I Need Hand Holding

[hollyvangogh]

I keep going back and forth on vaccines. I try to do the research. I'm trying to keep an open mind. But this side says that side is wrong/doesn't understand the science/misinterprets the data and the other side says the exact same thing, kwim? I don't know who is right. Science is not my forte so it's not really possible for me to figure it out alone.

For now, on the good advice of somebody in this forum, we're delaying until we know what we want to do (because it can't be undone once it's done). But it makes me feel all stressed and antsy to not a: have a decision made and b: have sources I fully trust to back it up. See, I'm a bit of a coward. I need to be backed up. I need to feel confident. And I need articles or something I can print off and put in my "I'M the Mama" binder for when I'm harassed and I need a reminder that I'm doing the right thing.

I guess what I'm asking for is:
1. Encouragement and [hugs]
2. Your stories about coming to the decision YOU came to (whatever it may be). HOW did you decide. Did you struggle too? Was it scary for you?
3. Advice on how to separate good info from bad, factual from fiction, etc. Links to trustworthy sources, lists of books, etc. particularly by doctors, scientists, and similar experts vs. lay persons (and not people in big-pharma's pocket of course).

Also, in the case of something like chickenpox (which I'm pretty dang sure Baby Lu is NOT going to get a vax for)...how can I ensure she catches it sso she gets immunity?

[mamakay]

I struggled a lot at first trying to understand the science. It all read like Greek for quite a while, but it got easier after not too long. But I'll not lie; it eats up a lot of time doing things that way.
But actually understanding the science being debated is the only way I know of to not just be taking someone else's word for things, which, as you know, leads to a "who to believe?" situation.

I think your best bet will be approaching the issue from a "selective/delay" mindset. Learn about each disease there's a vaccine for (the CDC's pink book chapters are a good start. Let me know if you need a link) and then learn the arguments for and against the vaccines. Finding the ACIP MMWR vaccine recommendations is a good way to hear the arguments FOR the vaccines.
This site has a good synopsis of the arguments against the vaccines.
http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/

It usually comes down to both valid arguments for AND against the various vaccines, and you just have to form your own opinion on what you think is right.

To answer your questions:

HOW did you decide.

I took the time to learn about the diseases and the vaccines, and the arguments for and against the vaccines, disease by disease and vax by vax.

Did you struggle too? Was it scary for you?

Yes. Very much at first. It's still spooky at times, but nothing like it was in the first 6 months.

Also, in the case of something like chickenpox (which I'm pretty dang sure Baby Lu is NOT going to get a vax for)...how can I ensure she catches it sso she gets immunity?

You can't. A lot of people put a timeline on an age where they'll decide it's just time to get the vax (like, age 10.)

[Lollicup]

If you're feeling this way, then I suggest just getting the vaccinations that are critical in the first year or two of life. Hib, DTaP and Prevar. My pedi said that most of her patients receive DTaP, Hib and some are now asking for Prevnar.

I know there are fears here about getting screwed-up with vaccinations, but think about how many vaccinations don't cause a reaction and are fine.

[FernG]

I agree with mamakay. DH and I did exactly what she suggested - research each disease and vaccine.

We originally planned to selectively/delay vax. We are not not vaccinating at all b/c....
1) There are really no long-term studies.
2) Vaccine studies are extraordinarily poorly controlled.
3) It would be easy to study the long-term health of vaccinated children and nonvaccinated, but no one does that. Why? This seems suspicious.
4) Even though research shows that combo vaccines are less efficacious than single vaccines, they keep producing more and more combos. Why is that? This is certainly not research-based medicine.
5) Too many vaccines were not created for the health of the children who are receiving them but to keep parents from using sick days at work.
6) Reading research about pertussis and Hib especially shows that the researchers had no idea how they were changing the immune system and don't understand the long-term consequences to the immune system and bacterial flora.
7) The vaccine schedule (vs. individual shots) has not been studies for even short-term safety.

