vaccinations???

Christa - posted on 06/27/2009

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No problem, it's hard sometimes to know exactly what people are saying. One of the downsides of this type of communication. :-)

Cathy - posted on 06/27/2009

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Quoting Christa:

Quoting Catherine:

Quoting Christa:

Quoting Sarah:

In the UK the flu shots are for the elderly too, and we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. I've heard with chicken pox the younger you get it the less intense it is?? :)

Yeah you definitly want to get them when you are young, when you are older they can turn into shingles and those are painful. We are vaccinating against it in an effort to erradicate it. I personally don't think it's a disease we need to focus on. I think a big part of it is because some parents are too busy to take a week off of work to take care of their child with chicken pox. I don't really agree with it. :-)

Shingles is actually the re-emergance of the disease in someone who has already had chickenpox. Chickenpox, in an adult, can be severe and recovery is much harder. In a child, chickenpox is fairly mild and rarely causes problems. While I think vaccinating kids for it is excessive, I do think there should be a jab around age 12 for anyone who hasn't had it.

That's what I said, it turns into Shingles. It is more likely to do this in people who get the virus later in life because their immune system isn't as strong. :-)

Sorry misunderstood, lots of people assume that you catch shingles instead of chickenpox as an adult. Chickenpox in an adult is far worse than shingles, which is also horrendous.

Christa - posted on 06/27/2009

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Quoting Catherine:

Quoting Christa:

Quoting Sarah:

In the UK the flu shots are for the elderly too, and we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. I've heard with chicken pox the younger you get it the less intense it is?? :)

Yeah you definitly want to get them when you are young, when you are older they can turn into shingles and those are painful. We are vaccinating against it in an effort to erradicate it. I personally don't think it's a disease we need to focus on. I think a big part of it is because some parents are too busy to take a week off of work to take care of their child with chicken pox. I don't really agree with it. :-)

Shingles is actually the re-emergance of the disease in someone who has already had chickenpox. Chickenpox, in an adult, can be severe and recovery is much harder. In a child, chickenpox is fairly mild and rarely causes problems. While I think vaccinating kids for it is excessive, I do think there should be a jab around age 12 for anyone who hasn't had it.

That's what I said, it turns into Shingles. It is more likely to do this in people who get the virus later in life because their immune system isn't as strong. :-)

Sarah - posted on 06/27/2009

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I've had shingles!!!! Pretty gross and boy, what mood swings!!!
Got 2 weeks off work tho! :)

Cathy - posted on 06/27/2009

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Quoting Christa:

Quoting Sarah:

In the UK the flu shots are for the elderly too, and we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. I've heard with chicken pox the younger you get it the less intense it is?? :)

Yeah you definitly want to get them when you are young, when you are older they can turn into shingles and those are painful. We are vaccinating against it in an effort to erradicate it. I personally don't think it's a disease we need to focus on. I think a big part of it is because some parents are too busy to take a week off of work to take care of their child with chicken pox. I don't really agree with it. :-)

Shingles is actually the re-emergance of the disease in someone who has already had chickenpox. Chickenpox, in an adult, can be severe and recovery is much harder. In a child, chickenpox is fairly mild and rarely causes problems. While I think vaccinating kids for it is excessive, I do think there should be a jab around age 12 for anyone who hasn't had it.

Christa - posted on 06/27/2009

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Quoting Sarah:

In the UK the flu shots are for the elderly too, and we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. I've heard with chicken pox the younger you get it the less intense it is?? :)

Yeah you definitly want to get them when you are young, when you are older they can turn into shingles and those are painful. We are vaccinating against it in an effort to erradicate it. I personally don't think it's a disease we need to focus on. I think a big part of it is because some parents are too busy to take a week off of work to take care of their child with chicken pox. I don't really agree with it. :-)

Christa - posted on 06/27/2009

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Quoting Sarah:

In the UK the flu shots are for the elderly too, and we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. I've heard with chicken pox the younger you get it the less intense it is?? :)

Yeah you definitly want to get them when you are young, when you are older they can turn into shingles and those are painful. We are vaccinating against it in an effort to erradicate it. I personally don't think it's a disease we need to focus on. I think a big part of it is because some parents are too busy to take a week off of work to take care of their child with chicken pox. I don't really agree with it. :-)

