Where do we go from here?...

[melbell11]

Hello,

I've just decided that I do not want to follow the CDC vaccination schedule. However, my son has already recieved his birth hep b vaccine and 2 month MMR, rotavirus, pertussis,and Hep B vaccinations. Is it o.k. to change it up now and how could I space them out further? I wouldn't even mind waiting to vaccinate him until he is 2 year old if that is recommended. I just don't want what he has already recieved in immunizations to go to waste.

Thank you,

Melissa

[LisaSedai]

Why have you decided to delay? Did the baby react badly or are you just now getting a chance to read about and research vaccines?

"Is it ok to change it up now?"

Your baby, your choice.Be prepared though, if you have a mainstream doctor s/he will probably do her/his best to convince you that you are being a bad parent and your baby may become ill and die if you don't vax to CDC guidelines. Your doctor may "fire" you, or give you grief with each visit, try to make you sign a waiver (bad mommy form), or if you are lucky- the doctor may say "ok, let's figure out a schedule you would be comfortable with" (I think doctors like that exist somewhere... never actually saw one myself!)

Be careful who you talk to IRL. Worst case scenario if your family and friends are very pro-vaccination and you tell them you are delaying they may tell you you are not allowed to come to family gatherings or playgroup.

You might want to check out Dr Sear's Vaccination book. He goes over what all the vaccinations are for, what the side effects might be and offers an alternative vaccination schedule. The CDC has "catch up" schedules where it tells you what doses are needed depending on the child's age. Some vaccines aren't even given to older children and some vaccines may only need 1 additional dose instead of 2 or 3 that would have been given if you stayed on CDC schedule.

I wouldn't say the vax he already got are "wasted" but some vax are said to require more than one dose to be effective, so they say if baby only got 1 dose, he may have little protection against the disease.

HTH

[emmy526]

Originally Posted by melbell11 

Hello,

I've just decided that I do not want to follow the CDC vaccination schedule. However, my son has already recieved his birth hep b vaccine and 2 month MMR, rotavirus, pertussis,and Hep B vaccinations. Is it o.k. to change it up now and how could I space them out further? I wouldn't even mind waiting to vaccinate him until he is 2 year old if that is recommended. I just don't want what he has already recieved in immunizations to go to waste.

Thank you,

Melissa

an infant doesn't get MMR at 2 months...if  you are not comfortable doing any more vaxes until you have researched the issue some more, simply tell the dr you are delaying until you can educate yourself some more on YOUR choices for YOUR baby...the dr may not like it, but its your child, not his. Follow your gut, Mama!!! Don't let him fearmonger and bully you into something you are not sure of. 

[Imakcerka]

I delayed vaccinations due to laziness really and none of my peds had a problem with it.  Some of them would even tell me not to get something done depending on the child and how they were feeling.  I went to numerous appointments 1 to 2 yrs behind on vaccinations.  I only had one doc that said I might want to consider getting them done soon because of school, but only if I planned on putting them in school. 

There is nothing wrong with delaying vaccinations, I do have a problem with forgoing vaccinations altogether.  That is just me.  I've done my own research and I do what I feel comfortable with.  And that's what everyone should do.  What they feel comfortable with.