What vaccines (if any) do you think are worth the risk?

[~Mom2thhts~]

Are there any vaccines that you think are worth the risk?

Which vaccine and why?

Do you think children with immunocompromises (ex. diabetes) should be vaccinated?

[jeanine123]

Right now? None. If the pertussis vax worked better I'd be more interested in it. But if my child already had an immune compromise I really wouldn't vax at all.

[xmasbaby7]

I can't think of any.

[Mirzam]

None. Ever. I would not vax any child of mine whatever their health status, least of all sickly ones.

[PGTlatte]

I admit I still think of tetanus. Because it seems to be low-risk when it is by itself. But I do not want the pertussis vax ever (I think that one is very dangerous), and I would not want a tetanus vax with any mercury in it (and I don't think the adult tetanus alone is available without thimerosal) and I don't like the big dose of D in the DT. And tetanus is I believe grown in casein, which our unvaxed DS is allergic to. So....not looking for that vax. I wish there was a way I could feel safe about it.

[carriebft]

For my family MMR, DTaP, IPV and HIb are the ones we do. I wouldn't imagine a situation where I could ever tell someone else what to do or a situation where I could do someone else's risk/benefit analysis for them.

[~Mom2thhts~]

Originally Posted by carriebft

I wouldn't imagine a situation where I could ever tell someone else what to do or a situation where I could do someone else's risk/benefit analysis for them.

I am researching vaccines for my dc. I hope that you didnt feel that I was asking you do this for me. I was just curious to see if anybody thought there were any vaccines that werent as risky. I find that there is so much information out there and it is all very confusing and overwelming it makes my head spin. : I was hoping to clarify some of my thoughts with the opinions of other moms on mdc.

But on another note.... I just read this article.

http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...809403,00.html

Does anybody know what the difference is in these vaccines that make them not as risky?

"Her children are now vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, Hepatitis B and typhoid fever because the risks of those diseases overshadow the risks of complications from the vaccines."

[spero]

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

Are there any vaccines that you think are worth the risk?

For my family - with ready access to clean water, healthy food, and immediate medical care? No.

In some areas/situations/individuals - MAYBE. At best.

Do you think children with immunocompromises (ex. diabetes) should be vaccinated?

Hell, NO!!!!!! In fact, my research has shown that vaccines (Hep B, Hib) are probably at least partly responsible FOR my 8-yo daughter's diabetes.

There is one doc in our ped practice who tells me that I should at least consider a flu vax for DD every year. Um, she's weathered the flu before, and I'm confident that she can do it again. No need for a useless (IMO) vax that might possibly cause even MORE complications for her - she has enough to deal with already.

[~Mom2thhts~]

Originally Posted by spero

Hell, NO!!!!!! In fact, my research has shown that vaccines (Hep B, Hib) are probably at least partly responsible FOR my 8-yo daughter's diabetes.

My 9yo dd has diabetes as well. But I always contributed it to when she was a newborn the PKU test came back positive and she had to go on formula for 5 weeks. They thought she had Duerte Galactosemia. It ended up she was just a carrier. Then when she was 18 months old she came down with a really seroius case of cold sores (oral herpes) and 18 months later she had diabetes. It is also generational in my dh's family.

I thought it was those things combined that led to the diabetes, but a doc never confirmed it. I didnt know those 2 vaccines could contribute to diabetes. Do you have any links?

[spero]

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...809403,00.html

While that article was somewhat more balanced than most I see in the mainstream, the "medical" side took their usual toe-the-line position - "vaccine ingredients are safe, herd immunity is important, yada yada".

"Her children are now vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, Hepatitis B and typhoid fever because the risks of those diseases overshadow the risks of complications from the vaccines."

And that's where "Jane" lost me.

tetanus - cannot survive in O2 rich environment - good bleeding is key
(Can get TIG after possible exposure if necessary, less toxic than vaccine.)

diphtheria - Read chapters on this disease in Just A Little Prick. Very interesting. Mortality rates for diphtheria dropped enormously in the last century - and that decline began WELL before the vaccine was introduced. Doctors seem to often lie (or don't know) about diphtheria mortality figures - this is one they love to scare people with, so know your facts!

polio - gimme a break. Search the archives for good info on that one.

hep B - are her kids planning on sharing needles or having unprotected sex with strangers (or otherwise sharing bodily fluids) while they're traveling abroad?!

Typhoid fever I don't know much about, admittedly. However, b/c my family is reasonably healthy to begin with, I would research treatment (and access to medical facilities where I'd be traveling), rather than simply go get shot up for the possibility that I/we might contract the disease.

[spero]

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

My 9yo dd has diabetes as well. But I always contributed it to when she was a newborn the PKU test came back positive and she had to go on formula for 5 weeks. They thought she had Duerte Galactosemia. It ended up she was just a carrier. Then when she was 18 months old she came down with a really seroius case of cold sores (oral herpes) and 18 months later she had diabetes. It is also generational in my dh's family.

I have a history of diabetes in my family, as well. My uncle died at 38 from complications of T1D.

I believe that these vaccines are triggering diabetes in people who are already genetically susceptible. Look at the explosion of T1 in children (once practically unheard of - my uncle was dx'd at 15 in the 60s, and that was typically about the youngest dx they saw back then) since the advent of the Hep B and Hib push. I wish I could find a graph someplace documenting this rise, but I the swear medical community is trying to hide it. :

I didnt know those 2 vaccines could contribute to diabetes. Do you have any links?

In general, this info is scarce & difficult to find - since the medical community absolutely refuses to acknowledge that their beloved vaccines might have anything to do with it. I lost all my links in a crash last year, but if you google you'll find some interesting stuff.

