anti vaccines!!

Jamie - posted on 03/20/2009

Quoting Kirra:

 I am a nurse, I don't recommend any vaccines to a parent that I wouldnt give to my own child.  I dont even ask parents about the HPV shots anymore because I dont think I should promote the shot.  In my eyes it just gives little girls another reason to have premarital sex... and unsafe sex while they're at it.

as a nurse it is your duty to offer these vaccines!!! it is then the parents decision as to whether they do or do not get this vaccine. You do not have the right to deny them of this choice it's ppl like you whome make mothers confused about what is or is not available.

 

 

 No, it is parents like YOU whom make uneducated decisions and then blame the CDC and doctors when your child comes down with Autism or whatever other "disease" you parents blame on vaccines.  I do NOT have to tell a parent about HPV vaccines when it is posted clearly for all patients to read right on the wall.  Our patients are told about the vaccines and I give them the information but I DO NOT by any means WHAT-SO-EVER have to sit down with the parents and talk them into getting therefore I DONT.  Not to mention, I'm pretty sick of parents LIKE YOU who blame the nurses for their children ending up with cervical cancer anyway because believe me IT HAS HAPPENED.  Just because I offered your child the shot doesn;t mean I forced her to engage in intercourse nor did I make her prone to the HPV strains.  It is YOUR JOB as a PARENT to educate yourself and your children about these things.  Based on half of the responses on this board, you parents seem to know more about the vaccines then the doctors anyway- right??  You've all done your research so why don't you know what is available to you?  Let me guess, you can't read because you had a flu shot when you were a child??  Maybe you're suffering from some mind altering disease due to all those vaccines that you got as a child or didn't get as a child because of negligent nurses such as myself!

Amber - posted on 03/20/2009

every state has exemption forms for vaccinations, and public schools cannot turn him away from education(although they say they will) i have alot of friends with children in school and some of them don't vaccinate their children and they go to school and didn't have any problems getting in

Emily - posted on 03/20/2009

Quoting Michelle:

Quoting Kate:

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Actually pox parties are really common. A lot of moms have been doing it for years and years. Honestly if I could find a kid sick with the chicken pox I would force my kid to share gum or something with them. I would rather her be sick now when it's a minor illness than get it when she's 16 and it could kill her.

A minor illness? I don't even know where to begin with that.  I had the pox when I was 6 and it was not minor.  There were pox in unseen places.  I could hardly pee b/c I had pox inside there, in my ears, nose, mouth, everywhere.   I had all my shots, and with both parents working I'm lucky my mother was on subatical that year.  I was home for 2 weeks with high fever and pox. pox pox.  Unless you have had it as badly or worse than that.  Then tell me that it is minor.  I'm lucky I don't have any scares from it.  Not to mention that I never came in direct contact with the child who had it.  They came to school before they knew they had the pox and I got it by simply being in the same room.  Now tell me that chicken pox is minor.  Anyone at any age can die from it.

Yes, but you didnt die. Only one in ten children have an uncomfortable case like you described. No one said pox was fun and oh so enjoyable. But you had it when you were 6, and you didnt die. If you never had it and you catch it in your 30s or 40s, there's an increased risk that you will get pnemonia and die. The older you are when you catch it the higher the risk.

Kate CP - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Michelle:

Quoting Kate:

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Actually pox parties are really common. A lot of moms have been doing it for years and years. Honestly if I could find a kid sick with the chicken pox I would force my kid to share gum or something with them. I would rather her be sick now when it's a minor illness than get it when she's 16 and it could kill her.

A minor illness? I don't even know where to begin with that.  I had the pox when I was 6 and it was not minor.  There were pox in unseen places.  I could hardly pee b/c I had pox inside there, in my ears, nose, mouth, everywhere.   I had all my shots, and with both parents working I'm lucky my mother was on subatical that year.  I was home for 2 weeks with high fever and pox. pox pox.  Unless you have had it as badly or worse than that.  Then tell me that it is minor.  I'm lucky I don't have any scares from it.  Not to mention that I never came in direct contact with the child who had it.  They came to school before they knew they had the pox and I got it by simply being in the same room.  Now tell me that chicken pox is minor.  Anyone at any age can die from it.

In most cases with young children (under 10) yes, it's relatively minor. Some people, like  yourself, are not so lucky as to have had a minor experience with the virus. 

Some more info for y'all on "pox parties":

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/exposure...

I also learned people are throwing measles and mumps parties. Not sure how I feel about that, though. I have to do more reading! :)

Kate CP - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Hillary:

Kate, there is no proof the vaccine only lasts a few years.  Read up on what Dr. Sears has to say.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T080900...

