vaccinations

CJJ1016

I don't really have any rock solid opinions on vaccinating our LO eventually. I've always leaned in the direction of not doing vaccinations/immunizations.

What I need is to do some research. Can anyone steer me in the right direction of knowledge?

JLG95

Your question might be better suited for the tri boards, not the natural birth board.  There isn't a lot of traffic here.

I have very strong pro vaccination leanings.  Google the recent measles outbreak in the US.

But, this website seems even handed on the issue:  https://vaccines.procon.org/

kmm2150

Also look at the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Ok, these are both probably pretty pro-vaccine (as am I), but they are legitimate respected organizations with factual data, as opposed to a lot of the other junk you'll find on the internet about "the MMR vaccine made my kid have seven eyeballs", etc.

KatelynEA90

I'm doing a delayed schedule. I also don't see the need for my child to get 5 vaccines at once or certain ones at such a young age. I'm opting out of certain ones too, like the flu shot. I never had the flu shot myself so why would I give it to my child? I'm going to continue doing my research though.

My sister doesn't vaccinate her daughter at all.

frostnoel

I choose to vaccinate to help protect those who can't be vaccinated.  I knew a lady whose daughter had cancer and her immune system couldn't take the vaccinations.

monkeyqueen

Why lean towards not vaccinated?   Vaccinations are incredibly important to public health.   It really just isn't about your own family with this decision.

Please look at the CDC, WHO, etc.    If you were in Canada, I would say look at Health Canada, as well.     Read about the diseases that vaccines protect against.   The benefits of vaccines really do outweight the risks.    Stay away from websites like www.thinktwice.com.    I find that anti-vaccine website spout a lot of misinformation or at the very least a twisting of studies and/or miscomprehension of studies.    

Kristinmo

I am a BIG believer in vaccines.  Benefits absolutely outweigh the risks.

Mamasaurus

I recommend looking at a few things.

1) The inserts for the individual vaccines.

2) Both the CDC and FDA pages about the vaccine.

3) Looking up articles on pubmed or elsewhere from other countries as well as the US. Often these are published in English through an immunology journal or even The Lancet or NEJM. If you don't want to slog through the whole thing, even reading the abstract should be useful. These are also good for finding info on rate of protection a specific vax will offer, and sometimes there are studies on what protection breast feeding alone will offer.

4) Go to mayo clinic or a similar web site to learn about the actual diseases. For example, some people have never heard of pertussis or rotavirus before, and it helps to know what you're vaccinating against and how dangerous the disease can be. Look for info on prevalence of death in developed countries, because sometimes (for example) there will be a stat saying "X babies died last year in a major city from this! Beware!" but that is the stat for Sao Paulo, where a large number of people have poor access to potable water, hospitals, and OTC medications. The info should list symptoms, common treatments, how it is spread, and more.

#3 has been very informative to me since I think the CDC's studies are sometimes too lazy. Small sample sizes, self-reporting, etc too many times end up with the US having a much lower official rate of side effects than other countries using the exact same vaccine.

If you were wondering, my baby will get most of the CDC recommended shots, but spaced out more than they recommend. We are definitely skipping the rotavirus vax and definitely getting polio, TDP, and MMR vaccines for our child. We are definitely discontinuing any of those that cause a reaction after the first shot, though. Hopefully none of them will!

gekeler6

I suggest doing research on diseases that they vaccinate for like measels and chickenpox, etc.  See what you can do for your child if they get the disease.  Since they are viruses there is nothing you can do once you get it, it will have to run its course and kids can and do die from these diseases.  Not to mention your kids can't go to school without vaccinations.  Vaccines are a good thing, not a bad thing.

JKB1986

gekeler6:

I suggest doing research on diseases that they vaccinate for like measels and chickenpox, etc.  See what you can do for your child if they get the disease.  Since they are viruses there is nothing you can do once you get it, it will have to run its course and kids can and do die from these diseases.  Not to mention your kids can't go to school without vaccinations.  Vaccines are a good thing, not a bad thing.

Not true.  You can sign waivers in some states.

anhg80

JKB1986:

gekeler6:

I suggest doing research on diseases that they vaccinate for like measels and chickenpox, etc.  See what you can do for your child if they get the disease.  Since they are viruses there is nothing you can do once you get it, it will have to run its course and kids can and do die from these diseases.  Not to mention your kids can't go to school without vaccinations.  Vaccines are a good thing, not a bad thing.

Not true.  You can sign waivers in some states.

Definitely look into your state's requirement.  In CA you can go to school without vaccines, if it's for a religious or medical reason.  But then you have to either prove that your child had a reaction and cannot have any more vaccines (if there is a medical concern) or you child must have NO vaccines (if it's for a religious reason).  

flyer23

anhg80:

JKB1986:

gekeler6:

I suggest doing research on diseases that they vaccinate for like measels and chickenpox, etc.  See what you can do for your child if they get the disease.  Since they are viruses there is nothing you can do once you get it, it will have to run its course and kids can and do die from these diseases.  Not to mention your kids can't go to school without vaccinations.  Vaccines are a good thing, not a bad thing.

Not true.  You can sign waivers in some states.

Definitely look into your state's requirement.  In CA you can go to school without vaccines, if it's for a religious or medical reason.  But then you have to either prove that your child had a reaction and cannot have any more vaccines (if there is a medical concern) or you child must have NO vaccines (if it's for a religious reason).  

This is not true either. About half of the states, including California, allow philosophical exemptions for vaccines.

Here is the California school immunization record form: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/pm286b.pdf. You'll see on page 2 that all a parent needs to do is sign to say that vaccination conflicts with their personal beliefs. They can opt out of just a few vaccines or all of them.

I'm not saying that this decision should be taken lightly just because it's so easy to do, but people should be convinced to vaccinate based on the facts, not on mistruths.