Decided Against All Vaccinations, What Can I Expect ?

This is a huge mistake. I remember crippled children with polio. That alone would not be worth the risk. Please reconsider this decision.

Hi B.,

When I was a member of Las Madres (a mom's group in the South Bay), I saw a reference on one of the discussion boards about a mom's group for "slow/no vaccines". So you may want to do a yahoo groups search to find that group. They had local pediatricians who would support slow or no vaccine schedule.

L.

I have 2 girls,4 1/2 and 1 1/2yrs, we decided not to vaccinate either. We just enrolled the oldest in Kindergarten and I was shocked that all i had to do was sign the back of a form that stated i had chosen for religious or personal reasons not to vaccinate. People had me thinking it would be a big hassle! I am super happy with my decision.
Neither of my kids went to preschool or daycare. So i don't know how that would be.

I know that you have made your mind up but I just can't help myself. You say that you do not want to vaccinate because of "horror stories", that's just what it is stories. Sure something could go wrong due to the vaccine, however that is Extremly rare in a healthy child. It is more common for there to be a problem later in their health if they are not vaccinated. Vaccines are there for the protection against deadly outbreaks. Therefore, your not only putting your child at risk but other children as well. Do some more research regarding deadly outbreaks that can be prevented by a vaccine. When I was in school, a teacher of mine had not had the polio vaccine (was not available yet) and had gotten polio as a child and could never walk normaly after that.
Hope you do the right thing for your child.

I agree with Toni V 100%. Whooping cough is on the rise & you need to make sure your baby is vaccinated against it. My aunt is a nurse & I can tell you that nothing is more "horrifying" than watching a child die from something that could have been prevented by a vaccination.
I was scared also with my kids getting shots, but the benefits outweighed the risks 10 to 1!

Many people will tellyou it's difficult, but it's not. You sign a waiver. That's it. If there is some kind of outbreak, you will have to take your child out of school until it's gone. My daughter is in kindergarten, her first year of school, and that's how it is. Also, when she was out of school for over a week with pink eye I didn't take her to the dr. I knew what it was, I didn't need to spend $60 for someone else to tell me. I treted it with colloidal silver drops and it went away quicker than anything a dr would have used. The school sent me notices about her needing a dr. note for being out so long, I went into the office ready for a verbal and intellectual war against the non-neccessity of dr. intervention/opinion. They basically said nothing will happen the school won't actually do anything, they will just keep sending notices. So, you are allowed to doctor your own child and refuse the toxins of vaccines so long as you are ok with being the only self-educated person in a sea of NON educated persons. They want you to think you HAVE TO provide shot reords. But just ask for a waiver. The government doesn't mandate vaccines because if they did, they would be held responsible for thousands of illnesses and all that goes wrong because of them. They don't want to stick their neck in that noose. Here is an article my friend wrote. I talked to him before he had his baby and they did the research and changed their minds. Now they are all about natural birth, natural medicine, all that stuff. I love it when people actually go after the info! Ok i just took a moment to look for it and I can't find it on his site. Email me at ____@____.com and I'll send you the word doc. It's 9 pages of worthy reading, if you like.

Dear B.,

What does your husband think?

When I read that you only wanted to hear from people (Mama's) that agree with you and you had "already made up your mind", I wondered why you even would ask the questions. So I was glad to see that Mamas with a bit more life experience, that didn’t all, agree with you, decided to respond as well.

You are young enough to have probably not seen a lot of disease resulting from children not being vaccinated. Because a "small" percentage of parents are deciding not to vaccinate, the diseases thought to be eradicated in this and many other countries, where vaccines, modern medicine and early detection is available, diseases such as polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and this list goes on, are once again on the rise.

When you made up your mind, you mentioned the “horror stories” you heard about vaccines. I can almost guarantee when your baby has a spiking temperature of 103 degrees at 2 AM in the morning (and we have all been there), you are likely not to resist modern medicine and will be on your way to the nearest emergency room that can help your baby get better.

My suggestion is to interview two or three pediatricians, ask your questions and listen to what they have to say…. then make up your mind.

Blessings to you and your new family.

Congratulations! In California, you just have to fill out a waiver. It is much easier than in other states. I highly recommend that you read "The Vaccine Guide: Making an Informed Choice" by Randall Neustaedter. It is a very good resource for vaccinations.

Please do more research and weigh your options. Some of the diseases that you will be exposing your child to are much deadlier then any of the side affects of a vaccine.

it's not a problem at all. the school requires that you either provide vaccination records or sign the exemption form. :) you don't have to try to find it or put it on file somewhere. the school gives it to you, i think it's the backside of their vaccination form and you sign. that's it. not too complicated. :)

dr. sherri tenpenny is releasing a book very soon (this month) called "saying no to vaccines". i bet it'd be worth checking out. i know i'm going to. :)

B.-
You can expect some flack from your pediatrician, but the waiver for California schools is very simple and I have had no problem enrolling my daughter. I have not vaccinated either of my children with delightful results, they are both exteremly healthy and fight off disease beautifully. If you are having your baby in a hospital you can expect some trouble at the birth. If you are interested in talking with me more about this please feel free to contact me at ____@____.com care and happy pregnancy!
-K.

There is also the option of spacing out the vaccines to where your child is not receiving 6 injections at once. I think the massive injections at once is contributing MAJORLY to the autism epidemic. (My son is 8 and autistic and went backwards after the one year shots where they gave him 6 injections at once). Knowing what I know now, I would have delayed them most definately until my child was old enough to handle them and then spaced them out well so that he was not being exposed to so much at a time. I still would vaccinate though, even now, with a child with autism.

P.S.
B.-
Even if you requested not to be told to vaccinate or judged for your decision in your post, as you noticed you were anyway, and I am sorry for that, as you deserve nothing but support in your new endeavor. I really do not know why something which ought to be your right to choose without judgement gets such little respect. But there will always be ignorance, and seeing these responses again illustrates how ignorant many are even with all the information out there.

I looked up polio ( since someone mentioned that) and found some information and you have surely looked into this too. Here is one bit of it;

"How common is polio?

In the United States, the last case of "wild" polio was in 1979. Wild polio is naturally circulating polio that is not caused by the oral polio vaccine. Except for an occasional importation, all cases of paralytic polio since 1979 have been caused by the oral polio vaccine. However, thousands of polo infections still occur in other parts of the world. Most cases are reported from Asia and Africa."

It was suggested that others experiences (nightmares) are just stories, well that is just again thoughtless and choosing not to listen. It was also said that you need to vaccinate due to other children and everyones health, well here we go again. unfortunately the blame game is on again, and others might look at an unvaccinated child in such ways, and this is probably the most unfortunate as this is not so. If there is an outbreak a vaccinated child ought to be much more protected, so do not be so fearful.

Then there was a post that said you can get an exemption only for religious beliefs, and that is not so. You can say it is not according to how you believe ( which is the truth), but that has nothing to do with religion, even if they might make it sound like it is.

And if whooping cough is increasing, so what. My friends girls had it and they did not need antibiotics for it either. I had it as a child and most my friends did, and remember it like a more difficult cold that can last a bit longer. How come we never had fearful parents arguing with others about getting something like this? No, instead our moms brought us to play dates with those children to get the disease, so that we would build our immunity for other diseases later. It is really rare that there are any complications with such diseases, and the same goes for measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox. I had all of them and speak from personal experience.

We are dealing with other things these days, as childhood cancers and diabetes is way more on the increase. Life expectancy has declined 8 years in the last 5 years, from 77 point something to 69 pint something, but no one wonders about that?????? I do....

Hello B.

I am glad this question is coming up more, and so I am grateful for your post. There are so many things to learn and consider when one is expecting, that I really congratulate you in your search for the best ways to protect your child. It isn't always easy to make such choices, for when it comes to going against mainstream you may find criticism. We have to have compassion for each other either way, as we all do what we think is best for our children, and it is really OK to not all think the same way. As with so many other choices you have to make as a parent, this might just be one of the more challenging topic, however it is your child and your choice to make.

I have 2 girls and only the older one has had some vaccines. There is no need to worry about the schools, that is sometimes a treat that I have heard doctors use to get you to vaccinate ( most doctors have an agenda to make you vaccinate, to fill their quota). Every school has been totally understanding and I have only been greeted in a positive way, and really no big deal. As soon as I have told schools all they have said is " you just need to sign a form then" and everyone has been totally fine.

When I was expecting my first daughter, I talked to doctors and friends and read a lot of books on vaccines, both for and against. Like you, I educated myself in this matter. We also had a pediatrician who was against vaccines, which is somewhat rare. Although a wonderful and much loved pediatrician, who always helped families with sick children, she was fired from the medical foundation where she worked for not meeting her quota in how many prescriptions she had written and how many vaccines she had given. Her numbers where a lot lower than other pediatricians due to her questioning on the effects of vaccines, and the possible risks they could be linked to.

After not vaccinating, I have had numerous people telling me they wished they hadn't. One of those moms had lost her child in SIDS shortly after vaccines, and she herself that thought the vaccines caused it. That incident was repeated with another friend of mine who went through the same nightmare. So you can expect hearing such stories too, and they are sad, however nothing is proven and one knows for sure of a link between vaccines and SIDS. I believe a mother will know in her heart more than anyone can ever tell you about your own child.

If you want to consider vaccines later, for travels or something like that, know that you can, and there are ways to even give them homeopathically, although I do not know how that is. I have never heard of anyone having had any problems with how they have been treated at schools, as it really would be discrimination if they treated you in any way negative due to that. Personally, I had a lot of the diseases that they vaccinate against now, most people in Scandinavia of my generation had them. It was considered normal, and I never heard of any cases that anyone died from any of those ( I am not saying no one did, but i think it would have been very extreme and rare cases). I had chicken pox, measles, whooping cough, mumps and rubella. My own daughters have not had any of those, but if they get it, there are very good ways of treating it.

The Tetanus vaccine doesn't work that well, and that could be why more vaccinated kids get Tetanus, than non vaccinated, as most vaccinated individuals do not take it as seriously as you might with a child who has not been vaccinated. That is why they always give it to pretty much anyone anyway if you go into a hospital for a cut or something. It sakes at least 24 hours and usually more until Tetanus would take if your child was exposed to it. If your child has a dirty wound, you may give the homeopathic remedy Ledum 30 C which you can buy in heath food store and keep at home, and then take your child to the hospital. The tetanus vaccine is one that I understand a lot more people are considering, even if they have not given their kids any other vaccines.

A child that is breast fed will get a lot from you in the way of immunity, and if you feel you have a healthy child, then you can feel calm if you want to choose not to vaccinate. If you have a weaker child, you might also chose to wait with vaccines, due to them being too much for a smaller or weaker child. A person who feels like vaccinating ought to be able to feel calm in that choice too, so I am not here to tell anyone you are doing something not right. Remember you are your own best advisor and your heart will guide you. Listen in... for you know that baby and what he she needs more than anyone!

Love
A.

Good Morning B.!

I have a 4 year old and she has never had one vaccine! My husband and I are a advocates for no vaccinations. If you want to email me, I can share some information with you and give you a link for the Exemption Form for California to allow your child into any school. I can also share with you some sites for those of us who choose not to vaccinate.

Always in good health and peace,
____@____.com

I chose to not vaccinate my daughter, except for polio, dyphtheria, and tetanus. I did not have any problems from my doctor or my daughter's school. The schools all have a waiver you can sign. It is on the back of the standard CA state vaccination form, and you find copies of these at every day care, preschool, school, and on-line. The general approach of the public schools is to act as if you have to have had your child vaccinated, but ultimately you have the choice. Just quietly turn in the papers and you don't have to justify a thing. Lots of times the school secretaries don't even notice, since you're turning in the same form as everyone else.
Private schools and private pre-schools may be able to insist on having the vaccines, I don't know what the regulations are there. But I believe that state law is still in place and protects your freedom of choice.
When I went to the doctor for all the healthy baby checks, I told them what I wanted. He had a vaccine just for DT (dyphtheria and tetanus). I had no problem with the doctor's office.
My daughter did have a mild case of whooping cough when she was 8. then when she was 15 she was with a youth group in Mexico and was the only one out of 20 teens and adults who did not come down with it (all of these persons had had the regular series of vaccinations when they were young children). Pertusses is most dangerous during the first year of a child's life, so please be alert to outbreaks during this tender age.
As for the inoculations for the childhood diseases (measles, mumps, chicken pox), I believe that having the "disease" is actually healthy and strengthening for a child. I think that we've all become so caught up in maintaining our own "comfort" that we resist any discomfort. and we are so hurried that we don't want to take time off for illness. Finally, most medical doctors are oriented towards maintaining general "public health," and vaccinations prevent large outbreaks that threaten public health. But as parents, we want more than that, we want the best for our own children, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and are looking at the individual, much more than doctors or educational institutions do. Although it sounds as if those are conflicting goals, if we are smart we can find common ground.
There is a caution about not inoculating for measles, mumps and chicken pox; if a child does not contract these diseases in childhood, and catches them as a teen or adult, they can be very dangerous. Chicken pox is horrendous for young adults, and seriously life threatening. Mumps can cause sterility in men; rubella, birth defects in pregnant women. You probably know this already. But if a child does not contract one of these illnesses in childhood, he can get inoculated as a teen.
I think you are very wise be a conscious parent. Too many parents act without questioning, and no matter what your decision is, the fact that you're informed yourself and made a conscious choice sets a strong foundation for your child's life.
Congratulations on your baby boy, and enjoy every minute with him.

