Vaccinations

[Banshee]

Here's a great article on common misconceptions about vaccinations. I really agree with #4, and think it's the most important reason to vaccinate.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1029253486.html

4. Vaccine-preventable diseases have been virtually eliminated from the United States, so there is no further need for children to be vaccinated.
It's true that vaccination has enabled us to reduce most vaccine-preventable diseases to very low levels in the United States. However, some of them are still quite prevalent - even epidemic - in other parts of the world. Travelers can unknowingly bring these diseases into the United States, and if we were not protected by vaccinations these diseases could quickly spread throughout the population. At the same time, the relatively few cases we currently have in the US could very quickly become tens or hundreds of thousands of cases without the protection we get from vaccines.


Thank you ChrisnSteph. This is something that frighten's me. My children are all Vacinated but they are more spaced out and they only got 2 shot's per visit. My DD get's 1 shot per visit due to the fact she was born premature and from September to April she get's her Synergis shot monthly.

 

[kdibattista]

^ 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

Actually, some of these vaccines are very new on the market (and none of them hundreds of years) so forgive me if I want to actually research what you are injecting my child with. Last night I came across the fact that the DTap lists one of the potential adverse reactions as SIDS . Obviously, I need to look further into that one. Rotovirus may not be needed because I will, hopefully, be breastfeeding. I want to be able to weigh the risks vs. benefits of each one and do what I feel comfortable with. Sorry, but you telling me "this isn't some radical procedure" just doesn't cut it . I'm still in the early stages of research, which is what I why I'm looking for help.

1905 U.S. Supreme Court upholds state law mandating smallpox vaccinations

1906 to 1928 Vaccines against pertussis and diphtheria developed

1944 Pertussis vaccine recommended for universal use in infants

1947 DPT (tri-valent diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus) recommended by the AAP for routine use

1955 IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) licensed (was later modified in 1987)

1961 OPV (oral, live-virus polio vaccine) licensed

1963 Measles vaccine licensed

1959 to 1968 Quadrigen (DPT-IPV combo) used routinely [pulled off the market in1968 for safety and efficacy reasons]

1969 Rubella vaccine licensed

1971 MMR (tri-valent measles/mumps/rubella) licensed

1972 U.S. ended routine use of smallpox vaccine

1981 Japan licenses safer DPT vaccine, the acellular DTaP

1983 to 1985 first Hib (Hemophilus influenza B) vaccine (taken off the market in1985 for safety and efficacy reasons)

1986 Vaccine Injury Compensation Act passed

1986 recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine licensed

1987 Hib vaccine licensed

1988 Hib added to schedule

1988 Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Funded

1990 conjugate Hib vaccine licensed

1991 recombinant Hepatitis B recommended for all newborn infants and children

1993 DPTH (DPT-Hib combo) licensed

1995 Varicella licensed

1996 Dtap licensed; recommended for use instead of whole-cell DPT

1996 Hib-HepB combo licensed

1998 Lyme vaccine (Lymerix) licensed

early 1998 Rotavirus vaccine recommended by CDC for universal use in infants

Aug. 1998 Rotavirus vaccine licensed

Oct. 1999 Rotavirus vaccine pulled off the market due to significant adverse reactions

1999/2000 A Joint Statement by the U.S. Public Health Service, the AAFP, the AAP, and ACIP urging manufacturers to remove the preservative thimerosal as soon as possible from vaccines routinely recommended for infants.

2000 Prevnar (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) licensed

2000 CDC recommends use of IPV instead of OPV (polio vaccine)

2002 GSK pulled Lymerix off the market

2002 Pediarix (penta-valent DtaP/HepB/IPV) licensed

2002 CDC encourages flu vaccine for children

2003 Inhaled flu vaccine (Flumist) being reviewed for approval by the FDA

2003 Smallpox vaccine for first-responders

2007 Gardasil (HPV) vaccine licensed

2007 Menactra (meningitis vaccine) licensed

 

[Nikel]

The antibodies in yummy mummy only protect the kid for six months.......

Exactly what happens that magically changes breastmilk at 6 months?

Any doctor that uses scare tactics to convince me and/or talks down to me gets fired, period. I'm certainly willing to discuss things with our dr, but only if it's done in a respectful way.