From the CDC directly:

"Is waning immunity a problem with the varicella-containing vaccines?

The length of protection/immunity from varicella-containing vaccines remains unknown. Available data from follow-up of children vaccinated in prelicensure clinical trials indicate that protection from varicella vaccine lasts for at least 25 years (Japanese data) and 14 years (U.S. data). However, most of the data concerning vaccine efficacy and persistence of antibody in vaccinees are based on research that was conducted when natural varicella infection was highly prevalent and had not been affected by wide use of the vaccine. A recently published community-based study among children 12 months to 12 years of age suggests that 1 dose vaccine-induced immunity to varicella may wane over time. Experience with other live viral vaccines (e.g., measles, rubella), however, has shown that post vaccination, immunity remains high throughout life. For these vaccines, second doses are needed to cover the small percentage of people who fail to seroconvert after the first dose (primary vaccine failure). Follow-up studies are continuing to assess levels of immunity in vaccinees as disease incidence declines."

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/vari...

Theresa - posted on 03/19/2009

This is a topic that I am very passionate about. I too stopped vaccinating my son when he was a little over a year.  When he recieved his MMR shot he ended up having a sezuire a day and a half later. I am well aware that this is a live vaccine and that this should not have happened until 7-10 days later, however I do not think  it was a reaction to the particular diseases themselves but the ``perservatives``. 

We are all assured as Moms and Dads that these vaccinations are perfectly safe. We are told that if our children are to contract these dieseases in question that they will suffer serious consequences. I do not dispute the fact that some of these diseases do carry very serious consequences, my father survived polio only to have weakened heart and various joint problems later in life. I do however dispute the fact of misinforming people and handing out half truths. Let us be honest for a moment..... for someone who works in pharmacy I have witnessed first hand the monies that pass through hands and staggering profits that these drug companies accumulate. We would be foolish to think if the favor regarding vaccinations was only handed to us. There is money in this business, serious money. We would be fools to assume that this business rules would not apply here. Like any other salesman or woman, the pitches I have seen role through a retail pharmacy and a hospital pharmacy would be enough for anyone to raise a hairy eyeball towards medication. The desire to make a profit sometimes overshadows the poper information that should accompany the product to the ``buyer``.  

I have yet to see a MSDS on vaccinations, when I asked to know exactly what was in the vaccinations from soup to nuts, I was told that it was not available to me. We cannot work at Macdonalds without taking WHMIS ( I live in Canada) however I am supposed to trust the Drug Companiesare being honest and believe what they are injecting into my children is safe.

I do think  there needs to be a complete overhaul in this whole system. Move with the times so to say. More independent research needs to be funded , not by the drug companies that produce the vaccinations. When ``Hot Lots`` appear the parents should be informed exactly what was in the vaccination that caused harm on their children, no secrets due to fear. As times goes by our knowledge only strengthens.

I am not sure about anywhere else but I do know that the flu vaccine in Canada contains Mercury even if it is at a quarter at what it used to be. We are aware that Mercury has been linked to ``Social Development Disorders``, however it is still present, if only at a lower dose. I tried to figure out how this seemed any better. Put this way, they seemed to be telling me ``instead of drinking a cup of bleach it is only a quarter cup so it is safe`` poision is poision anyway you look at it. These companies and the Government agencies that approve them could make these vacinnations safer by using less perservatives , but ah, that would cost them more money to produce and keep it. The dollar yet again will play bias.

I am not telling parents not to vaccinate their children, there are many who do and sail through them with not even a whisper of a problem. For them that is wonderful.  I do however ask  of the parents who do vaccinate to have understanding towards the ones who have choose not to. Imagine what it would be like for you to go through the rollercaoster that accompanies a vaccination injury, and set aside some compassion for those who may have experienced this. Whether we choose to vaccinate or children or not we are all doing the same thing, what is best for our children.

Kirra - posted on 03/19/2009

 I am a nurse, I don't recommend any vaccines to a parent that I wouldnt give to my own child.  I dont even ask parents about the HPV shots anymore because I dont think I should promote the shot.  In my eyes it just gives little girls another reason to have premarital sex... and unsafe sex while they're at it.

as a nurse it is your duty to offer these vaccines!!! it is then the parents decision as to whether they do or do not get this vaccine. You do not have the right to deny them of this choice it's ppl like you whome make mothers confused about what is or is not available.

