Should I Have My Kids Immunized?

Hello E.,
This is a decision that should not be made with out all the information from both sides. There is a international speaker that will be at the Troy community center in Troy Michigan speaking about Vaccines and Immunity. Her name is Mary Tocco and her presentation is based on information from the American Medical Association, The World Health Organization and Nat. Health Institute as well as congressional hearings. If you would like more information please log onto www.mcpakids.org and see her tab on the right side of the page. There is also a video you can get if you are not near by. There are a few non biased books but you have to sort through a large pile to find them. I am a mother of two children both not vaccinated and very healthy. I am comfortable with my decision but feel each person should enter any decision fully informed no matter what they decide. Mary Tocco information is a great start. Best of luck to you.

N. Poirier, D.C.

Hi E.,

The answer I can give is to research it for yourself. For pro-vaccine info, look at the CDC website and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. For info on the negative side, look at http://www.nvic.org/ (National Vaccine Information Center),www.mothering.com (Mothering Magazine), and http://www.homefirst.com/ (a Chicagoland health service that doesn't vaccinate and has no incidents of autism).

Personally, I didn't vaccinate my kids, but I experienced vaccine injury as a baby and have been plagued w/health issues my whole life. Autism wasn't even an epidemic when my first son was born. I just felt w/me contributing 50% of the genes, there was a greater risk than in most other families and I truly believe one size doesn't fit all. I do think vaccines have done good. But they have also harmed. I don't see why recognizing the one means denying the other.

As for my kids, they are much healthier than me and healthier than the average kid. Is it vaccines or control of diet (sugar is a treat, not a right, as is fast food, etc)? It's probably both. We have been turned away by a physician. Most of the others constantly fought with me at each office visit. (They do not recognize my experience as being valid.) We now have a pediatrician who respects our decision.

I did seek help w/the way I word the exemption for the school system from a legal source. Because of that, I haven't had any trouble from the school system, but many schools, especially lower income areas, do bully the families. They receive federal funding for every fully vaccinated kid.

I hope that helps. I commend you for thinking for yourself and not just assuming that what is good for one family is good for all families.

Best advice: RESEARCH.
Do your research so that you can make an informed decision. I recommend the book Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide: How To Make Safe, Sensible Decisions About the Risks, Benefits, and Alternatives by Aviva Jill Romm. She presents factual information in an unbiased manner. Also check out Dr. Robert W. Sears (www.askdrsears.com and www.thevaccinebook.com)
I know many unvaccinated and healthy children. Immunity can be built up through diet and other natural ways. My concerns with vaccines include: 1)the additives (aluminum, thimersol/thimerosal, etc); 2)actual efficacy of the vaccinations; 3)method of introduction; and 4)the business behind vaccines.

aluminum and mercury (thimerosal) are some of the additives in vaccines. The controversy over mercury led to the removal of thimerosal from newly produced vaccines, but THE ORIGINAL VACCINES CONTAINING THE MERCURY WERE NOT RECALLED. Many doctor's offices still have a supply of these vaccines and they are still used. Aluminum and mercury are both shown to cause neurological harm. The biggest issue of concern here is the AMOUNT present in the vaccines. (www.fda.gov search on "aluminum toxicity") There are "safe" levels of aluminum exposure, I believe it is 4-5 mcg (micrograms) per kilogram of body weight, daily. Aluminum can build up to toxic levels in the bloodstream, bones, and brain (which can cause progressive dementia). Here are the current levels of aluminum per shot of the following vaccines, as listed on the packaging:
- DTaP (diptheria, tetanus, pertussis) = 170-625 mcg depending on manufacturer
- Hepatitis A = 250 mcg
- Hepatitis B = 250 mcg
- HIB (meningitis) = 225 mcg
- HPV = 225 mcg
- Pediatrix (DTaP-Hepatitis B-Polio comb.) = 850 mcg
- Pentacel (DTaP-HIB-Polio comb.) = 330 mcg
- Pneumococcus = 125 mcg
The FDA does not require labels on vaccines warning about the dangers of aluminum toxicity, but such labels are required for all other injectable medications.
A newborn's body contains about 300 milliliters of blood, more than 30 mcg of aluminum in the bloodstream could be toxic. A newborn who receives the Hep B injection (standard in most hospitals) receives 250 mcg of aluminum, and then another 250 mcg at one month. At 2 months, if the baby receives the standard round of shots, the dose of aluminum ranges from ###-###-#### mcg. This is then repeated at 4 and 6 months, and more exposure for two years if the standard vaccination schedule is followed.

Safety testing for vaccines has NOT been done for the combination shots. For example, the DTaP shot or MMR shot each contain three different vaccines. These have undergone standard safety testing for purity of the individual components, but have not been tested in the combined form in which they are generally administered. There may be chemical reactions that occur between these components, but no study has been done to determine this or if they are even safe. With the potential for causing harm to an otherwise healthy person, I question why these are allowed on the market. After working for a pharmaceutical company, I understand more about the business behind it and the push to maximize profits by getting the government to support mandatory vaccinations. And I also understand more about the LACK of safety inspection. If you would like to hear more about this I will gladly share my personal experience working as a chemist for Pharmacia/Pfizer.

