Is anyone else here questioning your decision not to vax? - Page 3

[Spectrolite]

i meant to bold both of these statements:

More kids die from vax than they do from the diseases. More kids have bad reactions to vax than the kids have from the diseases.

[anewmama]

Spectrolite, I think that in the opening of the CDC Pink book they make some statement to that effect about the side effects being more common than the disease we vaccinate for. (of course, then they go on to say that we don't see the disease because of vaccination).

*********


To ALL,

I have gotten great info from alot of you so don't take my question wrong. It was just something I wondered, not at all a criticism or judgement. Just wondering what motivates different people (cause the motivations are all different) to continue to research and post on vaccines when they are so sure of the choice to not vaccinate.

[Scattershoot]

Just wondering what motivates different people (cause the motivations are all different) to continue to research and post on vaccines when they are so sure of the choice to not vaccinate.

I have personally told a lot of people about this website and forum. In particular, first time parents. These new parents are blindsided by their doctors' opinions and what the mass media constantly preaches. This is one of the few places that exposes the alternate view. I think it's important to keep those views fresh.

The more one studies, the more one learns and the study is never-ending in this area. The pro-vax crowd comes up with new attacks quite a bit, and this is one place people can go to hear a rebuttal.

I also think it's probably nice for those parents who are new to the concept of non-vaccination to hear from people who have been involved in this for a long time (I've personally been aware of this for 15 years). It's probably good for some of them to hear that all of our unvaxed/unprotected children haven't died from infectious disease, and as a matter of fact, our children are unbelievably healthy in many, if not most, instances.

[crunchymamato3]

I have questioned my decisions over and over again. My oldest two DD's are selectively vaxed and my youngest has had none...that said, my DH's uncle was a Chief of Pediatrics for Kaiser for many years and his cousin's wife is a pediatrician as well. We get HUGE family pressure to vax. HUGE. Now that my youngest DD is almost 7, I really don't want to do her at all...but then my oldest, at 13, has no Chicken Pox tithers despite her sister having had it...and my family is going NUTS about the fact I haven't vax'd her for this yet. My youngest was kicked out the pediatric practice we have been with for 11 years as it is not their policy to see unvax'd kids...and I'm just not sure what is right or wrong any more. My heart of hearts tells me not to vax them at all...period. But the pressure from outside that I am crazy, stupid and otherwise endangering my children is starting to eat away at me.

[Full Heart]

Originally Posted by anewmama

I question it all the time. And I wonder for those who are firm in their decision and don't have doubt, why the need to research all the time and participate in this board? It's something I wondered. If I were 100% certain and at peace, I would move on to other things in life. So I wonder if on some level, we all need to reinforce our choices, even when we say we are sure. I wonder if we all nee the support of "Others" out there otherwise, it can be a lonely world in this when most people around us vaccinate.

Well I personally feel like I should never stop learning. New vaccines come on the market, formulas change, there are new attacks on non vaxers I need to stay on top of.

I am 100% confident in my decision. It has nothing to do with autism though and Dr. Sears (or anyone else) had no impact on my decisions. My motives have nothing to do with anyone convincing me of anything. I don't frequent antivax sites at all. I use the CDC and State Health Depts publications as well as other pro vaxing sites. They have all the info I need to make the decisions NOT to vax.

[prettypixels]

As a pro-vaxer, I have to say I don't think Sears is pro-vax at all. I think he is trying really hard to play both sides of the fence and doing neither well.

The Pink Book says reactions to vaccines are very common, but they are talking about things like fevers or irritation at the injection site.

[Proverbs31]

there's a lot more money in alternative medicine than I ever thought

LOL, no where near as much money as in the vaccine industry

For me, the court procedings make me trust the vaccination progrm even less. Any system that allows the defendant to appoint their own judges is way too shady for me to hitch my wagon to.

[Proverbs31]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

The Pink Book says reactions to vaccines are very common, but they are talking about things like fevers or irritation at the injection site.

From where do you gleen that?

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pin...safety-508.pdf
Today, vaccine-preventable diseases are at or near record lows. By virtue of their absence, these diseases are no longer reminders of the benefits of vaccination. At the same time, approximately 15,000 cases of adverse events following vaccination are reported in the United States each year (these include both true adverse reactions and events that occur coincidentally after vaccination). This number exceeds the current reported incidence of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases. As a result, parents and providers in the United States are more likely to know someone who has experienced an adverse event following immunization than they are to know someone who has experienced a reportable vaccine-preventable disease. Thus, the success of vaccination has led to increased public attention on health risks associated with vaccines.