Amie - posted on 03/19/2009

My children are vaccinated and up to date on them all. They've never been adversely affected from them. Their all healthy and have been in contact with some kids who haven't been vaccinated. Including some who have irresponsible parents who sent them to daycare/school with whooping cough & chicken pox. Now when I say this I don't mean their irresponsible for not vaccinating their children (I don't know if those children had been vaccinated or not honestly) but it is completely irresponsible to send a sick child to daycare or school. I do not care if it is a cold or something more serious. Keep them home! My kids are always kept home if they are sick. Sure I lose a day's pay and all my sick time and family days are used only for them but that's being a parent. That is the reason I vaccinate my children.

You do not know who they come in contact with at all times may not be sick or a carrier. Chicken pox can be just a deadly in kids as it can be in adults. (Though the odds are better for an adult to die from it than a child ~ 1/100,000 children can die whereas 1/5,000 adults can die from chicken pox.) Our oldest had to be tested for whooping cough when she came home from daycare at 4 years old with a note that a mother dropped off her kid with whooping cough. Needless to say she was pulled out of that daycare. There is no excuse good enough to expose other people's children to something like that and the daycare's so called rigid rules of allowing no sick children was obviously not as rigid as I was lead to believe. She never caught but had to get tested anyway. Which is not a fun process for those of you that know this from watching your own kids get tested. I was furious! As for the chicken pox she did catch them when she was 6. Even with the vaccine she caught it. Which is fine it wasn't as bad as it could have been. She didn't break out that badly, barely itched at it and her fever was very minor. I remember having chicken pox as a child and I had it a lot worse than that. She was back to school within 2 days instead of the week the other child was made to stay out of school.

It is a personal choice on whether or not a family will vaccinate their child. Though my only real piss off on the whole subject isn't even vaccines in themselves it's sick kids period. Keep them at home! I don't care if it's just a cold there are kids out there that can not handle "just a cold" because of weak immune systems.

Michelle - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Kate:

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Actually pox parties are really common. A lot of moms have been doing it for years and years. Honestly if I could find a kid sick with the chicken pox I would force my kid to share gum or something with them. I would rather her be sick now when it's a minor illness than get it when she's 16 and it could kill her.

A minor illness? I don't even know where to begin with that.  I had the pox when I was 6 and it was not minor.  There were pox in unseen places.  I could hardly pee b/c I had pox inside there, in my ears, nose, mouth, everywhere.   I had all my shots, and with both parents working I'm lucky my mother was on subatical that year.  I was home for 2 weeks with high fever and pox. pox pox.  Unless you have had it as badly or worse than that.  Then tell me that it is minor.  I'm lucky I don't have any scares from it.  Not to mention that I never came in direct contact with the child who had it.  They came to school before they knew they had the pox and I got it by simply being in the same room.  Now tell me that chicken pox is minor.  Anyone at any age can die from it.

Brittni - posted on 03/19/2009

I love how so many people still think shots cause autism... first of all you can't say shots "cause" anything because they haven't done any experiements on shots only observations.. why because experiements would be unethical... My daughter is going to have her 2 month check up and I def plan to give her all of her shots.... I have 3 cousins that are brothers in the same family... my aunt and uncle decided not to give shots to the first 2 boys because all of the "scares" and such and guess what... they both have autism and the younger one which they did vacinate doesn't... hmmmm interesting huh seeing that some of you still believe shots cause autism

Emily - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Hillary:

Emily, you said yourself that "If you vaccinate your child over and over he will never get pox."  Well, yeah, that's kind of the point of vaccines.  So, isn't that reason right there good enough for you to vaccinate your kid instead of forcing him to get sick with the chicken pox by taking him to a pox party?

No it's not good enough because About 15%–20% of people who have received the chickenpox vaccine do still get chickenpox if they are exposed. So still, I would rather my son get it early and live than contract it in his 40s and die.

Hillary - posted on 03/19/2009

Kate, there is no proof the vaccine only lasts a few years.  Read up on what Dr. Sears has to say.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T080900...

Hillary - posted on 03/19/2009

Emily, you said yourself that "If you vaccinate your child over and over he will never get pox."  Well, yeah, that's kind of the point of vaccines.  So, isn't that reason right there good enough for you to vaccinate your kid instead of forcing him to get sick with the chicken pox by taking him to a pox party?

Emily - posted on 03/19/2009

That got kind of redundant there, sorry. But basically what I'm getting at is that I would rather have my child get the chicken pox and recover, and never get it again, then have him die from it in his adulthood. I'd rather a healthy child for life than one that died young.