Another factor to consider with vaccines is the method of introduction into the body's systems. When exposed to a virus, it is generally through the air (sneezes, coughs, etc). We would not naturally encounter these viruses injected into our bloodstream. The type of immunity that is developed through natural exposure is different than immunity through injection. Natural exposure confers lifelong immunity, while studies have shown that the efficacy of vaccines can wear off in several years (generally wearing off in the late teens to twenties).

So much more can be said, but I strongly urge you to research for yourself. Be solid in your knowledge so that you can feel secure in your decisions for your family.

As far as schools and such, each state has its own allowed exemptions. Usually there is a simple form to fill out if you choose not to vaccinate. Many schools will tell you that your children can not attend (I have seen this in my community), but they are mis-informed. I live in Michigan where exemptions are allowed for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons. Here is a link to the cdc site, this is the 2005-2006 requirements and allowable exemptions by state, I was not able to open a more current link, but I'm sure there is one: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/laws/downloads/izlaws...

Best wishes to your family, may you feel confident in your decisions.

In health,
jc

The first thing you have to do is EDUCATE yourself. Do not believe anything ANYONE tells you based on THEIR observations. I do not vaccinate my children, it's a long story I'd be more than happy to share with you should be intersted, just contact me. Read about what you're vaccinating against and learn about those diseases'. For example, read about tetnus and then ask yourself if there is really a suffecient risk of your child contracting that disease. Read about the immune system and how it works then ask yourself how vaccines either promote healthy immune response or how they deter the immune system from working. There are a lot of options, you can choose to remain completely unvaccinated, you can demand that they are given when the child is older, you can demand they all be given seperately ect.. YOU are in charge not the dr's and not anyone else. These are YOUR children and you'll have to care for them if there is a 'fallout' from your decision. You CANNOT be excluded from school, you just have to go to the office and ask for a waiver or go to http://www.momvaccines.org/ and get one off that site. As for doctors who won't except you cause you don't vaccinate, while they are out there they aren't necessarily that prevelant. Mine see's us and I know of another dr that doesn't vaccinate at all as far as I understand. Feel free to contact me for more information if you'd like.

Hi,

In Michigan, the law states (MCLA § ###-###-####, entitled "exemptions"): A child is exempt from this part if a parent, guardian or person in loco parentis of a child presents a written statement to the administrator of the child's school or operator of the group program to the effect that the requirements of this part cannot be met because of religious convictions or other objections to immunizations.

As long as the law remains intact, your child may attend school in Michigan with all, some, or no vaccinations.

Go to this website for a waiver and more info:

http://www.momvaccines.org/html/vaccine_waiver.html

You do not have to sign the waiver from the state of Michigan. The above link is a legal document. I have used it for my son's school

Also, get The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. It is neither for or against vaccine, he simply states the facts about each vaccine and does provide a schedule for vaccines. It is an excellent resource.

No matter what you decide, you'll feel guilty. Your best defense is to educate yourself on the pros and cons and then make the decision. Best of luck.

B.

I personally do not believe that vaccinations should be mandatory, but that the body should be allowed to develop naturally and heal itself without interference. A good contact for information that includes both sides of the controversy is Mary Tocco with Michigan Opposing Mandatory Vaccines (M.O.M). M.O.M is a non-profit organization that was developed to protect a parent’s right to make the choice for their and their children’s healthcare. Their website is www.momvaccine.org.
You may also contact me at Khalil Family Chiropractic Wellness and Intervention, www.khalilwellness.com. Please feel free to stop by the office as we have a plethora of information about vaccinations that you can have a copy, including Michigan’s Law on Vaccinations and the Exemption forms needed for schools. We are in partnership with M.O.M and feel free to contact them about our office. In our office, we support whatever choice our moms and dads make and help to support the children’s immune systems by removing interference in the nervous system thru chiropractic adjustments.
Chiropractors are not neck and back pain doctors, we are nervous system doctors. Our bodies are self healing and self organizing. The central nervous system (our brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that branch out of the spinal cord and go to the cells, tissues, and organs in our bodies) control how our bodies heal and organize itself. If there is any interference in the communication of our nervous system with the body, then there will either be increased activity or decreased activity, either way the body is no longer functioning at its highest potential. Chiropractors call this interference a subluxation (sub-lux-a-tion). This interference/subluxation is caused by three major life stresses- Physical stress (trauma, repetitive motions, poor posture); Biochemical stress (preservatives in food, drugs- prescription, alcohol, smoking); and Mental or Emotional stress.
For more information about Chiropractic and vaccinations please come by or call. Our office is located in Eastpointe, MI at 22790 Kelly Rd. just north of 9 mile, and our number is ###-###-####.

