Vaccinations

[TinkerbellMama]

I know this can become a heated debate but that is not my intent and I hope we can keep this civil. I truly believe that this decision is a personal one and I would never judge someone for what they have researched and chosen.

With that said, I am very concerned about the "possible" connection between vaccines and autism. I am just starting to research and I'm hoping that fellow DISers can point me in the right direction of non biased information. I'm looking into possibly delaying some of the vaccines and breaking them up instead of lumping them together. After talking with one of my clients, a pediatric nurse, that was her suggestion. Has anyone done this or have any recommendations? Any info would be appreciated

I would highly recommend www.nvic.org ...it's an excellent, fact-based site that doesn't say "do" or "don't" but rather gives you the information you need to make a well-informed decision. I applaud your diligence in researching these topics while pregnant. It is always impressive to me when I see a mama doing a great job, and you already are!
For the record, my son is completely unvaccinated and we have had no problems whatsoever. He hasn't even had a sick visit to the pediatrician, and he will be 3 in a month and a half. Anecdotal, I know, but I thought it might offer some reassurance to those who choose not to vax!
Good luck with your decision!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

This is a Money Magazine article that came out before I had DS (so 11 years ago) the information is valid though.

http://www.vaccinationnews.com/DailyNews/May2001/MoneyMag.htm

We have chosen to not vaccinate at all with the exception of tetanus when needed due to injury.

I have some information for you regarding the tetanus shot. Basically, it is not effective to prevent tetanus when administered AFTER an injury. The correct course would be antibiotics if a wound is high-risk for tetanus, but in reality a good hygiene regimen can prevent most cases. The highest risk is to young children, the elderly, and those living in rural Southern areas, where tetanus is more prevalent in the soil. Hope this helps someone!
Oh, and of interest to you may be the advice of my son's pediatrician. He is pro-vax but very respectful of our decision not to vax our son. I asked him (just out of curiosity) which vaccine he would say is most important for a young child, and he said he would choose tetanus if he had to pick only one. However, due to the way in which the vaccine works, it would have to be administered well prior to any infection to make a difference. I have links and articles available if you are interested! Just PM me!

 

[TinkInPink]

Young Mother: We're not vaccinating.
Dr. Gregory House: Think they don't work?
Young Mother: I think some multinational pharmaceutical company wants me to think they work. Pad their bottom line.
Dr. Gregory House: Mmmm. May I?
[he takes the baby's frog and starts to do a gribbit noise with the baby]
Young Mother: Sure.
Dr. Gregory House: Gribbit, gribbit, gribbit.
Dr. Gregory House: All natural, no dyes. That's a good business - all-natural children's toys. Those toy companies, they don't arbitrarily mark up their frogs. They don't lie about how much they spend in research and development. The worst a toy company can be accused of is making a really boring frog. Gribbit, gribbit, gribbit. You know another really good business? Teeny tiny baby coffins. You can get them in frog green or fire engine red. Really.
The antibodies in yummy mummy only protect the kid for six months, which is why these companies think they can gouge you. They think that you'll spend whatever they ask to keep your kid alive. Want to change things? Prove them wrong. A few hundred parents like you decide they'd rather let their kid die then cough up 40 bucks for a vaccination, believe me, prices will drop *really* fast.


The only reason we live in a world where children don't die from every day illnesses is due to vaccination. Personally if i were a mother, i would take the chances with a vaccine than let my child get and possibly die from (take your pick... polio, mumps, chicken pox, tetanus etc. )

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

I have some information for you regarding the tetanus shot. Basically, it is not effective to prevent tetanus when administered AFTER an injury. The correct course would be antibiotics if a wound is high-risk for tetanus, but in reality a good hygiene regimen can prevent most cases. The highest risk is to young children, the elderly, and those living in rural Southern areas, where tetanus is more prevalent in the soil. Hope this helps someone!
Oh, and of interest to you may be the advice of my son's pediatrician. He is pro-vax but very respectful of our decision not to vax our son. I asked him (just out of curiosity) which vaccine he would say is most important for a young child, and he said he would choose tetanus if he had to pick only one. However, due to the way in which the vaccine works, it would have to be administered well prior to any infection to make a difference. I have links and articles available if you are interested! Just PM me!

I'm good thanks!

We have a great pediatrician who doesn't vacinate her kids. She does recommend tetanus and we've taken every precaution when/if there is a reason to worry.

FWIW, her kids have had tetanus only and they travel the world, including third world countries. We LOVE our ped!

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

All three of my kids have had all of their vaccinations at the suggested times. They have also had hepA and Meningitis. They didn't have any reactions. Every person I know has had their kids vaccinated at the required times and none of them has autism.

I don't know if there is a connection or not. I just don't know anyone that has an autistic child.

 

[DISUNC]

Was there ever a study done on microwaving Baby food & Baby bottles????

There is just tooooo many kids with ADD, Autism..etc.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I'm good thanks!

We have a great pediatrician who doesn't vacinate her kids. She does recommend tetanus and we've taken every precaution when/if there is a reason to worry.

FWIW, her kids have had tetanus only and they travel the world, including third world countries. We LOVE our ped!

That's awesome! I misunderstood and thought you meant you would give tetanus following an injury, rather than having it administered prophylactically. My son has traveled quite a few places in his unvaxed state and fared well. I truly believe that vaccination short-circuits the natural immune system and makes kids less healthy, not moreso. We go international in 2010 (we've decided to wait until he's 5) and I promise to report back to the DIS about the vaccination issue!