Kate CP - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Kate:

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Actually pox parties are really common. A lot of moms have been doing it for years and years. Honestly if I could find a kid sick with the chicken pox I would force my kid to share gum or something with them. I would rather her be sick now when it's a minor illness than get it when she's 16 and it could kill her.

That's why I'll be getting my child the chicken pox vaccine.  Just because a kid gets the chicken pox when they're younger doesn't mean it will be a "minor illness."  The severity of it can vary from child to child.  I've heard of the pox parties, and I think the concept is disgusting.  Forcing your child to get sick by exposing them to to other sick kids or "forcing them to share gum" (which made me puke a little in my mouth when you said that) instead of getting them the vaccine seems so wrong to me.

You do realize that the chicken pox vaccine only lasts a few years, right? It doesn't offer life long immunity. However, if you have actually HAD the disease you can't get it again. 

The only reason I allowed my daughter to get the dumb chicken pox vaccine is because she goes to private school and they required it. If your child attends public school you DO NOT have to have vaccines. There are ways to opt out of vaccines. Is it best if you get your kid immunized when they attend school with hundreds of other kids? Yea, probably. But it's not something that is required by law.

Emily - posted on 03/19/2009

Well first of all, I didnt say force him to share gum, haha. I think that is gross too. That was someone else. Only 1 in 10 children will get a case of the chicken pox that needs to be seen by a doctor. While chickenpox in children is an itchy annoyance, it can be deadly for adults. There is a slim chance that chickenpox (1/10000) can lead to death for children. Chickenpox is usually mild in children. But it can cause deadly pneumonia in adults.

Hillary - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

 

I'm sorry you vomited over my opinion. I am bringing him to a pox party because the younger a person gets chicken pox, the less deadly it is. If you vaccinate your child over and over he will never get pox. If you get pox when you are an adult, it can turn deadly. So yes its awful having a sick child for a few days but I'd rather he get it now than when he's 30 and could possibly die. Know what I mean? *hands you barf bag*

That's the point--I don't want my kid to get the chickn pox at any age, so that's why I will get her the vaccine.  So actually no, I don't know what you mean.

Hillary - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Kate:

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Actually pox parties are really common. A lot of moms have been doing it for years and years. Honestly if I could find a kid sick with the chicken pox I would force my kid to share gum or something with them. I would rather her be sick now when it's a minor illness than get it when she's 16 and it could kill her.

That's why I'll be getting my child the chicken pox vaccine.  Just because a kid gets the chicken pox when they're younger doesn't mean it will be a "minor illness."  The severity of it can vary from child to child.  I've heard of the pox parties, and I think the concept is disgusting.  Forcing your child to get sick by exposing them to to other sick kids or "forcing them to share gum" (which made me puke a little in my mouth when you said that) instead of getting them the vaccine seems so wrong to me.

Emily - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

I'm sorry you vomited over my opinion. I am bringing him to a pox party because the younger a person gets chicken pox, the less deadly it is. If you vaccinate your child over and over he will never get pox. If you get pox when you are an adult, it can turn deadly. So yes its awful having a sick child for a few days but I'd rather he get it now than when he's 30 and could possibly die. Know what I mean? *hands you barf bag*

Jamie - posted on 03/19/2009

i forgot to add that varicella vaccine is required for school unless the child has had the disease and if they claim to have had the disease most schools require physician documentation stating when the disease occured and other specifics before they child can enter school.  I've had two children removed from school until vaccines were updated this year alone.

Jamie - posted on 03/19/2009

i forgot to add that varicella vaccine is required for school unless the child has had the disease and if they claim to have had the disease most schools require physician documentation stating when the disease occured and other specifics before they child can enter school.  I've had two children removed from school until vaccines were updated this year alone.

Jamie - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Amber:

oh i take no offense...to each her own, but i didn't just blindly decide to not do it, the 6 months that he didn't have insurance was ample time for me to do lots of research....and based on my research i decided agains it. i didn't stop the vaccines completely...i vaccinate him against hepatitis and tetanus, those things are not treatable but things like the flu and chicken pox i believe strengthen your childs immune system if they get it rather than depending on a synthetic form of the virus that makes their body dependent on some form of medication to fight off infection. like i said i don't shun anyone who does vaccinate their child....i just think the risks outweigh the benefits...from the time he was born until one he had lots of respiratory infections and ear infections and shortly after i stopped vaccinating him, it all stopped. he has not had an ear infection since a year old and he's two and a half now. and he had a cold once in the past year and i think not vaccinating him may play a part in that....

how do you plan to get your child into school without vaccines?  Chicken POx is a required vaccine as is MMR, Polio and dtap.  My daughter hasn't missed any of her vaccines and she's lead a pretty healthy life.  She did have her share of illnesses her first year but the moment I removed her from the unhealthy living and removed her from cigarette smoke exposure and made healthier decisions as to what she ate and small changes like that shes rarely gotten sick.