[buttercupmama]

I'll just say it boils down to one thing for me. My child was not born deficient in drugs of any sort. Therefore, she does not need them.

Originally Posted by anewmama

I question it all the time. And I wonder for those who are firm in their decision and don't have doubt, why the need to research all the time and participate in this board? It's something I wondered. If I were 100% certain and at peace, I would move on to other things in life. So I wonder if on some level, we all need to reinforce our choices, even when we say we are sure. I wonder if we all nee the support of "Others" out there otherwise, it can be a lonely world in this when most people around us vaccinate.

This may be true for some, but others probably stick around to respond to others who are still uncertain like they once were.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Spectrolite

Pleeease give me hard data for that. I've been doing research on this issue for a week (not, much, but every spare (and nursing) moment i get i'm on the net, going to bed late every night, its on my mind ALL the time...). I'm sure its been posted before but i just can't seem to find it. Please lead me to where i can see that statement by a scientist!

now wouldnt that fact be the best piece of info to help on-the-fencers like me to "easily" decide!!

nak - but it's on the first page of the pink book

-Angela

[runes]

Originally Posted by anewmama

I question it all the time. And I wonder for those who are firm in their decision and don't have doubt, why the need to research all the time and participate in this board? It's something I wondered. If I were 100% certain and at peace, I would move on to other things in life. So I wonder if on some level, we all need to reinforce our choices, even when we say we are sure. I wonder if we all nee the support of "Others" out there otherwise, it can be a lonely world in this when most people around us vaccinate.

OK, I'll bite.

Even though I am very firm in my stance and decisions regarding vaccinations, I continue to research all the time because I enjoy it. I have always been oriented towards science and it keeps me "sharp".

My participation in this board is fueled by my deep gratitude for the information that many mamas gave me, so very patiently, back when I was pregnant and a newbie at vax research.

It's called paying it forward.

[To-Fu]

Largely, no.

I sometimes have teeny doubt-shadows in the back of my mind, but I can squash them by remembering all the research I've done over the last couple of years, and then I'm at peace again. The nail in the proverbial coffin was watching Vaccine Nation, which you can see on YouTube for free. Might be worth rewatching if you're feeling doubty.

[karika]

i agree watch vaccine nation. http://video.google.com/videosearch?...en&emb=0&aq=f#

i tried to get the direct link but couldn't figure out how. i got there by going to google video and typing vaccine nation in search.

also, i am on a yahoo group called vaccinations in the health section if anyone wants to check that out. it is run by a homeopathic practionaer and is very good, though very busy group.

i too did my research on so called pro sites, after reading some anti sites, and not believing it was true, or surely 'they' would have told us by now and stopped immunizing. i found all i needed to make the connection that the cure was more harmful than the disease, and frequently the cure wasn't a cure anyway. they don't always work.

i still follow discussions like this (for those that ask why we are here if we are so sure) to be information for people that haven't researched yet, or aren't sure they can believe what they found, since all our lives we were told it should be done, and it was safe. in fact, we are told we are risking our children's very lives for not doing it. judged by people that have not done the research, they are just believing blinndly, as i did for myself. i mean, i truthfully never thought about anything an MD could be doing as unsafe, until i found out about what natural is. i got my pnuemonia shots, tetanus booster, etc in the years leading up to the birth of my first child... so I am here to show people they can be different than the norm if they want to be, if their conclusions lead them not to vax, as mine did for me.

i am also insistent on following the latest research, reading the most current theories, in the hopes that soon we will have the 'holy grail' and it will be apparent to everyone that the cure has become the disease. or my mind is open to research that proves it is better to receive a vaccine as well. as of now, i see it all as an endeavor to dumb down america, a well thought out agenda. i dont want our future to be like idiocracy.

the dumbing down of america
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLYrSfnsqb0

so i am here becasue i care about other peoples children and my own, and because frankly it just captivates me that this has been going on for some time with everyone being oblivious, though 30-50 yrs ago, having the mumps or measles was a regular event and nothing to worry about. there is an episode of the brady bunch where measles goes throught the house, no one dies or even freaks out thinking someone is gonna die. and there is an episode of leave it to beaver where someone has the mumps and it is part of the humor of the show. a normal thing, joked about, not to be feared.
i breastfeed my babies as much as they want, cosleep, use natural medicines and cleaners, feed pure foods when ready for food, all these things are what makes them strong, not a shot.

i have questioned my decision, a few times. When that happens, I read up on it again and reaffirm my decisions. I beleive we question it because everyone around us has access to the same info we do, and they still do it. and it is hard to stand apart from the rest, to question authority. I haven't read anything yet that changes my opinion on the vaccinations...