Hi B.,

I too, chose not to vaccinate. There really are too many horror stories out there. Too many children suffering, with their parents suffering right beside them.

I had my first child at home and my second in a hospital. With my second child, I thought I would be pressured into doing exactly what the doctors wanted. I honestly have to say that I wasn't. I denied a number of things including the eye antibiotics, the vitimin K shot, and the newborn screening. It really is a matter of sticking to what you feel is right. And the paperwork follows. I gave birth at Kaiser South Sacramento and was amazed at how they respected my requests.

But that was giving birth. Now, heres the hard part: finding a doctor that RESPECTS and ACCEPTS your belief in not vaccinating. This really is difficult. The pressure that you will receive with the wrong doctor is unreal. The looks, the insults/comments, their ability to try to make you feel stupid and to try to make you feel like your a bad mother is going to definitely be a new feeling for you. So look very hard for that gem of a doctor. You still have time before your beautiful little one gets here.

Take pride that you are not alone in a decision like this. That there are many of us out here who are choosing not to vaccinate because now, the risks outweigh the benefits.

Hope this helps a little
M. :)

Hello B.,
I am a 35 year old Mommy of two precious boys. One is six, and one is three. I vaccinated my six year old the full time. He has been diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder, and with my 3 year old I did not keep up with them. He has not had any since he was 9 months old. He is in the process of enrolling in special education classes. I live in the Yuba county school district, and they gave me a waiver to sign. It's not as hard as you would think. I am not going forward with vaccines, because I feel that they do not have as many benefits as we are lead to believe. Also, it is strongly suspected in the ASD commuity that the vaccines trigger a predisposed condition that manifestes into ASD.
Be strong, and do what you feel is right in your heart.

Not much... may or may not catch anything!!! Although it is best to have early exposure, when I say early I mean over 5 years of age, never prior to that!!! Childhood Development should continue to blossom normally as it should be, Your great grand parents, grand parents, parents and you... that never received 36 shots full of neurotoxins, viruses and more scary ingredients... survived so far and even those that were vaccinated, still caught many illnesses... like me, I was vaccinated and still caught it all!!! So what is the point?!!!
In Mexico and other 3rd. world countries... the only places you see autism and other developmental challenges is in the big cities where Vaccines are available, and still not as much as here, since they are not forced to vaccinate to get in to school... and most children are vaccinated until they are toddlers (5-6 years of age) But in the rural zones where they never see vaccines it is almost nonexistent... And I am not totally anti-vaccine... just want safer ingredients, and a better schedule where less is more!!! Love, G.. :0)
P.S. Green our vaccines, and administer them with greater care...And my Pediatrician agrees too!!!
http://generationrescue.org/vaccines.html
http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrIM2hwrLoc
http://generationrescue.org/studies.html
http://generationrescue.org/pdf/060805.pdf
http://generationrescue.org/pdf/080212.pdf
http://generationrescue.org/pdf/070626.pdf
http://generationrescue.org/pdf/060406.pdf
http://www.autismmedia.org/media11.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELx2eX_kM-w&feature=re...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Fdgj-Sisg&feature=re...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5WNLOjmAiw&feature=re...
You can always start vaccination after 5 or 6 of age...and only one at a time with a time space of 6 months to a year between them and only the ones the you consider to be important and vital... never 36 vaccines (and still be safe)
The only one I would never advice are the flue shots!!!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/0...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq60IrPjMcI

Just wanted to chime in that a very good resource to find info about vaccines and opting out, etc... can be found from Dr. Tim O'Shea of San Jose. He has written a book, and has a website to find resources:
http://www.thedoctorwithin.com/node.shtml

Also, you've probably found Dr. Sears for a middle ground approach and resources as well.

Also, I participate in a really wonderful group of parents in my local chapter of Holistic Moms Network. There are a few chapters here in the Bay Area, and you will find people that have made similar choices, which is a wonderful source of information and support, as well as acceptance of your choices. The group is really diverse, and has moms in all different stages of our own journeys, so on the subject of vaxing, some do, some don't, some do partially...but most importantly you are empowered and supported in your own choices. If you or any others would like info, contact me for info. And lest you be a little leary of perceived "crunchy" mamas, we are really diverse in that to, so attend a meeting and see if it is for you.

Congratulations on your new baby!

I am sure you have gotten pleanty of responses, but wanted to say, (without reading all the other responses), that I did not vaccinate one of my children, because my one and only child who was vaccinated, has severe developmental delays, which seemed to come on after he was born. And both schools he has been to, it has been ABSOLUTLY NO PROBLEM!! Without winking an eye they handed me the exemption form and I signed it and that was the end of it.

I don't even know where the, "It's hard to get into schools" mentality comes from, but it seems everyone says that. I guess it's just to scare parents into vaccinating there kids. But yeah, sometimes it's hard to find a pediatrition who will go along with it, but not impossible. There are pleanty out there. Ours says, "I wish you would do it, but you are the parent and you get to make decisions for your child". Good enough for me. Good luck.

W.

We made the same decision - also after a lot of research. With this issue, like many others, there is data on both sides that can be used to support one decision or the other. For us, just looking at some of the statistics of the vaccines raised questions - like the dose per pound given to a baby/child versus the dose per pound for an adult; the cocktail approach that would make it difficult to pinpoint adverse reactions; the case studies of adverse reactions (both mild and severe); cases where kids/people get an illness regardless of whether they've been vaccinated for it. I wouldn't say that vaccines don't have a role to play at all, but I would rather make a decision each time a specific issue arises and needs to be addressed.

Some people have very aggressive opinions about this and I do not talk about it even in casual conversation unless specifically asked (in which case I respond truthfully and confidently). They've made their decision and we've made ours. Either way, a parent can end up hearing from others (and self) "if only I had....." - nobody has a crystal ball. If there were ever a situation where my child would represent a danger to others, I would remove her from the situation and deal with it.

One of the most difficult things has been telling our doctor at each of my daughter's well-exams that we still do not want to vaccinate; sometimes I asked my husband to take her or go with me because I was just tired of being pressured. We take her to the doctor if she is sick or hurt now and as needed for wellness checks for school. (We aren't against medical care - just against mega-vaccines.)

She seems overall more healthy and resilient than many of the other kids at school. She rarely gets sick, and if she does it is a milder version of what everyone else is getting. I do not know if this is because we chose not to vaccinate or if it's just because she's a strong little girl - maybe a bit of both.

