Not vaxing and traveling... your thoughts

[nia82]

Hi guys,

DS is 3 months and so far I wanted to selectively vax, but the more I read the less likely it seems to me that I actually want to vax him, if at all, only after 24 months...
My concern is: we will travel at least once a year to Europe, Germany. Granted, none of the vax diseases are really around there. I just fear people at the airports (Frankfurt is really big and there really are people from everywhere)...
Can you tell me how you felt about itnernational travel and what precautions you took? I'd love to read some stuff that will ease my mind...

you know, the vax stuff is deeply burried in my brain: I remember in 8th grade we had immunobiology, all we learned was how active and passive vaxes supposedly work. It's hard to overcome a "rational" that I was trained like a pet to know as truth... The fear mongering still gets me... But DH and I will not vaccinate unless we feel absolutely safe about it... Until then, it will be put off.

Thanks so much...

[japonica]

Hi there,

I'd read up and research as much as you can just so you feel better and more confident about travelling...honestly, if you're leaning towards not vaxing, then just vaxing out of fear because of travel is probably something you'd regret later.

Both my kids are completely vax-free. We travelled to Europe when my DD was 23 months old--through Heathrow and that is one of the busiest airports in Europe with connections to Africa, India, you name it and I wasn't worried a bit. I made sure she kept up with her supplements even while abroad and got some probiotics. She was still nursing at the time, so that helped too. She was completely fine. I was the one who caught a cold after we arrived.

We're about to go to Australia in a couple of weeks' time with our daughter (now 4 years old) and son (7 months old) through 3 more airports and I'm not concerned either. I'm packing immunity enhancing supplements, trying to make sure our preschooler gets enough rest and stays away from the sugar, washes her hands, that kind of thing.

Hope this helps...happy travels...

[JJ'sMom]

Well, most vax-diseases were in decline before the vax was administered to the public, due to improved hygiene, so keep up the great hygiene, enjoy your trip and don't bother with the vax if it is right for your family.

(We hung out in Cancun for 2 weeks with our unvaxed 10 month old and partially vaxed 3 year old with out any problems - and the 3 yr old required stitches there too.)

Just my 2 cents worth....

Julia

[ilovemygirl]

I have never and probably will never vax my daughter. If I were going for an extended stay in an area where a vaccine available disease is prominent I might consider the vax but I certainly have no worries about going to Europe.

[Full Heart]

I stayed over in Germany for 3 weeks, going through Frankfurt. I have family over there and it never occured to me or my parents that we would run into any vpd. Any airplane you fly on in the US or abroad is gonna have had people from all over the world in it. I would just keep up good sanitation, find some good SA and eat well (how can you not if you are in Germany ) and rest. I am sure you will be doing all of those things anyway. I came home as healthy as went I went and 10 lbs heavier lol.

[mommy2jonah]

We traveled with DS in July to Honduras. We are going back in 2 weeks. We stay at an orphanage with 450 kiddos. We don't really do anything different than we do here in the States. My DH and I prayed about it and we have complete peace about traveling internationally with him. I know people who would freak out or think we were irresponsible but I can't inject him with that crap.
Don't let the fear mongering scare you and have a fun trip!

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by nia82

Hi guys,

DS is 3 months and so far I wanted to selectively vax, but the more I read the less likely it seems to me that I actually want to vax him, if at all, only after 24 months...
My concern is: we will travel at least once a year to Europe, Germany. Granted, none of the vax diseases are really around there. I just fear people at the airports (Frankfurt is really big and there really are people from everywhere)...

Though most of Western Europe does not have compulsory vaccination, their vax rates are comparable to the US.

You need to be comfortable with the typical childhood illnesses (Switzerland has had a rather large measles outbreak in the past few years and cases are up in Britain as well) if you are not going to vaccinate. The other VADs are rare and/or treatable.

[nia82]

Ok thanks guys... I think good sanitation will be all that's necessary... The airport is big and there are many people on the plane, but they just should stay away from us (don't you dislike those people who wanna hold your baby and you don't even know them!).
The area in Germany where we will go to visit my relatives has extremely high vaccination rates (ex East Germany - vaccines where THE thing in that medical system - I know, they even vaxxed me with BCG, and it was compulsory). And: my parents had about every childhood disease there is - there are still happy, alive, healthy and kicking!

You're right about the food, can't wait... Organic is sooooooooo much cheaper over there!

[Arduinna]

my thought is enjoy your trip. Vaxing is not even on my radar, especially not to Germany.