Rotavirus etc...what do I do?

[adora]

My daughter has her 4 month check up next week and I feel so overwhelmed by the vaccine decision. There is so much info out there and I don't even know where to begin. She got everything at her 2 month visit, but I just didn't feel right about it... it was heartbreaking to see her so upset then out of it for a few days afterwards I am at least thinking about passing on the Rotavirus one bc she is exclusively breastfed (I eat almost all organic/whole foods) and I stay at home with her. I would think if she was in a daycare setting, then it might be more appropriate. Anyways, I am a newbie at this all and am hoping you all might be able to shed some light on this for me...thanks!

[mamajjr]

Is the Rotavirus vaccine required in your state? There is a difference between recommended vaccines and required (by statute). My son had Rotavirus. Yes it was scary and messy, but he was over it very quickly. He was not vaccinated for Rotavirus. When Rotavirus was first marketed, it was quickly pulled for bowel obstruction (there is a whole history behind who pushed the immediate release, Pharma and $ ties, etc.). If your child stays at home with you and isn't exposed to a lot of children, I wouldn't get the vaccine (I don't recommend this or any vaccine). If he is exclusively bf'd, even better.

The first place I would start is to look at the package inserts of each vaccine, not the CDC VIS sheets, they don't give the information that you need. You could check out this website, it's not too intimidating:
http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/.

[07Mommy]

I would just say that I am delaying for now any vaccines until further notice. Do as much research as you need to feel more comfortable about vax/non-vaxing.

For me, the more I learned, the better I felt about my decision. I just go to the WBV & say No vax & tell the Dr we are delaying for now. No problem, nothing else is said!

[nummies]

We had Rotavirus a couple of months ago. He was around vaxed kids who went to a daycare at a birthday party. Anyway, it was a lot of mess and work but we got through it. To me, the vax is far more scary that the disease itself. Go with your gut and say "no thanks".

[Dmitrizmom]

Just remember that you can always get a shot later, but once it is given you can't take it back. If you decide you don't want the shot, your dc is healthy, and you don't want to deal with the doc; cancel the appointment or reschedule for a later date.

Rotavirus vaccines and intussusception risk.

Trends in Healthcare Usage Attributable to Diarrhea, 1995-2004.

There are a whole host of studies about rotavirus. It is a larger issue in developing countries where water purity and sanitation practices are sketchy at best and completely absent at worst, where health care options are minimal or nonexistant.

s to you mama as you make this decision.

[alegna]

I would delay them all and research each vaccine and disease. When I did that I found no vaccines I was comfortable with for my kids.

-Angela

[adora]

Wow, these responses have been so helpful..thanks! My husband and i are spending these next few days researching this all online. Our gut is telling us that at the very minimum some of the vax's we will definitely be passing on...like rotavirus and chickenpox. I am just now reading about which ones are cultured using aborted fetal cells. If I do decide on her getting a specific vax, but I want it to fetal-cell free, do I just tell to give her that specific alternative shot? My husband is most concerned about the polio vaccine. Anyone familiar with that?

[mommaknowsbest]

Originally Posted by alegna

I would delay them all and research each vaccine and disease. When I did that I found no vaccines I was comfortable with for my kids.

-Angela

:

Plus, one of my DC got Rotavirus. This DC was exclusively breastfed also, I too was a SAHM. It wasn't any fun, but we got through it. I remember the ignorant doc at that time,telling me to give my DC pediasure,to prevent/treat dehydration. Umm..no,bm is far superior.

Good for you for listening to your gut,and not just going with the flow.

[mom0810]

My ped. told me that Rotavirus is one of those shots he thinks is silly for kids in the U.S. He said that in the 3rd world, it makes sense, but not here. So no, I would not do that one if I were you.

I would delay any others until you are ready.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by adora

If I do decide on her getting a specific vax, but I want it to fetal-cell free, do I just tell to give her that specific alternative shot? My husband is most concerned about the polio vaccine. Anyone familiar with that?

Most of the vaxes with fetal cells don't have an alternative that's not.

Not sure on polio. There have been no wild cases in the US in decades- it was easy to cross that vax off my list.