 

[mjkacmom]

I only have one friend who refused to vaccinate her child. She is also my only friend with a child with autism. The symptoms of autism seem to appear around age 2, the same age a lot of vaccines are given. I personally think that it's not the vaccines. Years ago, there wasn't a condition called autism, or a condition called ADD/ADHD. One of the reasons why a greater percent of children are diagnosed with these conditions is because they now have a name for it. I have no problem with a parent delaying vaccines, if they are afraid they might cause autism, but I would rather my children attend school with children who have also been vaccinated.

 

[DMickey28]

My DS is vaccinated so far. For his six month visit I am denying the 3rd does of the Hib vac. Comvax. It's not necessary. We are not getting the flu shot or Chicken pox. I am also looking more extensively in to the MMR at 12 months. I will be getting that one delayed and the looking into getting it when he is older, seperated into three different shots.

I didn't start researching until he was a little older and I wish I had. It's such a tough decision and there is so much out there on both sides. It's very overwhelmoing.

 

[Nom]

That said, my DD's pediatrician won't see paitients unless they get vacines. He says it is a liability to his practice to have unvacinated children in the office. They "could" spread something to another child.

Have not read the whole thread yet, but this is so strange to me that a dr would think that way. If he truely believed the vaccines worked, he would not see a threat from unvax children to vaccinated children, because they would be protected by the vaccines. That's one of those 'doh' arguements, IMO.

If anything, the vaxed children are a threat to my unvaxed child- because they shed virus for a few days after they are vaccinated with live vaccines. I used to worry about that when dd was smaller, but now that she is grown I don't worry about it anymore.

Anyway, if a ped would not see my dd because she is unvaxed, it's not really a ped I want to see because I am sure we would disagree on many other things! So I don't really see that as a roadblock- there are a lot of peds out there that are more openminded.

OK, off to read the rest.

 

[snowball22]

I almost died from a vaccine injury two years ago. I am still not 100%. What I went through was something I would not wish on my worst enemy. Before the vaccine, I also believed in vaccines for everyone. But now I am one of the statistics. Again, I have said this before on this board...I believe in the basic principle of a vaccine but I truely believe that much more research needs to be done to fine tune them to everyone's individual genetic make up.

 

[mrsltg]

Actually, some of these vaccines are very new on the market (and none of them hundreds of years) so forgive me if I want to actually research what you are injecting my child with. Last night I came across the fact that the DTap lists one of the potential adverse reactions as SIDS . Obviously, I need to look further into that one. Rotovirus may not be needed because I will, hopefully, be breastfeeding. I want to be able to weigh the risks vs. benefits of each one and do what I feel comfortable with. Sorry, but you telling me "this isn't some radical procedure" just doesn't cut it . I'm still in the early stages of research, which is what I why I'm looking for help.

Good for you! This is, of course, what you should do. Question everything - this is your baby!!! I will say, though, listing SIDS as a possible adverse reaction would not necessarily sway me from doing something. SIDS is the catch-all for unexplained infant mortality. Vaccine aversions are definitely out there, however, you need to weigh the likliehood of your child being the one-in-a-million reaction with being the one-in-a-million kid who catches the disease. It's really not an easy choice and I find a lot of middle ground in the delayed vaccination theory. I am due right after you and I have already decided my baby won't be getting the HEPB vaccine at the hospital. I just don't see the need. She will get it before she begins daycare, though, in case of a bite.

 

[Nom]

For those who are looking for info about each vaccination, what's in it, the disease it prevents, strategies for selective vaccination, again I want to recommend 'Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide: How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives' by Aviva Jill Romm.

It's an awesome book. What I found very interesting about this book was that it talks about each disease, what the disease is really like, how it might have been declining before the vaccines, and what the risk of getting the disease is if you choose to decline the vaccination. I found it a great resource. For example, since many of us have never seen a case of mumps or measles, we don't really know that mumps and measles are really just like chicken pox- not pleasant, but not deadly for most healthy children. Many of the diseases that we now vax for have been built up into these terrible things that children have a high risk of dying from- but it's really not the case for many of them. Since we don't see mumps and measles much anymore, we don't have any first-hand experience with them to make an informed judgement- this book gives you that.

It also talks practically about how to selectively vaccinate, if you choose to.

I can't say enough good stuff about this book!

 

[tiggersmom2]

Have not read the whole thread yet, but this is so strange to me that a dr would think that way. If he truely believed the vaccines worked, he would not see a threat from unvax children to vaccinated children, because they would be protected by the vaccines. That's one of those 'doh' arguements, IMO.

If anything, the vaxed children are a threat to my unvaxed child- because they shed virus for a few days after they are vaccinated with live vaccines. I used to worry about that when dd was smaller, but now that she is grown I don't worry about it anymore.

There are babies who are NOT fully vaccinated that an un-vaccinated child could put at risk - so the "doh" argument doesn't hold water.

Also, my children and other vaccinated children protect your un-vaccinated children. What do you think would happen if an outbreak occured? The vaccinated children prevent that from happening.

 

[hucifer]

Isn't Thimerasol still in the flu shot, too?

Yes it is.

We have chosen not to vaccinate, based on the research we've done. In our birth plan we told them not to vaccinate our baby with Hep B...why on earth would you inject a fragile newborn with that? Why can't it wait?

There is so much information out there, it can be overwhelming to a new parent.

 

[hentob]

The only reason we live in a world where children don't die from every day illnesses is due to vaccination.

I agree.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I have taken the MMR vaccination 3 times and it still didn't take. My twin boy was developing normally until he had his MMR vaccination and then less than a year later he was diagnosed with autism. I truly believe that something to do with it.
With my new baby we are delaying all vaccinations until he is 2, then we are going to be selective on what he vaccinate him for. One thing is certain, he will not get the MMR vaccination.

 

[Nom]

There are babies who are NOT fully vaccinated that an un-vaccinated child could put at risk - so the "doh" argument doesn't hold water.

Also, my children and other vaccinated children protect your un-vaccinated children. What do you think would happen if an outbreak occured? The vaccinated children prevent that from happening.

After researching the diseases, most of them are not deadly to healthy children. So if an outbreak occured, it would be an unpleasant week for my daughter, but then she would have a lifelong immunity to that illness.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Yes it is.

We have chosen not to vaccinate, based on the research we've done. In our birth plan we told them not to vaccinate our baby with Hep B...why on earth would you inject a fragile newborn with that? Why can't it wait?

There is so much information out there, it can be overwhelming to a new parent.

We told them that too. They acted like we were crazy and we got asked why probably ten times while we were in the hospital. We also refused the E-mycin ointment in his eyes. Since he was being born with a csection and I didn't have any of the diseases that it protects against, I didn't see the point.
We did take the Vitamin K shot though, because I researched that and felt that one was ok.

 

[Nom]

In our birth plan we told them not to vaccinate our baby with Hep B...why on earth would you inject a fragile newborn with that? Why can't it wait?

Because the pharma co did a study that showed that if they give the first dose at birth, it is more likely that the parents will get the next two doses. So their lobbyist got it added to the schedule at birth. The gov't is liberal with the schedule because pharma cos don't make much money from vaccines (as opposed to pills), so they want to incentivize the pharma cos to keep making the vaccines- so they add things to the schedule quite freely.

Sad but true.

 

[java]

Here is some options that I have chosen.
Number one I ask for mercury free vaccines ahead of time. (My doctor now knows that is what I want and orders it that way for us) It is a preservative that improves the shelf life- however there are other levels of mercury in shots- a little research goes a long way on the names. Thermisol is the preservative name for Mercury. Does mercury cause Autism? I don't know for sure but I can take measures to reduce the levels I am giving my children. I do have to pay extra sometimes for these shots as insurance doesn't cover all of it.

Nubmer 2- my dd had an allergic reaction to the Pertusis vaccine(DTP) She reacted to the P part. Severe allergic reaction. She had the 1 st shot and then NEVER AGAIN. As per her doctor. She registers for school no problem. I just have to explain it sometimes.

I would suggest getting shots first thing in the morning. As you can observe them during the day. My dd's reaction occured exactly 12 hours after her shot. Thankfully we were awake when it happened. I don't want to think about what would have happened if we were asleep.

