So how should I handle the ped?

[EBM]

The baby's 6 month check up is coming up and I am looking for suggestions or personal experiences on how to address the issue of not proceeding with any further vax?

I was thinking of taking the inserts with me and pointing out the warnings, side effects and ingredients--and explaining that I don't think the risks outweigh the benefits.

How have some of you addressed the subject?

[cat_astrophe]

Depending on the state you live in and what exemption you plan to use, you might want to say to the ped that you are not vaxxing for religious reasons instead of immediately jumping into the debate. If (s)he asks, then you can say something like, "I have done my research and am comfortable with my decision for scientific reasons as well as religious ones."

Good luck.

[EBM]

My state has religious and philosophical exemptions.

[annalily]

You can always say you are delaying for now. They tend to not feel so inclined to lecture or convince you.
Good luck.

[mattemma04]

I agree with...we have decided to delay for now and.... we understand the risks associated with delay so there is no need to go over that with us. If we have any questions we will be sure to contact you.
You could also ask that they provide you with the vaccine insert to all the pediatric vaccines they have in stock.

If they ask why the delay? Keep it simple

[EBM]

Do peds have the right to refuse to see your child if you refuse vax on basis of religious or philosophical grounds?

[Jazmommie]

I actually rescheduled once then called the next week & cancelled & said I would call & reschedule later on-
Then I went looking for a new Dr.
Ended up with a family practitioner who said GOOD when he asked if we vaccinated & we said NO.

I do know if they have a RIGHT -but it is not uncommon for them to say that .The ones I called & asked if they saw kids with Religious exemptions, said Yes ,they would.

[Artisan]

I would say one of two things:
1. We're going to be delaying some vaxes, but will come to you in the future to get them. (Sparing you the lecture/possibly getting kicked out of the practice. Even if your state has a philos. exemption, that's only for entering school. Doctors can still refuse to see your child.)

2. It's against my beliefs. I've done my research and feel comfortable with my decision.

Either way, i would avoid discussing what your beliefs are, why you're delaying/not vaxing, etc.

[morgan's_mom]

I don't know what state you're in, but in Texas, we have a new procedure for claiming a religious/philosophical exemption. You have to request exemption forms from the state Department of Health. They come with the child's name and birthdate. When you receive them (you can request up to 5), you sign and have one notarized (just one because each one is good for only a certain amount of time from the date of signature).

The primary purpose of these is for school admission, but I have them for my daughter (and will order them as soon as the next baby is born) so that in the event that we are in an ER situation or something and are questioned about vax status (ped is not an issue -- she is supportive, and we don't see her anyway), we will have it to show the dr.

This probably won't change your doctor's decision on whether he will see you or not (as far as I know, there is nothing preventing a doctor from refusing to see your child based on vax status, but I could be wrong), but if your state has a similar procedure and you go in with the exemption form in hand, it might make him less likely to lecture/pressure you.

Even if your state doesn't have a standard form, you can prepare a form yourself and have it notarized to show that you mean business. Check out the PROVE website (sorry, don't have the link handy) for suggested language for your state.

[EBM]

Thanks for the suggestions, I am still not sure what approach to take but I will have it together by then.

We will see how it goes.

[polka123]

Originally posted by sharonal
I would say one of two things:
1. We're going to be delaying some vaxes, but will come to you in the future to get them. (Sparing you the lecture/possibly getting kicked out of the practice. ............
Either way, i would avoid discussing what your beliefs are, why you're delaying/not vaxing, etc.

we had DS's 6 mo today & this is exactly what I said & they left it @ that ! -subject closed.

[gilnikche]

Originally posted by EBM
Thanks for the suggestions, I am still not sure what approach to take but I will have it together by then.

We will see how it goes.

Just a thought...

You could call their office and ask what the policy is on non-vaccinating patients. Perhaps pretend to be a new patient. (could you have someone else call for you?)

[LaffNowCryLater]

The first time I turned down a vax I had a big long explanation ready.....well I told them I didn't want varicella and beofre i could say my reasons the nurse said "ok" and went on her way.

