a few days." Nothing was reported and everything was swept under the rug.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Just wanted to jump in - I'm an "OLD" mom!! ( My ds's are 22, and 21 yrs now) But I too was a Dr Sears reader, etc... there are so many many vax now then back in the "old days" I commend all of you for doing your research, and following the "mama instinct"

I know how hard it is to change doctors!! Follow your "mama instinct"

I know how hard it is to stand up and ask for the vax schedule to fit your "mama instinct"

Back in my day there was so much concern over the DPT shot - (now I see its the MMR!) the book that gave me the info I needed was "A Shot in the Dark" not sure if it will help anyone - but I so got a red flag signal from your post Kami and just wanted to offer support, and

you may not want to read a Shot in the Dark, it may not even be available at the Library - but you are having a red flag, a 'mama instinct' - go with it!! The book talks about people that have reactions do not use the "P" part of the Dpt shot - granted that was a few years ago... things may have changed...

You are so right - it was the DTP shot that used to be the scary one.

My DD14 had a reaction to the DTP shot. They have now revamped the shot and it is DTaP so the Pertussis is no longer a live virus but acellular (thus the "a").

I also agree about trusting the "mama instinct". When DD9 was a week old she wasn't acting right - very lethargic and not eating and I just knew something was wrong. I took her to the after hours Pediatric clinic where a young Dr criticized me for bringing her in and telling me that "babies sleep alot". I insisted they run tests on her and wouldn't leave until they did. Doogie Howser hopped up on the exam table and was swinging his legs back and forth and was telling me that he COULD run blood tests but it would HURT the baby. I looked him square in the eye and told him to run the tests.

Well Doogie was singing a different tune when the bloodwork came back and her white cell count was through the roof. He called DD's Ped at home who promptly had DD admitted to the hospital where she stayed for a week with a raging infection.

If I had not trusted my gut and stood up to the Dr then I would have gone home and no telling what would have happened. Gives me chills to think about it.

 

[Chelley00]

I'm so glad you found a pediatrician that is listening to your wishes. We delayed our younger kids vaccinations, but still had them vaccinated. Our first ped was totally against delaying (he also told me that my son was failure to thrive because my breastmilk was lacking - the new ped took him off the biliblanket for jaudice and he gained 5 oz in one week!!!) We've had great luck with the new ped and have been seeing her for 3 years now. Sometimes doctors are not a good fit for a parenting style, and you just have to keep searching until you find one you like and trust, and who listens to you.

 

[princessmom29]

Wow. Guess I'll have to try that. He didn't really have any dairy products until he hit 12 months (about 3 weeks ago) and has been breastfed and supplemented with a hypoallergenic formula Alimentum. I'm not sure if the Alimentum is derived from dairy or not but I'll try anything to help this poor baby. Those ear infections are no fun!

Kami - go to "user cp" then "edit signature" and delete what is there and your magical bouncy pumpkin will disappear.

Thanks to everyone for the input.

We used alimentum and it was not milk based. DD had dairy allergies. It is corn based. I did not produce breast milk and it took a month to find the right formula.

 

[Aristomommy]

I have DD9 and DS3. DD9 has had all vaccinations on time and had a reaction to one vaccine around 6 yo, but I am not sure if it's from bad injection technique or the vaccine itself.

DS3 has been vaccinated but at a slower pace than recommended. The first time he was wheezing and Dr didn't recommend it. He has been ill and seeing an Allergist to figure out things and we are looking at putting tubes in his ears. I am not willing to vaccinate him while he is having an allergic reaction and our Dr isn't pushing the issue. I also wonder about the possible (although not proven) link with autism and since DS had some sensory/high sensitivities, I wonder if he would be one affected.

I will get his next series of vaccinations (I think they are his 2 year shots) before preschool starts, I hope they don't give me a hard time that he is delayed vaccinated.

 

[Ashley Kees]

We always do the recommended, but I know you can get separate ones. Be aware that you will run up more office visits, and therefore more copays that way.

Raise your child the way you need to, and find a doc that will support you. He's not the parent.

 

[Lily & Giny's Mom]

A good resource for any questions related to vaccines is "The Pink BooK" or Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. There is an online version you can access for free. This publication cites statistic from the Center for Disease Control. The actual #'s for adverse reactions etc. are given. I did a great deal of research when I had my first child and was unable to locate the true #'s regarding vaccines elsewhere. The most important thing to remember is that this is your child and you have to make the decisions regarding his or her care. His or her life & well being is not as important to anyone else regardless of their accumulated degrees. Educate yourself and make rational choices. Good Luck!!