If you are planning on an alternative vaccination schedule...

Beebee09

Which method did you decide to use and why?

I'm starting some research now about vaccinations and am on the fence between sticking with the traditional AAP/CDC guidelines (which is my pedi's first recommendation) or the Sears method (which my pedi supports as well) .

I'm going to get Dr. Sears' book to read more about his method, but just wanted to hear what you ladies thought and what brought you to your decisions.

Thanks! 

mysticporter

We don't really do an alternative schedule exactly, but we do have some modifications.  We limit the number given at any one appointment, particularly combination vaccines (if a combo is due, it's the only one we get at that visit, and do the others 1-2 weeks later).  Similarly we only allow one live virus vaccine at any given time.  We also skipped rotavirus with DD.

The recommendation to get them all at once has a motivation at least in part from concern the parents won't return for the others.  Although I think vaccines are incredibly valuable, cumulative effects of receiving multiple vaccines at one time are not as well studied as I am comfortable with, and since I can insure LO will get back delaying a few weeks isn't likely to hurt anything.  Plus, if LO has an adverse reaction, I'd like to be able to isolate exactly which vaccine caused it, since most vaccines are part of a series.

We skipped rotavirus at our pediatrician's recommendation, DD had some digestive track problems at the time that the dr. felt could be exacerbated by it, and it's a disease that it's pretty rare to have serious complications from.

allison8878

We followed Dr. Sears' alternative vaccine schedule with DS1 and plan to do it with DS2 as well. I definitely encourage you to get The Vaccine Book and do lots of research to make whatever decision is best for your LO. It's great that your pediatrician supports both of your options! We had a lot of discussions with our pediatrician to get as much information as possible and were very thankful that all 3 doctors in the practice supported our choice.

yeshuahamasshiah

DH and I follow this schedule for DS and will do the same for LO2:

1. No vaccinations until a child is two years old.
2. No vaccines that contain thimerosal (mercury).
3. No live virus vaccines (except for smallpox, should it recur).
4. These vaccines, to be given one at a time, every six months, beginning at age 2:
1. Pertussis (acellular, not whole cell)
2. Diphtheria
3. Tetanus
4. Polio (the Salk vaccine, cultured in human cells)

You can read on the reasons why we chose this schedule HERE

 

GL in making your decision

 

RivieraMaya05

allison8878:

We followed Dr. Sears' alternative vaccine schedule with DS1 and plan to do it with DS2 as well. I definitely encourage you to get The Vaccine Book and do lots of research to make whatever decision is best for your LO. It's great that your pediatrician supports both of your options! We had a lot of discussions with our pediatrician to get as much information as possible and were very thankful that all 3 doctors in the practice supported our choice.

Ditto this. We also used it for DS and will use it for DD. I loved this book. I'm not in any way anti vaccine and neither is the book. It also didn't push an agenda. It just gave you info so that you can make an informed choice.