Abby - posted on 06/27/2009

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yeh it tends to follow that sarah, my mum looked after a 12week old with it who was v poorly tho! but my step daughter was COVERED in spots but felt fine!! strange

Sarah - posted on 06/27/2009

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In the UK the flu shots are for the elderly too, and we don't vaccinate against chicken pox. I've heard with chicken pox the younger you get it the less intense it is?? :)

Erin - posted on 06/27/2009

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Flu shots are given to the elderly in Australian (over 65s) at the government's expense. As far as I'm aware it's rare for babies here to get it, unless they have other medical problems. I will have to look into that one..
I'm a medical receptionist in a GP surgery so I get my flu shot every year. I understand it doesn't cover all strains, but I'll take all the help I can get when I'm dealing with dozens of coughing, sneezing and spluttering people every day during flu season!!

Megan - posted on 06/26/2009

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i got it when i was pregnant and when i worked at my grandparents store. we saw hundreds of people everyday and were in close contact with them so i got it because i was at a pretty high risk of getting the flu... but it is hit or miss every year and not full-proof. I probably wont get it again until i am pregnant again. Also... i was in close contact with my nephew every day who was under two and i didnt want to give it to him either! My baby will get them for the first couple years too when she can

Christa - posted on 06/26/2009

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That's true the flu is actually a fascinating virus (for dorks like me) it's constantly changing its form. So the vaccine is an educated guess as to what strain they think will be most common this year. They usually make it for a couple different strains, but it's all just a guess. Sometimes they do well and sometimes they are completely off. That's why I don't bother. Unless we have a terrible strain like 1918, it's not going to kill the normally healthy. I do get it when I'm pregnant and I'll get my children for the first 2 years, I would also get anyone who was sick (cancer/AIDS) or very old. The flu could kill people in those demographics. I also don't get it because sometimes there is a shortage and I want to be sure those who really need it can have it.

Joy - posted on 06/26/2009

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I have never had a flu shot and neither has my son. Years ago I remember a doctor explaining to me that the flu shot is actually made to cover strains that were around years ago. He said that the flu mutates and not the same ones come around every year. So if I get vaccinated this year, it's for a flu that has either mutated, or hasn't been around in a long time. Plus, I rarely get sick, so I think my immune system is doing a good enough job on its own :)

Mary - posted on 06/26/2009

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Quoting Christa:

I'm a microbiologist so I am 100% for vaccination. I agree with Sara's post a while back about it being a public health issue. Most of the diseases we vaccinate against won't kill a normal healthy person, but they will kill babies, the elderly and the immuno-compromised. We are seeing a surge in once almost completely eradicated diseases, because less and less people are getting vaccinated. I don't think there is a link to autism, though I do watch that research carefully. My problem with people who don't vaccinate (please don't take offense Jessica I'm not attacking you) is if there child does acquire one of these diseases say measles and they are playing at the playground before they show symptoms, they could pass that disease on to a child who is too young to have received the vaccine and kill that child. While the chances of that are rare, it is becoming more and more likely as more and more parents are starting to refuse vaccines. I know I would be pissed if my daughter died in a situation like that, when it should have been totally preventable. I do agree that some of the vaccines aren't needed, like the chicken pox vaccine. Chicken pox isn't going to kill anyone. I did push that vaccine back because I didn't want her getting too many at once. And I don't get flu shots either because they aren't effective or needed unless you are a baby, elderly or immuno-compromised. Sorry for the long rant, but I have a special love of microbes. :-)

I'm a nurse, and I have opted not to get the flu vaccine either...and, knock on wood, I have not gotten it yet. Never underestimate the power of good hand hygiene, lol!! The past few years, we have seen quite a few women in L&D who tested positve for the flu (not that they NEEDED to be hospitalized), and all of them had gotten the vaccine. They tested positive for a strain they were not vaccinated against! Fat lot of good that flu shot did them!

Megan - posted on 06/26/2009

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As another poster said i am not attacking you or other non-vaccinating parents, Jessica... and by no means am i trying to say you are ignorant!

