Vaccinations, Info & alternatives

Moria - posted on 10/26/2009

I have been researching myself. Dr. Sears has great information, I also liked this site http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller... as we all know in the end this is an individuals decision that is made with their babies best interest at heart.

Jen - posted on 02/10/2009

Another vote for the Vaccine Book by Sears... We are mostly going off his spread out schedule with some slight changes. The idea is to spread out live virus vaccines and limit aluminum exposure.

Emily - posted on 01/27/2009

Also, before we made our final decisions we explained to a naturopathic pedi that we were not going to vaccinate until we'd done more research, but for sure nothing before 2 because of brain development concerns. She told us that if we were going to wait until 2, we might as well wait until 5, because there'd be no other reason to do any vaccines between 2 and 5.

Emily - posted on 01/27/2009

My FIL is a chiropractor and has been researching vaccines for years. I grew up accepting vaccines as a necessary evil, so that was a big shock to me when I married DH. I decided to do more research on my own because I felt my FIL was coming across unnecessarily anti-vax. We also agreed not to give any vaccines until we'd made our final decisions... I'd much rather give a vaccine late, than regret giving it.

My favorite book on the subject was The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. Dr. Sears is fairly pro-vax, but he understands many parents concerns and has an excellent "alternative" vaccination schedule. From that book I was able to make a final decision that my husband is totally on board with.

First, we will nurse our children until they are 2 and not send them to daycare. I'm already a SAHM so this wasn't really a problem. Our first was weaned at 4 1/2 months due to lack of support and information when I got pregnant again, but we didn't make our final decisions until after she was 2 anyway. Because of this extra immunity boost from no daycare and extended nursing, we feel totally confident not giving any of the "infant disease" vaccinations such as pertussis (DH actually had a really bad reaction to this one as a child, so we probably wouldn't have done it anyway).

Most of the other "childhood diseases" such as measles, chicken pox, mumps etc aren't really an issue for children between 2 and puberty... again, the breastfeeding before 2 comes into play. :) These vaccines are usually given to infants because that's when parents are most likely to bring their children in for check-ups. We have decided to wait until our children hit puberty and have their titers checked for immunity and then decide which of these vaccines to give.

The only other vaccine we've considered is Tetanus. The Vaccine Book explained that tetanus as a disease generally effects the elderly and children from 5-15 the most. So, when our children are 5 we may consider a tetanus only shot... but not before that.

I also completely disagree with flu and varicella (chicken pox) vaccines in general because I believe the immune system is better off fighting these diseases on their own. Also, any vaccines marketed to teenage girls to prevent STDs are completely against my beliefs. We are strongly religious and expect that our children will completely abstain from sexual activity before marriage (both DH and I were virgins until our wedding night... even during a 15 month engagement). If they choose to be sexually active, that will be their decision, but I will not encourage these vaccines "just in case."

Paris - posted on 01/23/2009

I use a pediatrician, who is completely holistic, but is also an MD-therefor trained with the same training as those who 'push' immunizations. He is wonderful and I highly recommend discussing all questions with him. I don't know where you are based out of, but he is out of northport ny. His name is Larry Palevsky-I think the web site is www.holistickids.com, but I am not sure. You could do a web search. He speaks all the time on vaccinations.

Bethany - posted on 01/23/2009

Sorry... realized I butchered a couple words there... meant to say "osteoarthritis since age SIX due to that combination."

lol.

Bethany - posted on 01/23/2009

The natural doctor I went to in Colorado was against vaccinating at all. We moved out of state so I don't see him anymore, but I read The Vaccine Book by Sears and the Vaccine Guide by Randall Neusteadtter (I think I butchered his last name). Anyway, thinktwice.com is also an interesting, opposing view to the mainstream advice as well. Although they tend to be a little dramatic about it. :) You chose some ones that are parents would be wise to avoid. Rubella is also a fairly dangerous vaccine to get (part of the MMR lineup). I've had osteoarthritis since age since due to that combination. Needless to say, my daughter has never had a shot.

If you really want to be informed, unfortunately, you have to wade through a lot of muck to find the truth. Good luck!

Meredith - posted on 11/30/2008

The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears is a good informative book that isn't really pro or anti...it's good info and really an eye opener on how little we really know about the long term affects of vaccines. I would recommend it just for education on each individual vaccine. There is also an alternative schedule in there and information about the requirements in each state. Here in AZ we can decline all vaccines and still enroll in public school with no problem which we have done.

Lalla - posted on 11/29/2008

i have actually used a natural "imuniser"that are disolved in water and given orally by babies, sucked on my older children that can hold something under their tongue without swallowing it. i can get the info off my naturopath if youd like!

Brenda - posted on 11/28/2008

Erin...Here is a link to an article that has the schedule I plan to use http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller...