What is the Vax Status of Your Children?

[Turquesa]

That's pretty much my question.

This poll should not be treated as a popularity contest for the best decision, nor should the thread be side-tracked into a debate on the safety or efficacy of vaccines. I'd just like a rough idea of the vax decisions of this forum's readership.

Lurkers, especially, come out come out wherever you are and vote! 

ETA: Answer based on what "on-schedule" means in the country where you live.

Feel free to elaborate if there are other factors that the poll options don't consider.
Edited by Turquesa - 2/4/13 at 9:05am

[prosciencemum]

Note schedules differ in different countries (e.g. where I live healthy children are not given varicella and there is no recommendation for annual flu shots and also Hep B is only given at birth to mothers who test positive for it).  I still said we vaccinate fully and on schedule (even though compared to the US schedule this is not true) because we follow the recommendations for where we live. 

[katelove]

I voted not vaxxed at all because that is their current status but we do intend them to have some vaccines when they're a bit older.

[Jennyanydots]

I voted with my youngest in mind. My older two were vaxxed fully but lo is not.

[erinmattsmom88]

I voted delayed and/or selective schedule. DD technically has one more polio, MMR, varicella and DTaP to go. If she gets anything, it MIGHT be the DTaP. Otherwise, no. DS technically needs one more HIB, polio, two more DTaPs, and both MMR and varicella. If I do anymore for him it would be the HIB and the DTaPs only. Still on the fence about those. Both kids didn't get rotavirus, and will never get the flu or Hep A vaccine. DD will never get Gardasil either.

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by prosciencemum 

Note schedules differ in different countries (e.g. where I live healthy children are not given varicella and there is no recommendation for annual flu shots and also Hep B is only given at birth to mothers who test positive for it).  I still said we vaccinate fully and on schedule (even though compared to the US schedule this is not true) because we follow the recommendations for where we live. 

That's an excellent point. I'll edit my OP to take that into consideration.

I apologize for not putting an "other" category into the poll. I know better.

[Mirzam]

I also voted for my unvaxed children. My eldest was vaxed on schedule according to what was required in Hong Kong, which compared with today's schedule, was minimal and delayed, but included a vaccine not on the US schedule today. She was vaxed until five (MMR booster) when all vaccines were stopped.

[marsupial-mom]

On schedule.

Can't vote because the program I am using to view the forum doesn't show polls.

[Dakotacakes]

I voted vax on schedule because that is the spirit in which I vaccinate. But in reality there have been some minor variations. I waited until 18 months for varicella because he was in care with an infant who was too young for vaccinations and I didn't want to risk shedding transmission with that vaccine. And he got Hep B at his first visit rather than at the hospital. But the variations were not because of problems or concerns with the schedule but concerns for other people .

It also might be interesting to see how people would vax a future child if they had one. For me I would probably vote that I vax with a few varations. My next child will not get Hep B until his 2 month visit. I don't understand why he can't get any other vaccines until that time but this one is different. So in the future I will wait until they gets the rest to ge Hep B but otherwise future children will be on schedule

[SweetSilver]

My girls started out fully vaccinated with "one or two deviations" but we have indefinitely delayed boosters for various reasons, so I vote "sel/delay", since, if taken altogether this fits us best.  

[glassesgirlnj]

I voted on schedule.

Will there be a separate poll for caregivers? (Or maybe there was one already, and I'm a space cadet and I missed it?)

[dbsam]

I voted not vaccinated.

They were vaccinated on schedule but because of reactions they are no longer receiving vaccinations.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by glassesgirlnj 

I voted on schedule.

Will there be a separate poll for caregivers? (Or maybe there was one already, and I'm a space cadet and I missed it?)

There is another thread with the title are you up to date on vaccines? Not specific to caregivers  - not sure what you mean by this since as parents aren't we all caregivers?  - but a question for adults. 

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Dakotacakes 

I voted vax on schedule because that is the spirit in which I vaccinate. But in reality there have been some minor variations. I waited until 18 months for varicella because he was in care with an infant who was too young for vaccinations and I didn't want to risk shedding transmission with that vaccine. And he got Hep B at his first visit rather than at the hospital. But the variations were not because of problems or concerns with the schedule but concerns for other people .

It also might be interesting to see how people would vax a future child if they had one. For me I would probably vote that I vax with a few varations. My next child will not get Hep B until his 2 month visit. I don't understand why he can't get any other vaccines until that time but this one is different. So in the future I will wait until they gets the rest to ge Hep B but otherwise future children will be on schedule

Why Heb B is given to an infant regardless of the mothers status is beyond me. Is your 2 month old shooting heroin or having sex? My guess is no. I know that with the Heb B the reason given in this country for giving it so young is that they are trying to make sure kids don't "miss" it later on down the line. This does not explain your point however. Why not offer it with others at 2, 4 or 6 month visits? 

[Dakotacakes]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

Why Heb B is given to an infant regardless of the mothers status is beyond me. Is your 2 month old shooting heroin or having sex? My guess is no. I know that with the Heb B the reason given in this country for giving it so young is that they are trying to make sure kids don't "miss" it later on down the line. This does not explain your point however. Why not offer it with others at 2, 4 or 6 month visits? 