Megan - posted on 06/26/2009

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For them oh yes! I asked my pediatrician though and they have reformulated many vaccines so there are less risk factors in them. I fear in my town because many people choose not to vaccinate their kids and so if measles or mumps broke out here in town it would be catastrophic. I think people are putting their kids at risk for diseases that could kill them.

But it IS an individual decisions and not doing it doesn't mean you are BAD, or dont care for your kids. That said... i wont put my baby at risk and i think people have forgotten a lot of the terrible and common child deaths our great grandparents had to live through before these vaccines were invented.

Christa - posted on 06/26/2009

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I'm a microbiologist so I am 100% for vaccination. I agree with Sara's post a while back about it being a public health issue. Most of the diseases we vaccinate against won't kill a normal healthy person, but they will kill babies, the elderly and the immuno-compromised. We are seeing a surge in once almost completely eradicated diseases, because less and less people are getting vaccinated. I don't think there is a link to autism, though I do watch that research carefully. My problem with people who don't vaccinate (please don't take offense Jessica I'm not attacking you) is if there child does acquire one of these diseases say measles and they are playing at the playground before they show symptoms, they could pass that disease on to a child who is too young to have received the vaccine and kill that child. While the chances of that are rare, it is becoming more and more likely as more and more parents are starting to refuse vaccines. I know I would be pissed if my daughter died in a situation like that, when it should have been totally preventable. I do agree that some of the vaccines aren't needed, like the chicken pox vaccine. Chicken pox isn't going to kill anyone. I did push that vaccine back because I didn't want her getting too many at once. And I don't get flu shots either because they aren't effective or needed unless you are a baby, elderly or immuno-compromised. Sorry for the long rant, but I have a special love of microbes. :-)

Jessica - posted on 06/26/2009

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Thank you everyone for your RESPECTFUL disargreements and excellent points. I know this is a subject parents get very passionate about. Sometimes it's hard to see the other side.

Joy - posted on 06/26/2009

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Quoting Jessica:

I think this is one of those topics where you're either for it or against it. The risk of autism actually had very little influence on my decision if any. I made the decision based on the fact that I didn't believe they were necessary for MY children. I agree there are risks on both sides but the way most people view the risks of vaccination side effects is how I view my childs risk of getting polio. I hope I'm making sense. I don't expect alot of people to agree with me, goodness knows my MIL does not but she respects the decisions I make for my children and knows that I would never do anything that I believe would harm them. I said earlier that my children are very rarely sick and this is true but we are not immune to the world. My children caught a stomach bug that had been going around but instead of it flooring them for a week or two like in alot of cases they were only sick for a couple of days. Am I saying children who are immunized don't have great immune systems? NO. All I'm trying to say is that I trust myself to know that they are healthy and their bodies are strong and I believe it is because of the decisions I have made. I'm in a pregnant fog this morning so please let me know if I didn't make any sense.

Jessica, as for you making sense, you did and more :) I think you have given me the best description I have heard so far from a "non vaccinating mom". Not that you have anything to explain to anyone, but you are the first mom I've heard explain her reasons, without going on the "bandwagon". I appreciate your point of view.

Joy - posted on 06/26/2009

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Quoting Jessica:

I think this is one of those topics where you're either for it or against it. The risk of autism actually had very little influence on my decision if any. I made the decision based on the fact that I didn't believe they were necessary for MY children. I agree there are risks on both sides but the way most people view the risks of vaccination side effects is how I view my childs risk of getting polio. I hope I'm making sense. I don't expect alot of people to agree with me, goodness knows my MIL does not but she respects the decisions I make for my children and knows that I would never do anything that I believe would harm them. I said earlier that my children are very rarely sick and this is true but we are not immune to the world. My children caught a stomach bug that had been going around but instead of it flooring them for a week or two like in alot of cases they were only sick for a couple of days. Am I saying children who are immunized don't have great immune systems? NO. All I'm trying to say is that I trust myself to know that they are healthy and their bodies are strong and I believe it is because of the decisions I have made. I'm in a pregnant fog this morning so please let me know if I didn't make any sense.

Jessica, as for you making sense, you did and more :) I think you have given me the best description I have heard so far from a "non vaccinating mom". Not that you have anything to explain to anyone, but you are the first mom I've heard explain her reasons, without going on the "bandwagon". I appreciate your point of view.

