4 yr old vaccinations

[nald1]

We have not vaccinated at all yet- are there any you would say are crucial for a 4 yr old?

[ma2two]

After you ask here, I suggest you also ask on the "I'm Not Vaccinating" forum.

[elisheva]

I'm not sure our choices would meet anyone's definition of crucial besides our own, but, starting after age 3, we do: tetanus (TD since we can't get tetanus only for kids), MMR, and polio (haven't done polio yet but I think here it's only available in combo with something so we will likely do that, too, unless we can get it solo for kids).

I consider the MMR crucial not for my kids but to protect the unborn babes of moms whose immunity has worn off unknown to them. I'm sure others will have other/opposite opinions :)

[bstandlee]

I don't have any answers but we are in the same boat as the OP. Our ds will turn 4 next week and we are considering whether or not there are any vaccinations he should receive.

To be honest, the only one(s) we are seriously considering are tetanus and pertussis. Tetanus because he's a boy and plays outside (barefoot in our backyard) most of the day.

Pertussis because of the "epidemic" here in California and because of how contagious it is...and mostly because I was pregnant with twins and was worried about having newborns (who are most susceptible to death from pertussis). However, I lost both twins so that consideration is now void. Add to that the supposed ineffectiveness of the pertussis vaccine, the lack of proof or claim that the pertussis vaccine prevents transmitting the disease to others, and the high rate of adverse reactions to the pertussis vaccine...I'm at a loss. DS has an allergy-related cough that got pretty severe several times this winter, which makes the thought of him getting pertussis even scarier than if he was 100% healthy.

I'm like a tennis match bouncing back and forth, back and forth...no decision! Sorry this got so long...it's just a very complicated issue!!! I'm interested in others' opinions as well :)