[Mosaic]

We has so far chosen delayed, selective vax, not so much because we consider some vaccines less risky but because we evaluate our DD's risk of contracting the disease as much, much higher than your average American child. Our schedule also takes into account the risk of severe effects from the illness, which changes with age, especially since diseases impact individuals very differently depending on age. So we skip some as she gets older and will be more inclined to consider others as she gets older.

I guess what I'm saying is that our decision is not based on the vaccines so much as it's based on our DD's particular risk profile with respect to infection and suffering severe consequences from infection.

[midwestmeg]

Originally Posted by spero

I believe that these vaccines are triggering diabetes in people who are already genetically susceptible. Look at the explosion of T1 in children (once practically unheard of - my uncle was dx'd at 15 in the 60s, and that was typically about the youngest dx they saw back then) since the advent of the Hep B and Hib push. I wish I could find a graph someplace documenting this rise, but I the swear medical community is trying to hide it. :

Wow, isn't that interesting!!

I tell people that when dd expresses an interest in becoming 'blood brothers' or is working in a high risk job, she can/should/could most certainly vax herself. I lifeguarded/first responded for a long time and my employer paid for that vax.

There is a lot of Hep B where I'm from (small town AK) but I guess I still wouldn't vax for that one with a tiny baby. That vax was pushed for newborns b/c of inner city/high risk communities and just for 'general community health....' which of course has nothing to do with our individual health!

I do vax for DTaP, Polio and MMR. I space them out and start when baby is older, plus I watch for reactions. Polio is pretty much a mute point and something my kids could do when they are older, I have begun to think. DTaP is worth the risk to me, but I wish it was a little more effective for pertussis. So I guess I participate in herd immunity for that one. MMR, same thing. Just me!!

[carriebft]

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

I am researching vaccines for my dc. I hope that you didnt feel that I was asking you do this for me. I was just curious to see if anybody thought there were any vaccines that werent as risky. I find that there is so much information out there and it is all very confusing and overwelming it makes my head spin. : I was hoping to clarify some of my thoughts with the opinions of other moms on mdc.

But on another note.... I just read this article.

http://www.time.com/time/health/arti...809403,00.html

Does anybody know what the difference is in these vaccines that make them not as risky?

"Her children are now vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, Hepatitis B and typhoid fever because the risks of those diseases overshadow the risks of complications from the vaccines."

Oh I didn't mean it to sound like you were attacking or anything. I just find it hard to blanketly say "if you have X Y or Z condition, you should vaccinate." It's just such a personal decision.

Maybe a good idea would be to start a thread in the selective/delayed area as well if you would like some info on which vaccines people do and why. You can also poke around the selective vaccination schedule sticky as well as the archives.

[spero]

Classen's study, published in BMJ

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=1116914

We initiated and funded a collaborative study with Tuomilehto on the effect of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine on type 1 diabetes and found that the data support a causal relation (paper submitted for publication). Furthermore, the potential risk of the vaccine exceeds the potential benefit.

[~Mom2thhts~]

Originally Posted by spero

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...?artid=1116914

WOW. I am speechless. Our dd came down with type 1 diabetes when she was 2. I never would have thought of the vaccine. I am so mad at myself. And to think I kept on vaccinating her. This is shocking that docs wont even consider the connection between diabetes and the vaccine.

[MsLondon]

Originally Posted by ~Mom2thhts~

Are there any vaccines that you think are worth the risk?

Which vaccine and why?

Do you think children with immunocompromises (ex. diabetes) should be vaccinated?

Absolutely none.

No I dont think immunocompromised children should be compromised even further......
NO NO NO. Period.

[momofmine]

Originally Posted by carriebft

For my family MMR, DTaP, IPV and HIb are the ones we do. I wouldn't imagine a situation where I could ever tell someone else what to do or a situation where I could do someone else's risk/benefit analysis for them.

I don't think anyone tells anyone else what to do at all. This forum is a wonderful, anonymous opportunity to just ask those all important "what do you do?" or "what would you do?" type of questions, when most all you get from mainstream medicine is a one-size fits all generic prescription or recommendation. It is just one part of helping some of us feel clearer in trusting our instincts, or to get information or perspectives that we might not be exposed in our own real lives.

To answer the OP, I would not get any vaxes at all for my kids now. If I had a seriously immune-compromised child, I would probably seek out the advice of a trusted health care practitioner (maybe more than one opinion) for help.

[carriebft]

I never said anyone tells anyone what to do. I was simple answering this question:

Do you think children with immunocompromises (ex. diabetes) should be vaccinated?

I read the question as "should children (generally speaking, not your own) with...." thus, I responded by saying I cannot answer that question because I cannot see all the factors that another family has to take into account to make their own decision.

The OP then clarified that she is looking for some advice on specific vaccines to which I said she should check out the selective area for lots of info on how others have made their decisions on the "yes to some" side of the equation.

[greeba]

I should buy stock in this book, but I highly recommend the Dr. Sears Vaccine Book. He talks about each vax, what it's for, why he thinks you should or should not get it, and why some parents choose not to. He's very respectful that there are parents out there who choose not to vax or to delay. We decided after reading the book not to vax until some time in the future. Our DS is 20 months old now and healthy! He does get some colds, and he is around other kids (but not in daycare or preschool). It felt good to make the decision based on the facts, which are presented in a very balanced and respectful way. And he really seems to think about what he's recommending. I think one vax, the flu maybe?, he recommends delaying, saying that the press has made a lot out of a little as far as the risk of flu to infants. He also lists a delayed schedule for those parents who want to go that route.

Hope this helps! Get the book out of the library!

G