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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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Ten years ago, parenting didn’t seem this hard.
When my oldest son - now 11 - was getting immunized I was the mom who basically said, “Load us up,” or “Got anymore?” Vaccines were good. Especially for a mom who’s all about prevention. (I’ve been known to OD on Vitamin C when I’m afraid of catching a cold.)
But this time everything is different. There seems to be more at stake. Back then you didn’t hear about autism so much -- if at all. You didn’t hear numbers like 1-150 or even lower for boys. You didn’t lie awake going through the Autism checklist, making sure your child doesn’t show any signs. Little Riley doesn't smile at the Wal-Mart checker, or any stranger for that matter, what does that mean?
And you didn’t watch talk shows listening to moms who are dead sure their children's autism is linked to vaccines.
It doesn’t matter how many doctors stand up and say it just isn’t so, that there’s absolutely no link. Let me hear from one mom who thinks there’s one, and I’m saying no thank you.
Maybe we’d feel differently if our son went to daycare and his risk of getting Mumps, Measles or Rubella were greater. But we’re fortunate he can be at home, taken care of by his dad who works from home and his nana who lives with us. If he were among a slew of kids 40 hours a week, who knows how we’d feel.
For now, though, he’s not. So we’re ready to say no. (Just for the record, our 15-month-old has gotten all the other vaccines, none of them worrying us as much as the MMR. Yet I must say if I knew then what I know now from reading so much I wouldn't have been so quick to load him up.)
Why must we require so many vaccines at so young an age? Ten years ago, my oldest son got about half the number kids get today.
We still have nine days of more reading in front of us, and it helps that I’m off from work this week. We have a lot to figure out, like if we just want to delay it a few years, do we still have to claim an exemption?
I’m lucky to have a close girlfriend who has done extensive research on the topic and though she says no to most vaccines, she gives me articles and websites from both sides. She says it’s important we decide on our own what’s best for us.
So as my husband and I try to learn more in the next nine days, care to weigh in? My husband loves the idea of getting opinions from other KC moms. What have you decided? Does constant news about autism have you obsessing? Or if your kids are way past this stage, are you glad you decided what you did?
For me, I really do think parenting is harder this time around. Maybe because this time I know too much. Or is it because I’m realizing there’s too much I don’t know?
I opted to get all the vaccines. the diseases hurt worse than the shot. They don't put mercury in them anymore so I don't worry about the autism part. Although I am all about natural birth and eating healthy ...I don't consider myself a 'doctor' person because I hate hospitals... but I feel safer getting the recommended shots. My son has gotten all of them and he is as healthy as ever. He had no reactions. Modern medicine can be a blessing. People are living longer aren't they? I know your scare, I had the same feelings. But in the end I decided not to take the risk of my child getting a disease.I'm sure you've talked with your pediatrician. What did he/she say? I shared my concerns with my kids' doctor, and he reassured me. We've had no issues. Getting the diseases would be terrible, and there is a resurgence of some, like whooping cough. My dad is hearing-impaired from a bout with the measles when he was a kid. And he's struggled with that his whole life. Everything is a risk. I guess you have to weigh which risks you're willing to accept. Good luck with your decision.Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate. You can find an article to support anything you want to believe. I'm sure you have hundreds that talk about how awful vaccines are, but I can find just as many documenting how good they are, and proving there is no link between autism and MMR. Read up on both sides of the issue, and decide for yourself. However, I will say, if your kids starts a Rubella epidemic which I contract, that then causes my unborn baby to have autism, be deaf, have open heart surgery at the age of a few weeks, etc....well, I suppose you can guess my opinion of how I would feel about that. The Rubella epidemic of the 60's was devastating. Honestly, weigh the odds. Autism is workable...Rubella is another story.wow! hotmomma is right!!! Autism is workable, my sister had rubella when she was in high school and almost died. She lost almost 50 pounds and the whole thing was a mess. Needless to say my parents got me vaccinated.oh yeah, then there is this: Rubella can pose a serious risk as it can also be transmitted from a mother to her developing baby through the bloodstream via the placenta. If the mother is infected within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the child may be born with congenital rubella syndrome, which includes a range of birth defects. The virus has an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks during which it becomes established.My one year old son has received all of his vaccines with the exception of the MMR. I told the pediatrician that we were waiting until he was 2 or so before getting that one. I am just irrationally terrified of autism and because my son is not in daycare I feel like I can wait an extra year. My pediatrician didn't seem too surprised by my decision as I'm sure he encounters this