Sarah - posted on 06/26/2009

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Lol! Jessica! it made sense! I totally respect your decision, it's up to you at the end of the day.
I guess it's just different peoples ways of weighing up the pros and cons.
My kids are both immunized, and are rarely ill. Whether that has anything to do with them being immunized, i don't know. People get stomach bugs and colds and stuff and cope with them very differently (i for one am awful when i'm ill!! lol!) Some people seem to be able to fight things off better than others.
:)

Jessica - posted on 06/26/2009

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I think this is one of those topics where you're either for it or against it. The risk of autism actually had very little influence on my decision if any. I made the decision based on the fact that I didn't believe they were necessary for MY children. I agree there are risks on both sides but the way most people view the risks of vaccination side effects is how I view my childs risk of getting polio. I hope I'm making sense. I don't expect alot of people to agree with me, goodness knows my MIL does not but she respects the decisions I make for my children and knows that I would never do anything that I believe would harm them. I said earlier that my children are very rarely sick and this is true but we are not immune to the world. My children caught a stomach bug that had been going around but instead of it flooring them for a week or two like in alot of cases they were only sick for a couple of days. Am I saying children who are immunized don't have great immune systems? NO. All I'm trying to say is that I trust myself to know that they are healthy and their bodies are strong and I believe it is because of the decisions I have made. I'm in a pregnant fog this morning so please let me know if I didn't make any sense.

Sarah - posted on 06/26/2009

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I think that not immunizing can effect other people tho.
For example, shortly after i had my 2nd baby, i went to pick up my eldest from nursery and i had to wait outside with my youngest as there had been an outbreak of german measles there. As my youngest was too young to have been immunized, she would have been at risk of catching it.
As Catherine says, my kids are vaccinated so people not doing it doesn't bother me too much, but there are instances where it could affect others :)

Cathy - posted on 06/26/2009

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My boys are vaccinated. I didn't hesitate with that descision.
There are real reasons not to have vaccinations, such as a family history of allergy. This is obviously quite rare.
I worry that enforced vaccinations may start to exclude the kids who are genuinely more at risk from the vaccines than the diseases.
Personally it doesn't make any difference to me if other kids are vaccinated or not. Mine are protected so why should I worry.

Cathy - posted on 06/26/2009

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Quoting Traci:

I got all my kids vaccinated. I think there is most likely something else out there contributing to the whole autism thing. I mean, who knows, there might have been just as many kids with it long ago, but it wasn't diagnosed properly or something. They don't really know.

I think you're on to something there Traci. The greatest believed factor in autism is genetic. After my son was diagnosed with it , my gran started to draw the conclusion that her sister who had emmigrated to Australia could also have autism. Her actions, such as inability to adjust routines and aggrivation at having to do so, repetive speech and compulsive need for organisation, had all previously come across as just being rude.

Sarah - posted on 06/26/2009

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So, is the main reason for not vaccinating a child, this supposed risk of autism??
What are the other reasons??
I have to admit, i struggle with the thought of not immunising kids, personally to me it seems the benefits far outweigh the risks.
I'm not putting down anyone who hasn't vaccinated, i just can't get my head around the reasons why people don't.
:)

Cathy - posted on 06/26/2009

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Quoting Jessica:

I believe the link between Austism and the environment is much more likely than the MMR. There have actually been clusters of autistic children in different areas, one I believe is in Hawaii.

They actually did a study in one of the scandinavian countries ( sorry not sure which one). It looked at the health records of all children under the age of 5. It found autism presented in the same percentages of both children immunised with MMR and those not.

Cathy - posted on 06/26/2009

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Quoting Jessica:

I believe the link between Austism and the environment is much more likely than the MMR. There have actually been clusters of autistic children in different areas, one I believe is in Hawaii.

They actually did a study in one of the scandinavian countries ( sorry not sure which one). It looked at the health records of all children under the age of 5. It found autism presented in the same percentages of both children immunised with MMR and those not.

Sarah - posted on 06/24/2009

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I was watching a programme today which happened to have a bit about the MMR jab.
It had a good link to the latest NHS information about it.
http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/...
so thought i'd post it here in case anyone felt like having a look!
:)

~Jennifer - posted on 06/24/2009

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Quoting Sara:

What signs did you notice at 6 months?