[rlenk]

OP - I too am second-guessing my decision lately. I think it has to do with registering my son for Kindergarten and being faced with this pressure to vax him for school. Although my oldest two are vaxed on schedule for their age, I had decided not to continue vaxing and my youngest has had no vaxes at all. Now I am second guessing. EVERYBODY I know vaxes their kids on schedule so I understand the need for support.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by crunchymamato3

Now that my youngest DD is almost 7, I really don't want to do her at all...but then my oldest, at 13, has no Chicken Pox tithers despite her sister having had it...and my family is going NUTS about the fact I haven't vax'd her for this yet. My youngest was kicked out the pediatric practice we have been with for 11 years as it is not their policy to see unvax'd kids...and I'm just not sure what is right or wrong any more. My heart of hearts tells me not to vax them at all...period. But the pressure from outside that I am crazy, stupid and otherwise endangering my children is starting to eat away at me.

I have a link about someone here who vaxed a teen for chickenpox. Vaccine reactions are not restricted to young children.


Chicken Pox Vaccine and Stevens-Johnson syndrome...

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by JadasMommy<3

I'm really starting to question not vaccinating my child and just want to know if anyone else here is also re-thinking all of this. Especially, how have you dealt with your doubts in light of the recent court rulings? I just feel like I don't know what to believe anymore and I am starting to think I should never have trusted Dr. Sears.

Please be nice/don't post here if you don't have anything supportive to say. I'm looking for support.

Choosing to vaccinate is a risk assessment.

You are the parent. You know your child's individual needs, situation and environment better than anyone else.

What it comes down to is you choosing the risk for a reason, whether that is to vaccinate or not.

Currently, I think the risk of vaccinating is worse than the risk of contracting the disease.

Even if that were to change, however, I would still be extremely hesitant to vaccinate based on my reactions to vaccines and my husband's reactions to vaccines.

BTW: I don't trust anyone with my child's health and wellbeing, no matter what their credentials are. I hate the credibility or authoritarian fallacy. The science is there or it's not. I don't care who is saying it. I can easily read medical journals, the CDC, the IOM, FDA, EPA etc and learn from those places. Who cares what a ruling is in a court case. Go out into the field and research the disease and the vaccines for yourself.

[calynde]

I only start doubting it when the diseases start getting close to home, and because we are in a country with lower than average MMR "compliance", we've had waves of measles outbreaks over the past few years. We've had 2 deaths this year so far...one measles, one whooping cough (a 12 year old and a 2 year old...both unvaxed, both previously healthy). I don't plan to run out and vax my kids, but if I'm being honest, these are the times that I start to have fears and doubts. : I'm a big chicken when it comes to both vaxes and the diseases.

[mommyofemma]

We don't vax at all, and I will admit that there are times that the question runs through my mind "am I doing the right thing". When I question myself I just start looking back over all the research I have done and it reassurs me that yes, I have made the right decision. I don't know how much research you have done or what your exact reasons for not vaxing are, but I confident in my decision not to vax. It is hard when you have ppl who are aware of the harms of vaccines,but then you have so many things our here promoting vaccines. It makes it hard on parents. The best advice I can give you is to continue doing research on each vaccine, the more research you do hopefully the easier it will make your decision.

[PaigeC]

Originally Posted by buttercupmama

I'll just say it boils down to one thing for me. My child was not born deficient in drugs of any sort. Therefore, she does not need them..

:

The vaccine program is based on believing we are born broken or needing improvement in the natural balance of disease/immune response. I don't believe this is the case and even if I did I don't believe that vaccines work.

Of course, it was harder for me to tell the pediatrician "no vitamin K" with my innocent infant in my arms than it was to make that intellectual decision while I was pregnant (i know that is not a vax but I refuse it for the same reason - God didn't *forget* to add vit K to babies). When my emotions give me a small panic attack I just weigh the pros and cons (and pray).