We have many other reasons for not vaccinating, but those are some of the big ones.

We need to keep in the research to maintain our peace with such a controversial decision.

There are often yahoo groups for CP parties in local areas. You could search for those if you "need" chicken pox.

[gr8blessings]

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

3. Advice on how to separate good info from bad, factual from fiction, etc. Links to trustworthy sources, lists of books, etc. particularly by doctors, scientists, and similar experts vs. lay persons (and not people in big-pharma's pocket of course).

This is from WHO, on how to determine reliable information and a list of sites that the WHO has reviewed and determined to contain reliable information:
http://www.who.int/immunization_safe.../en/index.html

The committee that reviews the sites is made up of professors and government officials. The composition, mandate and funding of the committee is available here: http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/ab.../en/index.html (note this is 4 pages long, click on the little numbers on the bottom of the page to go to the next page. Why they don't use a big "NEXT" button is beyond me.)

gr8blessings

[yarngoddess]

First off, Hollyvangogh- Big Hugs! The best you can do is Educate BEFORE you Vaccinate No matter what you decide, educate yourself.

I totally disagree with Lollicup! (no offense) You should NOT vaccinate until you have researched. You CANNOT remove the vacciene once it's in. You should not be rushed to make a decision like this, it's not one that can be reversed.

The links in the stickeys here are awesome! I have also recently found this set of videos on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TdSp...eature=related
all videos are there to watch. Very good information, easy to understand.

I agree with mamakay- research EACH disease and EACH vaciene.

I came to my decision to Not vax, when my son suffered a reaction. I wish I had researched before, because I would have found the article in Mothering that talks about the risk factors that MAY pre-dispose one to a reaction. I honestly didn't know that it was my decision to vax or not to. I was told that I HAD to- and was forced. Had I known then- I would have NEVER gave him even one shot.
He reacted to the first shot, and after each shot Jake got worse. It wasn't until 8months did I finally "get it" - after I almost lost him to Autism? Neurological Disorder? The great abyss? I don't know where he was headed, but I knew it was somewhere I couldn't go. He is now 7yrs old, and he's very much "normal" but he's NOT. He lapes into his own world, a place that's full of fear and anxiety, a place that no matter how hard I try, I cannot reach him

Educate before you Vacinate.

[amethyst08]

holly,
we struggled as well with the question of vaccination pro/con. initially, we could only find inflammatory information on both sides of the issue. our decision was to hold off on vaccinations until we had peace about whatever decision we were going to make. while we waited, we were very very careful about where we took our ds and i was careful to keep up with 100% breastfeeding. we did not expose him to other children much at all, and would not take him out around people when we knew they weren't feeling well.

when we did reach a conclusion, we came to it after reading dr. sears vaccine book. while no source of information is perfect, we felt that this book covered the bases and in the end gave us peace of mind.

we also switched drs - the one we were originally going to use gave me a difficult time and was not respectful of me as a mother. the dr we went to had known me from a previous miscarriage and knew how much thought and research went into our decisions. she knew she could trust me to make a decision based on facts not fear. she actually has patients who are not vaccinating but can't back up the reasons why - and it frustrates her quite a bit.

all that to say: trust your mom instincts, they're natural and real; read dr. sears - we were relieved to find out that we could request certain brands of vaccinations that contained less heavy metals or whatever was worrying us (our dr. was excited to learn this, she had NO idea); once you make a decision and feel peaceful about it, stick to it.

we decided to go with a delayed vaccination schedule, pretty much like the one in the book. because ds was 6 mths old when we started vaccinating, he couldn't get the rotavirus, but the rest are just on a delayed schedule. we don't do daycare, church nursery or playgroups - if we did, we would have needed to factor his exposure into our decision. we're also going to homeschool at least for elementary, so we don't need to worry about school vaccination requirements either.

best wishes - you'll do GREAT!!!

