
Kay - posted on 04/09/2009 ( 75 moms have responded )
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Are all immunizations really necessary for my baby? I haven't researched them all yet. I thought I'd ask you all first. I think I've been traumatized at the hospitals watching my baby get all these shots than she is. Which immunizations do you think are really necessary? How far a waiting period between immunizations being given? Thanks.
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Ally - posted on 04/09/2009
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corrine,
just because someone chooses to not vaccinate or selectively vaccinate does not mean they are playing games with their childs health! there are many educated professionals (myself included-i am a registered nurse) who strongly believes there are not enough studies being done and that we are way over vaccinating our kids. there is a reason why vaccines such as DPT and OPV are no longer on the market bc after many years of parents being told these are perfectly safe they came to realize that they were doing more harm than good. and with the whole mercury/thimerisol thing..if you truly belive that it was removed as a preservative just to make consumers happy without any proof that it caused damage you are being incredibly naive.
as for your statistics how about the one that is undisputed that there is now 1 autistic kid in every 150 and before mandatory vaccinations began that number was about 1 in 10,000..so although im not saying i believe all the hype it is really not prudent to discount that fact.
also vaccines (at least most of them) require boosters to keep you and vulnerable populations protected and very few people actually get them when needed compared to natural immunity provided from infection from diseases like chicken pox or rubella that are childhood illnesses meant to be had and usually quite harmless in most children.
then when those vaccines wear off..usually after about ten years you have an adolescent or young adult livivng in close quarters with others such as in college and they are the least likely to keep up with booster shots. now you have set up a perfect opportunity for an outbreak of something like chickenpox when it could be much more deadly.
i have done lots of independent research , read the medical jornals cover to cover reviewed clinical trials and studies and still chose to selectively vaccinate. so just because someone does something that isnt what you would have chosen for their own family doesn't mean their choice is any less safe or appropriate for their family.
Kerri - posted on 04/15/2009
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This is a forum to give your opinion, not to force yours on others. How could you tell someone not to listen to another opinion just because you don't agree? The fact is that it is a personal choice. Just because you have cosen not to vaccinate for all diseases and your children are healthy, does not mean it will be the same for others. I have chosen to get ALL recommended vaccines and my children are also extremely healthy. The difference is that my children are also protected from diseases like measles, polio, and rubella (to name a few). The people who chose not to vaccinate are now putting others at a higher risk of being exposed to these diseases. This is why children are not allowed in schools or public daycare without proper vaccines. The risk of contracting these diseases is MUCH MUCH higher if you have not been immunized.
Kerri - posted on 04/09/2009
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My ex husband and I were both active duty Air Force and worked in the hospital. That is what we were taught. Maybe I should explain better. They continue to get the antibodies for 6 months, after that, they still carry the antibodies with them but they don't continue to get additional antibodies after that. I also believe that because you breastfed, that is why your son didn't contract the full virus. He still has all the antibodies from you in his system now. Also, My husband worked in the NICU as a respiratory Therapist. He cared for many children with RSV. You are right, it is a very serious and scary disease. I'm so glad your son is fine. I will admit that I have not done any further research on this since separating from the military so I don't know if there are new findings but to be safe, I breastfed my children until they were nearly a year old and I did vaccinate as well. If any of my children had been premature I probably also would have spaced out the vaccines and talked to my doctor about omiting some of them altogether. As far as not having insurance, is there a program in your area to help with this? I think it's really sad the way our government can't (or won't) help children who need things like this. Have you looked into CHIP insurance for your son? I wish you and your family all the best and I hope your son continues to thrive. They are such a blessing.
Karen - posted on 04/09/2009
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I agree with Emily C that you should do your research beyond this site. I'm not familiar with the book she recommended, but I found The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears to be helpful. My son inherited his father's sensitive immune system, and reacts to foreign invaders (including vaccinations) with a high fever (though his reaction isn't strong enough to get a medical waiver). I researched and developed an individualized plan that includes some (not all) of the CDC recommended vaccinations, though only one at a time, in one month intervals. I've had to fight with my son's pediatrition about it because we live in a state that does not allow philosophical exemptions to vaccinations, and the price we pay is that he won't be allowed in licensed day care facilities (we're able to keep him home all day) or public school (we planned on homeschooling anyway, but we wouldn't make that choice based on the vaccination requirements--there's too much involved).
What it came down to for us was risk vs. reward: did the risks of receiving the vaccination itself outweigh the rewards of being vaccinated against a given illness? It's a lot of work, but research each vaccine as well as the disease it guards against, and decide what seems best for your baby. Also check the laws in the state you live in (assuming you're in the US--I realize this site is international) and see what the consequences will be for not following the CDC recommendations exactly. Ultimately it's your choice.
Good luck!