New and have vax dilemma

[WhiteHorse]

I am new to the board and so far pretty overwhelmed with reading all the posts so I thought I'd just jump in and ask some questions. Background -I have a 15 month old son who has been vaccinated up to his 6 month appt but nothing since then, so I will be checking to be sure, but I am guessing he has had 3 DTaP, 2 IPV, 2 Hib, and 3 PCV shots. At the 9 mo checkup he got a iron test and at the 12 mo checkup he got nothing because we are investigating allergies and he was underweight - the first weighing was off the charts and the second weighing was 10%. So we have not been back to the doc yet and have changed docs so we haven't yet seen the new doc (at the 12 mo, the PA saw him, not the doctor). As far as previous vax, I don't think he had any reactions other than more than normal fussiness. I am trying hard to remember if anything I missed at the time. My son is very dairy allergic and has been since birth so that is the only thing we are struggling with for him - he does not eat well and still BF on demand.

Anyway, to make a point here, I have a couple of questions - does anyone know what breastmilk provides as far as immunities after 12 mos? Would my own immunities have an impact on this - I don't know if I got the measles vax or not. I did have rubella as a child but not measles. I was born in 70 and I honestly do not remember getting a shot as a 12 year old although I do remember going to the doc and getting a tetanus shot because I was around horses alot. OR does mom's immunites not matter, the milk only helping baby's own immune system by default? Second question is, the 4th DtaP is suggested for 12-48 months - can we skip this one and wait until school age - does it wear off quickly after 6 month shot? i would not vax at all except there is supposedly pertussis going around in my area (I have no primary source for this other than the 6 pm news). I know these are questions for the doc, but I am apprehensive asking him for advice when 1, I don't know him yet and 2, general mistrust of docs in general, so I'd like some opinions first before I go in. His appt is 3/10 and and he will be almost 16 months at that point. Also, any advice for facing the doc on posing the delay/alternative schedule with him is greatly appreciated!! Thanks for reading this long!

[Marnica]

I'm not certain about the specifics of immunities via BM but BF in general is great becasue it colonizes the gut with beneficial bacteria. The immune system is largely in the gut.

If your son has severe dairy allergies you need to stay away from the DTaP which is cultured on casein which is a milk proteins and any other vaccine that is as well. Every parent needs to read the package insert with a fine tooth comb. MDs will not tell parents whats in there because they dont really know. When reading look for bovine casein or caisamino acid. Other common things kids are allergic to are also in some vaxes such as soy, yeast and antibiotics... So yes Skip the 4th DTap...forever preferably!

[WhiteHorse]

Next week we are going to get a blood test for the food allergies. This was at the request of the PA when we went in at 12 mos. I was supposed to have already done this so they could clear him for the flu shot. But with the holidays and my own chronic put-everything-off habits, we have not yet done it and I did not want to get the flu shot for him anyway. Thanks for posting, I am still in the initial stages of researching this.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by WhiteHorse

Next week we are going to get a blood test for the food allergies. This was at the request of the PA when we went in at 12 mos. I was supposed to have already done this so they could clear him for the flu shot. But with the holidays and my own chronic put-everything-off habits, we have not yet done it and I did not want to get the flu shot for him anyway. Thanks for posting, I am still in the initial stages of researching this.

If you don't want him to get the flu shot simply tell them no, he will not be receiving the flu shot. The flu shot still contains mercury. Yes there is a mercury "free" version but they don't make enough of these. Parents assume doctors are giving their children the mercury free when this is not always the case.

Personally I would skip all vaccines period. As for the immunities in BM, it is my understanding that you don't pass as much to your child through BM if you have been vaccinated verses actually having the disease.

[LindsayK]

A couple more things to consider in addition to what the previous posters said...