I do agree about the flu shots and others like that.  I never got her a flu vaccine and even though I am a nurse, I don't recommend any vaccines to a parent that I wouldnt give to my own child.  I dont even ask parents about the HPV shots anymore because I dont think I should promote the shot.  In my eyes it just gives little girls another reason to have premarital sex... and unsafe sex while they're at it.

Diana - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Bernadette:

I am in America.  ...this is from the FDA website from 2009.

 

Thimerosal has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine (see Table 1). A preservative-free version of the inactivated influenza vaccine (contains trace amounts of thimerosal) is available in limited supply at this time for use in infants, children and pregnant women. Some vaccines such as Td, which is indicated for older children (≥ 7 years of age) and adults, are also now available in formulations that are free of thimerosal or contain only trace amounts. Vaccines with trace amounts of thimerosal contain 1 microgram or less of mercury per dose.

** Thimerosal is approximately 50% mercury (Hg) by weight. A 0.01% solution (1 part per 10,000) of thimerosal contains 50 µg of Hg per 1 mL dose or 25 µg of Hg per 0.5 mL dose.
*** The term "trace" has been taken in this context to mean 1 microgram of mercury per dose or less.

 

on that website is a table showing that is is present in the DTP vaccine.  

heh...Maybe the CDC and FDA need to get themselves together.  Straight from the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concern... :

"Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative used in some vaccines and other products since the 1930s. There is no convincing scientific evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines, except for minor reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site. However, in July 1999, the Public Health Service agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated in vaccines as a precautionary measure.

Since 2001, with the exception of some influenza (flu) vaccines, thimerosal is not used as a preservative in routinely recommended childhood vaccines."

Kate CP - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Hillary:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Actually pox parties are really common. A lot of moms have been doing it for years and years. Honestly if I could find a kid sick with the chicken pox I would force my kid to share gum or something with them. I would rather her be sick now when it's a minor illness than get it when she's 16 and it could kill her.

Hillary - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Whhaaa....?  Children die from the flu.  And seriously, a "pox party"?  That makes me sick to my stomach.

Emily - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Amber:

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Yeah I can agree with you on that. I wont vaccinate my child for chicken pox either. When my son is a little bit older, I'm hoping to bring him to a pox party so he can get it done and over with! I vaccinated him against the flu shot this year, but probably wont next year.

Bernadette - posted on 03/19/2009

I am in America.  ...this is from the FDA website from 2009.

Thimerosal has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine (see Table 1). A preservative-free version of the inactivated influenza vaccine (contains trace amounts of thimerosal) is available in limited supply at this time for use in infants, children and pregnant women. Some vaccines such as Td, which is indicated for older children (≥ 7 years of age) and adults, are also now available in formulations that are free of thimerosal or contain only trace amounts. Vaccines with trace amounts of thimerosal contain 1 microgram or less of mercury per dose.

** Thimerosal is approximately 50% mercury (Hg) by weight. A 0.01% solution (1 part per 10,000) of thimerosal contains 50 µg of Hg per 1 mL dose or 25 µg of Hg per 0.5 mL dose.
*** The term "trace" has been taken in this context to mean 1 microgram of mercury per dose or less.

on that website is a table showing that is is present in the DTP vaccine.  

Diana - posted on 03/19/2009

Quoting Bernadette:

Vaccinating is very important, but so is educating yourself about vaccinating.

I have read the studies done on the autism/vaccine link, so I know that studies do exist.  However, as far as I know there aren't published *human* studies...I'd assume because most parents wouldn't (knowingly) allow their babies to grow up as pharmaceutical lab rats....but there is a proven link between thimerisol (a preservative containing mercury, which is still in several vaccines) and regressive autism.  Granted, the studies were done on monkeys but the effect thimerisol had on the brain was proven and the brain structure and development is very similar in humans and chimps.

After 15 month vaccinations, I watched as my son changed dramatically from progressing rapidly to an immediate regression in his abilities.  He went from talking very well (and doing sign language) for his age to making grunts and barely being able to say words.  A week later he couldn't even say the word 'no' and couldn't remember any sign language.  He no longer played with his toys in the same manner and spent hours spinning around in circles and staring at wheels spinning.  The hardest thing was to watch as his typically outgoing, expressive personality morphed into blank stares and no longer looking at us.  He was like a shell of himself.