B. Mason, D.C.

E.,
I can tell you the story of my perfectly healthy nephew who had his mmr and has been brain dead and severly epileptic eversince, but really
the best advice I can give you is to tell you to educate yourself about the issue don't just do what a doctor or nurse tells you you should do. They are not thinking for themselves..they are telling you what they were trained to tell you. There is a ton of info on-line a good website is thinktwice.org Only you can decide if immunizations are right for your family.

Yes! Talk to your doctor, I did. They are starting to see increased deaths from some diseases that have pretty much been gone b/c kids are not getting immunized. The risks from immunization are actully really small. Plus, if you don't immunize and your child gets, for example chicken pox in their 30s or 40s it can be life theatening.

Most daycares won't allow unvaccinated children. Schools require a religious or other explanation for not vaccinating.

Good luck with your decision.

I have three children. One of them regressed into autism. I believe with all my being that the vaccines triggered an immune response that is autism. The "research" that is being presented in the media is slanted, and I recommend you do some research and educate yourself before you immunize. The docs don't give you the RISK information, and with our vaccinations, we risked our child's neurological functioning, emotions, mind; our financial situation (insurance doesn't pay much, if any, for autism and schools do very little in terms of what is actually needed); etc. Start with a book by David Kirby called "Evidence of Harm," and another by Stephanie Cave MD, called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Your Childrens Vaccinations" and make some educated decisions.

It's great that you are thinking about this, so many moms don't ever question. Here are some resources that were helpful to me when I decided to discontinue vaccinating my children.

Books:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Childrens Vaccines
Just a Little Prick by Hillary Butler
Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide by Aviva Jill Romm
The Vaccine Book. Dr. Sears

Websites:
http://www.thinktwice.com/
http://www.vaccineinfo.net/
http://www.nmaseminars.com/
http://www.vaccinetruth.org/index.htm
http://home.san.rr.com/via/
http://www.vaccines.bizland.com/
http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

There is a fantastic new book called the vaccine book by Sears out there. It gives information about each vaccine and gives reasons to choose vaccination and reasons to avoid vaccination. It is really well researched and written. Personally we have chosen to avoid vaccination. We feel it is a very personal decision and one to be researched really well. We eat only whole foods and nursed both of our children until they were 2 or older and do not use any day care. Once our children are older we will do a blood test to see if they are immune (by natural means) to things like rubella and chicken pox and then possibly vaccinate if they are not-- since rubella and chicken pox can pose problems for adults and unborn children. Or if we start travelling we will re research important vaccines.

E.,
The best non bias book I have found is Vaccinations A Thoughtful Parent's Guide by Aviva Jill Romm. It is very informative and helped me make my decision not to vaccinate. I hope you can find good information and are able to make the best choice for your family.

Well, you sure got a lot of info there from mulitple people on both sides of the issue. I would encourage you to do the research, esp. looking into Mary Tocco. She is superb resource. I also wanted to agree with the mom who knew of or had an autistic child due to vaccinations. Despite what drs may say, I have worked in a variety of special ed classrooms with mainly autistic children. The only common dominator that the boys (almost always all boys, a girl or two i but mainly boys) had was that they were all vaccinated. So I would strongly urge you NOT to vaccinate your son. They say they've taken the mercury out of the vaccinations but they added a substitute that has a mercury derivative that isn't any better. So I agree, don't vaccinate but most importantly do the research and agree with your husband on what's best for your children.

One of my good friend's son got autism from the mercury in a vaccination, and she has the test results to prove it. So seeing it happen first hand, I will not be vaccinating my children, at least not until they are older and their brains are more developed. But it all depends on how well your child will respond to the mercury and perservatives, some respond well and will be fine but there are the rare few that it affects the brain and you end up with autism. But she does tell me that there are other options for you as well. There are available single dose vials that the hospitals carry that you have to specifically ask for that hasn't been used for multiple other children, so you won't be getting the bottom of the vial, basically with all the bad stuff in it. Also there is a company that sells the vaccines without all the preservatives in it but it is expensive and may not be covered by your insurance, but it is much more safer if you are worried about them not being vaccinated. I can't remember the company so if anyone want's to know I can ask her and let you know, just send me a message. But I just do have to say that if your child does get diagnosed with autism later there is hope, my friend has done a lot of research and her son is starting to make an improvement but it is a lot of hard work and hard times. Jenny McCarthy was on Oprah awhile back and her child had autism from a vaccine, she wrote a book about it and all her struggles. That may be something you might want to read, it is not a Doctor type book but it may help in your decision. Hope that helps.

you should make an informed decision as to what you think is best for your family. There is a ton of websites. check out www.icpa4kids.com, mary tocco, 909shot, as well as DAN defeat autism now, and the many others listed on your responses.

Hi E.,
I STRONGLY believe that your children are at much greater risk of serious illness if they are not immunized. The serious side effects that some suffer after an immunization are very rare. Wouldn't it be awful if one of your children got ill (maybe even died) because you didn't offer a simple shot that can save a life? Also, keep in mind that as more and more people choose not to immunize, diseases that were once eradicated are coming back and causing serous illnesses in some communities(whooping cough for example).I believe that parents who choose not to immunize are putting other peoples children at risk as well.
Please talk to your child's doc. He/She can supply you with all kinds of research and help you to make an educated decision.
Thanks,
C.

