I'm being pushed to vaccinate - please help me with informaiton?

[Mama_2_Boy]

We agreed (DH and I) that we would only give our son what is required by the laws for him to get into grade school. He got his shot on Friday and had a reaction in his leg. It is huge, swollen, itchy and he keeps getting an upset stomach everytime he eats. My brother is always telling me it's a small price to pay for what the alternative is. He keeps throwing me "pro-vac" informaiton (like this today http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/he...ml?ref=science)
and I'm getting miffed. Can you please list me some resources for anti-vac info?
Thanks.

[alegna]

Well, if you go by what's required for school, that's pretty much everything.

Unless you are in MS or WV you can get an exemption and don't have to vax at all.

Don't argue with pro-vaxers. Not worth the effort.

-Angela

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

We agreed (DH and I) that we would only give our son what is required by the laws for him to get into grade school. He got his shot on Friday and had a reaction in his leg. It is huge, swollen, itchy and he keeps getting an upset stomach everytime he eats. My brother is always telling me it's a small price to pay for what the alternative is. He keeps throwing me "pro-vac" informaiton (like this today http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/he...ml?ref=science)
and I'm getting miffed. Can you please list me some resources for anti-vac info?
Thanks.

Oh my goodness! If your baby had a reaction to a shot, don't get him anymore! Sensitivity can compound. Like any allergy, repeated exposure makes the body react more and more each time, resulting in severe symptoms such as anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest, seizures and death.

This is what happened to me. My last dose of Dtap (around 18 months I believe) was the last straw for my body. I siezed for 48 hours, despite several anti-epileptic medications.

But, during the first doses, all I had was swelling, discomfort, grumpiness and no appetite.

You do NOT have to get him vaccinated to get into school. Get an exemption and protect your baby! I am so scared for you guys!

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by alegna

Don't argue with pro-vaxers. Not worth the effort.

Agreed.

Why don't you tell him to stay out of your health decisions for your children and he can just worry about his own kids.

I also agree to look into exemptions.

[PaigeC]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

We agreed (DH and I) that we would only give our son what is required by the laws for him to get into grade school. He got his shot on Friday and had a reaction in his leg. It is huge, swollen, itchy and he keeps getting an upset stomach everytime he eats. My brother is always telling me it's a small price to pay for what the alternative is. He keeps throwing me "pro-vac" informaiton (like this today http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/he...ml?ref=science)
and I'm getting miffed. Can you please list me some resources for anti-vac info?
Thanks.

ugh that article is soooo biased. Send him insidevaccines.com. The alternative isn't as bad as we've been led to believe. A terrible shot reaction is not a small price imo. I would also stop based on a bad reaction.

[CAKJNH]

Originally Posted by claddaghmom

Oh my goodness! If your baby had a reaction to a shot, don't get him anymore! Sensitivity can compound. Like any allergy, repeated exposure makes the body react more and more each time, resulting in severe symptoms such as anaphylactic shock, cardiac arrest, seizures and death.

This is what happened to me. My last dose of Dtap (around 18 months I believe) was the last straw for my body. I siezed for 48 hours, despite several anti-epileptic medications.

But, during the first doses, all I had was swelling, discomfort, grumpiness and no appetite.

You do NOT have to get him vaccinated to get into school. Get an exemption and protect your baby! I am so scared for you guys!

I second this!! My daughter was given her first Hep B shot, she got a fever of 101 (at 2 days old). The medical staff told me that it couldn't be from the Hep B shot - they did a septic work up, we were in the hospital for 5 days because they couldn't find out what caused the fever. They put heron Gentamycin and reacted to that, too. She vomited on the x-ray table and then turned blue. She was released from the hospital on day 6 and all they could say was all the tests they did were "Clear, negative or not concerning" Jump ahead...

At age 4 she was diagnosed with autism by a team of doctors at Children's Hospital Boston. I'm not here to say that vaccines cause autism...I'm simply sharing what happened to our little girl in hopes that it will help someone else make decisions about their children. I wish I'd researched everything before allowing them to touch my daughter!

We selectively vaccinate now & its usually delayed. We homeschool now, so no rush in our decisions & after a long time searching, we've found a wonderful, local pediatrician who supports the parents' decisions.

If your child reacts to anything - it's an allergy. You never know how much will be too much! Whether it's bees, latex, vaccines, food, animals...the body gives us warnings for a reason!

An added note: It is your child, you don't have to explain yourself. Simply smile, nod and change the subject or tell them that they should read up on the pros and cons. To each their own. In fact - I don't even tell people about my decisions like that. It's not their business. Come share your decisions with us instead.

[Mama_2_Boy]

Originally Posted by alegna

Well, if you go by what's required for school, that's pretty much everything.

Unless you are in MS or WV you can get an exemption and don't have to vax at all.

Don't argue with pro-vaxers. Not worth the effort.

-Angela

Thanks Ang
I'm in Canada - different schedule.

[Arduinna]

I don't get it, nothing it technically required since you can get an exemption.

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

Thanks Ang
I'm in Canada - different schedule.

You're in Canada? Vaccines aren't mandatory in Canada. I hope you know that.

If you're in Ontario or New Brunswick, download and fill out the form found on this page for the appropriate province http://www.vran.org/legal/forms.htm

You shouldn't need anything if you're in any other province.