First - if your son has already gotten 3 DTaP shots, then his theoretical immunity is already quite "high" (which, for pertussis is considered to be about 70-90%). Secondly, your Dr will probably tell you all about how horribly dangerous pertussis can be, but something on the order of 85% of the deadly cases happen before 3 months of age (this is according to CDC Pink book). Thirdly, even though we think of this time of year as cold and fly season, its *not* pertussis season. That happens usually in the summer. If you want to find real numbers (one week delayed) for pertussis, you can check out your state here:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5807.pdf

Go to page 20 to see cases of pertussis by state. The only two states with a number of cases are N. Carolina (65 cases) and Ohio (26 cases)

On the flu shot, remember that the flu season typically ends in about mid March, about two weeks from now. When you vaccinate for the flu, you are typically vulnerable to catching the flu, or anything else going around for about 2 weeks, because you immune system is depressed. So if you vaccinate now, you'll put your son at greater risk for catching something for basically the remainder of the flu season

If you are at all concerned about issues concerning vaccination, just tell your doctor you are delaying for now. Do your research and *don't* be pushed or guilted into vaxing. As an FYI - lots of doctors will listen to your concerns, and then say, "I know you want to delay/selective vax, but there is this one vaccine, (fill in the blank), that you really MUST have today, because of (horrible awful things happening)" That's called the doctor's pet vaccine, and the vaccine is different for every doctor.

I would recommend you don't do any vaccinations at your next appointment. If you go home after your appointment and realize you've made a horrible mistake in not vaccinating, you can always call and make an appointment with the nurse to do a 5-minute vaccination visit. If, on the other hand, you realize after vaccinating that you've made a horrible mistake, well, you are up you know what creek without a paddle, because there is no way of undoing it!

Good luck in your research! There's lots of knowledgeable mamas on this board!

[mommyofemma]

LindsayK,

Very well said! I always tell my friends that decide to vaccinate or trying to figure out if they want to or not, "You can always give a vaccine, but you can never take one away"

[aniT]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

Thirdly, even though we think of this time of year as cold and fly season, its *not* pertussis season. That happens usually in the summer.

I always thought fly season was in the summer as well.

[WhiteHorse]

Thank you all so much! Yes we happen to be in Ohio and another mama on another board was talking about her daycare sending everyone home because there were 2 kids (unvaccinated) with Pertussis. She was complaining about having to take off work. Another mom piped in saying there was a kid at her Ped's office who had it and she could hear the signature cough from the other room. Guess this would be a good time to become a hermit!

[aniT]

Originally Posted by WhiteHorse

Thank you all so much! Yes we happen to be in Ohio and another mama on another board was talking about her daycare sending everyone home because there were 2 kids (unvaccinated) with Pertussis. She was complaining about having to take off work. Another mom piped in saying there was a kid at her Ped's office who had it and she could hear the signature cough from the other room. Guess this would be a good time to become a hermit!

Why are they sending everyone home because two children have whooping cough? If the kids are vaccinated they should be protected correct? I thought the whole point of vaccination was in the case of an outbreak your children would be protected and would be able to remain in school. It is the unvaccinated ones that get sent home.

[LindsayK]

Originally Posted by aniT

I always thought fly season was in the summer as well.

HA! That went through the spellchecker with no problem

Why are they sending everyone home because two children have whooping cough? If the kids are vaccinated they should be protected correct? I thought the whole point of vaccination was in the case of an outbreak your children would be protected and would be able to remain in school. It is the unvaccinated ones that get sent home.

The pertussis vaccine is a bugger. The vaccine is not 100% effective (something like 70-85%), it does NOT prevent transmission, and 80% of household contacts of a person with pertussis will get it as well. Pertussis vaccination wears off over the years, so chances are kids going home with pertussis will get the rest of the family sick.

So yeah, I'd just stay home with the kids and not risk getting it. Its not the end of the world (I've had it) but it sure feels like it! Its also an infection you can get again later in life, so getting it now won't confer the benefits of lifetime immunity.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by LindsayK

HA! That went through the spellchecker with no problem



The pertussis vaccine is a bugger. The vaccine is not 100% effective (something like 70-85%), it does NOT prevent transmission, and 80% of household contacts of a person with pertussis will get it as well. Pertussis vaccination wears off over the years, so chances are kids going home with pertussis will get the rest of the family sick.

So yeah, I'd just stay home with the kids and not risk getting it. Its not the end of the world (I've had it) but it sure feels like it! Its also an infection you can get again later in life, so getting it now won't confer the benefits of lifetime immunity.

Well that is cause fly is a word.

And if the sick kids have gone home, why can the other children not be at school. Or... I guess it is in case one of them has it but doesn't know it yet?

[WhiteHorse]

It wasn't a school, it was a home daycare so all the kids were sent home. I don't blame the DCP because the other kids might be already sick without symptoms yet?