To Immunize or Not to Immunize?

B.,

You will get many, many answers to your questions. I have already addressed this one and it covers the subject. The first time I andwered this question, I got a private message from another mama suggesting I was a bully. I assure you I am the furtherest thing from a bully you would ever meet.
Heres my opinion:
What does your husband think?

You are young enough to have probably not seen a lot of disease resulting from children not being vaccinated. Because a "small" percentage of parents are deciding not to vaccinate, the diseases thought to be eradicated in this and many other countries, where vaccines, modern medicine and early detection is available, diseases such as polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and this list goes on, are once again on the rise.

When you made up your mind, you mentioned the “horror stories” you heard about vaccines. I can almost guarantee when your baby has a spiking temperature of 103 degrees at 2 AM in the morning (and we have all been there), you are likely not to resist modern medicine and will be on your way to the nearest emergency room that can help your baby get better.

My suggestion is to interview two or three pediatricians, ask your questions and listen to what they have to say…. then make up your mind.

This is the kind of question that could start a heated debate, that's for sure. :)

I choose to get my children immunized with all the recommended shots. Yes, I have heard the arguments for shunning the shots, and I know those moms love their children just as much as I love mine. But I believe that the risk of the diseases is worse than the risk of the shots.

I think about my grandparents and great-grandparents and the terrible diseases that were common (and dreaded) in their time. (I think we forget just how bad, for instance, polio and rubella--terrible to risk in spreading the virus to pregnant moms with that one--were because we don't see epidemics anymore.) When the vaccines came out, parents jumped at the chance to protect their children. Sometimes it seems we are starting to take immunizations for granted now.

If you are leaning towards rejecting immunizations, may I suggest that instead of rejecting *all*, you consider each vaccine individually. Perhaps you might compromise by immunizing for the most dire diseases, and abandoning the "less" needed ones such as chicken pox and flu.

Best wishes to you, whatever you decide on.

I'm not sure what you really want to know....Are you considering this? Do you have specific questions about where to find details on the alternative schedule? Where to find a pediatrician who will support whatever decision you make? What factors to take into account when deciding? Questions about school? I have heard secondhand that the local Kaiser is now splitting out vaccines and it seems almost a standard now. (I don't belong but women in another chat mentioned this)

Toni had some great input and questions to consider. I don't envy any of us this decision. It will be a great day if this issue could be "de politicized" (okay, I think I made up a word but I think you'll get it) and answers sought for the sole purpose of helping future generations. I'm actually on a different track as far as vaccines are concerned. Fortunately there isn't autism in our family, even extended. However, my Father, Sister, Brother and I have all had severe allergic reactions to vaccines. My Father was left deaf in one ear. The most recent was my sister, she has a heart condition and was told to get a flu shot so she did. That almost did her in and she is still having health problems which may be related to the vaccine or just worsening of her condition. Probably for most other people this would have been the best course of action but there is something obviously going on in our genetics regarding vaccines and I really haven't experienced support, answers or validation of our concern regarding this from the medical community.

Anyway, about the alternative schedule....from what I know it originated from Dr. Sears and is detailed in his Vaccine Book. You may find more information at His website http://www.askdrsears.com/
or be able to get his book from the library. If this is something you're concerned with you may just want to get your own personal copy.

As far as school in CA, any state accredited school (this includes private school and preschools) is required to use the same form/procedure, there is a place on the form to fill out for exemption. When you travel as a child or an adult for that matter you may need to get immuniations depending on where you travel. My Sister In Law went to India for work and had to have vaccinations, one for Malaria. My stepson went to Indonesia 3 years ago with the Peace Core and wasn't vaccinated then or ever. So it's not like your child would NEVER be able to travel, they just might have to have specific vaccinations before and you'd need to plan as you can't do it the day before you leave ;-).

Anyway, there are dire statistics regarding the diseases vaccines protect against. You can do a little research and find them. The statistics about Autism and related conditions are also staggering. Again, I don't envy any of us having to make this decision.

I am wondering about the difference in your title: "To immunize or not to immunize" and the body of your question: "alternative schedule for shots".

1.)
If you are questioning whether to immunize, just take a look at all of the people here illegally from many third-world countries. They are bringing diseases back to the US that we haven't seen in decades. Some children are now not immunized because of a "perceived" danger from the immunization. What parents who don't immunize don't take into account is that not only are they putting their children at a very REAL risk from these diseases, they are putting the unborn children of pregnant moms at risk too.

Possible scenario: you don't get your child vaccinated. Your child gets polio and is crippled. Before you realize your child has polio, they infect a pregnant mom who loses her baby to the polio virus.

In addition, there may be places you want to travel that won't allow non-immunized people. If your child ever wants to travel as an adult, they will also have to be highly careful that they don't come into contact with these diseases. Some of these preventable illnesses that can be dangerous in children can actually be life-threatening if contracted as adults.

2.)
If you have decided to immunize but do not agree with the practice of giving multiple shots to infants/kids in the same day, I am in complete agreement with you. If I could go back and redo my kids' immunizations to date, I'd separate them by at least a month. My four year old got really sick after getting her four pre-elementary school immunizations all at once. I'll be spreading out my 13 month olds shots. You don't have to get your doctor's permission or approval. When you make the appointment for immunizations simply request two dates and explain that you will be separating the shots. No apology necessary.