[Mama_2_Boy]

Originally Posted by PaigeC

ugh that article is soooo biased. Send him insidevaccines.com. The alternative isn't as bad as we've been led to believe. A terrible shot reaction is not a small price imo. I would also stop based on a bad reaction.

Is this considered a really bad reaction?? Because the doctor told it's completly normal and common?

[Mama_2_Boy]

Originally Posted by TechnoGranola

You're in Canada? Vaccines aren't mandatory in Canada. I hope you know that.

We were told for him to get into his grade school it is.

[alegna]

Nope. Canada is even easier than the US.

-Angela

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

We were told for him to get into his grade school it is.

No, vaccines are NOT mandatory in Canada. It is against our constitution. Did you read my earlier post that in Ontario and New Brunswick, you just need to fill out a form? (and I linked to a place to download the form). In other provinces, you shouldn't need anything.

What province are you located in?

[PaigeC]

Well, I guess "bad" is a relative term. But any reaction assures me that these vaccines are a stress on a child's system.

The real question is was the reaction worth the (dubious) protection. What was the shot for? For example, if this reaction was from DTap, here is what I have found (quoted from my blog post on this topic- excuse me for quoting myself but it has links to sources in it.):

Pertussis


This is a normal childhood disease so I'm not going to spend much time on it except to say two things: (1) the chance of death from whooping cough with medical treatment is .2%, and (2) vaccination is shown to increase, by more than double, the rate of childhood asthma.
Tetanus


Tetanus is a bacterium whose spores are found in soil. Thus it is everywhere and you cannot 'catch' it from someone. In anaerobic (no oxygen) environments it creates a toxoid that is poisonous and can cause nerve damage. Tetanus is a big problem in 3rd world countries without good sanitation and access to medical facilities. In the US good wound management makes it very rare. Since tetanus is anaerobic it grows in deep and dirty wounds - often puncture or crush wounds (hence the "rusty nail" fear). In the US if a child has a puncture of crush wound, hopefully they are going to the emergency room. In any ER a person can be given a Tetanus Immunoglogulin (TIG) dose of antibodies to stop the spread of infection. Since tetanus takes 3-21 days to evolve it can be almost completely avoided by immediate medical care.

Does it sound like I'm playing with fire? How about this. From 1980 until today the average number of tetanus cases in the US per year was 40. Yeah, just 40 - I'm not missing any zeros there. And most of those were in persons over 40 (and frequently over 60 since nursing homes are a major hotbed for tetanus due to dirty conditions and bedsores) and IV drug users. Also, cases of tetanus in children under 5 years of age totaled 2 since 1989. Yeah, 2 in almost 20 years. All of this information is directly from the horses (CDC's) mouth.
Diptheria


Diptheria is also a toxin producing bacterium. This is all numbers: In the 1920s 100 people per 100,000 got diptheria in the US, of these 5-10% were fatal cases. Since 1980 there are .001 cases per 100,000 and no reported deaths. It is endemic in developing countries (hygiene, clean water, etc. could this be why?) despite vaccination efforts. A diptheria anti-toxin is available from the CDC.

So, IMO, even an itchy welt and upset stomach are not worth it. Plus, what is happening inside if he is reacting outside. There are similar stories for MMR, varicella, etc.

Also, I said "dubious" earlier because vaccines, which are touted as saving the world were introduced long after the diseases began to decline. Check out these graphs: http://www.vaccinationdebate.com/web1.html

I'm not familiar with Canada's laws but I'm sure none of these vaccines are required. I think you should take your time and delay any more shots until you can feel 100% sure of your decision. You can always delay but you can't take back a shot once it is given.

[PaigeC]

http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/canada.htm

Canada exemption

[kiara7]

Tell your brother to butt out. This is your child, not his. Read the Canadian laws, you can file an exemption if needed.

Also, read this: http://russellblaylockmd.com/

Go to information and spend some time reading Vaccines, Neurodevelopment and Autism Spectrum Disorders. He explains exactly what is going on inside of a child's body with vaccines, reaction, etc.

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by Mama_2_Boy

We were told for him to get into his grade school it is.

They always say that. They never volunteer the truth that exemptions are available.

[MyBoysBlue]

I'm in Alberta and they didn't even ask for DS's vax info when I registered him for grade 1. Whoever told you it was required is lying.

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by MyBoysBlue

I'm in Alberta and they didn't even ask for DS's vax info when I registered him for grade 1. Whoever told you it was required is lying.

Ontario, NB and Manitoba have provincial legislation for school and some of the vaccines. But, you just sign a form saying you object and that's it. I believe the main reason to get you to sign the form is so that you agree to have your child sent home/stay at home in the event of an outbreak.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by kiara7

Tell your brother to butt out. This is your child, not his. Read the Canadian laws, you can file an exemption if needed.

Also, read this: http://russellblaylockmd.com/

Go to information and spend some time reading Vaccines, Neurodevelopment and Autism Spectrum Disorders. He explains exactly what is going on inside of a child's body with vaccines, reaction, etc.

I agree...unless your brother is well read on the subject (which he obviously isn't or he would never make such an ignorant comment) tell him it's not up for discussiohn