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Anyone NOT like the Sears Vaccine Book?  

post #1 of 30
1/9/08 at 1:04pm
Thread Starter 
I just started reading the Sears Vaccine Book after enjoying the article in this month's Mothering, and it seems extremely informative, balanced and useful so far.

Anyone disagree? I know I sometimes tend to think things are good simply because I agree with them. I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something.

Thanks!
post #2 of 30
1/9/08 at 1:08pm
I have not read it yet.

BUT I have seen inaccurate information quoted from it.

And his conclusions lead to the schedules which I have seen which do NOT seem delayed or selective to me. It's basically everything and pretty close to on schedule.

Seems to me it's a pro-vaccine book with a tiny bit of anti-vax info.

-Angela
post #3 of 30
1/9/08 at 1:15pm
Ah, yes. The Sears book. Not a book on my favorites list to say the least.

There have been lots of threads about it lately.

Here's one (for your reading pleasure) most of the other ones are in hiding/been moved and I can't find them!:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...2#post10225482

I think I made it pretty clear in that thread what I think of it!! (which is "YUCK!")
post #4 of 30
1/9/08 at 1:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by attachedmamaof3 View Post
Ah, yes. The Sears book. Not a book on my favorites list to say the least.

There have been lots of threads about it lately.
Thank you for pointing me to that other thread. I'll go check it out.

I'm glad I asked about the Sears Book here as I'm the vulnerable place of just starting to educate myself about vaxing (as in, I knew I had to question it but haven't figured out what my answer should be. With a baby coming in May, I need all the info I can get-- from all sides.
post #5 of 30
1/9/08 at 1:29pm
I feel he is wishy-washy about committing to a view point. He does have a very minimal schedule but even so, if you read all the chapters on the diseases, he gives some pros and cons but then appears to leave the conclusions up to the reader but at the same time, he makes his recommendation. I feel he is trying to hard to walk the middle line but then comes down on the side of vaccines in the end.

He outright dismisses the idea that VPD's were in decline before vaccines even though he acknowledges the fact, but says it's because of vaccines that many VPD's disappear. I feel he did not give enough credit to the natural and social processes that seemed to have been in play.
post #6 of 30
1/9/08 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
Dang. Other threads on this topic are hard to find. Search is giving me all kinds of crazy results. Pft.

Found the Aviva Jill Romm book, though. Would y'all say that one's balanced in itself? Or is it simply anti-vax to balance the Sears books pro-vax stance?
post #7 of 30
1/9/08 at 2:40pm
Quote:
Dang. Other threads on this topic are hard to find. Search is giving me all kinds of crazy results. Pft

Here's a big thread on the book that might help... http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=775225


Quote:
Found the Aviva Jill Romm book, though. Would y'all say that one's balanced in itself? Or is it simply anti-vax to balance the Sears books pro-vax stance?
Yes, it is balanced, and I definitely think it is worth reading. There's a lot of good information in it.
post #8 of 30
1/9/08 at 2:40pm
double post
post #9 of 30
1/9/08 at 2:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molck View Post
I just started reading the Sears Vaccine Book after enjoying the article in this month's Mothering, and it seems extremely informative, balanced and useful so far.

Anyone disagree? I know I sometimes tend to think things are good simply because I agree with them. I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something.

Thanks!

I did not find his article in the current magazine to be balanced. Informative and useful - sure, but not balanced. A balanced article would have presented the option of not vaccinating, which he did not do. He talks about safe points to consider like delaying or using different brands. Not vaccination should have been on his list - no worries about aluminum then!!! Too many unanswered questions for me.

From what I've seen of his book, it is more of the same.

As a long-time subscriber, I was very disappointed to see such a pro-vaccine article in Mothering. My renewal just came in the mail and I'm debating if I should bother. I can get pro-vax info in any magazine.
post #10 of 30
1/9/08 at 3:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by soapdiva View Post
I did not find his article in the current magazine to be balanced. Informative and useful - sure, but not balanced. A balanced article would have presented the option of not vaccinating, which he did not do. He talks about safe points to consider like delaying or using different brands. Not vaccination should have been on his list - no worries about aluminum then!!! Too many unanswered questions for me.
Didn't mean to suggest the article was balanced, just that the book seems to be so far (in it, he does offer no-vax as an option and also gives reasons for and against skipping each specific vax he discusses). That said, it does seem he has pro-vax (though delayed/selective) leanings, and I can understand your concern with reading his article in Mothering.