Thinking back, it was just a couple of things - rocking back and forth, which I had attributed to his 'getting ready to crawl' phase, fascination with things that spin, - wheels on trucks, ceiling fans, etc.. crying or screaming from too much stimulus (which for my son was as simple as having the tv on while running the vacuum - too much input, I guess) ....just things that you'd think "wow, he really likes looking at the ceiling fan" when in actuality it was one of the things I should have asked myself "why is he staring like that?" He never 'played' he just 'studied' his toys. It's things that you just don't realize until you have a diagnosis and then you do the "should have had a v-8" smack on your forehead and think back to everything you wrote off that could actually be attributed to the condition. Hard to explain, but it's kind of like the 'hindsight is 20/20' thing.

Sara - posted on 06/24/2009

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What signs did you notice at 6 months?

~Jennifer - posted on 06/24/2009

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Quoting Joy:

I love this group! When I first saw this topic, I must admit that I cringed a little and was a little "afraid" of what I would see when I clicked on it. We've all seen this topic in other groups and it never fails to turn into a huge, ruthless, what the hell just happened cyber fight. I am soooo happy to see that we can agree to disagree like normal, respectful human beings. Moms. Adults.

On to the topic. I vaccinated my son on schedule. He's all done with his shots until he's 4 (I think it's 4...I'd have to check his schedule in my wallet). He never really had any reactions to the shots, except the second round, when he got a slight fever that afternoon but it was gone by the evening. I think with this new baby I am a little more educated than I was before. I will still vaccinate but I will see if they have a more spread out schedule. As for people who don't vaccinate? Well, on one hand, I do see that they are doing what they think is best for their children. And I agree that the preservatives and chemicals need to be taken out of them. But let's say everyone stopped vaccinating because of these chemicals. What would happen? Over the years, many of the "old" diseases would make a comeback and it would be natural selection, survival of the fittest. The planet would purge itself of a great chunk of the population via diseases that we could vaccinate against. Like another Mom said, I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't vaccinate and then my son died of a disease I could have possibly prevented by giving him a simple shot. As for the link to autism? I remember seeing Jenny McCarthy on Oprah a few years ago, advocating against vaccines because of the link to autism. Her son was diagnosed autistic at 18 months, I believe, shortly after he had recieved his shots. Later, I learned that 18 months is the age that autism usually rears its ugly head...so who's to say her son's autism was caused by the vaccines or if it was there already? She is now a staunch advocate, still, against vaccines. She was on the show The Doctors not long ago and a HEATED debate broke out. I know that she does what she does from love for her son and I respect that. But now she is walking around telling everyone she can about how she "cured" her son of autism through diet. How does she know that he doesn't just have a mild case of autism? How does she know that he wouldn't have "snapped out of it" on his own? She says he still displays some of the symptoms of autism, but that he is much better and I just wonder how she knows he wouldn't have turned out the way he is anyhow? I just don't buy the link.

I'll admit it, I tried the 'diet' for my son. What it is is a GFCF (Gluten free/ casein free) meal plan - which entails cutting out all forms of wheat and dairy - to the point of having to bake your own breads from special mixes, cutting out all cheeses, milk products, pastas etc. If there's no marked improvement, you're told to then remove soy, eggs and corn products. It pretty much leaves your kid eating cardboard bread, egg substitutes, meat, veggies and fruit. - Not the easiest thing to do when you have a kid that won't eat much in the first place. We stayed on the diet for about 3 months (and about 700 dollars in mixes and special foods) before we decided that it didn't seem to be showing this 'marked improvement' you hear so much about. Not saying it doesn't work- it just didn't work for us. I may try it again later when he's a bit older and more communicative, but who knows. I haven't totally ruled it out yet. My son also has Cerebral Palsy {relatively mild} and seizure disorder {on anti-convulsants that have a whole list of side effects that screw with his system} so this is another factor which may be hindering his communication abilities and cognizance. We are in the process of withdrawing him from his meds now {any and all prayers for a seizure free withdrawal would be appreciated} =)
Back on topic: I did put off having his 18 month vaccination {MMR} b/c I was worried about that 'link' but I found, as so many others do, that he started showing signs of autism even without the shot. Thinking back....he showed signs at 6 months, I just didn't know what to look for. More parents should be informed of the signs of autism they'd be able to intervene and receive services sooner, which is the one thing that can almost guarantee a marked improvement for a child with these issues.

