older DS starting heavy duty chemo in 5 weeks, younger DS is not vaccinated

[tylerdylan]

Hi everyone. My oldest DS is 5.5 years old and fully vaccinated. He is starting round 2, 16 months of heavy duty chemo starting in 5 weeks. I have read some about kids on chemo and contracting certain illnesses and how dangerous they can be for children with no immune system. I am concerned because DS2 has not had any vaccinations. And I have so little time to research and make a decision on what and when to vaccinate DS2 in order to protect DS1. DS2 is 3 years old and healthy. DS2 will be attending school so I can't protect him from everything.
Any advice on what vaccinations I should consider would be appreciated. My faith in vaccines is poor (given my own experience - MMR vaccinated with boosters as a child. caught measles at age 13 (bad case). at age 22 told no rubella antibodies. revaccinated since wanted to get pregnant eventually with MMR. age 30 no mumps antibodies despite several times of MMR injection).

I am so torn on what to do. I feel like I am being irresponsible if I don't vaccinate DS2 at this point. And he's not a newborn anymore so should be able to handle the vaccines better (immune wise). I am thinking MMR, chicken pox and whooping cough?? The MMR and chicken pox were two I thought I'd never give DS2 since I know natural immunity is better, but now I am scared of DS1 being exposed.

[KempsMama]

My biggest concern with vaxing your DS2 now is that some vaccines shed. I wouldn't risk it at all.

[JBaxter]

Those are live viruses ( MMR & chickenpox) My cousins granddaughter just broke out in about 25 pox 20 days after her vaccine. She is still breaking out as of today ( day 2 of spots). Just keep that in mind of you choose to do them.

[Arduinna]

no I wouldn't vax in this instance. I had chemo too and my dd is unvaxed. My oncologist told me to stay away from the recently vaxed anyway. Is the 5 year old going to be attending school while having treatment? Personally I'd homeschool the 5 year old and not put the 3 year old in school.

[mama2soren]

As the PP said, I would absolutely not do any live virus vaccines. I think that would put your older DS at higher risk of getting sick from these diseases (because of shedding) than he would normally be (since those diseases are quite uncommon).

My primary issue with the pertussis vax is that it does not prevent transmission! If DS2 was vaxed, he might have a milder case of whooping cough, but he would still spread infection to those around him. At least an unvaxed person with whooping cough is more likely to be accurately diagnosed and kept away from immuno-compromised people.

I am sorry you are facing all these difficult choices. It must be very stressful. I hope you find the information you need to make the choices you are most comfortable with.

[Emmeline II]

Even if you were sure I think it is too close to the start of chemo to give #2 live vaccines.

[tylerdylan]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It's been so long since I did my vaccine research....I totally forgot measles and chicken pox were live vaccines and could shed. I will not vaccinate DS2 now. DS2 will be home with me anyways and not likely to be exposed to much. DS1 will be going to school on days he feels well, but only because he LOVES school and misses his friends immensely. He's been counting down the days of summer because he can't wait to go back to school - he thrives on socializing. If he's getting sick too often I'll have to reconsider, but at this point he would not forgive me for keeping him out of school.

[Arduinna]

How are you going to protect your immune compromised child from coming into contact with the recently vaxed and sick kids at school? Have you talked with his oncologist about this?

When I had chemo, dd was HSed already but I went around talking with the neighbors and her friends parents to make sure they knew not to send their children over to play and not to allow my daughter to play with their kids if anyone was sick at their home or had been recently vaxed.

[rabrog]

It really depends on the type of chemo being given. dosage, etc. DD just finished kindergarten and one of her best friends was a little girl undergoing chemo treatments all year long (last one will be in Nov.) The child got chemo every three weeks on Fridays, came to school when she felt well (luckily this was quite a bit!) and the class (teacher) did a lot of handwashing, proper tissue usage, etc. with the kids. Parents were made aware of what was going on (the mom sent out an email to the class parents about what the child had, that it could not be contracted by x, y and z, why she was gone, etc. She made herself available for any questions also. It can be done successfully, so if the oncologist and any other docs give the go ahead, there's no reason not to. I'd up vit. C and ask about any other supplements you can give to help with the lack of immune system safely.

OPer, please check out this site http://www.monkeyinmychair.org/ as it really helped DD's class when this little girl was absent.

Jenn