all the time. I know that all the research says there is no link, but there are too many moms who claim otherwise and I just decided that this was one of those times when I was going to go with my gut instinct and wait. Honestly, reading your post I swear I could have written the exact same post, word for word!What about if you make a list of the pros and cons of vaccinations. That is the way I did it, and I realize that it is much more to risk with out vaccinationI really have to agree that I did vaccinate all of my kids per the doc recommendations. After having no ill effects with the first two, I did exactly the same with the 3rd 6 and 8 yrs later. I did think about it more, since the autism scare had begun in between kids-- but the risks of them getting the disease scared me more. I have, however, taken a pass on the HPV vaccine for 2 years now with my daughter. I think we will probably have her immunized, but I really wanted to think about it and had the luxury of doing so. Not necessarily an option when a child is required to have the immunizations to enter school ( although I'm sure there must be ways around that somehow.)This is such a tough topic! There are pros and cons, and the cons are potentially life-threatening, or quality-of-life threatening, on both sides. Personally, we selectively vax'd and have claimed religious exemptions for my kids. Although we don't belong to a religious group that is against vaccines, Missouri doesn't require that. Just a belief. As for why we don't vax on schedule, or do all vaccines, I feel that our medical system is using a "one size fits all" mentality that isn't working. Not all babies should get all vaccines at the same ages. Just as every person's body is different, each child can respond differently to the groups of vaccines they are given. I feel the blow to the immune system (due to all the preservatives in the vaccines, not just the manufactured virus) is too much for some kids. Remember, YOU are the one in charge, not the doctor, the government, or the schools. It is ok to question. You might decide all the vaccines are right for your child, but on a different schedule. I know no parent who has researched vaccines thoroughly (and it's hard to find the info) and chose to go ahead with the 40+ shots on the recommended schedule. You have to do what's best for your family.I too agree with all the posters so far. I feel the diseases the vaccinations prevent make the shots worth it. I have family members who chose to not vaccinate (and a friend who is currently unsure what to do) and I am from a family that lives and breathes natural childbirth, breastfeeding, etc, but I have chosen to vaccinate my three children. Not only am I trying to prevent possible diseases, but I am concerned about the spread of said diseases by children who aren't vaccinated. If you don't vaccinate your child, are you counting on me to vacciate my child in order to keep yours healthy? Diseases like polio have become chapters in history books because of vaccinations. And I also wonder if the rise in Autism is due to these shots, or better understanding and reporting. Years ago a child with Autism wasn't labeled as such. He/she was simply special and no one gave it another thought. Thats not to say we should close our eyes and takes whats given to us. I believe it's always good to question and research information. It's a tough decision, no doubt. Good luck!You make good points, leslie514. A few years back, my family was in Washington, D.C., on vacation, and we saw a really cool exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. It was on the eradication of polio. There are still about 1,000 cases worldwide, but that's miniscule. And it's all because of a vaccine. This disease either killed or severely disabled so many people. The exhibit was hands-on, and I remember one machine that simulated what it felt like inside an iron lung. It was scary, and it wasn't even the real thing.My position is... if you don't get the vaccines then you are endangering your child unnecessarily, some of these diseases will kill a child. Also, with the large number of people opting to not vaccinate we will probably see a rise in these diseases and the exposure of the illness to the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. I think that autism and similar disorders are caused by the environment. Look at all the chemicals under your sink or where ever you keep your "cleaning" supplies, pregnant women clean their homes with these toxic chemicals and it exposes the fetus. We eat off of plastic (petroleum based) dishes, drink out of plastic, put plastic in the microwave (this releases the toxins in the plastic). There are toxins in the new carpet in homes and new furniture. The fertilizer put on your yard so you have green grass, gets tracked into the house, toxic. I think that this is the cause for autism and not the preventative immunizations that can save the life of your child and people you don't know.I am questioning vaccinations as well. My daughter at the age of 4 months was diagnosed with being deaf. At the age of 6 months and an unrelated GI doctor's appointment, we took her off the medication Prevacid for acid reflux. She had been on the medication since 6 weeks old. About 2 weeks later, she started to startle and look toward us. We took her back to the ENT and gave her another hearing test and she had 100% hearing. After doing some research on the internet, deafness is a side effect of Prevacid (which is commonly given to infants). So, after that ordeal, I have not wanted to take a chance on any medications or vaccinations on her little body. I have spoken with the doctor and she