My daughter has gone to a private daycare/school since she was 2. I don't know if I will have a different experience if we change to a public school. I've had no problems so far just signing the document "no vaccinations due to beliefs". Sometimes I struggle with "do they think I'm a bad mom" - but then what other people think of us should not be the reason we make a decision about the well-being of our child.

One of the issues that my Doctor and others have brought up is that it is not fair for a child who could get measles to endanger a caregiver who could get pregnant. In the cases where her caregiver was of an age that she could become pregnant, I had a personal conversation with the caregiver and told her of our decision and that if it were a concern to her we would see what other arrangements could be made -- none of them ever had an issue with it.

This is a decision we may have to revisit as she gets older - in light of what is required by various schools and organizations (we will probably have to continue to take a stand for the right to have made the decision we made). As she gets older, her body will be stronger and if we decide to vaccinate because there is an outbreak of something - or we want to travel to developing countries - we will make that specific decision at that time.

My oldest daughter (age 21) had all of the vaccines and basically I was mislead to believe that I did not have a choice. I was young and inexperienced. When my second child was born, he did have some vaccinations but not all of them. The first one was done with the same attitude as my daughter (we ARE doing this rather than you have a choice) and after that I did some research and learned the other side of it. I have an autistic nephew and I read a lot about that and decided that I did not want to do it.

I would say that the biggest challenges that I have had are the people who want to make me feel guilty for it; doctors, teachers, school admin, etc. have all given me the "bad mommy" look. I actually had to sign waivers that stated it was against my religion not just that I don't believe in them. Even though it is that it is against my religion, I signed it because it was the only way they would let my kids in school.

I also had some big discussions with my own mom because she and her sister have been disabled for a lifetime due to polio in the 1940s. So, everyone has an opinion. I think the key is to do your homework (as you have done), believe in what you believe and stand firm with confidence that you are doing what you believe is best for YOUR child. If you ask me, the government has just a little too much control already!

L.

Hi B.,

Wow, lots of responses!

The only thing I would add is that if you require the Rhogam shot for having type negative blood, you should request a mercury free version. You may need to tell your doc or midwife ahead of time as it will need to be ordered. may have changed, but three years ago the rhogam shots had mercury in them. And it's not a good idea to skip this shot if you intend to have more children. Also, if the father of your child and you both have negative type blood you do NOT need it - I was pressured to get it even though both my hubby and I are O-. Pretty hilarious (not) to have to get the nurse to explain why she thought I should get it anyway....

BTW, we have only vaccinated with tetanus/Diphtheria, and my youngest did get pertussis at seven months. He has a form of asthma as a result, which we are able to control with herbs and homeopathics. And I HAVEN'T changed my feelings about vaccinating. Go for it!

Good luck, and enjoy your family!

I know that at least in CA you do not need to have your child vaccinated to get into public school. Maybe this used to be the case, but I went to hear Dr. Sears speak on his new book about Vaccines and that was one of the things I learned at the talk. I was very happy to hear that because we stopped vaccinating my son after 12 months old. Just make sure you know your rights and it's good that you are are doing your research now so you know what to expect. You might want to check out that new vaccine book by dr. sears. good luck!!

Good for you! I decided against vaccinations for my daughter. She is now seven and in 1st grade. When I enrolled her in school there was a form to fill out about not vaccinating for philisophical or religious reasons. That was the extent of it. when my daughter gets sick I use german biological medicine, a type of super-charged homeopathic. If you want more info feel free to ask me. My daughter is very healthy and happy. I had an aquaintance whos infant son died after he was innoculated. There is a book called "A Shot in the Dark" that everyone questioning vaccinations should read.

Hi,
I have a 5 yr old and I did the same thing. My child has not been vaccinated. But I am really now thinking that was not the best decision. We have come upon a lot of difficult situations that I didn't think about. We have been turned away at some of the preschools in our area. Not only because of the policy, but because of other parents. My child has not been invited to play dates, because of all kinds of reasons,
Good luck

I applaud your decision and wish we had made the same one. You can get your child in school. It's your decision but you will be asked to sign affidavits and you will be questioned for school and other activities like putting him in sports teams. If you have something official from a doctor it will make your life easier. Just a note - you may want to consider tetanus when he's a bit older. Good luck and congratulations.

Hi. The school won't tell you this but there is a form and you have to ask for it. It is an exemption form for immuniztions. Now they are going to try and tell you that your child cannot enter school with their immunizations but it just simply isn't true. They will try and bully you into it. just stick to your guns so to speak and keep asking for the form. If they won't give it to you try asking for it in writing. Some schools won't tell you this but sometimes they won't honor a request for something even as simple as a form unless the request is in writing. On a side note if you need an individual education plan (if your child has a learning disability or autism or whatever) for your child you have to request that in writing too. You can ask for it over and over verbally and they never have to tell you that just by simply writing it down then they have to at least pay attention to you. My older kids are vaccinated but I am not vaccinating my younger child. Good for you for making up your own mind. I was a young mom with my first 2 and I just did what I thought was the right thing, all the "experts" were saying vaccinate. Luckily we never had any bad reactions or behavioral problems, but we were lucky. I won't take that chance again. Good luck!

Congratulations on your new little boy this September! And great job in doing your research. I have 2 girls and expecting a boy next week! We have also chosen not to vaccinate and are very happy about that decision. You will be too! Our kids are very healthy. Hang in there, and as you've heard other moms say, getting into school will not be impossible. Just be strong and sign your waivers (that the school won't be upfront telling you about). Also, if you would like to connect with like-minded moms, there's a yahoo's group with members who will all SUPPORT YOU!! No judging or name calling. That is just unacceptable in ANY CIRCLE! Believe me, I've come on board here and had some of the rudest insulting comments I never thought possible from "moms". Go to this site. There's a little bit of a screening process to get admitted, but it's just to make sure that you really are who you say. http://groups.yahoo.com/ group/Slowandnovaxmoms/

Anyway, best wishes for you and your new growing family.

Hi B.,

I totally agree with your decision! I am praying for my own 9 mo. old granddaughter to be protected from harm since her parents are going for the recommended immunizations from her doctor.

I personally know two chiropractors who have not immunized their own children and they say that it is not that tough dealing with the school system. You just have to sign off on the card according.

I am sure that you will follow all possible means of keeping your son's immune system as strong and healthy as possible. Many forms of prevention will be crucial to keeping him well. I would like to share info with you about a line of nutritional supplements that would be very effective for this need.

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The first product that I would give the highest priority to for babies is Genesis. It is 100% fruit juice blend with the miracle molecules Resveratrol (from red wine) and Ellagic acid (pomagranates). The amount of these molecules per ounce is standardized to guarantee that each ounce of Genesis provides the equivalent of a whole bottle of red wine (no alcohol of course) and a whole pomagranate!
Genesis strengthens the immune system and supports healthy cell regeneration. It also does much, much more and it tastes great!

