Vax question...

[mother_star]

My ds who is in Grade 4 has a vacination coming up. It's done at the school.
It's a hep A&B vax, they get it once in two weeks or so and another in april of 2009.

My question is, does he really NEED this vax or can he do without? He is terrified of needles! He did get his other vaxes as a baby and all. Everyone else was getting them done and I followed along but now ds is older and he keeps asking why he needs them. I hate to put him through this especially at school in front of his friends and I'll have to be there to hold him because he won't sit and let the nurse give it to him. I hate to "force" him to get this done.

If I don't sign the consent form, are they allowed to give it to him anyway? Maybe thinking ds "forgot" to give it to me.

What are the steps to follow if one does not want to vaxinate thier child?

I'm living in Canada.

Thanks..

[Pariah]

As a non-vaxer, my belief is no, he doesn't NEED the vaccine. But I believe everyone has to learn and make these decisions for themselves. Have you researched the vax, his risk for the diseases, possible side effects? Do you feel it is necessary?

If you don't want him to get it, I would highly recommend keeping him home from school on that day. I personally wouldn't trust the school not to vax...they probably assume all parents will want it done (which is the case most of the time).

[weliveintheforest]

I agree, the best thing to do would be to keep him home on the vax days. The health nurses may vaccinate him even if you do not give permission, it really does happen.

I'm someone who doesn't believe in vaccines, so I'm biased, but I encourage you to put it off and do some research. You can always take him in to the public health office and have it done later if you decide to.

[ZoeyZoo]

I'm a non-vaxer too.

My advice I would research the diseases. Hep B is ridiculous to give to a 4th grader IMO. It is passed through bodily fluids and is typically caught from sex or drug use.

Hep A isn't on my radar right now in terms of the schedule where I live so I haven't researched it much.

There is a site that has been posted on MDC about the laws in Canada. Only two areas (Ontario and I think the other was Manitoba) have any vax requirements. No one mandates Hap A&B. Ontaio it was DTaP and MMR. The other area was only measles.

In Canada if you are in an area where vaxes are mandated you can get an exemption for philosophical or religious reasons.

[mother_star]

I have not yet researched the vax or the diseases but will be as soon as I am done writting this.

Thanks for the input.



""My advice I would research the diseases. Hep B is ridiculous to give to a 4th grader IMO. It is passed through bodily fluids and is typically caught from sex or drug use. ""

ZoeyZoo good point there..

[Gitti]

Heck no he doesn't need either of those vaccines. He is most likely already immune to Hep A and Hep B, which is a completely different disease he can get if he hangs out with prostitutes or does drugs with dirty needles. So, do you think he needs that one?


He is terrified of needles, that is great common sense. Suppose you hold him down and he ends up with a severe vaccine reaction, how would you feel? Hep B vaccine is linked to a lot of adverse reactions including MS -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3651782.stm

I would not rely on just not signing the consent form. I would mark a big red X through the form and also keep him home on vaccine day.

You don't have to vaccinated your child in Canada from what I understand. So you don't have to have a fictitious excuse why you don't want it. Just say no with the X and that's it.