Still unsure, about to go to 4 month appt-

[Channelle]

At her two month appt I just said I was still thinking about it and we left without getting any. Now her 4 month appt is coming up and still unsure. My instincts are telling me not too, but I just don't know. I went to the bookstore yesterday to sit and do more research, and there was a book that caught my eye about natural/alternative parenting and it had a chapter about vaccinations. It was fairly balanced ( a bit more pro-vax), but something it said stood out to me. It was something along the lines of "Vaccinating is a natural thing too. When a virus gets to a baby it infects it and leaves it with a natural immunity. By vaccinating we are doing what already comes naturally to the body. We are introducing a vaccine to the baby and allowing them to develop immunity to it, but it is more gentle and kind to the baby because for them to earn the immunity naturally they have to suffer the pain of the virus, but vaccinating spares them from actually having to be sick to earn that immunity"
(Hope that made sense!)

What do you think about that?

[Fyrestorm]

WOW! It's not natural! A virus naturally has to pass through a host of defenses be that respiratory, intestinal blood - to get a reaction. Injecting a vaccine you are bypassing all defense mechanisms. There is absolutely nothing natural about that.

The natural virus also doesn't come along with a host of adjuvents like aluminum, foreign RNA and DNA, asst. preservatives.

I would throw that book to the sharks for that statement alone. I couldn't trust another single thing it said.

There is also nothing more gentle about forcing the immune system to deal with something it may never have had to deal with in the first place. Ex: the chances of EVER coming in contact with polio are astronomical. Exposure to the vaccine and it's adjuvents and toxins are 100% if you choose to vaccinate.

You still have plenty of time to make this decision. The vaccines aren't going anywhere and you can take them at any time you decide. You can't take them back out if you allow yourself to be pushed into it.

Tell the doc you are still undecided and don't let him/her fearmonger you. Stand up, say no and be firm. Finish your research and make an informed decision rather than a hasty one that you might regret.

[Deborah]

If you haven't yet read it, this post in a thread on a similar topic has a lot of good info and some questions to work through:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...93&postcount=3

[swissmom]

Wow, this statement is so blatantly wrong I don't know even where to start...

It is certainly not natural to confront an immature immune system with several viruses at the same instant (as in the DTaP vaccine for example) - this never happens in nature!

As another poster pointed out, viruses from vaccines enter the body by dodging the natural barriers: skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract and the GI tract. There is tons of literature about this topic, but to give you the gist of it: it makes a big difference whether a body acquires immunity to a virus naturally or artificially (and whether vaccines can give you immunity at all is still another controversial subject).

There are now genetically engineered vaccines - not natural at all.

All the neurotoxins that come in vaccines - not natural. Keep in mind that the majority of vaccines is given in the most crucial phase of the body's development: the nervous and immune system and the brain are developing immensely during the first 3 years. Research the impact of the blood-brain-barrier (it also develops slowly, meaning that toxins like aluminum can enter a baby's brain more easily than an adult's brain).

There's one thing for sure: vaccinating is a medical intervention, not a natural process.

ETA: If you are looking for a balanced view leaning towards natural healing try "Vaccinations, A Thoughtful Parent's Guide" by Aviva Jill Romm

[seashells]

My two cents is just about not getting pushed into anything you haven't decided on. Don't bring up any specific objections to vaccines or the doctor will mow you down. Just stick with "I'm still researching, I'm still looking into it, I'm not comfortable doing any shots today." It's hard to argue with that - though they probably will try, but they won't get anywhere if you just stick with those.

If for any reason something gets said in the doctor's office that makes you think "oh, well, maybe we SHOULD get the XYZ vaccine today," tell them you'll seriously consider it and call for another appointment if you decide to do it. Never make this kind of decision under pressure. Certainly feel free to take any information under advisement, but any vaccine you change your mind on can wait a week for another appointment, giving you enough time to really sort out what you think.

ETA: I wrote the above as a parent who HAS given vaccines under pressure. And then over time learned from my experience. Now I know how to say no.

[crunchy_mommy]

Sorry I don't have time to read all the responses but...

"Natural" illness is not injected into a child! When a child is exposed to a virus there are lots of "barriers" before the virus enters the child. For example, the mucous membranes in the nose, or the saliva in the mouth... These act like a first line of defense against the virus. Injecting a virus straight into the bloodstream bypasses all these defense mechanisms.

Also, the immunity acquired through vaccination is not the same as the immunity gained "naturally"... For ex., kids who get the chicken pox vax are generally immune for I think it's 5-10 years? Whereas most (though not all) kids who actually GET the chicken pox are immune for life. This is a big difference when it comes to how susceptible that child will be to shingles as a teen/adult.

Not trying to tell you to vax or not vax, but I would seriously question the validity of what you read in that book. I have a very hard time seeing how vaccinating could be considered totally natural (regardless of whether it's "good" or "bad" to vax).

[ckberkey]

If your instincts are telling you no, then don't do it.

Vaccinations are not natural immunity. That is ridiculous.

If they give you a hard time, tell them you will consider it but are definitely not doing any today.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Channelle

It was something along the lines of "Vaccinating is a natural thing too. When a virus gets to a baby it infects it and leaves it with a natural immunity. By vaccinating we are doing what already comes naturally to the body. We are introducing a vaccine to the baby and allowing them to develop immunity to it, but it is more gentle and kind to the baby because for them to earn the immunity naturally they have to suffer the pain of the virus, but vaccinating spares them from actually having to be sick to earn that immunity"
(Hope that made sense!)

What do you think about that?

He is making it up. Just contracting a virus does not mean you will have clinical symptoms. Also, I'd guess that more babies than not suffer "normal" reactions from vaccines, beginning with fever.

Read all the "natural" ingredients for yourself.

CDC Ingredients list:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pin...nt-table-1.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pin...nt-table-2.pdf