[Sasha_girl]

I don't get into explanations or debates. I simply state that we're delaying vaccinations. This makes sense, since Holden is just an infant. What will be interesting is when we take the two older kids for their yearly physicals in a couple of months. As dd will be turning 5 and ds will be turning 3 I wonder what will be said about us still "delaying" vaccines? :LOL

[Kayb8]

When I took my son to the pediatricians for his first checkup, he was really upset that I hadn't given the hep b vaccine at birth and didn't want him to do it then. He asked about my plans for other vaccines, and I told him I didn't want him to get the MMR vaccine either and he told me that he would be "Giving me a hard time" about that. I didn't go back to his office again.

I drove a little over an hour to go to a doctor my chiropractor recommended who incorporated alternative medicine into his practice and supported not vaccinating. There are doctors out there who won't give you a hard time--I think it's well worth finding them and driving to them.

We've since started seeing a homeopath for our family's healthcare and she certainly supports not vaccinating.

Sheila

[beebs]

I would just come out and say that you're not going to continue with the vaxes, or at least that you're going to "delay" (just don't tell them you're going to "delay" forever!).

The less explanations the better, I say. You don't have to justify how you care for your child to a complete stranger. I don't understand why parents are afraid to just "come out" to their peds. Your ped is not the boss of you or your child. You can agree to disagree, although some peds aren't adult enough to do that I suppose.

I don't know anything about exemptions and whatnot...I thought that was more related to public schooling, not docs. I suppose a doc could refuse to see you if you didn't vax...do they have the right to refuse anyone service? If you are concerned about this and that you might not be able to find another ped, I would do what another poster suggested and call up pretending to be a new patient and find out what the policy is. If they're going to kick you out, then I guess you gotta find someone else, pref an "alternative" practitioner. Just keep saying "delay" until you do.

[moma justice]

yes there are drs out there that will refuse to see you if you wont vax or even delay, in my very very med. conservative town there is only ONE dr who will see you if you aren't vaxing....and his practice is sooooooooooooooo overflowing (with non vaxers perhaps?)
that they aren't taking on new patients (sp?)/clients......i had to write a letter begging him to take us,
he agreed, but at our last visit his nurse almost yelled at me when she saw we had not vaxed our 6 month dd yet....to prevent a scene i said we were still researching,,,,not a total lie, i am still researching, i just have known since she was born that we would never vax her, period.

[padomi]

I was thinking of taking the inserts with me and pointing out the warnings, side effects and ingredients--and explaining that I don't think the risks outweigh the benefits.

I STRONGLY recommend NOT doing this! What is the point? Do you think you'll change his mind? Not a chance. You don't have to convince him of anything. Your child, your right, your decision. Period. Simply take a copy of your exemption for their files. You don't have to say anything else.

You may want to ask if they'll continue to see your child without vax'ing. Some peds won't.

I'd also re-think well baby visits. What's the point?

[EBM]

Thanks guys, the direct approach may not be the best way to handle it. The only reason I was going to go to the well baby visit was to check his growth to make sure he is developing accordingly.

I am taking into consideration your suggestions. I definitly think getting a notarized document and telling the doctor and have done my research is a suitable way to handle it.

[padomi]

The only reason I was going to go to the well baby visit was to check his growth to make sure he is developing accordingly.

I know I sound like a broken record on this, and it's totally your call, but if since you're not vax'ing, you might do better with a naturopath. I found my dd stopped getting colds when I stopped taking her to the allopathic ped. Pediatricians offices are very unhealthy places! :LOL Lots of germs and viruses for you to take home with you. And, like I said, this is none of my business and totally your call, but I just never could justify spending money, putting my dd through the trauma of taking her clothes off, putting her on a cold scale, having a stranger handle her, and risk her catching god knows what, just to have them tell me what I already knew "Yes, she's fine." Put her on the scale with you and then subtract your weight. That's how much she weighs. Get a tape measure and measure her for her height. Save yourself the hastle and money of a useless trip to the ped.

Read How To Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of your Doctor by Robert Mendelsohn. He recommended against well baby visits and he was a ped!!!