Of course we were told this had nothing to do with vaccinations.  I did some research and everything that I saw change in my son was exact or similar to what other mother's said changed with their children after vaccinating around the same age.  Some continued to vaccinate and saw these symptoms get worse.  I chose to waive vaccinations (religious waiver) until after 2 years old.

At about 17 1/2 months, just before he would have had his 18 month vaccines, we watched as this fog lifted and our son began to return to his old self.  Developmentally, he had regressed to where he was before the 15 month vaccinations but once that fog lifted he was back to developing at an accelerated rate. 

I believe vaccines are very important, but I stand behind my decision to stop vaccinating until he was older.  ...and we don't do flu shots at all.

In America, the only vaccines currently given to children that contain *any* thimerosol are flu shots.  I can't assume you're American, as all mothers on these boards are not-but posters reading your post should know that American vaccines have not contained thimerosol since 2001, aside from flu shots.  If anyone doubts that, they can look it up at the CDC's website.

Bernadette - posted on 03/19/2009

Vaccinating is very important, but so is educating yourself about vaccinating.

I have read the studies done on the autism/vaccine link, so I know that studies do exist.  However, as far as I know there aren't published *human* studies...I'd assume because most parents wouldn't (knowingly) allow their babies to grow up as pharmaceutical lab rats....but there is a proven link between thimerisol (a preservative containing mercury, which is still in several vaccines) and regressive autism.  Granted, the studies were done on monkeys but the effect thimerisol had on the brain was proven and the brain structure and development is very similar in humans and chimps.

After 15 month vaccinations, I watched as my son changed dramatically from progressing rapidly to an immediate regression in his abilities.  He went from talking very well (and doing sign language) for his age to making grunts and barely being able to say words.  A week later he couldn't even say the word 'no' and couldn't remember any sign language.  He no longer played with his toys in the same manner and spent hours spinning around in circles and staring at wheels spinning.  The hardest thing was to watch as his typically outgoing, expressive personality morphed into blank stares and no longer looking at us.  He was like a shell of himself.

Of course we were told this had nothing to do with vaccinations.  I did some research and everything that I saw change in my son was exact or similar to what other mother's said changed with their children after vaccinating around the same age.  Some continued to vaccinate and saw these symptoms get worse.  I chose to waive vaccinations (religious waiver) until after 2 years old.

At about 17 1/2 months, just before he would have had his 18 month vaccines, we watched as this fog lifted and our son began to return to his old self.  Developmentally, he had regressed to where he was before the 15 month vaccinations but once that fog lifted he was back to developing at an accelerated rate. 

I believe vaccines are very important, but I stand behind my decision to stop vaccinating until he was older.  ...and we don't do flu shots at all.

Charlene - posted on 03/19/2009

where i live the only way to be immunised from chicken pox is by catching it as for the flu it is only given to children who have asthma and certain disorders in which can make them worse. 

Amber - posted on 03/19/2009

like i said before i do vaccinate for serious life threatening things such as hepatitis, tetanus, etc...but chicken pox and flu shots are f-ing stupid and i wont do it!!

Arwen - posted on 03/19/2009

I would recommend vaccination, but like you, I don't get them all. I don't get mine the flu shot. No one should worry about autism. The reason they think that's liked is because autism normally presents itself around the time a child turns one and is getting their one years shots. If they have the shot or not, they'll still have autism.

Most will really try to work with you. You can always get shots split up.

Emily - posted on 03/19/2009

People who dont vaccinate make me fricken furious.

Samantha - posted on 03/19/2009

I think it is best to be selective in what vaccinations one give's to thier children. The vaccinations for major life theating diseases like hep. and measles should be recieved. But every time I take my kids in to the shot clinic they want to try and talk me into giving them stuff for strep throat and the flu. My doctor recomends no more then 2 shots at a time every 3 months.

Charlene - posted on 03/19/2009

it is completly up to the childs mother to make that decision, however the more mothers who choose no to vaccinate their children, the more of an epidemic the world will have with the different infections and diseases that are around.  I am a medical student and just completed an essay on vaccinations and there is no research to suggest a link between vaccinations and autism what so ever.  My daughter is 4 now and is up to date with her vaccinations and is completly healthy.

Diana - posted on 03/19/2009

Let me just re-iterate what several moms have said before.  There is no evidence that vaccines cause autism.  Additionally, thimerosal, the preservative that contains mercury that caused a lot of concern, has been eliminated in all vaccines given to children aside from flu vaccines since 2001, according to the CDC. 