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

I keep going back and forth on vaccines. I try to do the research. I'm trying to keep an open mind. But this side says that side is wrong/doesn't understand the science/misinterprets the data and the other side says the exact same thing, kwim? I don't know who is right. Science is not my forte so it's not really possible for me to figure it out alone.

For now, on the good advice of somebody in this forum, we're delaying until we know what we want to do (because it can't be undone once it's done). But it makes me feel all stressed and antsy to not a: have a decision made and b: have sources I fully trust to back it up. See, I'm a bit of a coward. I need to be backed up. I need to feel confident. And I need articles or something I can print off and put in my "I'M the Mama" binder for when I'm harassed and I need a reminder that I'm doing the right thing.

I guess what I'm asking for is:
1. Encouragement and [hugs]

2. Your stories about coming to the decision YOU came to (whatever it may be). HOW did you decide. Did you struggle too? Was it scary for you?
3. Advice on how to separate good info from bad, factual from fiction, etc. Links to trustworthy sources, lists of books, etc. particularly by doctors, scientists, and similar experts vs. lay persons (and not people in big-pharma's pocket of course).

Also, in the case of something like chickenpox (which I'm pretty dang sure Baby Lu is NOT going to get a vax for)...how can I ensure she catches it sso she gets immunity?

to you!! I know it's a hard place to be and we have all been there no matter what choice we made in the end. The decision we made was a bit of a journey that started way before I had my DS. About 4 yrs ago I was a very mainstream girl. All about doctors, medications and trusted the allopathic medical establishment. I mean that's how I was raised and isn't that what we are all supposed to do?? Anyway at that time a friend's friend's 3 month old (I think he was about 10 weeks actually) died of SIDS. This tragedy happened to occur 14 hours after his 2 month shots. The mother suspected vaccinations (the docs denied any connection) and I thought that was balony. Vaxes are safe after all. I started to look into this subject more to prove this woman was nuts than anything else. At the same time, I was going through some medical issues that I had been seeking help for with regular mainstream docs. I was on a lot of medication (that only made me feel worse or created new problems) and was at the end of my rope. I turned to alternative medicine out of desperation and was surprised when I actually began to get better without all the drugs. On my alternative medicine journey, I met many practioners who had a great deal of knowledge about vaccines and the potential harm they can do. So fast forward 3 years to when I had my son. (OMG he's almost 1 yr old...time flies!!). I knew before he was born we would not be vaccinating although I told myself we would delay until he was 2 and would consider HIB if for some reason I was not able to breastfeed.

I have spent the last year stepping up my research and we will not be vaxing at all. The only one I still consider is HIB, but not until my ds stops breastfeeding. I will reevaluate at that time.

I conducuted my research much the same way the others have. I went disease by disease and vax by vax. I read the science but I also pay attention to what people call "anecdotal" evidence. I know some here think that is unwise and foolish and that's fine. That is their opinion. I think it is foolish to discount the millions of moms and dads whose children have suffered reactions (even though their peds deny they are reactions) or who have been thriving toddlers only to regress or all of a sudden start having seizures or severe allergies or become hyperactive with multiple learning disabilities. These experiences are dismissed as coincidental. Well how many times does something have to occur before it is not a coincidence any more???? The other thing that influenced me was the fact that the whole vaccine issue is not based on unbiased research. It is riddled with conflicts of interest and many of the institutions and individuals involved are totally corrupt IMO.
This process has been very scary and still is at times, but the older my son gets and I see how healthy he is, the calmer I feel. Because my own experiences with natural medicine I know the body is more than capable of healing itself if given the proper support.

As for how to separate info. My #1 rule whern I'm looking at anything is follow the money. There are many doctors and scientists who speak out about the potential dangers of vaccines. What do these folks have to gain? Being ostracized from the medical community, having their funding taken away, being hounded out of there positions, fired, ridiculed, put up on quackwatch.....Yup that sounds great doesn't it? Yes they may sell a few books if they write one, but that is peanuts compared to what Paul Offit is making. Anyway I digress.