No my two month old was not shoting heroin or having sex. But those are simply not the only ways to contract Hep B. Hep B is much stronger than say HIV which dies almost instantly outside the body. Hep B does not.

My husband and I both work with high risk populations. Dh works with substance abusers who are clearly high risk for Hep B. I work with college students who many are also at risk and notorious for not taking proper care of themselves. Since my child does come to our offices with us (not often but occassionally) there is a risk.

Further as much as I hope never does these things and I will educate about avoiding the behaviors children also sometimes iniate themselves into "blood brotherhood" or share razors etc. Both of which pose a risk at relatively young ages. Intravenous drug use and sex are not the exclusive pathways to hep b.

[Rrrrrachel]

It's estimated that before routine infant vaccination 18000 children under five were infected with hep b a year. When infants and children become infected they are far far more likely to develop chronic cases that put them at increased risk of liver disease and cirrhosis. Infected individuals have such a high viral load even an amount of blood invisible to the naked eye can cause an infection, and the virus can live on surfaces for days.

Everyone makes their own decisions for their own kids. Lets not belittle the ones we disagree with. The risks of hep b infection go way beyond heroine or sex.

[glassesgirlnj]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

There is another thread with the title are you up to date on vaccines? Not specific to caregivers  - not sure what you mean by this since as parents aren't we all caregivers?  - but a question for adults. 

Thanks for your help!

I was wondering if there is also a poll for non-parent caregivers such as grandparents, home daycare providers, nannies, etc.

Some people might want anyone who cares for their child(ren) to be vaxed (and some might specifically look for a daycare provider who does NOT believe in vaxing...)

[serenbat]

Quote:

I was wondering if there is also a poll for non-parent caregivers such as grandparents, home daycare providers, nannies, etc.

Some people might want anyone who cares for their child(ren) to be vaxed (and some might specifically look for a daycare provider who does NOT believe in vaxing...)

I thinks it's really important to keep in mind cost here - for most elderly and even some others, their insurance simply will not pay and the cost can be very high for them. Just because you work around children (and really this is just not daycare but scouting, 4H and the like- even going to a library) lots do not have any insurance and we don't seem to run free vac (exception flu) for adults. Cost is such a major factor for many and I don't know that a parent (I guess this would be up to the states if the allow it) that you can even find out the vac statics of those caring for a child in a pay situation with out a breach of confidentiality. Some states may have a requirements but I would assume most do not given a daycare size can be very small.

A poll would show the vas numbers that are not up to date. 

[glassesgirlnj]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

I thinks it's really important to keep in mind cost here - for most elderly and even some others, their insurance simply will not pay and the cost can be very high for them. Just because you work around children (and really this is just not daycare but scouting, 4H and the like- even going to a library) lots do not have any insurance and we don't seem to run free vac (exception flu) for adults. Cost is such a major factor for many and I don't know that a parent (I guess this would be up to the states if the allow it) that you can even find out the vac statics of those caring for a child in a pay situation with out a breach of confidentiality. Some states may have a requirements but I would assume most do not given a daycare size can be very small.

A poll would show the vas numbers that are not up to date. 

Interesting points. We live above my mom, and I take her to her dr's appointments, so I know her vaccine status pretty well. She is my daughter's only living grandparent.

Personally, we don't use daycare (my spouse is a WAHP). We do use a babysitter once every six weeks or so, and I have no idea whether she's up to date on her vaxes or not. I also don't know the vaccine status of aunts, cousins, etc.

That being said, I do know of parents who will not let friends/relatives even MEET their child unless they're up-to-date on vaccines. (I think this is extreme myself, but as other posters have suggested, we shouldn't belittle the decisions we disagree with.)

WRT cost and people not having insurance: Serenbat, ISTR you were discussing this in another thread, and you seemed to feel that people should take personal responsibility to make sure their family is insured, rather than using some form of Medicaid, or going to an emergency room for medical care.

Am I paraphrasing that correctly? Would this be true of receiving vaccines also?

[serenbat]

Quote:

Serenbat, ISTR you were discussing this in another thread, and you seemed to feel that people should take personal responsibility to make sure their family is insured, rather than using some form of Medicaid, or going to an emergency room for medical care.

Am I paraphrasing that correctly? Would this be true of receiving vaccines also?

that should really be in another thread not here-OT

I will say here that if you look at Medicare you will find that it also does not cover most vacs, so if you have (currently) another insurance that will not pay or in the case of Medicare or both, yet it's listed as "recommended" it seems hard press to get adults up to date.

ETA- I would assume if you were privately hiring (and could be totally different if you are using an agency) a nanny, you would be paying for their medical and you could ask them to be up to date, but they could refuse like many other professional do. Point being the child would be in contact with so many other people you have no way of knowing, or requiring them to be.

I do know an older person that went through cancer treatments recently and doesn't want to be near vac children and is not up to date and not getting caught up to date, maybe never. I assume there are others out there too that even given free shots, with a immune compromised body won't do it and also many no longer can do jobs they once did and may take baby sitting jobs as an easier job, again with no desire to get up to date or even know they should be- so many variables. 

Edited by serenbat - 2/8/13 at 11:07am