Last vaccine to give up on?

[Mallori]

What is the last vaccine that you were comfortable refusing? Meaning, for me it's been a process...learning about the diseases and treatments, and then being comfortable enough to decide against them. Now i'm down to tetanus. It's the one that my dd's doctor seems to think is the most important. She's ok with us refusing all but that one, and will even order it in pediatric DT form so we don't have to get pertussis in it.

I've read up on it enough that i'm comfortable refusing it, but we go see her again tomorrow, and I know she's going to scare me again. So here I am, reading and compiling more ammo to use to my argument. But i'm still afraid to face her tomorrow. I have to take dd for a separate medical issue, but I know this will be brought up.

Right now my plan is to ask for the insert that comes with the vaccine so I can take it home for review and then go from there. I figure it'd be like meeting halfway, without actually getting my dd the shot.

Anyway, just curious to hear some stories about the vaccine you were all hesitant to refuse, maybe i'll feel better?

[xmasbaby7]

I would say tetanus would have been my last, too, and the reason I am comfortable declining that is that should my dd actually have a wound that has favorable conditions for tetanus, I could choose to get the immunoglobin for her if I felt the benefit outweighed the risk.

Many stars would have to align for an injury to have favorable conditions for tetanus. Although horrible, it is very rare.

[nwmamas]

Aside from rabies, tetanus was the last one for us too. And I still may be irrationally scared by tetanus if I didn't have such strong feelings against the D and P components and the high reactivity of this shot. Un/Fortunately, they don't make a kid or adult product I'd risk, so it's not an issue til I need to consider the immunoglobulin in the ER if we ever have a legit tetanus risk injury (which is supposed to be followed by the complete series ), so you can always leave it for "when DD gets diabetic, punctured at a farm, and my emergency post on MDC tells me to do it."

[leila1213]

Tetanus was our last too. Here's the thread: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=959716

[Mallori]

I could choose to get the immunoglobin for her if I felt the benefit outweighed the risk

Her ped says that this won't work without the previous vaxes for it. I haven't found concrete statements to the contrary(vaccine info is like needle in haystack for me), but i'm not inclined to believe her so far either. Thus, number one of her scare tactics.

[mamadelbosque]

Tetanus was/is definetly my last too. We live out in the country, so a theoretical tetanus risk is definetly there for us every single day. Just this summer I stepped on an ancient fencepost that was working its way up out of the ground right beside my garden. Now, I've had tetanus shots so I'm not worried about me... but what about DS? What would I have done. Certainly, not run and gotten a tetanus shot, but an immunoglobin shot? Possibly.

As I understand it, the Immunoglobin is specifically for people who have not/may not have been vaccinated. Those who have been vaxed get a booster if they step on something that might be a tetanus risk, those who have not, get immunoglobin.

[nwmamas]

I have no idea where I read it, but to the best of my knowledge tetanus immunoglobulin is recommended plus one booster for people who have ever been vaxed, but immunoglobulin plus the 3-shot series is for those with no vax history.

[mamadelbosque]

Obviously they're going to push the vaccine, but its not going to be able to help for THAT particular exposure - its after the fact, and the body has to build up immunity to it. It doesn't just work that you are just "poof" immune to tetanus now. Else what would hte point of the immunoglobin be?

[NYMOM07]

immunoglobin is made from an infected person, so i think that is somewhat gross-

i am almost a non-vaxer, but i think we are very lucky to live in this country. they have to give tetanus vaccines in places like africa, where babies get it a lot, i have read from their mothers putting contaminated soil on their umblical cords after birth. i do believe the tetanus vaccine works, contrary to what many say here. i know that children rarely get it, but to say that has nothing to do with the vaccine is ridiculous. i am still considering dtap mostly because pertussis IS common, and i dont think i want my son to be coughing his brains out for 2 weeks and then take months to fully recover= that is too much for me personally. so, i am still not vaxing at this point, but think that I want to in the future.