As for CP, just keep on the lookout for a pox party! and if she doesnt catch it by an age you start to feel uncomfortable with, m ake sure to have her titre checked before you give her the vax, she may very well have immunity.

I agree with most PP's just educate yourself before you make any decision. No choices shoud be made out of fear or pressure and remember you do not need to defend your choices to anyone. This is YOUR child, and YOUR choice. Good luck and remember your child depends on you to be informed!!!

[alegna]

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

I guess what I'm asking for is:
1. Encouragement and [hugs]
2. Your stories about coming to the decision YOU came to (whatever it may be). HOW did you decide. Did you struggle too? Was it scary for you?
3. Advice on how to separate good info from bad, factual from fiction, etc. Links to trustworthy sources, lists of books, etc. particularly by doctors, scientists, and similar experts vs. lay persons (and not people in big-pharma's pocket of course).

You CAN do this

2. I agree that the selective/delayed mindset is a good one to have. With dd the first thing I decided was that I would delay all vax until she was 2. That gave me some breathing room. I say 2 for a number of reasons- there is some evidence that the blood/brain barrier is more closed after 2, I feel more comfortable with the health status of a 2 yr old than an infant, it's easier to prove a reaction in a walking/talking child than in an infant.

I went disease by disease and vaccine by vaccine. I avoided as much that I could that wasn't raw data. My most-used sources were the CDC, VAERS, and older textbooks and resources on the diseases.

I'm an oddball in that I wasn't scared. I was never scared. I think it's important to note that fear (on EITHER side) is not a good decision-making tool. I have no fear at this point. Wariness. Good information. But not fear.

3. See above. As much as possible, look for primary sources. For disease info, try to find some old parenting books or nursing books- especially before the 60s. You'll find that many diseases that we vaccinate for now were seen as nothing not so very long ago.

-Angela

[xmasbaby7]

To quickly share my journey, my SIL told me to research vaccines carefully and I thought she was wacko. I dove into the research so that I could confidently say she was being paranoid or wrong.

I first really felt that it was critical to wait until dd was 1 or 2 to begin vaccinating so that I could know which ones really were the most effective with the least reactions for the most health benefit.

I think even the people on this forum who do vaccinate will agree the CDC schedule has more of a profit motive dictated by the power of the well-financed pharmaceutical lobby than proven public health benefits.

You should become familiar with each disease and its chance of reaching your family, whether or not you feel you could treat it, etc. when looking at each vaccine choice to see which ones to do. Enough information from reading will allow you to leave the zone of fear-based decision making and into a place you can feel better about your choices.

This was my plan for almost 2 years while continuing to research, but by the time my dd was 2, I was able to see her pure immune system in action so many times, that ultimately chose not to vaccinate at all. I felt that it was not worth the risk to lower the functionality of her immune system against all illness for a few select viruses (I am not a fan of bacterial vaccines).

I don't think this would be the right decision for everyone, but it is mine and I feel great about it 110%.

I don't think there is anything any new mom can feel great about the first year of life because it is so dang scary to have the responsibility. e.

[mama1803]

Originally Posted by Lollicup

If you're feeling this way, then I suggest just getting the vaccinations that are critical in the first year or two of life. Hib, DTaP and Prevar. My pedi said that most of her patients receive DTaP, Hib and some are now asking for Prevnar.

I know there are fears here about getting screwed-up with vaccinations, but think about how many vaccinations don't cause a reaction and are fine.

Critical can be defined in a number of ways--the decision to vaccinate or not comes down to the risks and benefits to the individual. So what is deemed critical by you may not be so important to me, given my risk factors. After much research we have decided no more vaxes for either of our kids--any potential benefits do not outweigh the possible risks. Obviously what are risks will be defined differently by different people. My ds has loads of allergies--to me it is a huge risk to tamper with his immune system.