*Steps off soapbox*

=)

Traci - posted on 06/23/2009

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I got all my kids vaccinated. I think there is most likely something else out there contributing to the whole autism thing. I mean, who knows, there might have been just as many kids with it long ago, but it wasn't diagnosed properly or something. They don't really know.

Joy - posted on 06/23/2009

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Amen on the quick and easy Jessica! Can't get any quicker or easier than Hamburger Helper....it's what's for dinner tonight because Momma's exhausted lol

Jessica - posted on 06/23/2009

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I think the link between diet and autism is a valid one. If you think of all the stuff that is put into our food nowadays it's crazy! I don't if it's possible to cure autism but I do believe that changing ones diet can help, just as I think it could possibly help with children who are ADHD. Don't get me wrong mine and my childrens diets are far from perfect, maybe that makes me a bit hypocritical, not wanting to inject my children with preservatives but letting them eat foods with them. I try my best to feed them a balanced diet but I am SOOOOOOOOOO far from perfect and I get tired, mac and cheese is quick and easy.

Joy - posted on 06/23/2009

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I love this group! When I first saw this topic, I must admit that I cringed a little and was a little "afraid" of what I would see when I clicked on it. We've all seen this topic in other groups and it never fails to turn into a huge, ruthless, what the hell just happened cyber fight. I am soooo happy to see that we can agree to disagree like normal, respectful human beings. Moms. Adults.

On to the topic. I vaccinated my son on schedule. He's all done with his shots until he's 4 (I think it's 4...I'd have to check his schedule in my wallet). He never really had any reactions to the shots, except the second round, when he got a slight fever that afternoon but it was gone by the evening. I think with this new baby I am a little more educated than I was before. I will still vaccinate but I will see if they have a more spread out schedule. As for people who don't vaccinate? Well, on one hand, I do see that they are doing what they think is best for their children. And I agree that the preservatives and chemicals need to be taken out of them. But let's say everyone stopped vaccinating because of these chemicals. What would happen? Over the years, many of the "old" diseases would make a comeback and it would be natural selection, survival of the fittest. The planet would purge itself of a great chunk of the population via diseases that we could vaccinate against. Like another Mom said, I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't vaccinate and then my son died of a disease I could have possibly prevented by giving him a simple shot. As for the link to autism? I remember seeing Jenny McCarthy on Oprah a few years ago, advocating against vaccines because of the link to autism. Her son was diagnosed autistic at 18 months, I believe, shortly after he had recieved his shots. Later, I learned that 18 months is the age that autism usually rears its ugly head...so who's to say her son's autism was caused by the vaccines or if it was there already? She is now a staunch advocate, still, against vaccines. She was on the show The Doctors not long ago and a HEATED debate broke out. I know that she does what she does from love for her son and I respect that. But now she is walking around telling everyone she can about how she "cured" her son of autism through diet. How does she know that he doesn't just have a mild case of autism? How does she know that he wouldn't have "snapped out of it" on his own? She says he still displays some of the symptoms of autism, but that he is much better and I just wonder how she knows he wouldn't have turned out the way he is anyhow? I just don't buy the link.

~Jennifer - posted on 06/23/2009

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Quoting Jessica:

I believe the link between Austism and the environment is much more likely than the MMR. There have actually been clusters of autistic children in different areas, one I believe is in Hawaii.

Jennifer-where are you from? I have never heard of preservative free vaccines, maybe I need to do more research. Please let me know, I am really curious. Thanx

Maybe preservative free was the wrong wording - should have said thermiserol free. My children's doctor offered single dose vaccines (thermiserol free) and oral dose (thermiserol-free) on a couple of vaccines. They cost more, and some insurance won't pay for single dose when stacked are available, but we opted for them anyway.
We are in the US ... we were residing in Pennsylvania and had a great pediatrician there and moved a year ago to North Carolina and have an even better pediatrician here.