We all need to keep in mind that, while autism itself is not new, its diagnosis *is*.  The disorder was not named until 1943, and the criteria for diagnosing autism has changed drastically over the past 66 years that it has been recognized as an illness.  Autism and its related disorders (including Aspberger's) are diagnosed using a checklist rather than a specific test that comes out positive or negative, and since the criteria changes, so does the amount of people who fall into the category of having autism. The expanding and changing definitions of these disorders accounts for a large portion of what has begun to seem like an epidemic.  Should we be concerned?  Certainly.  But we should stop thinking that these cases weren't there before, because they were.  Even as short a time ago as 20 years, people who now would be diagnosed as autistic were diagnosed as having something other than autism, as its diagnosis did not include criteria that fit symptoms; and 70 years ago, no one was diagnosed with autism, because it did not exist as a named disorder.

In addition, as one mom has already mentioned, one of the main reasons that some vaccines are linked with autism is that they are given right around the time that autism can be diagnosed, around 18 months.  While there may be earlier warning signs, it is not until 18 months that a diagnosis can be firmly set, and the vaccination schedule for children stipulates that the MMR vaccine be given to children between 12 and 15 months-right around the time that children present with autism.

While much of the information in my post comes from the CDC's Autism Information Center (which you can and should peruse at : http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/), some of it comes from personal experience.  I have an 11 year-old nephew with Aspberger's syndrome, and my mother has a master's degree in special education and taught classes for developmentally disabled children for 30 years.  She and I have had extensive conversations about the changing criteria for diagnosing autism and the disorders related to it, and I have done extensive research on it, looking through the information available from the CDC, its related affiliates, and the few medical studies that have been conducted on the issue.  All of the information I've seen serves to convince me that there is not a causal link between autism and vaccines.

Helen - posted on 03/19/2009

all the scare mongering about the MMR is so harmful. Time and again they have proved that there is NO LINK with autism. The time at which the shot is given just happens to be the time at which the autism starts to show. If the shot was given 6 months earlier or 6 months later we would never hear any of this rubbish it is all just coincidence. Besides what would you rather take a risk an have a shot ( although there is no risk) or risk loosing your child totaly to a painful death from measles.

Helen - posted on 03/19/2009

I just thank God i live in the uk - not only do we get a minimum of 26 weeks paid maturnity leave but all medical care (except the most expensive cancer drugs) is free - you never have to worry about hospital fees or shots - it is not even income tested. It is a basic right for everyone to get medical care free of charge.

Michelle - posted on 03/19/2009

when my son was small he was to sick to have his vaccines luckily I have a really good pead who recommended waiting till he was better etc Im not sure what the recommended vaccine regime is in the US (we are in the UK) but we were told alot of the vaccines are more efficient if postponed for around a year but its not recommended here to prevent epidemics etc. Long story short he is not up to date with them just yet but he is having them with the recommended intervals so they are not all close together, he has not experienced any side effects and apparently studies say that by delaying them for a year or more reduces the the link with autism (this was told to me by my pead because my son is counted as high risk of being autistic but I have never reserched it myself.)

If it was me I wouldn't just stop them as I feel the benefits outweigh the risks but then my son is also immuno suppressed so many normal childhood illnesses would be fatal to him.

Good luck with what ever decsion you make

Holly - posted on 03/19/2009

I agree mostly with you, but what are you thoughts on the whole MMR thing? My son had it at 1 and is fine but he is about 5 and will need it agian for Kindergarten.  My daughter is 8 months and will soon be needing it.  I am scared of the whole autism thing.  I have a friend that when her son got the mmr shot at 1 the next day he totally regressed, and is now diagnosed with autism.  He is now 5! 

Holly - posted on 03/19/2009

This brings up a really good question for me.  I bellieve in SOME of the vaccinations.  I give them in smaller incromits.  Like we don't get all 4 shots at once.  We get two of them instead so therefore my kids aren't gettting so much at one time. 

Now here is my fear!  The MMR shots.  My son is  now 4 and he got his when he was 1, and he is fine.  My daughter is 8 months and is coming up on that crap shot.  I have a friend that when her son got the MMR shot when he was 1, he was talking progressing like normal.  The day after he got that vaccine, he regressed!  He is now 5 and he has AUTISM!!, She swares up and down that it was due to the shot, and so does Jenny Mcarthy.  She says the exact thing about this in her book. 

I have done a lot of research on this paticular vaccine.  And I find both sides.  I am honestly still up in the air on what to do.  Very scared about this. Have u heard anything about this vaccine?  What are your views?

