Vaccines and chronic illness

[time4another]

Never thought I'd be on this island but here goes...

I am a selective vaxer for my DCs and myself as well. It has always been my belief that those who have chronic illnesses need to decide for themselves how to protect themselves from those diseases and my job was to find the best way to keep my family safe and healthy even if that meant not vaxxing.

Well, I have a chronic disease. I have had it for about two years now but am now beginning a medication that will supress my immune system. I am trying to figure out exactly what that means for myself and my family in terms of vaccines that we have refused in the past and my personal objections to them.

Has anyone BTDT? Can you share with me how you came to whatever decision you made?

FWIW I am leaning toward getting myself a flu shot this year for the first time in forever. I am sort of struggling with the concept of getting flu shots for my DCs. One will be in PS school this year. My belief wrt is that I can put it in but I can't take it away.

Heather

[Marnica]

Sorry you are faced with these heavy choices....I have not BTDT so I can't give you any stories, but I will just tell you what I'm thinking....

I don't know what chronic disease you have so I guess the specific disease would of course weigh in on my choice if I was in your shoes.

As for the flu shot...the is so much evidence out there that the flu shot is ineffective the majority of the time.. I also happen to believe that vaccines damage and weaken the immune system, so if one has a weakened immune system already, it seems that further vaccination is like pouring fuel on a fire.

As for yourself if you decide to vaccinate yourself based on your condition, that is one thing, but as for your children, if they do not have a chronic disease that may push them into a category where catching a certain VPD may put them at higher risk, why would you? Anyway just my ramblings....I do hope you can come to a desicion that you are comfortable with. Best of luck