As far as the vaccinations that don't cause a reaction and are fine--I think of reactions as any possible reaction and not just those that are immediate and visible and obvious. Injecting infants (or anyone for that matter) with toxins may not cause an immedate and visible reaction, but make no mistake there are consequences to the body.

[becca_howell]

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

I guess what I'm asking for is:
1. Encouragement and [hugs]
2. Your stories about coming to the decision YOU came to (whatever it may be). HOW did you decide. Did you struggle too? Was it scary for you?
3. Advice on how to separate good info from bad, factual from fiction, etc. Links to trustworthy sources, lists of books, etc. particularly by doctors, scientists, and similar experts vs. lay persons (and not people in big-pharma's pocket of course).

1. I totally feel you! You're headed in the right direction simply by questioning the information being force fed you by your pediatrician, the CDC and mainstream media. You are no longer a mindless sheep, congratulations!
2. I never liked giving DD vaccinations. I cried my eyes out when she got her first shots at 2 months. By 6 months, I was coming into my crunchiness (my crunchy "coming of age"). A lot of my switching to crunchy living had to do with DD's severe eczema. I had her vaccinated at 6 months, but really questioned things like the MMR and chicken pox vaccine. I read a LOT, online and books. Discovering all that goes into vaccines (and NOT just mercury and aluminum) and the truth behind a lot of the research and stuff made me sick thinking of how blind America in general is to vaccines. So, I decided to start delaying her vaccines. We didn't get any at 12 months, and was just going to get Prevnar at 15 months. However, the gutless wimp I WAS, I let the doctor talk me into doing her last DTaP shot. The idiot nurse did both vaccines in one leg. She ran a fever for a week and had an eczema patch show up on her injection site and had a knot the size of a tennis ball for a MONTH! Fed up, I told DH that we were going to stop her vaccinations and he was totally cool with it. When DS came around, we were adamant about him not getting ANYTHING, even vitamin K in the hospital (DD got vit K and Hep B). The difference between them is night and day. DD screamed the first 3 months of her life. DS is so mello. DD had her first ear infection at 5 weeks old. DS has yet to get sick. DD had eczema from a few weeks old. DS has no skin problems. Yes, all these could be a coincidence, but I don't think they are. I think my daughter's colic, early ear infections (7 in 12 months, miraculously stopping after I stopped vaxing), and eczema were all caused by vaccines.
3. Look into the credintials (sp?) of the person writing what you are reading. Don't believe that Bob says you are ok if you don't vaccinate just because Bob wrote a book, when Bob is just some anarchist in the boonies in real life. Don't trust Dr. Joe who says vaccines are perfectly safe because he's got a "Dr." before his name, when Dr. Joe actually works for the top producer of vaccines in the US. On that note, don't believe ANYONE who says vaccinating/nonvaccinating is 100% safe. They both carry risks. However, I believe the risks of the few illnesses that are vaccinated against that aren't irradicated from the US are small compared to the complications of vaccines, both reported to VAERS and not. Dr. Tempanny is a good source. I liked Dr. Sears' research, however came to a different conclusion than him. Also, if you can get a clear, non-rehearsed answer from your pediatrician, s/he may be a good source of info too.

Good luck! It's hard to weed out truth from propaganda.

[Yulia_R]

You can always vax later, but you can never take it back...

6 page long regret threat:

If you regret vaccinating your child, please post here. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=825816

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Lollicup

If you're feeling this way, then I suggest just getting the vaccinations that are critical in the first year or two of life. Hib, DTaP and Prevar. My pedi said that most of her patients receive DTaP, Hib and some are now asking for Prevnar.

I know there are fears here about getting screwed-up with vaccinations, but think about how many vaccinations don't cause a reaction and are fine.

