Immunizations

[anitakidcrazy]

What is everybody doing or done in the past with immunizations? I definitely do not want the Hep.B. shot right in the hospital (I can't believe that they do this right after the baby is born) and was shocked at the toxic ingredients that make up vaccinations!

Is there a balance....do you believe that some may be more important than others? It seems that many of the immunizations are for illnesses that are not even life-threatening and actually build a child's own natural immunity!

[JustJamie]

The vaccination forum has a lot of info on vaccines, but most posters there are very anti-vax, so beware.

We are delaying all vaccines until at least 6 months, possibly 1 year. We are NOT doing the vitamin k shot or the eye goop at birth.

[azzuranotte]

DD was fully vacccinated up until a year... no MMR or Varicella. DS got 2 shots. I wish I hadn't crumbled under the dr's pressure. I can't remember what, but they were individual vaccines, not 3 in 1 or 5 in 1. This baby will get none.

My questioning started with the chickenpox vaccine. I myself had recieved many of the vaccines and was fine. But after some thought... my allergies were at there worst in the years following the vaccines I recieved for college. I remember them painfully, not the shot, but whatever was in it coursing through my arm. It was an unnerving feeling. The more research I did the less willing I was to subject my children to these shots. It is counter intuitive to me, to inject my kids with known poisons under the guise of medicine.

[salt_phoenix]

I have never vaccinated any of my children. My oldest is 19.
I will not be vaccinating this baby either.
I have been very happy and confident with my choice.

[healthnutmama]

This baby won't be getting anything for at least the first year, maybe 2. My oldest 2 were vaccinated. My 2.5 year old had one round of shots after the Dr. guilt tripped me into getting them. I was so ticked off at myself b/c I had decided against it, I never went back to the Dr.

I went to a session that Dr. Sears gave at the La Leche League International Conference this year. His vaccination schedule seemed fairly logical. You could pick up a copy of his book, The Vaccine Book, if you are interested. There's also some info on the AskDrSears website.

GL!

[ripcurlgirl26]

We haven't vaccinated our first, and will not vaccinate this babe either. I refuse to call them immunizations, lol.

[chase_mommy]

I vaccinated DS as the Dr.'s had scheduled all the way to 12 or 18 months. Since then my son has been diagnosed with PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder, type of Autism) and SID (Sensory Integration Disorder/Dysfunction). So NO, I will not be vaccinating this baby nor will DS get anymore.

I have family members who do a delayed vaccination routine and so far, it is working for her but for my children it’s just not the thing to do.

[patchynurse]

I am picking and choosing. some I am okay with. some I think are not needed. That said. I am also putting off vaccinating until my lil man is older. Aviva Romm's vaccinations book was really helpful to me.

[zaner'smama]

I am still trying to decide. (Hubby thinks we should vaccinate, but leaves the decision to me since I research it). We will certainly delay for at least 6 months, but maybe a year... if we do any at all. I've read several books and so much information online, but still feel unsure. It's a really hard decision. Especially when it comes to tetanus.
With my son, we vaccinated on schedule until he was 6 months then quit when I really started researching.
I'm currently reading "Raising a Vaccine Free Child" by Wendy Lydall and learning a lot. I'm glad to have this book for reference in case we ever do deal with any childhood diseases.
Betsy

[NJ*Doula]

I will be vaxing, but on a slightly delayed schedule. No vit. K or eye goop, no Hep vaxes at all (I don't believe it's worthwhile for a child...when he's a teenager we'll talk about it). Here's what I've come up with so far:

2 m – DtaP, Rota
3 m – Pneumo, Haemo Flu B
4 m – DtaP, Rota
5 m – Pneumo, Haemo
6 m – DtaP, Rota
7 m – Pneumo, Haemo
9 m – Polio
12 m – Polio, Mumps
15 m – Pneumo, Haemo
18 m – DtaP
2 y – Polio, Rubella
2 ½ y – Rubella
3 y – Measles
3 ½ y – Mumps

or

3 m – Rota
4 m – DtaP
5 m – Rota
6 m – DtaP
7 m – Rota
9 m – DtaP
12 m – Hep B
15 m – Polio
18 m – Hep B
2 y – Polio
2 ½ y – Hep B
3 y – Rubella
3 ½ y – Measles
4 y – Mumps
4 ½ y - Polio
5 y – DtaP
5 ½ - Measles

This might even be spread out or changed even more. I need to pick a pedi soon and have a discussion. Definitely no more than two shots at a time, and no combos except for the DtaP. MMR will be split into its components. I'll be attending a pox party for Varicella. The Rotavirus is in grey because I'm still researching it, so it could be taken off the list or moved.

[lilgsmommy]

In the hospital we are doing no eye goop, no vitmain K and no Hep B......if the baby is a preemie though, we will get the vitamin K.

After that? No vaxs period.

[rabrog]

**refusing to get on soapbox**

DD has had no vaccines and never will unless she is 18yo, has the information and makes an informed choice about her own body. This baby will have no vaccines, either.

Jenn

[Pinky Tuscadero]

No vax for us either.

[anj7]

Both girls had the vaccinations, as will this baby. But not the 'optional' vax's like chickepox or flu. Yes, I believe some are more important than others, like menengitis is pretty scary, so my kids get that vax.

[esmlranch]

Ooohhh, this is a tough decision and one that I have spent many hours researching and agonizing over.
We did no hep shot for DS. I looked into doing liquid vit k but decided to get the shot because dh has a history of blood clotting difficulties as a child. Since we were transferred to the hospital from home last time we got the eye goop. The hospital is where all those staph germs are. If we are able to avoid the hospital this time we will skip the eye goop.

I have been vaccinating ds on a slow, delayed schedule. I started at about 6 months and he only gets one shot at a time. I do not do the combo vax's. I will only do measles and mumps for him when we are ready. Boys do not need Rubella. I have been picking and choosing with the help of my very supportive, wonderful dr. We will skip on chicken pox and none of us get flu shots.

I really feel like it is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. This is the compromise I have been able to live with. Every person has to make their own decision.

[azzuranotte]

Originally Posted by anj7

Both girls had the vaccinations, as will this baby. But not the 'optional' vax's like chickepox or flu. Yes, I believe some are more important than others, like menengitis is pretty scary, so my kids get that vax.

Unfortunately, here, chickenpox is not optional and as of next sepetmeber preschool and daycare kids will be required to get the flu shot. Gotta love Jersey... home of Merck.

[Bellejar]

We have done all the standard vaccinations on the schedule recommended to me by the pediatrician we see. My husband and I did the research and decided we were comfortable with that. I do know several moms who delayed vaccines and many who choose not to vax at all. I think this is a highly personal decision that each parent needs to make for there own child. I don't think there is a "right decision" but maybe a decision that is right for you and your family. Good luck making making this decision.

[dharmagrlpa]

I highly reccommend Dr. Sears Vaccination Book. He is not anti or pro vax and the book is EXTREMELY informative. He suggests an alternataive vax schedule.

http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/index.asp

[snozzberry]

Great thread! DH and I were just talking about this today and how we need to do research and make a decision.

At the very least, we want to delay vax. But we haven't done much research.

It's great to read people's reasons for their decisions. Thanks!

[gretasmommy]

We will be vaccinating this baby, just as we did G. I have researched my decision, and feel comfortable with the risk/benefit balance.

Like Bellejar said, it's a highly personal decision we each need to make for our own children/families.