(sorry, Dr Bittar, you're still awesome! ;)

Abby - posted on 06/23/2009

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Quoting Jennifer:

Quoting Abby:

also, as far as im aware, the tests that were done when that dr stated that there was a link between mmr and autism was done on 12children, 9 of them were already showing signs of autism before the jab was given! the link is rubbish.

i agree with sara, may things such as chicken pox are highly contagious before there are any signs, altho chicken pox is also contagious until the spots have dried out. but the most contagious time is usually the incubation period, before u even know ur poorly! x

Quite true.....when I say 'friends' coming over- I mean adult friends. My kids are pretty much "you and me vs. the world" since none of my friends (save one) in NC have children (and most of them come over after the kids are asleep. ) My one friend that does have a child subscribes to the 'bleach and lysol' theory (just a saying) with me. (Her son's school is very up front with parents if there is anything contagious going around, which is info that she passes on to me) I know that they can't be protected from everything, but I do believe that common sense dictates that you should stay away from other people if you think you're ill / coming down w/ something or have been around someone that is ill. I couldn't imagine sending a (visibly/obviously) sick child to daycare or school as some others have mentioned. I would think that would be incredibly irresponsible.

*I'm on a borrowed dinosaur computer (mine crashed) so this reply may not format properly.*

(p.s. - typing sucks when you're sunburned)
=)

that is sooooooo funny. he he.

i was quite upset when my son was 4months old and my step daughter's mum wanted to do xmas shopping the day my sd got chicken pox!!! i was not a happy bunny!!! as we had to look after her! luckily my son didnt get it. but the other week i saw a friend of mine with her little boy, and the next day she text to say he had hand foot and mouth(a viral infection) and 3days later cam was covered!!!! at which point he didnt leave the house until all his blisters had gone!!! x

~Jennifer - posted on 06/23/2009

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Quoting Abby:

also, as far as im aware, the tests that were done when that dr stated that there was a link between mmr and autism was done on 12children, 9 of them were already showing signs of autism before the jab was given! the link is rubbish.

i agree with sara, may things such as chicken pox are highly contagious before there are any signs, altho chicken pox is also contagious until the spots have dried out. but the most contagious time is usually the incubation period, before u even know ur poorly! x

Quite true.....when I say 'friends' coming over- I mean adult friends. My kids are pretty much "you and me vs. the world" since none of my friends (save one) in NC have children (and most of them come over after the kids are asleep. ) My one friend that does have a child subscribes to the 'bleach and lysol' theory (just a saying) with me. (Her son's school is very up front with parents if there is anything contagious going around, which is info that she passes on to me) I know that they can't be protected from everything, but I do believe that common sense dictates that you should stay away from other people if you think you're ill / coming down w/ something or have been around someone that is ill. I couldn't imagine sending a (visibly/obviously) sick child to daycare or school as some others have mentioned. I would think that would be incredibly irresponsible.

*I'm on a borrowed dinosaur computer (mine crashed) so this reply may not format properly.*

(p.s. - typing sucks when you're sunburned)
=)

Abby - posted on 06/23/2009

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oh ive never heard of 'clusters of autistic children' how very strange!!!! i may look into it further! x

Jessica - posted on 06/23/2009

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I believe the link between Austism and the environment is much more likely than the MMR. There have actually been clusters of autistic children in different areas, one I believe is in Hawaii.

Jennifer-where are you from? I have never heard of preservative free vaccines, maybe I need to do more research. Please let me know, I am really curious. Thanx

Abby - posted on 06/23/2009

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also, as far as im aware, the tests that were done when that dr stated that there was a link between mmr and autism was done on 12children, 9 of them were already showing signs of autism before the jab was given! the link is rubbish.

i agree with sara, may things such as chicken pox are highly contagious before there are any signs, altho chicken pox is also contagious until the spots have dried out. but the most contagious time is usually the incubation period, before u even know ur poorly! x

Sara - posted on 06/23/2009

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The thing is that most communicable disease is contagious before the person ever shows symptoms, so there's no way to know for sure that someone isn't coming into contact with your children that has something they could catch. I totally respect your choice, but I obvioiusly you can't protect your children from everything.

