Anyone have information/studies on siblings with vaccine reactions

[phrogger]

I am just wondering if anyone has any reliable information about siblings being at greater risk for vaccine reactions if other siblings had reactions.

Basically, I have to take my step son in for a peds appointment and I know the issue of why we are no longer taking our infant in for his wbv with this ped will come up. Long story short, I have decided not to vaccinate my infant. I only vaccinated my oldest son on schedule, my second son didn't get his first vax until he was 6 years old (well almost), and then my step son and a few other kids of mine (bio kids but they were surrogacy kids) had their vax on time. My oldest son, my step son and the surrogate kids had reactions. My second son did not have any at all when he got his, but he again was almost 6 years old. I dont' want to risk it at all with my baby.

Anyway, the ped told me she couldn't support me not vaccinating the baby because there is no evidence anywhere that reactions are not more likely just because a sibling had them (although I don't see how that could be in our family consider 5 of the 6 bio siblings of my son have had some kind of reaction and the one who didn't have any, is the one who didn't get them until he was older).

So basically, I want something to give to her to read. I am taking my infant to a new Dr. so that isn't an issue, but my step son still will be going to her. He is seen far too often and has way too many issues to not have a local ped. The infant will be seeing a Dr. 200 miles away for just well check ups.

[ishyfishie]

I don't have any sources for you but I'm interested if there are any out there. One of my two brothers, myself, and at least half of my maternal cousins (mom's sisters' children) have had reactions to a wide variety of vaccines (5+ kids of 11, with reactions to the old DTP, IPV, MMR, and Hib that I know of). While it's not our only (or maybe even our main) reason for not vaxing, it certainly was enough to convince me there's some kind of genetic predisposition to reactions/sensitivities to vaccines. Combined with food allergies from dh's side of the family (and dd1 has since been diagnosed), all of my other reasons seem like gravy compared to those other issues!

[Marnica]

Common sense indicates that reactions may well run in families.....you share the same DNA.

Here is a study about convulsions and the DTP vax

Persons reporting neurologic events were 6.4 times more likely to report a prior personal history of convulsions than those reporting nonneurologic events (95% confidence interval 4.7 to 8.8), and were 2.4 times more likely to report a history of convulsions in first-degree family members, that is, siblings or parents (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 3.4).

bolding mine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2552066

another about the BCG vax (we don't use it in the USA)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9...?dopt=Abstract

this from the FDA:

Tell your health care provider about bad reactions. Before you or your child receives a vaccine, tell your health care provider if you, your child, or a sibling has ever had a bad reaction to a vaccine. If your child or a sibling has had an allergic reaction or other severe reaction to a dose of vaccine, talk with your health care provider about whether that vaccine should be taken again.

hmm wonder why that info is important to share if there are no genetic links??

I think what they say is that family members who have had severe (like anaplyatic reactions) may be at an increased risk for the same type of reaction. If this is the case, why wouldn't it apply to all reactions? It is not logical to automatically assume that vaccine reactions do not run in families.

Id find a new doc....or turn it around on her....ask her to provide you with credible scientific data to indicate that vaccine reactions absolutely DO NOT run in families.

[phrogger]

I have already asked her for proof, she hasn't provided it.

One of my kids DID have anaphylaxis, but I can't "prove" that because I don't have her medical records since she was adopted. Her parents try to down play it and wont give me the reports. I think it is guilt because I told them not to vax her.

Anyway, we do have a different ped for the baby, but like I said, my step son goes way too often so we keep him at the military base. We don't have much choice at all in regards to who he sees. They are so understaffed there.

[Marnica]

I really wouldn't bother trying to convince her...she isn't supporting you not vaxing the baby...so what...the baby won't be seeing her. As for your step son....if you and your husband have custody of him, you are still making medical decisions, you don't have to take her advice...if she won't treat him because you refuse a vaccine, than you may have to find a new provider...or go ahead and vaccinate, but the choice should be yours and yours alone

[phrogger]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I really wouldn't bother trying to convince her...she isn't supporting you not vaxing the baby...so what...the baby won't be seeing her. As for your step son....if you and your husband have custody of him, you are still making medical decisions, you don't have to take her advice...if she won't treat him because you refuse a vaccine, than you may have to find a new provider...or go ahead and vaccinate, but the choice should be yours and yours alone

Oh I agree, I am not one to let a Dr. scare me into doing something I don't want to do. I guess my purpose is more to give her the opposing view so she doesn't spout off information that isn't correct, of course if I can find that information. What if another parent comes in and they aren't as comfortable with their stance and they do what they are told just because they are told to do it. I am all about healthy debate and trying to show why people are making these decisions.

[bbrandonsmom]

Thanks for the links-so many things popped up on google search and trying to sift through them, was like finding a needle in a haystack to me.
I agree w/pp, don't bother wasting your time if you don't need to. Now that you have the links though, you can always drop them off to her.

[MammaV]

You can always ask your Dr to provide the burden of proof for her argument. Where are the studies and stats to back up what she's saying? Don't accept propaganda, just cold hard facts...

[miriam]

There is plenty of empirical and anecdotal evidence that vaccine reactions run in families.

[PlayaMama]

well, my only info is anecdotal and actually the opposite of what you're looking for but i figured i should put it out there anyway.

i've never had a rxn to a vax but my brother had a rxn to the dtap and they did recommend that he not finish the series.

[ChristianMomOf2]

yes, there have been studies done. I recommend reading:

A Shot In The Dark

and

What The Pharmacutical Companies Don't Want You To Know About Vaccines by Todd M. Elsner

Excellent well documented research in the latter. Pages upon pages of references for you to check his research as well!

[phrogger]

Originally Posted by ChristianMomOf2

yes, there have been studies done. I recommend reading:

A Shot In The Dark

and

What The Pharmacutical Companies Don't Want You To Know About Vaccines by Todd M. Elsner

Excellent well documented research in the latter. Pages upon pages of references for you to check his research as well!

Thank you, I will look into that book.