dr. sears - the vaccination book

[elizawill]

i'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but i'm looking for more info, reviews, and thoughts on this book before purchasing it. i'm sure there's a previous thread on this book, but i honestly can't find it. i'd love to hear your thoughts on this book, or if someone wants to point me to an old thread - that's great too!!!

TIA!

[PGNPORTLAND]

I found this book extremely helpful in making vaccination decisions for my daughter. The infomation was presented in a way that was easy to read and understand, yet I did not feel "talked down to". It was also an interesting read - my partner read it without much pushing and prodding which is a rarity for him. I did not feel that there was any use of "scare tactics" - just basic facts. He really presents you with all sides of the arguements for and against vaxing in a way that lets you come to your own decision that you can feel good about. He talks about both medical and philasophical arguements for and against vaccines.

I am guessing many others will disagree with my high opinion on this book, especially those who are strongly anti - vax. I think whether you will find this book helpful really depends on where you are on the whole Vax/no vax discussion. I suppose if you are strongly anti Vax and know for sure you don't want any Vaxs then this would not be the book for you. But if you feel kind of lost in the whole thing and need a basic overview to help you make your decision then you may find it very helpful.

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by PGNPORTLAND

But if you feel kind of lost in the whole thing and need a basic overview to help you make your decision then you may find it very helpful.

:

my son will be 4 years old next month and was last vaxed when he was 5 months. my dd is 6 1/2 and was last vaxed at the age of 2. i put it off thinking i would research and make an informed decision (since i can always have them vaxed but i can't undo what's been done). i have the book "just a little prick" and it was good but obviously very skewed. i do look through the archives here and have visited many many sites to better educate myself - but honestly i'm still confused and have only relied on my gut feeling thus far in feeling led to hold off on this. ....but now now my gut feeling is even confused! : i know i won't get my kids fully vaxed ever, but i'm torn if i should be doing select vaxes with them, and i heard this book was good in making a more informed decision. ugh, this is such a biggie to me and i want to do what is best for my kids. i hate being so uneducated about this! i could use help! is there a book "vaxing for dummies"???

[angie7]

I''ve read it and I think its a good place to start. But more research needs to be done besides just reading this one book.

[gretelmom]

Originally Posted by elizawill

i'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but i'm looking for more info, reviews, and thoughts on this book before purchasing it. i'm sure there's a previous thread on this book, but i honestly can't find it. i'd love to hear your thoughts on this book, or if someone wants to point me to an old thread - that's great too!!!

TIA!

I thought it was an incredibly important book for all parents to read. When I stopped vax'ing I didn't have any good info on why, just my gut and my irrational fears. Once I read the book, I had solid evidence and information to follow my gut, and allay some of my irrational fears, and to back up other fears.

Dr Bob Sears seems to be a very open-minded and respectful pediatrician, and if you were to choose NOT to read it, I think you would miss out on a lot of information, and with a topic this important, I think you would probably want that info.

Like PP said, it's an important place to start, and then you'll be much more informed when you're reading other sources... For instance, when I was first researching vaccinations, I kept hearing which shots were live, killed, etc but it was inconsistent. If I hadn't read that book, I'd be taking others' word for it instead of knowing the facts.

It took me about a half day, while nursing, to read it. My brother read it in a few hours, and he's VERY technical, needs lots of scientific research to believe anything, and thought the book was great. So I think you'll find it useful.

J

[artgoddess]

I went to a seminar given by Dr Sears regarding vaccines almost 3 years ago. I was so excited when the book was being released and pre-ordered it from amazon. It is helpful. But frankly my notes from the seminar are more helpful to me. I found the book to be very tame compared to the man I met. The book, to me, reads as much more forgiving of the pharmaceutical companies than the man.

[TanyaS]

I wasn't impressed with the book. It might be a good starter, but don't let it be your only source of info.

[attachedmamaof3]

Frankly, I thought it sucked. I was REALLY disappointed.

I've found more information through my own research.

He was surprisingly pro-vax and IMO presented some pretty ridiculous ideas (like you need to vax if your kids are ever going to be in public or in daycare, etc)

We've gone over this part in 1,000 threads and don't want to restart that...but there are also some significant factual errors in some of his statistics.

[Gitti]

From VAX: What is wrong with Dr's Sears' vax schedule?

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=806495

There is a much more well researched and unbiased book out there from Aviva Jill Romm - Vaccine: a thoughtful parents guide.

I have read an excerpt of his book in New Beginnings and he recommends all vaccines and has no real reason as to why. I wouldn't waste my money on it.


.

[carriebft]

I really liked it; it has been helpful to both me and my cousin. I liked the format and it really is a great place to start if you don't know what the diseases are or the vaccine controversy very well.

[junomama]

Of the books I've read about vaccinations (Aviva Jill Romm, Stephanie Cave, the CDC's Pink Book, this one by Dr. Sears), this one was the most illuminating about aluminum and studies surrounding aluminum. Unlike the others, it also listed the ingredients in each vaccine, comparing the contents of the various brands of vaccines (i.e. Merck's Hib shot versus Sanofi Pasteur's Hib shot) in an easy-to-access way. I thought it was worth reading for those reasons.

Also, FWIW, I think Aviva Jill Romm's book on vaccinations is excellent.

[Ceinwen]

I found it a good, basic beginning point.

[elizawill]

thanks mamas! i really appreciate you all sharing your thoughts and further recommendations. i'll get the dr. sears book as well as the one gitti suggested (that sounds great -thank you!!!). i have enjoyed "just a little prick" as well. you'd think with all of the research i've done on this MDC board, & the websites you all have recommended that i'd feel less confused, but honestly i'm not. there is so much debate about vaccinations, that i find myself feeling torn in some ways. i know my kids will not get the MMR or the chicken pox or gardasil at all - but some other shots they've missed, i'm just trying to weed through them and make an informed decision (at least something i can defend other than "it's just my gut feeling" - peds don't seem to dig that answer, understandably!). thanks again for your help.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by elizawill

(at least something i can defend other than "it's just my gut feeling" - peds don't seem to dig that answer, understandably!). thanks again for your help.

That's OK. You are the Boss; the decision is yours and you do not have to explain yourself to the doctor. I'd either go with "we do not vaccinate, I will not discuss my decision" or "we are religiously opposed to the practice of vaccinations".

[TanyaS]

:

Have you read www.insidevaccines.com? It's fairly new, but a very informative site.

[GooeyRN]

I liked it. It had basic info, ingredients, why some parents skip or delay certain vax's. And he includes his opinions without seeming pushy. There are books out there with more detailed info, but I think its a great book if you are looking for the basics in an easy to read fashion. It uses easier terminology and explains the terminology that isn't normally used by most people on a daily basis. You aren't left to look things up on your own. It will tell you straight out the ingredients actually are and why they are bad instead of just glossing over the terms with no explanation. I was lazy about researching vax's for awhile b/c of some of the terminology. I was able to read this book and not have to reference stuff.

[lovingmommyhood]

I REALLY liked it. I have it dog eared and highlighted.

[amnesiac]

Since this is about a book I'm moving the thread to the appropriate forum...

[DahliaRW]

He says that he's doing a balanced approach, but it really is pro-delayed vaxing. I'd be ok with it if he'd admit his bias and then try to provide a balanced point (like Henci Goer does in a thinking woman's guide to childbirth). And I think some of his statistical analysis is faulty. He doesn't break it down to whether or not the cases of diseases we vax for were aquired by vaxed or unvaxed kids. Which, IMO, makes a difference. But, there is some good info in there about ingredients and such.