I have a friend that is a pediatrician and she and I were talking about the autism/MMR link. She said that a lot of the time it doesn't surprise her when children get diagnosed with Autism, she usually suspected it beforehand. However, the MMR is given around the same time that Autism usually is diagnosed (12-18 months), so that is why people have tried to prove a connection, but to no avail.

~Jennifer - posted on 06/23/2009

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I have had both of my children vaccinated with single dose (non-stacked/preservative free) shots. Sometimes we had to go 2-3 times in a month to the pediatrician, but I felt it was better than getting a needle of 2 or 3 vaccines stacked on top of each other. I don't vaccinate them for flu - it always seems to me that people get a flu shot and then catch the one strain that the vaccine didn't include, so why bother? (They are not in school or daycare - nor do I let anyone who seems even remotely ill to touch them / come into my home-my friends know that if they're sick, or have been around someone that is ill that they are not welcome here unless they dip themselves in bleach or lysol first)
I did worry about the 'autism link' but I lean more towards there being a common link to autism that is over and above the vaccines, and probably more of an environmental connection. I had considered not vaccinating my son with MMR, as that seems to be the 'controversial 'turning point' shot and even held it off for more than a year due to this worry, but he started showing autistic tendencies without having the vaccine. (He has since had it done)
My daughter was vaccinated on schedule, but again, with single dose, unstacked shots,

Abby - posted on 06/23/2009

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yeha i totally agree sara! when sarah invited me she was like, it's a nice group with no slanging! bless her!

Sara - posted on 06/23/2009

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it is nice to be able to throw out your feelings on something and not be attacked. This is a really good group!

Abby - posted on 06/23/2009

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can i just say thank you, i knew it could be a touchy subject, but knew us ladies could keep it polite. we have all put our reasoning across, and there has been no slanging match.

i value everyone's opinion, and just because i chose to have my son vaccinated does not mean im going to put pressure on other people.

im with the mums who think sending ill children out is wrong, when im ill i wanna stay at home in bed with a duvet and a cuddle. so why the hell is my son gonna be any different, the furthest i take him is my mum's but that's in the car anyway!!

thank you everyone, it was nice to be able to chat and not feel abused! xxx

Jessica - posted on 06/23/2009

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I don't have a problem with the idea behind vaccines it's whats put in them. If they would take out the preservatives and chemicals used to extend the shelf life and make less at one time, I would probably re-evaluate my decison.

I do agree with Amie, it annoys the crap out of me when people send their kids to school sick. If parents would keep them home and let them get better maybe it wouldn't keep circulating through the classroom.

Sara - posted on 06/23/2009

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Quoting Jessica:

In the US it is the varicella vaccine and it is supposed to prevent or make less worse the occurence of chicken pox.

I would personally like to say and I know it's a little early in the post but this is my favorite site. I have yet to see another area on COM's where disagreement is so civil. I fully expected to be attacked and may be yet but I am thankful to have a place where I can learn and hopefully give some good advice as well.

i have a friend whose father is a chiropractor, she has never been vaccinated, never taken an antibiotic, etc. I understand the choice, and I think that we're all just doing what we think is best for our children. However, I feel very strongly that the more people that chose not to vaccinate, the more resurrgence we will see of disease. It is, in my mind, a social responsibility to vaccinate.

I thnk it's a double edge sword kind of deal though. Sure, I worry every time my daughter gets a vaccine, but I would worry even more if I didn't get them for her. I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if she got an illness that could have been prevented from a vaccination. But, I just want you to know that while I don't agree with your decsion, I can respect it. :)

Cara - posted on 06/23/2009

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My children were all vacinated on schedule.

My 3rd child had a reaction to her first lot of needles (high temps, her little leg swelled up so big and she developed an abscess type thing at site of the injection) Panadol and keeping watch of her for a few days and she was fine, I was a walking zombie due to being too scared to sleep though!

For all of her other injections she was given a different kind ?? Can't remember the name of it now but it was meant to have less side affects. She also had to be admitted to a hospital for her injections and stay for a minimum of 4 hours observation.

Amie, it really annoys me when parents do that too! I work with school age children and see it all too often. It drives me crazy!!

Sarah this is easily the very best part of COMs even though I feel like the old duck of the group! lol