Symmetry Direct also has several other products that are great for children. Fruit-A-Mins (chewable multiple vitamin), Future Star (powder form multiple to mix in liquids), and Aloe Plus is great to prevent ear infections!

Since I have so much confidence in these products, I am also a distributor for them. You can check it out at my website www.symmetrydirect.com/dhendon . Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have.

I believe that you are taking a good stand in protecting your son. I want to encourage you to continue to learn and stay fully informed about all aspects of this journey. There is great strength in knowledge.

Victorious Living to you and yours!
D. Hendon
www.symmetrydirect.com/dhendon
###-###-####

Like others have mentioned, finding a pediatrician who will even take your child on as a patient will be very tricky, depending on where you live. I partially vaccinated my children, with delayed vaccinations, and it was very hard for me to find a pediatrician. Start looking right now, and if you are having difficulty finding one, ask mothers' clubs and those involved in homebirth - midwives, doulas, moms. They usually will know of some.
Good luck!

Good for you that you have done some research. I have a 2 1/2 year old son whom has gone under the vaccines. I am having a second child in septmember and have decided agianst it also. I really believe that the pharmacutical companies are pushing a "brain washing" for vaccines due to money. No one vaccinates and they loose money...at what expense.. our childrens. I have a few friends in the 30's that were never vaccinated and never have gotten a desease. I was given a book from one of my friends and wow...research really shows that the "outbreaks" are from children whom have been vaccinated. With better living conditions today than in WWI, we have the option to be healthier...therefore not getting as sick and having stronger imuune systems. I feel aweful that I was talked into by my pedatrition that I really should vaccinated my son. There were a few times I was up all night with him because he had a reaction to the shots (fever etc..) and when It was time to get the chicken pox vaccine...he broke out in chicken pox!!! I am agianst this whole vaccine thing and parents should have a right wiether to or not. I feel like your damed if you do vaccinate and damed if you don't..and that sucks. If you are in California, you will not have a issue when your child reseaches Kindergarden because there is a form you can fill out from the state. Good luck and good for you, and really save yourself from injecting your little baby with all these drugs. When we get sick that is why we have an immune system and if you plan on breast feeding, your son will be strong and healthy and be able to fight off any illness that will come his way. I have plenty of friends children that have not been vaccinated and are in grade school...they are healthy and just fine!!

Hi B.,

The decision is yours and our chiroprator did not vaccinate his kids, and from what he said the schools can not deny you. YOu can call him if you want, Dr. Jonathon Mainieri ###-###-#### I'm sure he'll be able to help you
Let him know C. Garces sent you to him.

www.giveneverup.com

Dear B.,
It seems like many parents are deciding not to vaccinate.
I did vaccinate my children with no ill affects. But it's a personal decision. I don't judge either way.
I would call the schools in your area or talk to your pediatrician about not immunizing. I know that we moved several times and I could not enroll my children without their complete immunization records. And a couple of times, even though I had them, due to moving, etc, I couldn't find them. The schools made me obtain proof of their shots prior to allowing my children to attend. It was different for me because I knew they'd been done and I knew where to access their records, but I honestly don't know what they do if your child isn't immunized.
Your baby isn't born yet, but since your mind is made up, I would call the daycares, pre-schools and grade schools in your area to ask them if they will take your son or how to get around it. Because I really don't know. I personally have never dealt with a school, from Oregon to several different counties in California, that was fine with a non-immunized child. You've definitely got a little more research to do.

B.,
I respect what you have decided I just wanted to say something about what someone said about the tetnus vaccine not working. It is not that it doesn't work you just have to get a booster every 7 years. Having two boys myself I would recommend getting this one maybe when he is older, boys tend to be rough and fall and scrap their knees etc. Tetnus is found in dirt not just rusty nails as is usually thought. As for the rest they are very rare now because people have vaccinated for so long so it is not as big of deal to not vaccinate. As for me I vaccinated my children and will vaccinated the one one the way becuase I am a nurse and never know what I will get exposed too.
Good luck,
C.

Hi B.,
I respect your decision, and as long as you stay in the U.S. you are right, the chances of contracting most of these diseases is very low (thanks to most everyone else getting vaccinated :) But please be careful if you travel to developing countries. 2 years ago after returning from a trip abroad my 11 year old and I both came down with whooping cough (pertussis). It was over a month before anyone could figure out what it was, since it is so uncommon now due to vaccinations, and is difficult to diagonose - had to go to the ER dept for the test. Although we were both vaccinated, turns out you need a booster around the age of 10 (vaccine wears off). My 7 year old who still had resistance from the vaccine did not contract whooping cough, although she had the same exposure.
One person mentioned whooping cough was not much worse than a bad cold. They must have had a mild version. Although it starts out like a cold, it can turn into a violent, gasping cough leading to vomiting (especially at night). By the time you realize what you have, you are probably past the contagious stage and have most likely infected others unknowingly. There is no cure, you have to ride it out - they give you antibiotics so you don't infect others. They used to call it the 100 day cough - and belive me it lasted months. Just food for thought if you plan to do much traveling abroad. I agree that many of the newer vaccines may not be necessary (like chicken pox), but I believe most doctors also consider that optional. I was not pressured to give my kids chicken pox vaccines.

Congrats on your baby!! Its a wonderful time for you- your life is about to change in so many ways- for the better (except for less sleep).
My hubby and I chose a home birth as well as no vaccinations and we are very happy with both choices we made. Rent 'The Business of Being Born'- great movie. As far as vaccinations, I found a homeopathic pediatrition and did some homeo vaccina. Hes almost 2 and has been sick very few times. I picked up a Nasopure bottle and started doing saline flushes early- 6mos to help with germ control. In CA you can always get into public school by signing a release- not vaccinating for religious or personal reasons. The only schools who have the right to not let you in are private schools. Good luck and enjoy every minute of the miracle!!

