What is a safe delayed/selective vax schedule?

[lacysmommy]

We've been considering lately that we may selectively vax DD after she is 1 or 2 years old. We already know we will never get her the flu or hepatitis vaccine, and it is unlikely that we will get her the chicken pox vaccine. We are still on the fence about all the others, and don't know when to have them done, if at all. Such an easy "no-brainer" thing for most parents has been one of our biggest struggles, and we talk about what we are going to do quite a lot lately. We always said we would wait at least until she was 1 before we vaxed, and that is fast approaching, so it's been on my mind a lot.

What is a good delayed and selective vax schedule? Is there an optimal age for kids to receive vaccines, and are some completely useless after a certain age (I heard whooping cough is, but I'm not sure)? Lacy is 8 months old and in great health.

Thank you!

Carolyn

[Isaac'smama]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html

This link may be of interest to you.

[KellyB]

IMO, 3 or 3 and 1/2 is the youngest vaxes should ever start, as the protective coating of the neurons nears completion around that time.(myelination)
Also, I think developmental delays are less common in children vaxed later.

My ds is one and a half now, and I thought he'd be partially vaxed by now, but I find myself pushing the start-date further and further back.
Pertussis is a big fear of mine, but the "P" part of the DPT is the most dangerous part, and after much agonising and research, I've decided the vax is way scarier than the disease, as scary as it is....
Around 3, I'm presently thinking of doing the DPT and Hib...none of the other illnesses worry me.
I wouldn't even consider the MMR before considerably later.
The thimerosil-free MMR might or might not be safer, but I'll need several years of retrospect to feel confident it's safe.
Not to mention the fact that none of those diseases are really dangerous for children.

That's where I'm at now.
I might change my mind any day. This is a tough one...

[gilnikche]

Carolyn,

This is a frequent topic! If you do a forum search (upper right) with the keywords "delay" and "select" you will be able to read all the past threads on this subject.

[Momtezuma Tuatara]

There is no such thing as a "safe" schedule, delayed, or not delayed.

[Zuri's Papa]

And why is he still recommending the polio? I read that there were less than 200 polio cases reported in the world last year.

[maryjo_mom]

Originally Posted by kellyb

I wouldn't even consider the MMR before considerably later.
The thimerosil-free MMR might or might not be safer, but I'll need several years of retrospect to feel confident it's safe.

Kelly, the MMR never, ever contained Thimerosal or any other preservative. By nature, Live virus vaccines cannot - the virus would be killed by the preservative. Nothing has changed in the MMR since Merck came out with MRRII some years ago.

To the original poster:
Here are two really good books for info on the vaxes, diseases and risk factors of both:

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Children's Vaccinations
Stephanie Cave, Deborah Mitchell
*she has a suggested schedule

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide - how to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives
Aviva Jill Romm

It is really hard to find info that is not biased either for or against vaxes, but these books are pretty "evenly" written so that you can make your own decisions.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[paquerette]

I don't thin pertussis (the disease) is really that scary. I just think you don't hear about most cases unless they're really bad. My husband and I both had it when I was 7 mo. pg and everything was fine. We just took care of ourselves like we would for any bug and got over it. I have a very healthy, alert, bright, unvaxed 2 mo. old now.

I think a safe delayed vax schedule shouldn't start until the drug co's put their money where their mouth is, make their research records public, and start to pay out to vax damaged kids. I wouldn't buy a car from a shady company with no sense of responsibility for the safety of their product, why would I put that in my kid?