I too, as many others, have struggled with this. Luckily I have a sister with two much older children that opened my eyes to this. As stated earlier I urge you to read, "What Your Doctor My Not Tell You About Childrens Vaccinations". Please understand that many things they are trying to vaccinate our children against, i.e., polio has almost been completely irradicated. When/If you talk to your doctor try to understand where he/she is getting their information from. The reason I say this is because the pediatrician we see goes to many conferences on this issue and considers himself somewhat of an expert - he is pro immunizations - but the sponsors of the conferences are drug companies, most spefically Merck. You draw your own conclusion. Not to mention that the Hep B vaccine was outlawed in France (I've also heard that they outlawed MMR as well??).
Don't get me wrong I do get my daughter vaccinated but at the scheduled reccommended through the book I referenced. And she has only been sick once for one day and has never run a fever.
When she does get a shot I make sure she is not sick or I postpone it until she's better and I check the expiration date on all the viles. My doctors office may think I'm somewhat of a pain - they never acted this way - but I could care less, this is my baby.
I hope this helps. Thanks for letting me ramble....

Hi E.,

I have a book I follow..called what doctors may not tell you about childhood vaccinations...I followed it with my first child and now doing it with my second..it's a great compromise...the author gives a proposed schedule of vaccinations in the back of the book in which I follow..it allows the child to get all vaccinations recommended but just spaces them out a bit..so we are going to the ped literally once a month...she gets one at a time versus 5 or so!!! that is the problem, their system can't handle it..the other issue is that there was thimerosal in the vaccines..I researched this and found a website that lists all the rec vaccines and how much thimersol is in them, so when I go to the ped for her vacc, I ask which one she is getting and make sure that it has NO thimerosal in it according to my list...I have done ALOT of research on this..if you want, let me know if you want more info...or to talk more...you can email me at ____@____.com... hope this helps!!!
J.

Hi E., I know this is a contraversial subject. It is best to get all the information you can and then make an informed decision. You are your child best alli and you are the one responsible for the choice so don't be bullied by either side. Look close and choose. One of the members of MOM (they want people to have the chose to choose or not) has a DVD out that you can watch on Dr. Mercola's web sit. Here name is Mary Tocco. She give the titles aof lots of books as well as studies and doctors involved in getting the whole truth about the statistics involved. Have fun researching. It is worth it to know the details.

E.
I am a 58 year old mother of 5. I strongly endorse immunizations because as a five year old I had a severe case of the red measles and my back stopped developing. I have had several back fusions beginning in my teen years. The measles shot wasn't available when I was small and I have suffered for it.

I struggled with the same thing. I was not going to immunize but I have decided to. I did educate myself on it alot before I did it, and, I didn't start until my daughter was 6 months, so she is behind. Most shots, especially the first couple rounds do not have mercury in them anymore. You can ask your doctor what drug company they use and if there is any mercury in them or not. I also realized that I would rather give her this one shot to help her than have her get very sick and inject her with a ton of things to get her better. My daughter is fine. I was nervous but I am feeling good about my decision now. There is no evidence of children becoming autistic from shots. We can be exposed to cleaning agents during our pregnancy that can have effects on our children down the road, and, autism is very hard to diagnose in small infants. A child can be born autistic but will not show signs for some time.
Everyone has their own opinion, you just need to do what is right for you. Really talk to your doctor. Of course, I know they are "pro" vaccines but tell him/her your concerns and ask for more information about the shots they administer.
Best of Luck!

Montel Williams had Kenneth Bock on his program one day. He talked about what childhood shots do to and have done to children. Please read the book "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics Autism, ADHD, Asthma & Allergies." It really opened my eyes and made me wonder if the childhood shots I gave my children were the cause of there 4 A's. It even gives you a schedule to follow if you decide to give the shot. It is a different schedule than the doctors use, but for a good reason. Whatever you do, don't give your child a flu shot. Flu shots still contain mercury.
It is your decision. Please read this book first. It really has opened my eyes to what our government tries to enforce on us. Then they won't take responsibility for there actions.
You can purchase the book on Amazon for $17.13 or purchase it used for less.
C. Spencer

I struggled with this decision myself with my son. In the end, you have to decide what is best for your family. There is all sorts of evidence out there that supports immunizations, while there is other evidence that says having immunizations can "possibly" cause other problems. I have found that though there are studies, there is really nothing concrete that says the shots alone cause autisim or any other problems. However, this is what I personally have found. Others may not agree. Did you have your daughter vaccinated? Anyways...I feel strongly that the decision is up to you, while many people will try to persuade you one way or another, you are the one who knows what is best for your kids. Sorry I wasn't much help...but go with your gut! Good Luck :)

P.S. There is a TON of research online if you need more info!