Hi B.;
We have 3 girls. My 24 yr. old was vaccinated. She's has had poor health most of her life ( nothing life threatening ) But allergies, eczema, chronic sinus infections, ect. Back then I just listened to me doctor and did what he said. But, I witnessed my best friend loose her baby boy to a triple dose of shots. He died about 3 days after his immunizations, cause of death >severe brain swelling, shots were responsible. I also have seen several children develop autism right after their shots. So, my 14 and 12 year old have never had one shot. We have lived in Florida & Cal. Getting the exemption can be as easy as asking for it, and signing it. But, when we first moved here, we got the run around from the Santa Clara office. We asked for the waiver and they kept telling us we couldn't obtain one. My husband had to basically raise his voice and threaten to get a lawyer. After the confrontation, the waiver was handed over. The supervisor of the office apologized to us saying that the women at the counter was new and didn't realize we had a legal right to obtain the waiver. There's a book about how & what to say when asking for the waiver. Basically, under Cal state law, you have a legal right to ask for an exemption, stating that immunization goes against your personal beliefs. The one incident is all we have had in the past. I really believe you are making a great choice by not immunizing. Be prepared though, for the other parents, as well as the medical community to ridicule you for your decision. Good Luck, Susan

PS- you can expect your child to be much healthier than the rest of his peers. An immune system that developes naturally is much stronger than one that has been poisoned with toxins & pus.

B.,
One thing you might want to take into consideration about vaccines is where you live with regard to an unvaccinated immigrant population from a third-world country.

With the huge influx of unvaccinated people to the United States, there exists the very real possibility that he will be exposed to some really nasty viruses and bacteria brought in from elsewhere.

Is your baby going to be in contact with diseases he won't have any defense against?

Another thing to think about is travel. I'm not positive, but if you travel, you might want to check to make sure that vaccines aren't required where you are going. In addition, your child will need to be aware of his non-vaccinated state for any travels he might want to make as an adult.

Yah...another informed person who has decided not to follow the flock! I have three little boys and have also decided not to vaccinate any of them. They are healthy and thriving. As far as worrying about getting into preschool/school we are fortunate living in California that it is NOT a law, as everyone would love to have you believe. All you do is tell the administrator you'd like to sign the exemption form and it's as simple as that. We have done that at two preschools and one kindergarten now and there has never been an issue. It's your RIGHT, and as much as the "fear factor" is out there...it's bunk. So, good luck in your quest for your child's life...I wholeheartedly agree with you!

Cheers,
J

I have also done my research and chose not to vaccinate my now 8 year old boy. I also breastfed him and give him probiotics to support his immune system. A doctor also shared with us that good nutrition is the number one prevention for those childhood diseases. He is rarely sick and when he is, it passes in ONE DAY!!! I remember my own childhood and how often we were sick at home. I believe that he has a super powered immune system.

We have not had any trouble at all with schools. In preschool, we signed the exemption form and in kindergarten and first grade it was the very same form. You can also get it online if you google "vaccination exemption form" or www.vaclib.org.

And here is some food for thought...Did you know that if you wish, you can also refuse the vitamin K shot that the hospitals give out routinely to newborns? I had my son at home so it was easy to keep an eye on him (and my midwife knew that we were refusing it). If you have your child in the hospital, and you do not want the shot, someone needs to be with your baby during all the weighing/measuring to make sure he isn't given something you don't want.

Congratulations! soon to be MOM!

Hi B.!
My first daughter has the same name as you...... it is a beautiful name. Anyways, back to the subject at hand. I have 2 beautiful healthy girls that have both had all their vaccines... but WAIT..... hear me out. I wanted to let you know what to expect from schools and so forth. I have many friends that have chosen not go do the vaccine route with their kids and they have turned out FINE! When it comes time to enroll your little guy into school, the only thing you will need is to fill out the forms that the school gives you that lets them know why you do not have shot records. You will still need to have the "regular" doctors check up that is required, just not accompanied by a shot record. I think it is the parents choice and a school should respect that. None of my friends have ever had any issues with their kids not having vaccines, and getting into any of the schools they are in- private and public.
Well, there you are...... an opinion from a mom that has vaccined but totally understands and thinks its great that you have made your own choices for your little guy. Have fun every minute of everyday with him and enjoy every stage. It goes by so fast.
Good luck,
C.

Hello B.,
After reading some of the responses you are getting, my heart goes out to you. What a paranoid and uninformed world that we live in! No, you should not expect your child to get more disease, or less, for that matter. If you help him have a healthy immune system through diet, exercise and natural supplements, that's one of the most important things you can do. I have 2 sons, ages 12 and 9 who are unvaccinated. I have had absolutely no problems with schools, sports, anything. Whenever I'm filling out a form that asks for vaccination dates I put n/a for not applicable. I've only been asked about it a few times and I just say that our family chose not to immunize our children.
About 2 years ago whooping cough came through our community and both my kids caught it. I know of 6 children who also had whooping cough, but were vaccinated against it. It was definitely a difficult one to get over, but it didn't make me waver on my decision at all.
Although our choices were based on the risks of vaccinations and potential side effects, there are many people who choose not to immunize for religious reasons and it seems that schools, etc. are becoming more used to it. Remember, it's your right to choose for your family!

Quite simple. Write a statement that it is against your religious principals. They can't question you, as that would be discrimination. I marched into the office handed them my signed statement and said, no vaccines. (I did not belong to a religious group, I wrote. "My child is not getting vaccinated as it is against my religious principals". I did get some concerned looks from office personnel but they were required to file it in my child's file and admit him to the school system. No one ever bothered him or I about it. If fact once you get in, they pretty much forget about it as it satisfies the state requirement of non-vaccination through religious exemption.

The most important thing is to be aligned with your conviction. I am glad you are clear as you asked for only people who agree with you to answer. It does no good to engage in other people’s fears, well meaning as they might be. They are still their fears of ill health and fear of germs. Long ago I decided that I would align myself with the 10 percent of the people in the world who do not believe in germs or the germ theory. It has kept my family and me healthy. Just know you have made the right decision for you. (If you watch TV, muting the T.V. commercials for prescription drug pushers and ill health propaganda also keeps the negative thoughts out of your mind.)

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR HEALTHY CHILDREN,
Gale

Hi B.,

Kudos to you! We're not vaccinating either. Expect you'll have a healthy child! My daughter is 15 months and so far all we've had to do is fill out some paperwork from the dr.'s office for the national registry or some such organization. You may get some flack from other mothers but trust your gut you made the right decision.

Tim vaccinated his 1st born now 17 but not his second, now 14. His first shows a variety of learning challenges. He's convinced it's from the vaccines.

R.

I have to say that i have vaccinate my son after a lot of thought about the topic. But my family is really pron to getting some of the things they vaccinate for so i decided to do it. But i just want to say good for you. Stand your ground and know that your choice is the right one for you and your family and you always have the abilty to change your mind if you need to in the future, where if you do get vaccine's you can not take them back if you change you mind.
Good luck
A.

my son went without a vacinne for about 10 months and they were the hardest one of his and my life he got reumatic fever, it;s a long hard road, good luck.

