Today was Gracie's 15 month appointment. I also go into these appointments feeling like I am playing Russian Roulette with my child. I have attempted to research vaccines in the past and always feel like I am being scared into believing that either the shot will be super detrimental to my child or by not giving the shot I am risking my child's life. It is so hard to figure out what is the right thing to do and what to believe. With Charlie, I started off just doing what the pediatrician recommended.
I was a first time mom and pretty much thought vaccines were an all or none, you either gave them or you didn't.While I still have so much to learn, I have learned since then that it is not a black or white issue. I can deny only certain vaccines if I feel the need and I can space them out so Gracie doesn't get a gazillion vaccines in one visit. This has kind of been my method this time around and I am sure the next time around I will be even more educated and picky.
All that to say, I am ordering Dr.Sear's Vaccine Book today from Amazon. I have heard really good things about the book and that he doesn't try to scare you and that he offers a good delayed vaccine schedule. Right now, I will only allow Gracie two vaccines a visit. We delayed the MMR and the chicken pox vaccine today until later. I am pretty sure she will eventually get the MMR, but not before her second birthday. I am not sure about the chicken pox vaccine....
I would love to hear your take on this. As a parent it is my responsibility to research and advocate for my children. The only way I can do this is to keep reading and talking about it with other mothers, so I love hearing other peoples perspectives (please keep them respectful though!). Also, if you have heard about green vaccines, share that info too! Thanks!
8 comments:
The best vaccine book i have ever read is called The Sanctity of Human Blood: Vaccination i$ Not Immunization by Dr. Tim O'Shea. He comes out w/ a new edition every yr. w/ current research and stats. He is up to the 12 ed. now I think. I would not mind mailing you my verison to borrow as it is kinda pricey online. Best book hands down. It goes through each vax, giving backround, ingredients, who came up with it, and why, etc. After my husband and I read it there was no way we were compromising our kids, their blood or immune systems to vax. I have a ton of online research too. Vax research is one of my many passions. I love to talk about it.
melissa-
thanks for the information! I would love to borrow your book. I lost your email in my harddrive crash a few weeks ago. Would you mind emailing me? THanks!
I would recommend the chicken pox vaccine, just because of shingles. Anyone who gets chicken pox has a chance of getting shingles. As a sufferer of chronic shingles, I would not wish this on anyone! Before getting the chicken pox vaccine, you could always have Gracie tested to see if she has natural immunity. Many people in my family have had this test done because of my shingles, and some of them do. BTW, I love your blog! :)
i LOVE dr. sears vaccine book! steph, i am right there with you and have been researching for a long time. i delayed reese until 6months and did an alternate schedule. jl hasn't had any vaccines yet but i am planning to start soon. i can't wait to also get the book mentioned above! i have read several and the vaccine book was definitely the most helpful. it sounds a lot like the other book.
jennifer
I have many friends that don't do vaccines and many that do. We did it for our kids up until we came to Mexico. We are getting some of the baby vaccines here, mainly b/c of living here and being a little bit more at risk. I am happy that we did the chicken pox vaccine. A friend here did not do it for her kids and she had a rough month with her daughters getting it. I understand your dilemma. I'm the same way...I don't want to be scared into doing something yet I don't want to make my kids open to things that could hurt them in the future.
We bought Sears' book and it's really helpful. I tried doing research online but everything is so black and white, like you said where it makes it seem like your kid will die. The Sears book is more factual than objective. We were amazed at the stuff they put in vaccines (monkey brains!) that are listed in this book. We ended up adamantly opting out of the Hep B vaccine and still to this day are harassed by it at the pediatrician. It was funny at the hospital after the birth, there was a full page note in red marker taped to the front of my son's chart that said "Refused Hep B Vaccine" like it was a scarlet letter. Unfortunately for us, the only two pediatricians in our area would only accept patients who adhered to the vaccine schedule so we were pretty much bullied into vaccinating our son. So far, we haven't seen any side effects but who knows down the road. I do recommend the Sears book though.
Just found your blog and love it! We have been going through the dilemma of whether or not to vaccinate, and your statement about "Russian roulette" summarizes how I have felt about my choice to delay and select vaccines. We did order the Dr. Sears book which I liked, I also found a website by Dr. Donald Miller (http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html) which gave us a lot of information as well. Our decision has been to delay the MMR vaccine and we will begin the Measles only vaccine in December when our daughter is 2. We are just learning as we go and thankfully have a very supportive pediatrician. My sister-in-law has chosen not to vaccinate at all which I believe is a good choice as well, but I am not that brave:)
Well is bad to see them suffer but is for there own good so if you think it like that is the right think to do .
Post a Comment