There's a lot of info already posted in response, so I'll just add my personal experience. My pediatrician did a great presentation on vaccines and helped us decide. I had read a lot beforehand and was still up in the air. We decided to vaccinate with the DTAP and the HiB. Those were the two the doctor advised were diseases the kids were possibly at risk for. We do them one at a time, on a delayed schedule, and my doctor assures me there's no mercury. I give them a dose of Motrin before we go and we have not had any reactions. Once I forgot the Motrin and gave it after and my son was very feverish and his leg was in a lot of pain all night long. So, I don't forget that one anymore. Good luck, and whatever you choose to do will be right for you.

Oops, forgot to add that when my daughter started public nursery school, I used the waiver from that website and had absolutely NO problems at all. They didn't even make any comment when I handed it in.

Hi E.. I know alot of people of your generation are not having their children immunized. I am 58 years old and when I was a child we didn't have the polio vaccine, whooping cough, measles vaccines. I had friends in grade school with polio, my aunt, who is now 85 has been crippled from polio all but 9 years of her life. children died from whooping cough and babies were born with birth defects from measles. These diseases are not gone. They are simply controled because of immunizations. You have no idea of the horror of these illnesses. I remember we couldn't go to the beach as children because that is one way of contracting polio. As children, we would collect dimes for the March of Dimes to combat polio. I can tell you I still remember clearly standing in line at my grade school to suck on a sugar cube with the polio vaccine on it. It was a miracle. Be careful and study all you can to do the best for your children, but do take my experience into consideration and God Bless.

I would go back a little bit and check out the responses to other people who have asked this question. And I would recommend the book Vaccinations: a thoughtful parents guide by Jill Avita Romm. The important thing is that you ARE questioning and doing your own research instead of blindly following the norm. My daughter is 20 months and not immunized.

Hello E..
Please check out www.NatureNews.com and www.healthfreedomUSA.org.

I encourage everyone to register for their e-Newsletter.
Get the real truth of the matter......

Research testimonials on alternative healing.
www.oil-testimonials.com/7330

MrsB
http://mrsb.younglivingworld.com
Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Oh my you really will get a great heap of requests on this I am sure. I think its wonderful that you are taking the time to check into this as well as getting a Physicians advice. I myself vaccinated my children for their age birth through 4 years but then later learned many things that I had never known when I started working on a thesis paper for my degree. I have since turned down certain vaccines for them and accepted others depending on what I found for each one.

The best advice I can give you is do your research become very educated on this and use many different sources. Check your local library, online medical journals Physicians Chiropractors (if you use them.) If you find a fact that is disturbing to you check it out with your physician. Remember when checking things online to be careful of the source and the date of the information.

I know a few parents who do not vaccinate either and their children have been very blessed and healthy. When it comes down to it I believe it is up to you. I myself research each vaccine that my kids are do for and decide if it is a yes or no. They have gotten some since then and others they have not gotten. Please if you choose to not give them make sure you do reasearch and talk to a physician but do not let them guilt you into something you do not agree with or do not let anyone talk you out of giving them if you want them to have them. Good luck to you. V.

My personal experience: my son had all vaccines, never had side effects from the shots and NEVER had an ear infection (one of the most common ailments of children).

I shall also note that we had a problem with a Mumps outbreak (really about six kids) in our school district in the fall - those children who had not had their vaccines were not allowed to attend school for 21 days.

It is your choice. Just get informed with the facts and you'll make the right decision for your family. Good luck!

E.,

As a parent who wants to make sure that her child is healthy, this is a tough decision. When I was pregnant with my first, I did a little research on vaccines and was terrified. I didn't know what to do, I almost felt as though I were trying to determine which would be the lesser of the "two evils".

I started my son's vaccines and he was sick with something after every one. It didn't hit me that they were connected. After his six month shots, I decided to hold off on his vaccines until I had done more research. I met a woman who has a son with autism. She told me his story, about how he was developing normally, talking, potty training, the whole nine yards, until he had the MMR. She said within three days, her son could no longer speak. That scared me enough.

I had another son and found a doctor who not only does not recommend vaccines, but she has a ton of information about them for her patients. After talking to her, I become firm in my resolve to not vaccinate.

My first son, the one who did get some of the vaccines, is a very sick boy. He has allergies up the wazoo, asthma, and bowel issues. He gets sick quite a bit and our doctor believes that all of his issues are from his vaccines. My second son, the one who didn't get any, is extremely healthy! No allergies. No asthma. No bowel issues. Hardly ever sick, although, he did get chicken pox, but because his immune system is so strong, his case wasn't bad at all, the most traumatic part of it was when his older brother told him that he was going to turn into a chicken!

Do your research and make the right decision for your family. Just remember, if you have any doubts about vaccines, wait until you are sure. You can't undo them after they are done.

S.