Natural MommyJ*: Thanks for linking to that thread. Reading it now...
post #11 of 30
1/9/08 at 3:40pm
A much better and accurate book is one by Aviva Jill Romm -

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide
How to Make Safe, Sensible Decisions about the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives.
post #12 of 30
1/9/08 at 3:44pm
I HATED the vaccine book. I didn't even bother finishing it. I found it to be inaccurate, unresearched and mocking. I vote for Aviva Jill Romm's book also.
post #13 of 30
1/9/08 at 3:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molck View Post
Anyone disagree? I know I sometimes tend to think things are good simply because I agree with them. I want to make sure I'm not overlooking something.

Thanks!
What parts do you like/agree with so far?
Anything specific?
post #14 of 30
1/9/08 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mamakay View Post
What parts do you like/agree with so far?
Anything specific?
I'm only 1/4 of the way through the book, but here's what I've liked so far:

I like that he shares some of his non-vaxing patients reasons for not vaxing.

I like that he points out how breastfeeding "passes a whole host of mom's antibodies for a variety of diseases to the baby" (pg. 20).

I like the tone of the book in places, e.g., he says, "Besides being transmitted through unprotected sex, hp B can also be passed on by the sharing of IV drug needles, ... tattoo needles, [etc.]. So any baby who participates in one of the above-mentioned risky activities could catch hepatitis B" (pg 46).

I also like that he gives the reasons why people do choose certain vaccines, and I like that he tells what's in them, how they're made and what side effects commonly occur.

This book is pretty much my first step into educating myself about vaccines, and it's useful to have everything laid out for me. My non-researched gut says Don't Vax! but I want to learn as much as I can before I decide if that's the right decision.

This book feels like a good starting point, presenting the info (though from what I'm now reading on the other thread it seems some of the info may be misinformed) without giving a heavy-handed opinion.

-Maile
post #15 of 30
1/9/08 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molck View Post
This book feels like a good starting point, presenting the info (though from what I'm now reading on the other thread it seems some of the info may be misinformed) without giving a heavy-handed opinion.

-Maile
I think it's not a *bad* starting place, if it's just used as a starting place for more indepth research.

As for not giving a heavy-handed opinion- I would have to disagree. While not as heavy-handed as SOME pro-vax opinions, it's still VERY strongly pro-vax.

-Angela
post #16 of 30
1/9/08 at 4:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molck View Post
I like the tone of the book in places, e.g., he says, "Besides being transmitted through unprotected sex, hp B can also be passed on by the sharing of IV drug needles, ... tattoo needles, [etc.]. So any baby who participates in one of the above-mentioned risky activities could catch hepatitis B" (pg 46).
Did he really say that babies can catch hep B from getting tattoos, having sex and sharing IV drugs? If my baby is doing those things I have more to worry about than Hep B.
post #17 of 30
1/9/08 at 4:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by alegna View Post
I think it's not a *bad* starting place, if it's just used as a starting place for more indepth research.

As for not giving a heavy-handed opinion- I would have to disagree. While not as heavy-handed as SOME pro-vax opinions, it's still VERY strongly pro-vax.

-Angela
Thought you hadn't read it . It definitely won't be the end of my research, though! Basing my opinion on a single book would be about as responsible as basing it on the CDC recommendations, I'd say.
post #18 of 30
1/9/08 at 4:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lyttlewon View Post
Did he really say that babies can catch hep B from getting tattoos, having sex and sharing IV drugs? If my baby is doing those things I have more to worry about than Hep B.
i would think he's being sarcastic...
post #19 of 30
1/9/08 at 4:44pm
Thread Starter 
Oops...
post #20 of 30
1/9/08 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Molck View Post
Thought you hadn't read it . It definitely won't be the end of my research, though! Basing my opinion on a single book would be about as responsible as basing it on the CDC recommendations, I'd say.
Haven't read it, but read fairly extensively about it

-Angela
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Mothering › Forums › Natural Family Living › Books, Music and Other Media › Anyone NOT like the Sears Vaccine Book?