In Canada here: such a hard decision, help!

[MaybeSparrowMaybe]

we've pretty much talked (DH and i) that we will not vax our DD who is 3 months old. ive read a lot online, its not so much about the autism theories, but moreso that i have some autoimmune issues, and i dont want to mess with her immune system.
im also facing some debate from my mom who is an RN, so i understand she would have a medical view and be pro vax.
also, do i need to bring DD to the Dr for a check up? i know you usually do it when you get the vax done but if you dont then what?

im concerned about her not being vaxed and going to daycare when shes 13 months, when i have to go back to work. i also am toying with the idea of partially vacinating against the bacterial ones, like DPT, and i also wonder about the tetanus and meningitus. those are the two that freak me out..

sigh. its such a hard decision just looking for some advice/help.support ?!thanks!

[littlec]

Well, the ladies here are going to be able to explain things much better than I can, but i'll give it a shot.
1. Just tell your mom you are still doing research and taking things slowly. You don't really have to explain yourself to anyone, but I get how mom's can be. That response should keep the debates to a minimum.
2. Same with the doctor...tell them you are delaying (who knows how long) them. I'd still bring the baby in for well visits and decline the vaccines. They aren't mandatory, but I think it's important to have the doctor look them over since they can see potential problems with their growth or development that maybe we can't see.
3. Here in the states, there are waivers you can sign in place of vaccination records....maybe that's an option for you as well.
4. Read more about the dpt and meningitis vaccines and viruses (symptoms, treatment, mortality) before you make a decision- whatever you decide, you want to be sure, you know.

Good luck!!

[Emmeline II]

The bacterial vax are less effective and DTaP is the most reactive--not one I'd give an infant.

Here are some questions to answer for yourself in deciding about vax.

1. Name of the disease
2. Description of the disease
3. Length of time from initial infection to end of all symptoms
4. Infectious period
5. Normal symptoms of the disease
6. Known serious consequences of the disease
7. Proportion of persons infected developing serious consequences
8. Transmission route of the disease
9. Prevalence of the disease
10. Treatments of the disease and efficacy of those treatments
11. Relevant research about the disease
12. Name of the vaccine
13. Company that makes the vaccine
14. Contents of the vaccine
14A. The significance of whether or not the vaccine is live
15. History of development of the vaccine
16. Known side-effects of the vaccine and rate of incidence of those side-effects
17. Possible side-effects not yet acknowledged by the vaccine maker
18. Relevant research into the vaccine
19. How effective is the vaccine at preventing the disease?
20.What is the vaccine meant to do? (Vaccines may not prevent infection or transmission).
21.Number of cases reported each year.
22.Number of deaths reported each year from the vaccine and natural disease.

Here are some sources to help you out:

Vaccines: The Risks, The Benefits, The Choices 1/18DVD, By Sherri J. TENPENNY


http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwr_wk.html (download the current issue)
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pin...k-chapters.htm
http://vaers.hhs.gov/pdf/PackageInserts.pdf
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...40451107552&q=
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...87981735&hl=en
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pin...ses&deaths.pdf

Health Sentinel Graphs

WHO GRAPH

Vaccine Injury Table

Beyond Conformity Resources Page
Do you have a quick-fire summary?

Inside Vaccines

Mothering: Ending the War on Disease
http://www.mothering.com/health/heal...m-just-growing

[canadianhippie]

Originally Posted by MaybeSparrowMaybe

we've pretty much talked (DH and i) that we will not vax our DD who is 3 months old. ive read a lot online, its not so much about the autism theories, but moreso that i have some autoimmune issues, and i dont want to mess with her immune system.
im also facing some debate from my mom who is an RN, so i understand she would have a medical view and be pro vax.
also, do i need to bring DD to the Dr for a check up? i know you usually do it when you get the vax done but if you dont then what?

im concerned about her not being vaxed and going to daycare when shes 13 months, when i have to go back to work. i also am toying with the idea of partially vacinating against the bacterial ones, like DPT, and i also wonder about the tetanus and meningitus. those are the two that freak me out..

sigh. its such a hard decision just looking for some advice/help.support ?!thanks!

no worries mama, we'll try and help you figure it out. My sil is an rn, very different perspective, although shes a cloth diapering, breastfeeding, anti-circ, baby wearing mum, theres always a little variety among the med field. Many say the "well baby" visits are just for vax, and I agree. Unless you have concerns about your babies weight or a cold worsening or general health, thats when you can pop to the doc's, but honestly, after 11 months of my own well-baby visits, its just going to be more confrontation and debate each time. Your babe is still a weeone so, just sit on it for now, I know your worried about daycare but mama's have lots of resources for information on here, so spent some time reading and see how you feel.

I found with alot of the bacterial diseases, especially meningitis, its presented as "your baby gets meningitis, your baby will die" its NOT the case, The best way i know how to explain to people is its like cancer, as in its not a death sentence. There are many stages to the disease, and symptoms worsen and present themselves over the severity of the illness. There are way to pick out the illness and treat them, its not a automatic death.

The best thing is too stay strong, make your own choice for your baby, dont let someone else decide for you. Nearly all the population around is pro-vax, its a pro-vax medical field, pro-vax goverment, Ive realized you have to build a tough shell and be firm on your decision and know your keeping your chlld healthy and toxin-free, you build that shell by your own research, keep on readin'

[MyBoysBlue]

Just in case you didn't know. . . as a Canadian you have every right not to vaccinate.