I got the exemption letter from the same school district which was demanding my kid's vaccines before starting kindergarten. I also did a titters check (with blood sample) at the pediatrician's - just to have a medical letter stating that my boy was still "infected" with the measles viruses -therefore, he did not needed the second shot.
Recently, I asked the pediatrician (not the same that injured my boy) to exempt him permanently, and she did gave me the letter. I laminated it, for future needs.
There is one letter that you may use for daycares, or any other institution, stating that forced vaccinations are against the Constitution; at: www.muhammadspeaks.com/vaccineExemption.html

good luck

I have a 10 month old and we have made the personal decision not vaccinate also. We made that decision before he was born also and talked to my family doctor (also my baby's dr), the hospital before the birth, my doula, and my OB just to make sure everyone knew and was okay with it. Everything went fine! It seems some mothers may have had problems finding a dr. with their same beliefs, but don't let that stop you, they are out there and we have had no problems. I also was told I would have problems putting him in daycare and school later on. Well when the time came for daycare I just signed the back on the immunization chart under "personal beliefs" not to vaccinate. It was that simple! I've also heard that we do the same thing for school in this state. I think the laws change based on what state you're in, something you may want to look into if you are having to move out of state in the future...
Congratulations on your pregnancy and hope this helps!
God bless you and your little one

Schools and State accredited pre-schools by law must accept your exemption. Pre-Schools run by city rec departments are exempt but my understanding is every other school must be accredited by the state and follow these rules/laws. The exemption for California is on the back of the vaccination form you receive when enrolling in school. This part is pretty easy and HEPA rules would prohibit anyone from sharing medical information about your child so you shouldn't have a problem at all with schools. They can require your child to stay out of school if a disease that there is a vaccine for is present in the community. As Allison K said a "challenge" can come in finding a pediatrician who will agree with you and some feel strongly against this and won't even accept patients who aren't up to date on vaccines. Let me know if you want a reference for an East Bay pediatrician who will follow alternate or no vaccines based on the parents beliefs. I can also look up the form for you so you can see it ahead of time.

You will need to be prepared to stand your ground if you ever have to visit the Emergency room or another doctor as you may get a lot of objection there. As far as College, my stepson graduated about 3 years ago and didn't have to be vaccinated then but maybe things change or it varies from college to college. I would cross that bridge when it comes. Take care

I have two daughters, one 21 that had a few vaccinations and one 18 that had none; they are super-healthy, beautiful and smart.

For the schools, I submitted that I did not do / would not do, vaccinations "for religious reasons" and never had a problem.

Of course I study natural solutions to potential issues. I have learned about natural herbal antibiotics and Silver that is known to kill Virus as well as Fungus and Bacteria (ASAP brand has the most studies published). Yes, my family did all catch whatever two children brought back to the US and wiped out their respective classrooms for a week. One of my daughters had 104 temp, one 106 and I had 101.5 - it was terrible but it was bad for all those children in the two classrooms (vaccinated or not).

For those afraid of Polio, my first daughter did get one dose - I searched and found a place to get her the Salk's vaccine (dead polio); it was not easy to find, but since some of the Live Polio vaccines CAUSED people to have polio, I was not going to take a chance! http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/sal0bio-1

Please continue to search out people that have a history (mine 20+ and 17+ years now) of NOT doing vaccinations; yes, we could be run underground (or forbid, be forced into it like they do now for Chemo, etc when some doctor "finds" cancer), but for now, we are Free and have a choice. My choice was not "religious", but researched, common sense, yet I knew "they" would not question my right to put "religious" reasons for refusing the status quo.

I have 3 children now ages 23, 21, and 17. My oldest daughter had the DPT shot. I did not get any more shots for any of my children after that. I just signed the back of the vaccination card, that was it. The schools never gave me a problem. I was very firm about my choice. I also choose to feed them lots of healthy organic fruits,vegetables and not much processed food or sugar. They have been very healthy all through school.
I did also breast feed each of my children for 2 or more years each ( Gods vaccination method ).

Dear B.,

I know you have already made up your mind, but I don't know if you are aware that the rate of pertussis (whooping cough or the "P" in DPT) is increasing in California and that there are emerging strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Google "Pertussis incidence California"for research on the subject. Whooping cough is not usually fatal, but it can keep a kid out school for months and the coughing fits are brutal. Vaccines will work even against antibiotic resistant forms of a disease.
Best wishes, whatever you decide.

Hi B. -

You just ask for a waiver at the school that vaccinations are against your personal beliefs. They have to allow you to sign that. I have 4 children and have signed that form at several schools, including the high schools. The public schools have to allow you to sign that form. I am not sure about private schools - and I am not sure about daycare centers.

I have had very little resistance to my decision except from the medical establishment - they are only taught one thing - they rarely if ever do their own research - so you just have to stick up for yourself, your ability to do what's best for your child, and your ability to do your own research.

My main problem with vaccinations is the burden of disease prevention being placed on vulnerable, undeveloped infants who cannot handle this burden. Our country's behavior problem, learning disorder, and autism rates attest to the damage we are doing to our youngest citizens. I am completely against vaccinations until at least age 5, and even after that, few and far between depending on the needs of the individual, the health of the individual, and where they will be living. Most people should never need them. And certainly not the amount that is pushed on both children and adults constantly. It seems the only winners are the makers of vaccines - they make a ton of money.
Your body is designed to fight off pathogens if you are healthy and have a healthy immune system. The first goal, then, is to be healthy - cut out sugar, white flour, refined food products. Eat 80% vegetables, 20% meat and grains - if your body is healthy, you can successfully fight off most infections you will encounter.

My younger children, 3 of whom didn't receive a vaccination until they were 12 or so, never had ear infections, had just a few colds, were generally very healthy. I also nursed them and give them a healthy diet. Babies are not designed to have a fully functional immune system at birth - they are designed to obtain an immune cofactors from breastmilk - among many other things.

I applaud your decision to do the research, and to see what is going on despite what we are constantly 'told'-!

Good luck with your new little boy!

Right on B.!! I'm proud of your decision and totally support you!
It will NOT be hard at all. California is an exempt out state which means you get the form and fill it out... then you're done! :D
Did you read The Sanctity of Human Blood by Tim O'Shea? I HIGHLY recommend it! :)

I decided to space my sons vaccines out, never more than 1 in 6 months, then when my daughter was born I wanted to convince myself that it would be easier to just go with the recommended vaccine schedule, but the more research I did to try and convince myself to vaccinate the more I educated myself about the money making scheme that the drug companies are into. Most vaccines are manufactured AFTER the disease has naturally eradacated itself. Also google flu/H1N1 vaccine and misscarage and read the thousands of distraught women who lost pregnancies after the doctor recommend vaccine. Learn where AIDS really came from. And don't even go there about Polio until you realize that the last reported case in the US was caused by the Polio Vaccine, and that all not that long ago the govt wanted EVERYONE vaccinated against polio, so they came out with the live polio vaccine that was shed for 2 weeks after the vaccine was given, therefore causing everyone who came in contact with the vaccinated was infected with the Polio virus.
Anyway, I live in Massachusetts and I just had to write a letter stating that it was against my beliefs to vaccinate my son, in the letter I stated the state law and that was it. He is in preschool and if there is an outbreak he must remain at home, no big deal. The best thing to do is educate yourself, it can't hurt, and you really have to consider the source, obviously you can't believe everything the vaccine mfg has to say, because they are going to dance around issues and make vague references. Also learn what the govt considers an "epidemic".

