Vaccines - Help!

[carriepurkhiser]

Does anyone have any information on vaccinations? Our 1st child have all vaccines except the last set - He is due any time. With our 2nd child, I was set on him not getting hardly any - just the really important ones (and I actually had my husband agreeing!) When we got to the ped office - she pushed it so hard and made us feel like we were neglecting our children if we didn't have them. So my husband thought we should.

Stupid me - I agreed to my husband. We gave in again! But I swore that he wasn't going to get the prevnar, chicken pox, or the flu vaccine.

Our 3rd came - I had decided the same with my second - this was ridiculous - all of them shouldn't have vaccines, I thought. We get to the ped office. We birth our children at home, so none of them had the vit k shot, or the hep b shot at birth. The baby was 4 days old - she swears that the baby should have the vit k shot or he would have a brain hem. So we give in - our 3rd gets the vit k shot. I said "no prevnar, chicken pox, or flu shot".

Well, guess what - yesterday he got the prevnar shot b/c our ped insists that he has had too many ear infections from colds, and she just TOLD us he was getting it - and we just let her! His leg is so SWOLLEN and RED. He is very fussy - this cannot be normal!

What to do????? Are Vaccinations as important as our ped keeps pushing they are? What is right and what is wrong? My husband doesn't want our children to get a bad disease - but my mothering instinct always tells me THIS IS WRONG - it doesn't feel right.

I don't want other people to make me feel I am neglecting my children, but is it really right to stick a needle in our child and inject half alive bugs, and God only knows what else. I could never live with myself if my children are damaged b/c of a vaccination.

My ped assures me that the benefits are so much better than the risks. She doesn't use vaccinations that contain mercury. But, I am still not comfortable with Vaccinations.

We are also pressured that if our children do not get vaccines they will not be able to attend public schools.

What to do? Please HELP! :

[carriepurkhiser]

Also, if I did stop getting my children vaccinations, can I use religious exemption (for school)? Even though they have had some vaccines? How does this work? Everyone tells use that they HAVE to have vaccines to attend school - that it's illegal not to!

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

[Benji'sMom]

I think you need to stop seeing the ped. She doesn't seem to understand that it's your decision, not hers, and she shouldn't "insist" on anything. And a brain hemorage? Give me a break! I can't believe she would scare you like that! Every state has its on requirements on what you need to get your kids into school. My state just requires you to sign an exemption, it doesn't have to be religious and doesn't even require that you give any speicific reason. Some states require religious exemption, but that doesn't mean you have to prove that you go to church or anything like that. To be sure, talk to a lawyer about it in your state. There are websites that list each state, but I'd feel better going to a lawyer.

[stayathomecristi]

Oh Carrie,

I'm sorry you've been through all of this junk while trying to do what you think is best for your kids. It sounds to me like you need to do some research. I would suggest that you start here and search some threads about vaccines. Other good places to begin are www.mercola.com and www.909shot.com.

We're here if you have specific questions, but you must convince yourself what is right for your family. It sounds like you "know" there's something not right about what you're being told, but you feel powerless to stand up for it because you don't have your convictions down solidly. Find out all you can and then make a decision and stick with it.

Just FYI, your kids do NOT need to be vaccinated to attend any public school in the country. The med. profession uses that idea to coerce parents. Every state has at least a religious exemption available and many have medical and/or philosophical exemptions as well. You need to research what the law is in your state.

After you are done researching, if you still believe that you don't want to vax, you may want to consider switching docs. I got tired of being harassed at every visit and found a ped who will respect my decision as a parent.

Cristi

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by carriepurkhiser

Also, if I did stop getting my children vaccinations, can I use religious exemption (for school)? Even though they have had some vaccines? How does this work? Everyone tells use that they HAVE to have vaccines to attend school - that it's illegal not to!

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

If your state requires an all or nothing approach for an exemption, I'd lie and say that they've never had any.

[amnesiac]

This is the absolute first thing I'd read if I were new to the issue:
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/Y...ccinations.htm

Then tackle the rest of these one at a time, making sure to check out the references & resources at the bottom of each one:
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/a...ccinations.htm

[carriepurkhiser]

Thanks so much for all the info so far! I'm going to research the sites given to me as soon as I get the youngest 2 down for a nap! Thanks again - keep the info coming! Carrie

[stayathomecristi]

Carrie, if you go to http://.909shot.com/state-site/Indiana.html you will see that IN has both religious and medical exemptions. This is a summary, but the statute is there as well.

A school child may not be required to undergo any immunization when the child's parent objects on religious grounds. A religious objection must be:
(1) Made in writing;
(2) Signed by the child's parent; and
(3) Delivered to the child's teacher or to the individual who might order an immunization.

The religious exemption is always easier because it's nearly impossible to find a doc who is willing to say that your child is at risk to receive vaccines.

In most states the requirement to vaccinate only goes into effect for school aged children (although they'd like to get you started as soon as the baby is born ). The religious exemption usually stands for any age child. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, please.

The way your state law is written, you will want to have several copies of your religious exemption available at all times--one for the doc, one for the school, one for yourself (in case of ER visit). Make up a bunch to have on hand.

[Childishgoth]

Originally Posted by carriepurkhiser

Also, if I did stop getting my children vaccinations, can I use religious exemption (for school)? Even though they have had some vaccines? How does this work? Everyone tells use that they HAVE to have vaccines to attend school - that it's illegal not to!

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

hey who is to say that you didnt just change religions? they cant prove iit one way or another.. or maybe your religious thoughts became more stable. -