My stance on this subject is this: All these people are choosing to NOT have their kids immunized. The more people who are not immunized, the greater the need for them to be immunized in the first place since it opens people back up to having the diseases in the first place. I think it's irresponsible to depend on other kids being immunized and not having a disease so that your kid doesn't need them. Sure, they are rare now but who's to say that someone from another country or someone on vacation won't bring them back at any time and all these non-immunized people will be exposed. It'll be too late then. The only reason I see to not have your kids immunized is if they have problems with the shots or for religious reasons. If you are worried, try doing a delayed schedule and research each individual shot. Get one or two shots at a time instead of 3-5 at once.

It's really personal choice I guess, but again, I think it's irresponsible to assume that your covered by OTHER peoples immunizations.

Dear E.

Didn't you immunise the 2 1/2 with requirements? Please do it. It is for their good. If the other kids in school are immunised and they are not then they are going to be sick(according to science). Plus why repent later. This world is becoming so close unless they can fight the diesease they can be sick. Some countries don't allow entry without immunisations also.

Regards Mrs Sengupta

I am a new mommy. My son is 9 weeks old. We have decided to delay vaccinating until after his third birthday. I have read that the majority of brain development has occurred by age 3. Then we will only do those we feel he is at risk for like Hep B. I did some simple research online about cases of diseases in Kent county in 2007 and found that many of the things they aggressively vaccinate for are not active in MI or even the US. I am not a medical professional, but feel like my infant is too young to introduce anything in his system. Trust your instincts.

E.-I agree you will definately get a mix of both those who vacinate and those who don't and you ultimately need to decide what you want based on what research that you believe. I am an RN and I chose to vacinate both of my children after doing research. I know their is much controvercy regarding the MMR vaccine and it's possible link to Autism and what my doctor offers is to wait until after the child is 2yrs old and talking to give the child the MMR so that you can see for yourself that the 2 are not linked. The problem with all of the people not vacinating their children is a lot of the diseases that were a thing of the past, are now coming back because so many are not getting vacinated. The proof of this is the comeback of Whooping Cough, I work at Royal Oak Beaumont and this past year there were 6 confirmed cases of whooping cough in children and that is a disease that hasn't been around in years so it makes me think what else is going to show up. I personally belive in vaccinations but I do agree that our kids get too many at one time and they should be spaced out more but it's really a personal opinion so I hope that this helps. Also I recommend asking your doctor for some reputable research studies defending both sides so that you can read and decide for yourself. Best of luck!

That is a hard thing to decide. I do not get Zach shots but both my girls got them like clock work. He did get them when my daughter had him but has not had any in the last year and a half. I strongly believe there is a connection to shots and Autism however I do think it is more then the shots. We have a strong family history of Autism and Asberger (high functioning autism) in my family. 10 boys with in 2 generations including a set of twins. They range from 60 years old to 5. So I believe it is hereditary. We have been told that the boys in our family have higher then normal mercury levels. So the shots that contain mercury can contribute. Some of the boys showed signs as soon as birth. My bother has Asberger 36 years old and my mom says she knew the day he was born something was wrong so shots played no part in him. The reason I will not get them is due to my little cousin who is 5 now, Cameron . Cameron was your typical little 2 1/2 year old he talked, slept, eat on his own made eye contact loved everyone was close to being potty trained was a pretty smart kid. My cousin took him in for his well baby shots and check up. In less then two weeks he stopped talking, sleeping back to diapers, does not interactive with anyone- a little with his mom. No eye contact ect. He was diagnosed with Autism within the year of shots. He had NO signs of Autism before this. That was all it took for me to say no way. My family doctor agrees with me. She does think shots are very important and will admit that she pushes them but wont to us because of Cameron and our family history. She has told me that they tell you mercury is not in them any more nor is famarasul (not sure how to spell it or what the correct saying is) however there is still small amounts. She said that the amounts are so small that they do not have to list them as ingredients. Well I am not taking that chance. As far as schools Michigan is one of the states where you do not have to have them. There is a form you can sign from the state and schools can not refuse your children. I will get Zach shots when he is older but not now. I think that is a very personal decision and would probably feel different if it was not for our family history. My feeling is Autism is a life long disability and I would not wish what my bother has to deal with every day on anyone. Chicken pox, flu, mmr they can be treated and he can still live a normal life if he ever even gets them Autism has no cure just a lonely life trapped inside your own little world. But again that is not the right decision for everyone. If you would like more info on schools and shots I know my cousin knows of some of the websites. I can try and get them. One more thing Zach is very healthy he had rsv when he was 7 months old and that was it no flu cold or viruses just doesn’t eat well (knock on wood that it stays that way). We have all been sick and he just doesn’t get it. Good luck not an easy decision.

It is a very personal choice. I did all of my homework and chose to only give my kids the DTP. It was the only one that had benefits outweighing the troubles. I found that some don't build an immunity at all. I could not stand the idea of pumping things into a newborn. From there, it didn't make sense to start. I breast fed for a year and my daughter was never sick, not once. When we ended that she got her first cold. My nephews (whom have both been immunized, flu shots the whole nine!) Are ALWAYS sick! Who knows. You should do what makes you comfortable. And about the whole not letting your kids into school, I have heard this too. A little more digging revealed that it is encouraged, but they cannot turn you away. You may be required to sign a waver, but that is it. Good luck to you and your little ones!