 

[sha_lyn]

Over the last 6.5 yrs I've watched what a bad reaction does to a child and her family. She was a very normal 5 yr old until the morning after her 5yr check-up. The very next day she was lethargic, withdrawn. The Dr brushed it off as a normal reaction. However the mother knew her daughter had changed. In the first month after the shot she gained 30 lbs. suddenly food allergies appeared etc. Over the next few months the mother pushed and changed Dr etc trying to fine out what had happened to her daughter.
After extensive testing it appears that she had a seizure and suffered brain damage (pre frontal lobe I believe)that night after her vaccinations.
According to one of the Dr's, he had seen a direct relationship between the batch of vaccines that her's came from and health problems.

 

[KariC]

Actually, some of these vaccines are very new on the market (and none of them hundreds of years) so forgive me if I want to actually research what you are injecting my child with. Last night I came across the fact that the DTap lists one of the potential adverse reactions as SIDS . Obviously, I need to look further into that one. Rotovirus may not be needed because I will, hopefully, be breastfeeding. I want to be able to weigh the risks vs. benefits of each one and do what I feel comfortable with. Sorry, but you telling me "this isn't some radical procedure" just doesn't cut it . I'm still in the early stages of research, which is what I why I'm looking for help.

I want to add a quick note about rotavirus....our twins did not get the vaccine (not doing it then.). They were breastfed for 14 months, did not go to daycare or to a church nursery. We were careful with exposure to things, as they were preemies (we did do synagis, as well). At 16 months, both caught rotavirus (no idea where), and both DH and I caught it too. Let me tell you, catching a 16 month old's vomit in a rubbermaid container 22 times in one night is not something anyone wants to do. This does not count the number of diarrhea diaper changes. The rashes from the diarrhea are horrific, as well. Each child visited Children's at least once for dehydration. And then, if that isn't enough (2 weeks of non-stop vomiting and diarrhea as we passed it from one to the next), the twins somehow picked it up again at 18 months, again with dehydration visits to Childrens (you just can't keep a thing in). This time, DD had a seizure that was NON-Febrile, and ended up on the neuro ward at Cinci Children's for 3 days. It was scary. It was determined to be "encephalopothy", the rotavirus Affected her central nervous system, not infected..that's encephalitis. So, needless to "type", DS got this at his 2 month check-up....nice-tasting little medicine.

And, rotavirus isn't "deadly". But, if a vaccine can prevent that miserable experience, and possibly side effects from the virus...I'm all for it. Same reason we did synagis.....why get RSV and have the possible life-long lung issues (that preemies are already predisposed to getting) if you can prevent it with a vaccine and caution.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

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.

It comes down to this:

1. Parents have a right to make health care decisions for their children, with few exceptions. A court order is needed to force compliance with something the parents do not agree with. This is a rare occurrence reserved for truly life-threatening situations...and even then, the State doesn't always win the case. Being unvaccinated IS considered a risk factor, but (even more-)so is obesity, and we still don't take away the parental rights of the parents of overweight children! Imagine the uproar that would cause!

2. Children are guaranteed a free, public education in this country. This is why children with special needs are not turned away; their needs are addressed with IEPs. They can't deny any child an education based on vaccination status, which is a health care issue and not an educational one.

3. If vaccinations WERE mandatory, the schools (government) would have to somehow guarantee their safety and efficacy, which of course they cannot do. No one wants to be responsible for signing a paper stating you MUST vaccinate, because that has a lot of legal ramifications no one wants to deal with. Until they can guarantee vaccines are 100% safe (which will be never, by everyone's admission), they will have to allow for waivers.

4. It really makes no difference to me, personally, about the school issue, since we decided to homeschool before we decided not to vaccinate. However, I think it's shameful how some schools or districts will resort to scare tactics and outright lies in order to ensure "compliance" with the vaccine schedule. Many school officials honestly believe what they are telling people when they say it's mandatory, no exceptions. However, this is untrue in ALL public schools in the United States of America. ALL of them. No exceptions! A flier home from the elementary school secretary on neon orange paper does not trump the Constitution!