I and many others would disagree with you that any vaccine given to a healthy child is "critical," and I believe any unnecessary vaccines, especially given in the first 2 years of life, could weaken a baby's immune system and possibly cause permanent damage.

And many, many more would disagree with you that the vaccines you mentioned are the ONLY "critical" vaccines. This side would insist that anything less than "fully" vaccinating is flat out dangerous.

This is the dilema that the OP is facing.


OP - I say follow your instincts first, and your intellect 2nd after thoroughly researching.

[makuahine]

I could have written this post myself since I'm struggling with the same decisions. I agree with others that you should definitely hold off on the shots until you've educated yourself and feel comfortable with your choice (I hope this happens to me too!). My gut tells me to not vaccinate my four month old ever, and I know that the only reason I would is out of fear, which is not a good enough reason. I think whether or not you ever become comfortable with your choice to vax or not has a lot to do with your personality; I probably never will be confident in my decision, no matter how much I research, because it is in my nature to be anxious and neurotic and over-analyze every little detail of my life. Good luck!

[GutInstinct]

I was where you were 16 months ago and thank my lucky stars every day we DELAYED the shots. While we may never do them, maybe we will. One day, if the shots are organic and not toxic and loaded with aluminum, etc.

My best advice is to breastfeed for as long as possible -- think that has helped us avoid colds and ear infections, etc.

Also, read Jenny McCarthy's books -- easy and informative!

[amnesiac]

I have removed posts which are either in violation of our guidelines or are responding to such posts. Please remember to adhere to the guidelines for this forum & to refrain from posting to the board for the purpose of criticizing moderator actions.

[Avocado]

Originally Posted by yarngoddess

The links in the stickeys here are awesome! I have also recently found this set of videos on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TdSp...eature=related
all videos are there to watch. Very good information, easy to understand.

Thank you for that. Those were amazing and I plan to share with many!

[Harmony08]

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

I keep going back and forth on vaccines. I try to do the research. I'm trying to keep an open mind. But this side says that side is wrong/doesn't understand the science/misinterprets the data and the other side says the exact same thing, kwim? I don't know who is right. Science is not my forte so it's not really possible for me to figure it out alone.

For now, on the good advice of somebody in this forum, we're delaying until we know what we want to do (because it can't be undone once it's done). But it makes me feel all stressed and antsy to not a: have a decision made and b: have sources I fully trust to back it up. See, I'm a bit of a coward. I need to be backed up. I need to feel confident. And I need articles or something I can print off and put in my "I'M the Mama" binder for when I'm harassed and I need a reminder that I'm doing the right thing.

I guess what I'm asking for is:
1. Encouragement and [hugs]
2. Your stories about coming to the decision YOU came to (whatever it may be). HOW did you decide. Did you struggle too? Was it scary for you?
3. Advice on how to separate good info from bad, factual from fiction, etc. Links to trustworthy sources, lists of books, etc. particularly by doctors, scientists, and similar experts vs. lay persons (and not people in big-pharma's pocket of course).

Also, in the case of something like chickenpox (which I'm pretty dang sure Baby Lu is NOT going to get a vax for)...how can I ensure she catches it sso she gets immunity?

1. You are not alone! I could have written your post. Big hugs to you. It is SO difficult to make these decisions. I wish I could be like alegna and have no fear but there have been times when this subject consumes me with fear. I am slowly feeling stronger but it is such a journey.

2. My ds is 6 months old. I did tons of research when I was pregnant. I got overwhelmed. We found an understanding ped and decided to just go with the Dr. Sears schedule. Our reasoning is that we aren't Doctors and will never understand all of the info out there. He is, he acknowledges vax dangers, it seemed okay.

Then before his 2 month app I flew into research again. I was only looking at Rotavirus and Dtap. I threw out rota and my ped agreed that ds didn't need it but pushed PC. So I researched PC and then HIB. I wasn't going to give the PC with the Dtap because they both have A LOT of aluminum. I finally felt good about just Dtap. It seemed like pertussis was a bad disease that babies can and do die from and we were going to travel for the holidays. He barely cried and had no reaction. I got the shot first thing in the morning and watched him like a hawk all day.