I also chose not to vaccinate my children after doing months of research on the subject while still pregnant. My children are now 9 and 11, and we have never had any problems whatsoever. They have been in California public schools since kindergarten. The vaccination exemption form couldn't be easier to fill out. It has never, ever been a problem. You simply ask for the form, sign it, and your done. Don't feel that you have to explain yourself to the school secretary, it's your decision, and you came to it through your own research. End of story. I have never had any other problems or issues arise. I have an understanding pediatrician,which helps, and my kids have always been healthy and strong. Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy!

well i have 19 yearold who i was adimant about getting her shots. I have since adopted 3 kids the youngest who was 3 months. he was sickly at first so he did get behind in his vaccines. however. after seeing jenny mcarthy on tv talking about autisim it freaks me out. the dr just cant promiss or assure me that there are no side effects. they tell me that getting the measels or mumps is far worse of a chance im just not convinced. my gut says no dont do it. i too am wondering how i will get him into school good luck to you

I only know this from being a teacher, but I believe you can only be exempted for religous reasons....ie christian scientists....otherwise you have to be vaccinated to go to public school....I could be wrong but this is what I have heard throughout the years.

This is my first time responding on this site and your post caught my attention.

Do you plan on home schooling your child? No school will allow a child in with out a vaccination record that is up to date. Just something to consider.

I and my children, have been vaccinated with all the recommended vaccines needed for school entry.
The only vaccine I have been leary of is Gardasil. Just too soon and too much room for my daughters sake. I want to
wait a few more years to see it's safety record, since it's offered to age 26.

I went to a Kindergarten parents meeting yesterday and found out that if there is an outbreak of a certain disease the children who aren't immunized against it have to stay home tell the out break is done.

As a preschool teacher, I know that vaccinations are required in order to attend preschool.

I am due in October and also a first time mama. I would like to know what resources you read. I am very uncertain about vaccinations. I am not interested in the "experimental" vaccines they are using in our babies these days. Please let me know where to look for some information on the subject that helped you decide. I am thinking about home schooling my child anyway. Thank You

B., congrats on your new little one... I have been doing some research as well because I have two little grandchildren. I'd like to be "up" on views to understand and communicate with my daughter concerning the childrens' health. Both of my two daughters were vaccinated with all available vaccines, except I chose not to vaccinate the younger with chicken pox when it became available. I decided that my other daughter lived through the "pox" around age 7, and being a newer vaccine I wasn't sure of what the long range effects might be. Well, she broke out during the age of 9, and is OK. It takes about 20 years to know completely about any possible long range effects.
I have seen reports of tuberculosis (TB), and pertussis (whooping cough), is on the rise. They say the rise takes hold because of those who do not contribute to efforts of vaccination. Also, I agree with many of the other responses that when it comes time for travel, vaccine may become very important. Many of these peoples are coming and live in our country which are not vaccinated, and maybe carrying a disease. That is why it is so very controversial, and is a hard decision for young parents to make when they care so much about the well-being and healthy futures of their children. It needs to be a very informed, as well as personal decision for your family. These days we have the access on-line, resources and reports that I didn't have with my 27 year old and then my 17 year old. I respect and admire you for caring enough to research and evaluate all the "ups and downs" on both sides of this issue.
Wishing you a happy and healthy family !!!

I just wanted to say that whatever way people decide to go on this, there isn't any reason for people to be on here calling other people ignorant or a "dumbass" (that was so productive Joanna M.) for their decision. Everyone makes decisions that they feel are right for their family. I find it really sad the way that everyone is judged. Good luck to you and I'm sure your child will be healthy and happy no matter what you decide to do. You are already doing a great job being a Mom!!

As far as schools go there is no problem. Well, I have not had any problems, I've just told the schools that my children are not completely vaccinated (they have had DTaP) and I sign a simple form. Good luck to you in your new adventure - enjoy it all! Birthing and loving children is such an amazing experience. Always follow your heart!

hi there-
I know that my pediatrician's office will not continue to see children if the family chooses not to vaccinate. I would make sure that you find a pediatrician who will accept your decision. sad as that sounds, it is a reality that is out there .

I'm pretty sure you just have to sign a waiver when it comes to signing your child up for school. There is no law in the state that says your child HAS to be vaccinated. My daughter has been vaccinated but we didn't follow the schedule and at times just chose the "opt out" box in her school paper work. (mainly because I couldn't find her vaccination card.)

When other parents try to get in your face about their views on the subject the best thing to do is avoid confrontation altogether. I have always said, "what's right for your family might not be what is right for mine."

It's such a sticky subject! Good Luck!

In our considerations of vaccinnes, we decided to opt out of vaccines for sexually transmitted diseases such as HEP, but to take the rest. The risks we feel are greater to avoid them than the possible side affects. STD vaccinnes are unecessary since we are not going to put our children in public school where they will be influenced by barnyard sexual values.

Hi B.,it has been interesting reading all the responses. I don't have a response to your question directly, but would rather ask about the Hep A vaccine. My 19 mos old is due to get the 2-shot series. From what I read, the CDC just started recommending it for toddlers. The incidence is extremely low, and am considering opting out. He has had all the other vaccines, but it seems he just doesn't need another.
Any opinions on Hep A?
Thanks, Charlotte

I know a lady that has not vaccinated her two children and got waivers from school for this. She was married to a chiropractor so they felt that working on the kids that way was better than vaccinations. You can expect to have them get most of the childhood diseases. As noone should know they are not vaccinated but school officials if it does get out there may be some upset parents. We opted for them because of the many diseases brought here by the numerous immigrants from many countries.

I did not follow this path and am open-minded regarding the benefits of vaccinating and risks involved that have turned many to the position you have reached. I really beleive that the vaccinations should all be improved to decrease the side effects.

For your sanity, do plan ahead in working with daycares, schools or the local school district in advance of enrolling your child because CA daycares and schools have fairly stringent vaccination requirements.

Good luck!

From what I've heard the exemption for school is simple. you just check a box on your enrollment forms where it asks about proof of vaccination.

The real problem starts with college. Universities won't let kids live in the dorms with out certain vaccinations.