Ama - posted on 03/19/2009

OK. I am a teacher in a rural school. Yes, my child has had all of her vaccinations and she is perfectly healthy. This school year we have had an out break of chicken pox in the 5th and 6th grade. When a student misses a week or more of school, depending on the severeness of the chicken pox, it can have a detrimental effect on their academic learning. I also know of a child of a friend who has had the measles as well. As a parent who works, I could not begin to afford to take that amount of time off of work.



As for the small pox vaccine the European lady spoke about, I would love for myself and my child to have the vaccine, but in the US it is not even offered to civilians and the military get it only if they are going overseas. I did not even get that vaccine as a child because they had stopped offering it.



As more and more parents choose to not vaccinate their children, the risk becomes hirer that more and more outbreaks will occur. That is one risk that as a parent I am unwilling to take with my child.

Patti - posted on 03/18/2009

I vaccinate my son, but only one vaccine at a time...and only certain vaccines. Also, I'm delaying his MMR vaccine until 3 years old. He's a little behind on his shots, but I have a great doctor who supports and helps me along the way, and my son is not in daycare. His first doctor did not work with me on an alternative vaccine schedule and made me feel guilty for even mentioning it...so I found another doctor. Everyone should do what's right for them and their families and respect other peoples decisions. As far as books, I really liked Dr. Sears The Vaccine Book. There is a lot of great information in there. I never even thought about researching vaccines until I had a baby...but everyone should just to educate themselves-- whatever their opinion is.

Kate CP - posted on 03/18/2009

Okay, just because a lot of kids who get sick with the measles or whooping cough don't die doesn't mean they CAN'T die. Letting a child get a cold is one thing but allowing them to be exposed to serious viruses is, to me, not a wise thing to do. If you chose not to vaccinate your kids that means you should be taking precautions to ensure they aren't exposed to those viruses. I do agree that the chicken pox vaccine is friggin' retarded and I wish I didn't have to give it to my daughter. I would much rather her contract the disease as a young child then be worried about her getting it when she's older and it can be potentially fatal. If you don't protect your kids one way you should be doing it another way.

Amber - posted on 03/18/2009

Quoting Tegan:

I see all the posts against vaccines, but I do not see information backing up the statements? Perhaps you could share the research or information you found with references? Simply saying that a friend of a friends child had this and that..... Sorry, not rock solid research to me.
I am sure a lot of people would appreciate more conclusive researched information.

i posted a few links a little further up on this forum...i don't know em by heart

Amber - posted on 03/18/2009

Quoting Kate:

Quoting Amanda:

I don't vaccinate my kids and both of them are extremely healthy they've been around several contagious viruses and haven't been sick once. The risks of vaccinating greatly outweigh the benefits to me.

Okay that, to me, is like playing Russian Roulette. If your kids aren't vaccinated why would you allow them to be around others who have HIGHLY contagious diseases? I don't really have a problem with not vaccinating...my problem is allowing kids who aren't immune to those diseases to be exposed to them.

 

 

i think either way is like playing russian roulette...exposing your child to contagious viruses such as the flu or chickenpox can be a good thing as long as they are typically in good health otherwise....then they can build their own immunities to the virus...and the fatality rate for those viruses are extremely low and typically only kill children who weren't healthy prior to catching it or didn't receive proper care while sick....

 

Tegan - posted on 03/18/2009

I see all the posts against vaccines, but I do not see information backing up the statements? Perhaps you could share the research or information you found with references? Simply saying that a friend of a friends child had this and that..... Sorry, not rock solid research to me.
I am sure a lot of people would appreciate more conclusive researched information.

Tegan - posted on 03/18/2009

I see all the posts against vaccines, but I do not see information backing up the statements? Perhaps you could share the research or information you found with references? Simply saying that a friend of a friends child had this and that..... Sorry, not rock solid research to me.
I am sure a lot of people would appreciate more conclusive researched information.

Kate CP - posted on 03/18/2009

Quoting Amanda:

I don't vaccinate my kids and both of them are extremely healthy they've been around several contagious viruses and haven't been sick once. The risks of vaccinating greatly outweigh the benefits to me.

Okay that, to me, is like playing Russian Roulette. If your kids aren't vaccinated why would you allow them to be around others who have HIGHLY contagious diseases? I don't really have a problem with not vaccinating...my problem is allowing kids who aren't immune to those diseases to be exposed to them.

Amanda - posted on 03/18/2009

I don't vaccinate my kids and both of them are extremely healthy they've been around several contagious viruses and haven't been sick once. The risks of vaccinating greatly outweigh the benefits to me.