HEALTH CANADA STATEMENT ON IMMUNIZATION
"Unlike some countries, immunization is not mandatory in Canada; it cannot be made mandatory because of the Canadian Constitution. Only three provinces have legislation or regulations under their health-protection acts to require proof of immunization for school entrance."

Ontario is one, but if you follow the link you will see info on getting an exemption.
http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/canada.htm

[MaybeSparrowMaybe]

just wanted to say that my dd is almost 3 (april 2012) and still not vaxxed. we have travelled all over europe, west coast canada and US with her, and she is so healthy.

shes had chicken pox, a broken leg  (at 15 months and 18 months) and just recently had to have antibiotics for a severe chest infection. shes still nursing lots and we are happy we have not vaxxed her. :)

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by MaybeSparrowMaybe 

just wanted to say that my dd is almost 3 (april 2012) and still not vaxxed. we have travelled all over europe, west coast canada and US with her, and she is so healthy.

shes had chicken pox, a broken leg  (at 15 months and 18 months) and just recently had to have antibiotics for a severe chest infection. shes still nursing lots and we are happy we have not vaxxed her. :)

Thanks for the update! excellent!!

[MissCee]

Canadian mama here too . . in Alberta  

1) My grandmother is an RN and she still does not know about our son's vaccine status, nor do I feel the need to inform her of it. These ladies have already given some excellent advice on this issue, and like they said, I would just inform her that you're still researching vaccines and that you're in the early stages of the decision making. I find that it's only when mamas get defensive and serious about their stance on vaccines that issues arise in the family.

2) We haven't taken our son for a check-up since he was 6 months old because, like other mamas have said, I find that they are more for vaccines than anything else. In Calgary, which is where I live, they have public health centres you can go in to weigh your babe yourself to find out if they are on track with weight and everything. The nurses at the one I go to have always been extremely helpful anytime I weigh my son :) Unless you're worried about your baby's development or unless they seem quite ill, I would stay away from the doctors.

3) There are daycares in Alberta that don't require vaccinations, you just have to search around for them. Like someone else said too, some of them will take waivers as well.

4) With regards to the bacterial diseases, I would just be wary about the vaccines themselves. I would research into the chances of your baby catching the disease itself and also look into the seriousness of the disease (how quickly it gets serious, chances of getting serious,  etc) as well as the treatment for the disease. I'm not sure if you can get the tetanus shot separte for babies which means it would be combined with another vaccination you might not want to get for your baby. You need to consider the ingredients in that vaccine as well.

The best advice I've ever been given especially when I was still in the early process of deciding on vaccines for my son was to research, research, research and to not rush into making any decision. You can always get your baby vaccinated, but you can never take a vaccination back.

[kathymuggle]

Ontario.  

There seem to be a lot of Canadians on the non-vax forum.  

[thispathisme]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

Ontario.  

There seem to be a lot of Canadians on the non-vax forum.  

Seems that way. I wish I knew more IRL.

[MissCee]

Bit of a long shot, but maybe you ladies can help me out since you're Canadian too :) I'm currently looking to do a practicum for the legal program I'm talking and seeing as how I'm so passionate about vaccine risk awareness, adverse reactions, etc, I was wondering if you ladies knew of any lawyers in Alberta that have ever dealt with vaccine injury? I know we don't have a compensation program like the US does so it'll be more difficult to find a lawyer that specializes in this area.

[thispathisme]

Sorry, MissCee. I'm not in Alberta.

[deailedlace]

East coast Canadian! If anyones from my neck of the woods and wants to chat non vax for these provinces pm me. I have a 8 week old lo and am just venturing into this now. Good luck everyone:

[Blt178]

Greater Toronto Area here.... I know how you feel about this topic. I started down the route of slective and delayed vaccination, determined to do nothing until I felt confident in my plans. But never found that confidence. The ones I wouldn't mind vaxx'ing for are wrapped up in these giant combination injections containing the components I was also hoping to avoid. In the end I have not vax'd at all... one healthy 3 year old and a healthy one year old!

The exemption form has thus far been pretty easy to use in securing daycare and about to register for junior kindergarten...hoping that is as smooth. I think the bigger problem has been, as you expressed, family views on my choices.

[Edited for dreadful spelling mistakes! One-handed iPad typing in a hurry is to blame!]
Edited by Blt178 - 3/5/13 at 7:57am

[Devaskyla]

Alberta here. :) We stopped well baby visits after about 1 yr old with ds1 and never did them at all with the next 3 kids. We did take ds2 & ds3 to the health unit to be weighed and measured on a semi-regular basis and ds4 saw a pediatrician a few times because he had serious issues with not gaining weight early on due to tongue tie so the health nurses referred us to a doctor who checked up on his weight at intervals until about 4 months. That was my first and only experience with an actual pediatrician and the vax discussions were annoying, but they backed off pretty quickly.

My mom is a polio survivor. I have never really discussed our vax stance with her, but I am pretty sure she knows we do not do vaxes at all. Basically, I only talk about it with people who are also anti-vax or who are questioning. It is just easier that way.