 

[TinkInPink]

I think it is a real case of mis and over diagnosis. ie: hes hyper all of the time must be adhd, than anything else.

 

[TinkInPink]

.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Was there ever a study done on microwaving Baby food & Baby bottles????

There is just tooooo many kids with ADD, Autism..etc.

I think it's environmental, but I also think there is a connection between the amount of chemicals injected into our kids and fed to them. If you look at the number of vaccines that are given to our kids as compared to other countries it's astounding.

There is a thing floating around about higher use of ultrasound during pregnancy could have an effect too.

 

[JennaTX]

Both of my children have had all of their vaccinations. There seems to be so much information out there that points to different views, it is hard for a parent to make the right choice.

For me, I decided to have the vaccinations because of what could happen if they did not.

I think that it is your choice as a parent what you decide for your child.

But I was surprised that children can still go to public school without having their vaccinations.

 

[TinkInPink]

If you look at the number of vaccines that are given to our kids as compared to other countries it's astounding.

If you look at other countries child death rates compared to ours it astounding too.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

Ok, I have an honest question for those of you that are surprised that kids can go to school unvaccinated. Why are you surprised?

I've run into it with some friends of mine and I don't understand it.

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

If you look at other countries child death rates compared to ours it astounding too.

These are the countries with better infant mortality rates than the US, it's not that good.

164 New Caledonia 6.1
165 Cyprus 5.9
166 Brunei 5.5
167 Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) 5.2
168 Cuba 5.1
169 New Zealand 5.0
170 Portugal 5.0
171 Italy 5.0
172 Ireland 4.9
173 Canada 4.8
174 United Kingdom 4.8
175 Slovenia 4.8
176 Israel 4.7
177 Netherlands 4.7
178 Luxembourg 4.5
179 Australia 4.4
180 Austria 4.4
181 Denmark 4.4
182 Germany 4.3
183 Spain 4.2
184 France 4.2
185 Belgium 4.2
186 Korea, South 4.1
187 Switzerland 4.1
188 Czech Republic 3.8
189 Finland 3.7
190 Hong Kong 3.7
191 Norway 3.3
192 Sweden 3.2
193 Japan 3.2
194 Singapore 3.0
195 Iceland 2.9

 

[JennaTX]

Ok, I have an honest question for those of you that are surprised that kids can go to school unvaccinated. Why are you surprised?

I've run into it with some friends of mine and I don't understand it.

Well, all of the people that I know vaccinated their children.

Also, since I vaccinated my children, I never looked into how to go about getting my children into public schools if I did not.

From most of the information from the school it seemed as if the vaccinations were mandatory.

 

[staley7580]

I know in our school, there was a form that you could sign stating that you dont vac. for whatever reason.

 

[grlpwrd]

Our 5 kids have selective immunizations.

My dh's father (my FIL whom I never met because he died when my dh was 12yo due to a brain aneurism) had polio. There was no question that our kids would get that vaccine. We selectively immunized which means they either got only certain immunizations or it was given at different ages rather than the coomon way.

Yes, with a waiver public schools do allow enrollment without vaccinations. It gets to be bear when there is an epidemic, though, because they are not allowed to attend.

The public university I am transferring to also requires I have all my immunizations updated or for me to get a waiver. I had to submit a form and it is required. If I get a waiver, though, I am not allowed to attend class if there is an epidemic.

 

[MrsKreamer]

These are the countries with better infant mortality rates than the US, it's not that good.

164 New Caledonia 6.1
165 Cyprus 5.9
166 Brunei 5.5
167 Channel Islands (Jersey and Guernsey) 5.2
168 Cuba 5.1
169 New Zealand 5.0
170 Portugal 5.0
171 Italy 5.0
172 Ireland 4.9
173 Canada 4.8
174 United Kingdom 4.8
175 Slovenia 4.8
176 Israel 4.7
177 Netherlands 4.7
178 Luxembourg 4.5
179 Australia 4.4
180 Austria 4.4
181 Denmark 4.4
182 Germany 4.3
183 Spain 4.2
184 France 4.2
185 Belgium 4.2
186 Korea, South 4.1
187 Switzerland 4.1
188 Czech Republic 3.8
189 Finland 3.7
190 Hong Kong 3.7
191 Norway 3.3
192 Sweden 3.2
193 Japan 3.2
194 Singapore 3.0
195 Iceland 2.9

Most of these countries don't count children born prematurely or if the baby dies with in a few days and then dies. Here if a child is born...no matter what gestational age and then dies, it is considered part of the infant mortatility not a miscarriage.

 

[CEDmom]

Ok, I have an honest question for those of you that are surprised that kids can go to school unvaccinated. Why are you surprised?

I've run into it with some friends of mine and I don't understand it.

I stated my reason in an earlier post but here it is again. One of the reason for vaccinating is to protect the community. Vaccines aren't 100% effective and never have been. However, if EVERY child has them the likelihood of having an outbreak of measles, mumps, chicken pox is negligible. However, if out of 500 kids in a school 50 aren't vaccinated it really could take hold and put those who's vaccination didn't take hold at risk.

I just don't think parents should be able to have it both ways. If you don't want to vaccinate then your child shouldn't be allowed in a group setting for extended periods - i.e. school, community sports and art programs etc.

 

[TinkInPink]

^ ITA

what is going to happen when these unvaccinated kids get older and we start to have measles outbreaks and epidemics, people are going to say "they should have made us do it". this isn't some new radical procedure or technology, it has been around for hundreds of years and is a proven technology