Then, a month later, the PC and HIB app came up. I was commited to Dr. Sears and held myself back from research. He was fussy after these, lots of crying. The second day after the shots was the worst day I have ever had with him. Constant crying and our first and only nursing strike. I kept kicking myself for getting those stupid shots and swearing I wouldn't do it again. I know, i know it could have been a coincidence but even my ped said it could be from the vaxes.

So one month later I allowed him to have the Dtap again at his 4 month app. I felt okay with this.

One month later, our friend Dr. Sears said it was time for another round of PC and HiB. I.JUST.COULDN'T.DO.IT. I canceled and rescheduled a couple of times while I kept doing research. I finally realized that I wasn't going to find an answer, nobody was going to tell me what to do, the info was never going to suddenly become clear, and unbiased. I realized that I am his MOTHER and how I FEEL about it might actually mean something. I know this may sound new age and corny. I have since halted all vaccines until I feel good about them. Since the only ones on my radar for awhile are Dtap and HiB and PC. That is all I am focusing on. I agree with the idea of going disease by disease, vax by vax. Right now I am at a place where I believe some vaxes may be important but before I put one in my baby I better be completely sure that whatever short and long term/ known and unknown consequences it may have on him are well worth it.

I always question my decisions to get the vaxes we got, especially the PC. I am off of this one entirely. Just follow the money as a PP said. HiB is such a hot topic these days, it is hard not to doubt. I am very seriously thinking about not getting his 6 month Dtap since he is over the danger zone for pertussis ( by the way, if anybody has info about pertussis I should have, let me know).

I do wish I had not given him the vaxes so early. If any body knows ways to detox your baby, please let me know.

3. I agree with the PPs about this. One thing I do is to email things I find to my ped and then I evaluate her reaction. The last time I emailed her something, the first line of her response was "The more you look, the more you'll find." Then she went on to urge me to get PC and HiB. What?!!! That line keeps playing in my mind. I'm not sure how I am supposed to put anything else in him with that thought in my mind. I am seeking informed consent here.

My 2 cents....Big pharma is corrupt just like any other big business industry. I made the decision a long time ago not to let money chasing, biased, govt officials tell me how to teach children (I am an educator..NCLB...Open Court...puhlease) so why would I just trust them blindly about this. Look at how long it has taken to get tabacco companies to fess up!

Autism is not my big reason not to vax but it is also not something I am brushing off. The argument that vaccines DO NOT contribute to autism is just flawed to me because almost every site will admit that it has something to do with environmental triggers....pollutants and toxins. Um... okay...so how come vaccines don't count as the environment. Look up the def ...they are.... I digress.

You're not alone. I love this thread.

My baby is awake

[ZoeyZoo]

For me I started with the diseases, the vax inserts, the CDC Pink Book so I could see how likely the diseases are, and the studies.

For me the couple of diseases which concerned me are very rare in the US so I felt comfortable not vaxing for those. Pertussis was another scary one but I don't like the reactions and the low immunity. This one made me think a few times because I got pertussis when dd was 7 months old. The other ones I didn't feel are worth the risk. This is again because the diseases were rare )i.e., menigitis) or the chance of it being serious was low (i.e., chickenpox, mumps).

One thing that reall bothered me is the lack of studies. The way the vaxes are studied is like no other drug. The drug manufacturers have no liability over their products. The studies on the ingredients I was able to find had some serious side effects (i.e., alluminun) and I couldn't find any studies addressing these ingredients in babies. The babies have different issues because their blood/brain barrier isn't closed (and many ingredients affect the brain), can't rid themselves of the metals effectively, immunie systems are immature, etc.

This didn't sit well for me for diseases that were rare or not likely to be serious.