has agreed not to vaccinate until she is around 18 months to 2 years old. I also have a 2 year old who is completely vaccinated. But, our rare circumstances left us questioning all medications and vaccinations.No matter what we each end up doing, vaccinating on the recommended schedule, delaying some vaccines, opting to selectively vax, or get no vaccines, it is our responsibility as parents to do actual research, and that means going beyond the CDC's information. I think most have a blind trust in the health industry/government, and that is dangerous, in my opinion. Finding the information is very difficult, but I would start with www.cdc.gov/ and www.nvic.org/ and go from there. I have researched vaccines literally hours upon hours, and still don't have clear-cut information. However, I have enough to decide, along with my instinct, what is right for my family at this time. As for those who say you are putting other children at risk if you delay a vaccine, they have the right to vaccinate their children, or, even better, get the vaccines as adults. Please do research on both sides of the issues. You can't take back a vaccine once it's injected, but you can always get one later if you decide to delay while you research.I was like you, my older kids got vaccinated, but my youngest two I didnt give them the MMR or the chickenpox vaccines. Not only are they linked to autism but they are made w/aborted babies. Yes this is a true fact. If the vaccine # has the letter A in it it comes from aborted babies and that is just disgusting and unmoral.I am shocked by how many people have not done their research and decide to trust others with their childrens safety without knowing the facts. I truly do not mean to offend anyone, but I know this can become a very heated topic. Have you seen the actually Polio charts? The disease was on a steady decline and then there was an increase when the vaccine was introduced. Then, the disease declined again. I'm not saying that Polio isn't scarym but there is quite a bit of info to refute the belief that the vaccine erradicated it. For me, I can live with myself if my daughter gets the chickenpox or the mumps. I can't live with myself if she gets Autism or ADD/ADHD and I know it was partially caused by something I allowed to be injected into her little body. I will consider getting the Rubella (not MMR) when she is of child-bearing age. If she had a really bad cut I would let her get a Tetanus (not DtAP) shot. Other than that, I believe there are plenty of much safer ways to treat the diseases that everyone seems to be so afraid of. I don't have time to post more, but I beg you all to do more research. Do you know what's in those vaccines? Do you know what they replaced the mercury with?I vaccinated my son. My son has autism. My best friend did not vaccinate. Her children do not have autism. Another friend has one child with autism (vaccinated) and one child without (not vaccinated.) Judge for yourself.dramanda, I'd like to see the information you mentioned that showed polio was declining on its own before the vaccine. The exhibit I saw was put together by Rotary International. I know where they got their information. I'm curious as to where your facts are coming from, no offense intended. Just wondering where you got that information.dramanda, I'd like to see the information you mentioned that showed polio was declining on its own before the vaccine. The exhibit I saw was put together by Rotary International. I know where they got their information. I'm curious as to where your facts are coming from, no offense intended. Just wondering where you got that information.tfjonas, excellent question! katebeem, I hope Dramanda is able to find some links for you. I have a few, but as you can imagine, it's hard to find research that is published in mainstream medical journals due to the simple fact that there is no funding. The funding comes in large part from the pharmaceutical companies, who benefit from a vaccine being mass-marketed. Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but logically, who benefits monetarily from recommending the vaccines? Who benefits monetarily from warning the public against vaccines? That's not to say there aren't people working for the pharm co's who are truly interested in finding cures, etc. I did find a few links that might help. To be honest, I just found these sites-- I wasn't familiar with them before today, so I can't say how reputable they are (that doesn't bode well for the arguement, eh?) I usually go to www.nvic.org and link to other sites from there. I find the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) to be less sensational and more reputable than many. You might have seen Barbara Loe Fisher speak on CNN recently about the Maryland vaccine issues. She's connected with the NVIC. Here are the links I just found: http://www.thinktwice.com/s_polio.htm, http://www.whale.to/vaccines/kent.html, http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020132sinclair/vaccinaion.htmtfjonas, excellent question! katebeem, I hope Dramanda is able to find some links for you. I have a few, but as you can imagine, it's hard to find research that is published in mainstream medical journals due to the simple fact that there is no funding. The funding comes in large part from the pharmaceutical companies, who benefit from a vaccine being mass-marketed. Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but logically, who benefits monetarily from recommending the vaccines? Who benefits monetarily from warning the public against vaccines? That's not to say there aren't people working for the pharm co's who are truly interested in finding cures, etc. I did find a few links that might help. To be honest, I just found these sites-- I wasn't familiar with them before today, so I can't say how reputable they are (that doesn't bode well for the arguement, eh?) I usually go to www.nvic.org and link to other sites from there. I find the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) to be less sensational and more reputable than many. You might have seen Barbara Loe Fisher speak on CNN recently about the Maryland vaccine issues. She's connected with the NVIC. Here are the links I just found: http://www.thinktwice.com/s_polio.htm, http://www.whale.to/vaccines/kent.html, http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020132sinclair/vaccinaion.htmWow. With all the controversy about vaccines today I am amazed by the lack of knowledge parents have about the topic. As parents it is our duty to protect our children to the best of our knowledge. However I find that in my practice many parents do not do their research on vaccinations or health in general. Many follow what they have learned from there parents and how they have been raised. Fortunately, we have evolved and have learned that some things that our parents have done or what has been customary in our society in the past just is not working, especially when it comes to health. People have more faith in a spoonful of medicine or a scalpel than in the power that made that body. Research is abundant on vaccines. You just have to be selective on your sources because health is a business and money can be made from vaccines. In my practice I always tell my patients don't just listen to me or your MD. Instead do your own reading and always question. The numbers just don't add up. Autism, ADD, ADHD, allergies, depression, anxiety, and many more illnesses are at an all time high and continuing to get worst. And yet we don't even stop to think about the numbers that we hear about on the news. Is mercury still in vaccinations? Yes; absolutely it is in some vaccines still. But it isn't just mercury that patients should be aware and concerned about. There's aluminum, formaldehyde, MSG, and Polysorbate 80 to name a few. Please do your research. I find that many parents will continue to ask their MD's questions until they hear what they want just to ease their minds. Another question that I get is "What if my child gets one of these diseases?" And my answer is, "So what if they do?" Many of these disease (such as chicken pox, measles, mumps and whooping cough) are not deadly with today's modern medicine. Also many, such as Polio and Whooping cough, were on a drastic decline before vaccinations were put into effect. I could go on and on as to how an increase in childhood cancer has been linked to the increase in the number of vaccinations in a typical vaccine schedule. Neurological diseases and SIDS can be linked to vaccines as well. The only way to true health is Maximized Living. Our current medical model doesn't work. A healthy immune system starts with a healthy nervous system because the nervous system controls every function of the body. Good nutrition, clean oxygen, reduced stress, and staying off drugs and medications are the other key factors in keeping the body healthy and well. If you can do those five things you'll be sure to live long and well. My wife and I chose not to vaccinate our child. We can actually see the slight differences in his health and developments when compared to other children his same age. On a closing note, a long time patient of mine went to her MD and was verbally given the guilt trip about not vaccinating her 10 year old daughter with the chicken pox vaccine. Reluctantly she had her daughter given the vaccine. Within five minutes the little girl began to get a rash, became very hot and very ill. To make a long story short that single vaccine gave her daughter shingles and left scarring on her neck and upper back. Her mom and dad thought they were protecting their daughter. After a week of pain and suffering she began to heal. But, she now is left with the probability that another outbreak will occur. So, I ask, what is worse? A lifetime of autism, ADD, ADHD, and shingles, or a simple bout with chicken pox?Well said, drmatt! I hope others will see this blog. Sorry it's so hard to find--hope that gets fixed soon. This is a hot topic for me and I crave more discussion.More vaccines are actually a GOOD thing! Every new vaccine protects more kids from getting sick, expensive hospital stays and perhaps death or permanent injury. More kids are prevented from getting devastating diseases than ever before, thanks to vaccines. And even though the number of shots has gone up, the actual load on the immune system has gone down. That’s because today’s vaccines are “smarter” and better engineered than the shots from a few decades ago. What causes autism? That’s the million dollar question, however there appears to be four chief suspects: genetics, abnormal brain growth, environmental triggers and premature birth. There has been much talk about the theory that autism is linked to vaccinations and more specifically that trace amounts of mercury used as a preservative in many vaccines prior to 2001 caused a spike in autism. To sum up: the scientific evidence does not support this theory. The Medicine Shoppe has noticed that research during the past ten years has taken a long hard look at vaccines and found conclusive evidence that vaccine exposure is NOT the turn-on switch for autism. Head to your local pharmacy for added advice. Here is a locator for The Medicine Shoppe: http://www.medicineshoppe.com/PharmacyLocator.aspx.
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