Starting vax at one

[LeaPea]

My daughter is 11 months old, and we decided we would wait til she is one to start any vaccinations. We are only a month away, and I don't know how to start now. The delayed vax schedule doesn't really seem to fit what I want, but I don't really know how to space the vax. Any recommendations or resources?

[freestylemama]

I would start with, at the very least the DTaP and the MMR. 

[ma2two]

What diseases do you think she has a realistic chance of getting at her age, and which of those do you think are more dangerous at her age than the vaccine? If you don't know the answers to those questions, here are some resources for research.

CDC Pink Book

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pink-chapters.htm

vaccine package inserts

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm093833.htm

VAERS database

http://www.medalerts.org

CDC's catch up schedule

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/catchup-schedule-pr.pdf

You can consult this along with the package inserts to see the minimum spacing between doses. The CDC's schedule is often more aggressive with the spacing than the package inserts.

[LeaPea]

Thanks! I'm don't really think she is at risk for much since she stays at home with me. She isn't exposed to a lot of other children, but I know there is always risk involved. My husband wants her vaccinated, but has agreed to wait until a year. I am more reserved since I wasn't vaccinated until I was six years old. Tough decisions!!

[emmy526]

If she isn't at risk because she stays home, why not delay them a little longer til her immune system is more mature?  Does your husband have sound reasoning for wanting her vaxed at a year old?  Or is it more fear-mongering and media hype getting to him?

[ma2two]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeaPea 

Thanks! I'm don't really think she is at risk for much since she stays at home with me. She isn't exposed to a lot of other children, but I know there is always risk involved. My husband wants her vaccinated, but has agreed to wait until a year. I am more reserved since I wasn't vaccinated until I was six years old. Tough decisions!!

Sounds like your husband should be reading the links I provided, then, since he is the one who wants to start vaccinating.

[MJB]

Here's the schedule we came up with for my 11 mo. old. This way, she'll be fully vaxed in time for kindergarten without getting more than two shots at a time. 

9 mos: DTaP

12 mos: DTaP, PC 

15 mos: MMR, Hib

18 mos: DTaP, PC

2: Hep B, IPV

3: Hep B, IPV

4: MMR, DTaP

5: Hep B, IPV

The pneumococcal and Hib aren't required for school (at 5+) but I decided to do them anyway. Pertussis is my biggest concern, which is why we started with the DTaP. 

[mcgee]

We started our son with DTAP at 12 months. That was his first vaccine. Our pediatrician recommends DTaP, pneumoccocal and HIB, as he feels that those vaccines cover the diseases our children are mostly likely to get (aside from flu and varicella, but we'd already decided to skip those). He's 19 months old, and he's had two doses of DTaP so far. He was a little under the weather at his 18 month visit so we didn't vax at all then. DH is of the opinion that we should definitely get the pneumoccocal and HIB vaccines, but my sister and I have both had pneumonia, I've had encephalitis, and she's had meningitis, so while I admit that these can be serious diseases, I'm not terrified of them either.

[LeaPea]

Thanks. My daughter's appointment is this Friday, and I think we have decided on doing the DTap first. She isn't at risk for much right now, but I will have to go back to work eventually, so she will have to go to some sort of care.

[ma2two]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeaPea 
I will have to go back to work eventually, so she will have to go to some sort of care.

California's personal belief exemption applies to childcare as well. Just sign the back of the "blue card."

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/pm286b.pdf

So her needing to have childcare in the future should not be a factor in your vaccination decision.

[LeaPea]

I meant that she will be exposed to much more germs. That is why I am considering some vaccinations. Right now she is very low risk because she is at home.