It is obviously a personal choice every mother has to make. 8 years ago when I had my 1st daughter you weren't hearing as much of the negative talk about vaccines. So i gave them all to her, even the extra ones (prevnar the pneumococcal vaccine was new at the time). We luckily never had any side effects from any of them. However when my second was born 6 months ago I was truly concerned about all the stuff I had heard about vaccines potentially causing Autism. I talked to my pediatrician about my concerns and she had made a very valid point... Most of these vaccines are the same ones we got as children and Autism has only just begun to make an outbreak. If it were the vaccines we would have seen it 25 years ago. I did with my second child have a problem with the DTaP vaccine. The pertussis (whooping cough) part of the vaccine caused her to scream in what I believed to be pain for 7 hours nothing I did consoled her. So I talked to my sister who is a pediatric nurse she explained this side effect happens in 1 in 1000 children and that your doctor may recommend not giving it anymore due to the side effect. So when I talked to my Ped. She did say that we could for go this vaccine in the future but that we have been seeing an outbreak of Whooping cough and if a few hours of crying was what I had to deal with it was worth the risk to give it to her because it would be nothing compared to what happened to her if she got whooping cough. I also know that my oldest daughters school had an "outbreak" of measles last year and any child who hadn't been vaccinated was asked to leave the school for 3 weeks until they knew it was gone even if they didn't have it. The school can't deny your entry if you don't vaccinate you just have to sign waver forms saying if something comes up even chicken pox your child will be asked to leave. My recommendation is if you have a pediatrician you trust talk to them about you concerns they can be very informative and answer any questions and concerns you may have. Thanks.

It is a scarry subject....but are they really helping...Polio used to be huge in communities, vaccines have eliminated that with the exception in the poor countries...but you don't see or hear many, if any cases, of all of the diseases that you get vaccinated for. Yes it's controversial in regards to Autism, but it has not been actually proven that there is a link. That is the main one I wonder about, but the others have done so much good in this country!

Try this:

http://www.babycenter.com/0_immunizations-what-you-need-t...

Why are so many immunizations recommended for babies?
No parent likes to see her baby getting shots or medicine. But immunizations are designed to provide protection against serious diseases and many people consider them the most important part of well-baby checkups. Some of those diseases (such as polio and diphtheria) were much more common a hundred years ago, but are rarely seen now in the United States, thanks to immunizations. How do immunizations work?
Immunizations are vaccines made of either weakened or "killed" versions of the bacteria or virus that causes a particular disease. When these altered viruses and bacteria are injected into the body (or, in the case of the rotavirus vaccine, taken orally), the immune system mounts an attack that stimulates the body's production of antibodies.

Once produced, these antibodies remain active in the body and will be ready if your child is ever exposed to the real disease. For example, if whooping cough broke out in your area, your baby would be much less likely to contract the disease than one who wasn't immunized. Which immunizations are recommended and when are they given??
These immunizations are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

DTaP, to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 15 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old
• A booster shot at 11 or 12 years of age

Hepatitis A, to protect against hepatitis A, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis.
• Between 12 and 23 months, two shots at least six months apart

Hepatitis B (HBV), to protect against hepatitis B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:
• At birth
• Between 1 and 2 months
• Between 6 and 18 months.

Hib, to protect against Haemophilus influenza type B, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (If your child receives either the PedvaxHIB or ComVax vaccine at 2 and 4 months, he won't need the 6-month shot.)
• Between 12 and 15 months

HPV, to protect against human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of cervical cancer.
• Three doses between 11 and 12 years (girls only)

Influenza (the flu shot), to protect against influenza (the "flu").
• Age 6 months and up, every year in the fall or early winter

Meningococcal, to protect against meningococcal disease. Before the vaccine came along, meningococcal disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children in the United States.
• Between 11 and 12 years

MMR, to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles).
• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old — although the second dose can be given at any time as long as it's at least 28 days after the first.

Pneumococcal (PCV), to protect against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections.
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 12 and 15 months

Polio (IPV), to protect against polio.
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• Between 6 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old

Rotavirus, to protect against rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. This vaccine is given orally, not as an injection.
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months

Varicella, to protect against chicken pox.
• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years.

For an easy way to track your baby's vaccines, try our handy Immunization Scheduler.

I am stuggling with this question as well.. my son has been immunized though his first birthday.. he is now coming up on 2... My husband and I, AFTER extreme research, to pick the vaccines that I feel best suites my child. Vaccines should be based on a case by case basis.. If you look into the history of vaccines, you will find that the same time that vaccines were introduced (polio) and the numbers started to decrease was the same time that communities started using sanitation systems that kept sewage out of our waters and kept our drinking waters clean.. ... you should really do the reasearch and follow your heart. But your decision should come from your heart not because you are being scared into it. I know how you feel.. You want to do the best for your child but you cant get a straigh answer anywhere... I can only tell you this... follow your MOMMY INSTINCT and you should be just fine. I am currently pregnant with a 2nd child and will again, make decisions based on my childs health and our communities current health status.

