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My DH and I are expecting a baby this summer and vaccinations are a huge concern of ours. My DSS is severely autistic and we believe it is related to vaccinations.
We've been doing our homework because we really want to do what's right. Parents and grandparents of other autistic children we've met say don't trust any vaccination and my Dh is leaning that way.
I want to make an informed decision but, we're having trouble finding a knowledgable, sympathetic pediatrician. I've tried referrals from other parents but I'm not having much luck. Does anyone have experience or advise? Honestly I'm scared.
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My cousin had her first baby and was married when he was 16 they were both "all natural" all she had was a midwife whom was also anti vaccination. My cousin is now 21 with 3 beautiful healthy little girls and none of them are vacinated. I'm not sure if they're just seen by a midwife or if they're seen by anyone but I do know that the oldest is going to a public school so it hasn't affected anything.
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I have a brother who is probably autistic, but I doubt if it's from vaccinations. I have a son who is an Aspergers child, on the autism spectrum. I think in our case, it's from heredity, not vaccines. I have done research and don't think it's due to vaccines - yes, there are still risks from vaccines. There is no question there, and that is the larger issue. However, I will not turn them down. The risk of my child getting sick and dying from diseases they didn't get vaccinated for is there, and the ramifications are worse than any autism or other things. I actually kind of argued w/dd's doctor a few times this winter, not wanting certain vaccines when she had a cold, but his logic won out. I was strongly going to turn down the flu vaccine for her, but I'm glad I gave in. She ended up getting very sick, repeatedly, and it could easily have turned to pneumonia, as he had feared. I can't say I'm a vaccine advocate, but to me, it's the lesser of two evils. There is too much international travel, including from third world countries, carrying once almost extinct diseases back into our American population. Think Angelina Jolie (just one person and just one example) visiting third world areas, flying back, meeting w/ people in a large, compact population like LA or NYC, and unknowingly passing things on. It happens. Look into how Ebola got here. Different disease, but the carriage into America happened from remote caves in Africa.
Not vaccinating will also make it difficult when it comes time to enroll in daycares, preschools and schools. Summer camps and even vacation bible schools also need vaccine verification. If you choose not to vaccinate, be prepared for the hurdles.
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Desert Mom, I'm happy to see someone with experience with Autism speak up in favor of vaccinations. I am blessed that this had not been an issue with my children, but I feel strongly about having my children vaccinated. I too beleive that the benefits of vaccinations outweigh the risks.
I read alot about this while I was pregnant with my 1st child and found that almost all vaccines given to children today are thimersil (sp) free. The flu vaccine is also available with out the thimersil. From what I understnad, this is the source of mercury in vaccines, which is where the argument for vaccines causing Autsim comes from.
Just my opinion.
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Gavin my oldest was vaccinated for once maybe twice (I can't remember right now) and then I did some research on them. Dylan has never been vacinated.
The vaccination themselves aren't harmful, it's the additives they put in them to preserve them that cause the problems. You need to be very careful, because they can cause a lot of problems. Testing them is a great idea. Ask you Ped./Doc. to give half a dose to your child the first time, and carefully watch them for the next few days. A fever is NOT normal, no matter what they tell you. If it flaires up or knots up in anyway it is NOT normal either. And make sure they do not give the rest of the dose on the next visit. You don't need to make that up. Oh, and most of the shots are egg based. So if there is an allergy to egg or dairy then they will have a reaction.
Good luck with your decision. I know it's tough, and no matter what you do there are risks and conseguences. You just have to choose what you think is the best fit for you.
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Our family Dr. leaves the choice totally up to us! (he does not vax his kids) He does warn however that you need to be prepared to fight the public schools on the vaccination issues (in PA it's a big issue). We compromised and asked that our kids be vaccinated but only 1 vaccine at a time...never 2-3 at once. We also held off on MMR until our kids were older
(4 y.o-5y.o.) and did not do Hepatitis B since there is still Mercury in those vaccines. None of us get the flu shot either...if you want it our Dr. has to special order it.
It is hard to decide...especially when you realize that your child could die from being vaccinated but they could also die from not being vaccinated
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I am wary of vaccines but did do them, just at a less aggressive schedule. Never, ever give them to a sick child and space them out. I just bring the kids in for a vaccine only visit, so they aren't getting all the massive combo shots at once. I take issue with how much crap they are pumping into tiny babies. Many other counties to a better job of spacing out vaccines. Watch carefully for reactions. I don't do this, I trust my doctor, but it is recommend you ask to see the vaccines before it is drawn. I heard there are still lots of vaccines with thimerosal in doctor's offices and at least last year, the most flu vaccines had it. My doctor had to special order them for my kids. There is so much information online but it is all either biased one way or the other. It's hard to find sensible, middle ground information. It's all either do the shots or your kids could DIE or do them and your kids could DIE. There is something in the middle that works.
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I could never forgive myself if my kids got sick and were not vaccinated. I chose to trust the drs and the medical profession. I think it worked as all 7 of my kids were fine!
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I do believe that vaccinations are the best. And here's why--- Last fall, my dd was just 3 at the time got very sick and we didn't know what it was. We went to to the doctor several times before she was finally diagnosed with whooping cough. I will never forget that fall, it was one of the worst I have ever had. We were able to keep her out of the hospital but were quarantined to our home and immediate family for a solid three weeks. It was extremely miserable and very long.
Anyway, my peditrician said that if she had not had the pertussis vaccine, we would have lost her (she was that sick). I am so grateful for vaccinations and the fact that if your child does develop one of those sicknesses (usually from someone who has not been vaccinated) they will not get as sick. I do know that there are risks with the vaccines, but as far as I am concerned, the risks of not getting a child vaccinnated far outweigh the risks of getting the vaccinations.
I wouldn't skip on something so extremely important!!!!
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I'm very leary and skeptical when it comes to the medical profession and their dependence on drugs/vaccinations, so I questioned long and hard about vaccines for my children. Finally, I decided that I did not want them subjected to life-threatening illness/viruses without some form of weapons...vaccines. I had all 3 of mine vaccinated (except against chicken pox and the flu) and they are all brilliant, social, and happy.
It is a personal decision, but I think that when people stop getting their children vaccinated, they are opening them up to far worse things than autism. Small pox, thought to be erradicated in the early 70's is making a comeback because they stopped the vaccine. Now all those people who were never vaccinated will be at risk if there is ever a surge of the virus.