"In 20 years of practice I have never seen an adverse reaction.. but I have seen babies die!!!" - Page 2

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by just_lily

Thanks for the advice and support, ladies. We are in a small community outside Calgary, and here vaccines aren't given by the doctors. It is the public health clinic that does... so that is why they would end up calling me or whatnot.

I was actually really shocked at what happened yesterday. I generally really like my family doctor, and she has advised me follow my mama-instincts and do what I think is best on a number of other issues related to my baby, so I really wasn't expecting the lecture.

I will definitely check out those sites.

Thanks again!

Ok I'm not Canadian, unfortunately, but how is public health going to have your contact info and know about your baby? I avoided the whole discussion with our HCP by telling them that we would just get the shots at the health dept, but I never did. If public health is giving the vaxes why is your HCP even bringing the topic up?

[MyBoysBlue]

It's just something the doctors ask about. I was asked at DS's last appointment if we were up to date. I just told him we were delaying. When you have a baby in the hospital you fill out many forms. I had DS 1 in a hospital over 6 years ago, I remember fill lots of stuff out but I don't remember what exactly but I think one was for the Health unit. The OP might remember if that is the case as she birthed in hospital much more recently.

[Devaskyla]

As you're in Alberta, it's super easy to get out of vaccinating. You just tell the health nurse you aren't doing it. The ones in our last town tried to convince me I should, but they didn't try very hard. We got postcards from them 'reminding' us about shots for ds1. Ds2 we were in a different town & I told the health nurse we weren't vaccinating and the reaction was 'ok, i'll just make a note of it so you don't get reminders'. That was it. No calls, no harassing. No reminders this time, either. There's nothing special to do for school, either.

[just_lily]

More than filling out a form, public health nurses actually visit the homes of everyone who has had a hospital birth (I can only assume that they leave midwife patients alone, but I am not entirely sure). The nurse removed the staples from my c-section while I was laying on my couch.

So yep, on the radar.

When she talked about the vaccine clinics I just said "uh huh" because I really wasn't in the mood for confrontation. If they do call I feel like telling them it is against my religion or something just so they might leave me alone.

[Devaskyla]

Yeah, I had health nurses at home after both sons births. Ds2 I called them, though.

Weird that they'd do your staples, though. Definitely not something our health nurses have even considered. I just took the kids in for weighing. With ds1, I usually got asked about vaccines, but with ds2, she never even asked since she knew my opinion. It really depends on the health unit, but I never got phone calls about vaccinating, just the occasional lecture if I went near med pros & the occasional post card for ds1

[CarrieMF]

You don't need to tell them it's against your religion.

In Canada NO vaccine is required. There are 3 provinces which you need an exemption & alberta is NOT one of them. Tell them you are not doing vaccines, they should say they need to mark it down & that's it. If they say anything negative remind them they are not required & hang up.

They will call again once the kids are in school as your child will be "late" for it's booster, repeat the above & they'll leave you alone until the next round.

Any time we've gone into the hospital they ask if they're up to date & I say yes. They're as up to date as they're going to get.lol

They do NOT ask for vaccine info when your child goes to school. The only issue may be if you go to a private school.

My dr doesn't talk to me about vaccines at all.

[Malva]

I'm pretty confident the manufacturers don't make different vaccines for Canada than they do for the US. It's all the same.