Background to follow, but here's the general question: If fighting off a disease (acquired naturally) builds immunity, and if that building and storing of immunities makes the immune system overall more effective...in theory, should vaccines make the immune system overall more effective in the same way?
My son has a chromosomal deletion, a syndrome called DiGeorge Syndrome or Velocardiofacial Syndrome. He's doing really well, all things considered. We saw his Geneticist today for his yearly visit. This Dr is very pro-vaccine, and is truly flabbergasted that I don't allow Connor to have at least the inactive vaccines (he can't have the live vaccines because he has a primary immune deficiency).
He asked me what illnesses Connor has had in the last year, and I listed off a rather extensive list (including pneumonia, strep, several ear infections, etc) The Dr said to the Resident with him "I bet that many of these could have been prevented with proper vaccination." I wasn't going to let that fly, especially not in front of a Resident, so I said "just which illnesses do you think could have been prevented by which vaccines?" He said "well, to start with, the ear infections were probably haemophilus influenzae." I said "you're right actually, we cultured the infection each time, and it was h. flu., however it was a non-typeable strain, NOT B strain, so the vaccine would not have done a thing to prevent it." (I didn't even go into serotype replacement and how the non-typeable strains are becoming more prevalent now). I then told him that, with the exception of Chicken Pox and Rota Virus, he has not had a vaccine prevantable illness.
He kind of fumbled for a second, then said "well, vaccines improve the overall function of the immune system just as if he were acquiring natural infection, it primes his t-cell and b-cell reactions."
I told him that I had not found that information published anywhere in my research, and infact it has been suggested that the opposite might instead be true. But that I would be glad to read anything that he can offer me, because I am NOT against vaccines, I just think that given his risk factors of acquiring the illnesses, responding appropriately to the vaccine, or having an adverse reaction, it doesn't make sense *right now* to vaccinate him. But I am always open to new information and ready and willing to start vaccinating if I find some different or more compelling evidence.
So I'm interested to see what he will give me. In the meantime, I am researching this on my own. SO...what do you gals have on this topic? My initial thought is that perhaps the antibodies built from the vaccines would boost his immune system, but the other 'stuff' in the vaccines will lower his immune system, putting him at risk of acquiring auto-immune diseases (especially given his underlying immune deficiency and chromosomal deletion). So vaccine-induced antibodies are not the same as illness-acquired antibodies...the illness-acquired antibodies are more "pure" and longer lasting. [ooh...another question...why do they last longer if they come naturally vs via vaccination?] I already know (from published research on his syndrome) that it may take more doses of each vaccine before his titers show an appropriate level, so that's another aspect of vaccinating him that complicates things.
My son has a chromosomal deletion, a syndrome called DiGeorge Syndrome or Velocardiofacial Syndrome. He's doing really well, all things considered. We saw his Geneticist today for his yearly visit. This Dr is very pro-vaccine, and is truly flabbergasted that I don't allow Connor to have at least the inactive vaccines (he can't have the live vaccines because he has a primary immune deficiency).
He asked me what illnesses Connor has had in the last year, and I listed off a rather extensive list (including pneumonia, strep, several ear infections, etc) The Dr said to the Resident with him "I bet that many of these could have been prevented with proper vaccination." I wasn't going to let that fly, especially not in front of a Resident, so I said "just which illnesses do you think could have been prevented by which vaccines?" He said "well, to start with, the ear infections were probably haemophilus influenzae." I said "you're right actually, we cultured the infection each time, and it was h. flu., however it was a non-typeable strain, NOT B strain, so the vaccine would not have done a thing to prevent it." (I didn't even go into serotype replacement and how the non-typeable strains are becoming more prevalent now). I then told him that, with the exception of Chicken Pox and Rota Virus, he has not had a vaccine prevantable illness.
He kind of fumbled for a second, then said "well, vaccines improve the overall function of the immune system just as if he were acquiring natural infection, it primes his t-cell and b-cell reactions."
I told him that I had not found that information published anywhere in my research, and infact it has been suggested that the opposite might instead be true. But that I would be glad to read anything that he can offer me, because I am NOT against vaccines, I just think that given his risk factors of acquiring the illnesses, responding appropriately to the vaccine, or having an adverse reaction, it doesn't make sense *right now* to vaccinate him. But I am always open to new information and ready and willing to start vaccinating if I find some different or more compelling evidence.
So I'm interested to see what he will give me. In the meantime, I am researching this on my own. SO...what do you gals have on this topic? My initial thought is that perhaps the antibodies built from the vaccines would boost his immune system, but the other 'stuff' in the vaccines will lower his immune system, putting him at risk of acquiring auto-immune diseases (especially given his underlying immune deficiency and chromosomal deletion). So vaccine-induced antibodies are not the same as illness-acquired antibodies...the illness-acquired antibodies are more "pure" and longer lasting. [ooh...another question...why do they last longer if they come naturally vs via vaccination?] I already know (from published research on his syndrome) that it may take more doses of each vaccine before his titers show an appropriate level, so that's another aspect of vaccinating him that complicates things.
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) and give him that. Remove as much refined stuff from his diet (white sugar), get rid of the HFCS and anything that has trans fats (hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated oils). Get him eating avocados, coconut milk, and other healthy fats. Take the juices, pop, etc out of his diet and have him drink more water. Make sure he's getting plenty of restful sleep each night. I've not read up on his condition, so I'm not sure what it entails, but maybe taking him to a homeopathic/naturopathic doctor will help you determine what mineral/vitamin imbalance he may have (especially if he's taking medication) and get his body balanced out. They will check for acidity/alkalinity balance.
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