This is something you need to do some extensive research on, there are many, MANY articles that talk about the ingredients in vaccines and the effects on your body.

Here is a great site to start: www.909shot.com

Most of the information out there is very biased towards vaccines, but there are many out there that aren't afraid to tell the truth about how dangerous they are!

Personally, I would / will never vaccinate myself or my children, they are the healthiest kids among all of my family, they are never sick! My oldest is 5, and my youngest is 3 (he's never been on antibiotics!).

There are things you can do to help keep your immune system strong. Eat healthy food, take vitamins, cut down on caffine and sugars, exercise, etc.

Are you talking about a flu shot or your standard immunizations like measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella? If you are just talking about the flu shot it's a personal decision. However the flu has killed many, many children. If you are talking all immunizations I would absolutely advise you to have your children immunized. All of those disease are still out there. I work for Beaumont hospital and we see cases daily of Mumps Varicella and even Tetanus.
We won't even hire someone who is not immune to MMR and Varicella because of the risk it put our employees and their families in. Not only can your kids be suseptable to it but you and your husband can come in contact with it and not get the disease (because you have had the immunizations) BUT you can STILL give it to your kids. You feed them healthy foods when they are hungry, hold them when they are sick and want mommy and kiss their boo boos when they fall. How would you feel if you were responsible for giving them a potentially deadly disease that you were able to fight off BECAUSE your parents got you vaccinated. The disease does not always end in death which may be a good thing until they are 25 and want to have kids and find that they are sterile because of one of the diseases. They can produces high fevers that can leave your child deaf also.
I am sorry to sound so harsh but it is your children's health at stake. Do your research on the vaccines you doc tor wants to give. Call ahead of time and get the names of what immunizations they are due for and check them out. Schedule an extra appointment and really discuss them with your pediatrician.
Best of luck!

I did with mine, and they have had no problems. I do agree that maybe spacing them out further might be better than getting 5 at once. This was the first year our family got the flu shot and it was our first sick free winter! We will definately get them again next year! Good luck in your research and decision making.

This is a great question and unfortunately only you can make the decision. You will get all kinds of answers and opinions. They say that supposedly to try and not get 4 or 5 shots done at one time. Personally I immunized my kids but did not let them do like 4 or 5 at one time. Its a hard choice when it is your childs body but unfortunately we as Mothers can only do so much!

Don't take health care professionals word for it or any advice from those who just have an opinion.
Your kids lives, health and everything about them is affected by the shot decisions you make.
RESEARCH IT YOURSELF.

We did after our first three children.
The last 2 never had any of the poison put in them.

Look up the video about shots called "Shot in the Dark".
That and a video about crib death by a husband wife team of doctors of research did it for me.

My last 2 kids are 11 and 13 and have each only ever had to go to a doctor 1 time each in their lives.
I can give you the doctors names of the research if you email me. ____@____.com

The word immunization is bogus...kids that get shots still get the diseases they are getting shots for.
Alos in the last 6 months I have personally met 2 moms that have children who were totally normal until shots and now their sons are Autistic.

OH E. I agree you are about to get more contradicting advise then you probably can imagine. This is a hot button topic. Go to reputable sources for information. So much info out there can make you fearful, so you make no decision rather then the wrong one. Do seek info from your meducal professional. Also Spectrum Hospital has an Educational Department they have lots of good information without the drama to go along.
Good Luck and God Bless You

Two other posts on this!!

YES!YES!YES!

Not to be offensive, but doctors and scientists have made vaccinations for a reason and recommend them for a reason!
The immunizations are killed or modified live (nonvirulent=can't cause disease) components of viruses that allow the body to build antibodies toward that disease so if your child actually were to come in contact with the real thing, they would already have the antibodies to fight it off.

This is a really tough subject because it has not been proven yet that immunizations are not the cause of Autism. There are preservatives, thimerasol in particular, that are used now that contain mercury which is bad for anybody. I would definitely space them out so that your child isn't given so much at once and maybe wait on a few until they are a little older. My doctor is really good about working with us, so you may want to find one that is too. If you decide not to vaccinate at all, you have to find a doctor that will still see your child, and he/she will probably make you sign something stating that it was your choice not to vaccinate. Also, you will have to provide certain paperwork to the school that you choose to enroll your child/children in. Rules vary from state to state regarding your rights to vaccinate or not. Since you are a SAHM, the chances of your children getting really sick are slim since they are not in daycare.

yes, I am a registered nurse and the benefits far outweigh the risks. Immunizations are the reasons we don't have to worry about these deadly diseases anymore. I am also a mother to a beautiful baby girl that has received two sets of her immunizations because I want her to continue to stay healthy.

I think the risk from immunizations is worth it--the risks of not protecting your childs's health...........will they be lucky enough to miss all the diseases that they could have been immunized against? K. S.