-Angela

[tanyalynn]

Most of the vaxes with fetal cells don't have an alternative that's not.

Are you sure? I thought most of them did--rubella doesn't, but I thought almost all the others had alternatives (using fetal cells from various animals).

cogforlife.org would have an up-to-date list, I'd expect.

[Dmitrizmom]

honestly... If I had to vax and had a choice between aborted fetal cells and cells from other animals... I'd have to take the aborted human fetal cells - I have more issues with xenobiotic disease vectors (that they don't test for) than with tissue taken from a fetus aborted around the time I was born.

SV-40 anyone?

[MCKH]

Just remember that rotavirus is the one vaccine you cannot get later on if you decide you want it or your situation changes.

[13Sandals]

from the rotavirus inserts:

In the 7-day postvaccination period, vaccinees had a small but statistically significantly greater rate of diarrhea

seriously, this vaccine is worthless in the US. worst case, your baby needs to be rehydrated in the hospital...a pain in the ass, absolutely...but compare that with the worst case scenario from the vaccine: bowel obstruction and death.
if you are looking to lessen the vaccine load for your child, this is a great one to cross off the list.

[adora]

Thanks all for the info! I just picked up Sears' Vaccine Book today...hubby and I are going over it b4 our dd's appt tmw. We are thinking of doing his delayed vax schedule and eliminating some vaxs we don't deem necessary. I like his idea of if you are going to vax at all, spread those ones out and do them when most critical. He said in his book Rotavirus is not a matter of if your child will get it, but when... Is the fact that I breastfeed her and stay at home with her enough to cross it off my list?

[mamajjr]

Originally Posted by adora

Thanks all for the info! I just picked up Sears' Vaccine Book today...hubby and I are going over it b4 our dd's appt tmw. We are thinking of doing his delayed vax schedule and eliminating some vaxs we don't deem necessary. I like his idea of if you are going to vax at all, spread those ones out and do them when most critical. He said in his book Rotavirus is not a matter of if your child will get it, but when... Is the fact that I breastfeed her and stay at home with her enough to cross it off my list?

IMO it is enough to cross it off the list. My son had rotavirus when he was two months old. It was messy, but he got over it and now has a built immunity. I remember when it first came on the market and it was pulled because children were dying from bowel obstruction. Since we live in the US and our drinking/sewage is more sanitary, I don't believe it is necessary. In fact, most states do not require it by law, just recommended by the CDC and AAP.

[lirpasirhc]

sorry that i can't find where i read this, but i read that most ppl get rota about 4 x before age 45 and then have full immunity. it's deadly in elderly ppl, even in the US. no one knows how long the immunity from the vaccination will last. why take a chance that your child will have to deal w/ the vax wearing off and being vulnerable as an elderly person? not to mention that there have been no long-term studies about the vax.

ETA: i though that "what your doctor may not tell you about children's vaccines" was a much better book that the sears vax book. just my opinion. you might want to read both books. congratulations on thinking about the vaccination issue!

[ZoeyZoo]

Check out this link for Polio and several other VDPs. This is part of the book How to Raise a Health Child In Spite of Your Doctor. This doctor was a ped with great credentials.

http://www.*********/v/mendelsohn.html

Also the new rotovirus vax that was passed in the last year was associated with a lot of pnemonia. Check out the archives or look up some of the articles on MSNBC.

Dr. Stephanie Cave has a great vax book too. Prefer it over the Sear book.

[adora]

Well, after much reading last night we decided to go with Sears' schedule for the 4 month visit. Our doctor was pissed to say the least at the appt today. She kept trying to convince us to to get the polio and hep b shot along with the rotavirus and dtap , but we wouldn't budge. I am guessing she won't fare too well later down the road when we decline things like chickenpox and delay mmr, so I am betting we will need to find a more friendly pedi. I couldn't believe some of the stuff she said...ridiculous! She asked us how dd did after being fully vax'd at 2 months...she figured she was fine in a couple days, butI told her it took at least 5-7 days before she was back to normal and that she has been extremely pale. She caught herself almost saying that was concerning, but then brushed it off! DD is doing soooooo much better this time around getting such few stuff than before Of to the tribes board to find a friendlier pedi...