My kids are being vaccinated, even though we are vaccinating both of them according to the Dr. Sears' alternative schedule (see below). I've done my research, I own Dr. Sears' The Vaccine Book (which is a completely unbiased look at vaccines, their ingredients, and the real facts about the diseases they are supposed to protect against), I've talked to other moms, I've talked to our pediatrician, and I decided to go forward with the inoculations. I didn't go into it blindly, and just accept what the Academy of Pediatrics told me I had to do. I went to Pookie's first well visit armed with my book and a list of reasons why I wanted to space out her shots (seriously, I did). I expected a fight from the doctor, an "oh, you're one of those moms" look, but he actually had no qualms about us using an alternative vax schedule. I was relieved, yet kind of bummed that I didn't get to present my argument, though.
Why did I go ahead with the vaccines if I don't feel 100% comfortable with it?
First and foremost, fear. I would not be able to live with myself if they contracted one of these diseases (some are pretty serious), and wound up sick, or in the hospital, or worse. I couldn't take that chance. I couldn't allow my kids out into the world unprotected relying on others' vaccinations to protect them. I honestly would have felt like I was being an irresponsible parent (not saying that people who do not vax are irresponsible, I'm just saying how I would have felt about myself). Whooping cough (Pertussis), is a serious illness in an infant, and its making a comeback due to people not vaccinating. Pertussis can kill (mainly infants), and it's out there, and people are catching it at a higher rate then has been seen in many years. Read about Pertussis and not getting vaxed here.
Secondly, we're all aware of the potential link of the MMR vaccine to autism. Vaccines have even been potentially linked to SIDS, as well. The key word here is POTENTIALLY. I have yet to read an unbiased report that PROVES anything. I've come across a ton of studies from either vaccine makers, the CDC, or radical anti-vaccine groups claiming that vaccines kill, or that they don't. Give me an unbiased, 100% independent case study, then we'll talk. In any article I have ever read where a baby has died from a vaccine, there has been some other medical factor involved (prematurity, etc), and they can not absolutely determine the cause of death. Remember, I'm talking about SIDS here.
Third, the listed side-effects, I'm talking the severe, scary ones, are extremely rare. Everything you put in your body has a side effect. Do you give your child a multi-vitamin? I do. Did you know that multi-vitamins could cause a life-threatening allergic reaction in some people? Ever hear of someone dying from taking a vitamin? No, me either. Knowing that there is a one in a million chance that it could happen, I still give my daughter a vitamin in order to protect her health. I follow the same logic with vaccines.
Let's take a look at the current American Academy of Pediatrics' vaccine schedule....
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/
What bothers me most about this schedule is simply the amount of vaccines we're putting into our BABIES at one time. Look at the two month schedule...we're vaccinating against Hep B, Rotavirus, Diptheria, Tentus, Pertussis, Haemophilis influenzae type B, Pneumococcal disease and Polio. That's EIGHT diseases at one time. We have to ask ourselves if all this is necessary in a two-month old that probably weights anywhere from 10-12 pounds. Now, let's take a look at the shots required back when I was a baby....
A two-month old in 1983 was given two shots: one for polio, and a combo shot for diptheria, tetnus and pertussis.
THAT is what bothers me about vaccines, and that is were I feel less than confident about vaccinating. We're giving our babies too much at one time for their little bodies to process. Too many iffy ingredients at once. Too many aluminum-containing shots grouped together. Will these ingredients affect them later in life? I sure as hell hope not.
Dr. Sears' Alternative Vaccine Schedule (up to age 2)
- 2 months- DTaP, Rotavirus
- 3 months (these become "shot-only visits")- Pc, HIB
- 4 months- DTaP, Rotavirus
- 5 months- Pc, HIB
- 6 months- DTaP, Rotavirus
- 7 months- Pc, HIB
- 9 months- Polio, Flu*
- 12 months- Mumps, Polio
- 15 months- Pc, HIB
- 18 months- DTaP, Chickenpox
- Age 2- Rubella, Polio
*I would only get the flu shot for them if the nasal spray is available. The actual shot contains mercury. Pookie did get the nasal spray this year.
The entire theory behind this schedule is to isolate aluminum-containing shots, while providing the best protection possible. Most people don't know that our vaccines contain aluminium, and I didn't either until I started my neurotic research. Aluminium is used in vaccines to help them work better, but it can be toxic to infants in high doses. It can build up in the body and cause damage, especially in the brain. It is a known medical fact that high doses of aluminum are harmful, but no one has determined if the amounts in our vaccines are high enough to cause long-term damage. I didn't want to take that chance. I wanted the least amount of aluminum at a time, and a break in between aluminum-containing shots so their little bodies could process it
.
The set of shots at two months inoculates against eight diseases by giving 5 separate vaccines. (Some of these could be combined, depends on the brand your doctor uses) How much aluminum is in these shots combined? It could be up to 1225 micrograms (again depending on the brand). Now, here's the kicker....the FDA states that premature babies, or people with impaired kidney function, should not get any more than 10-25 micrograms injected at a time. Hmmmm. Obviously, the FDA feels that this amount is not a threat if your baby's kidneys work well, but I still won't take the risk.
The whole vaccine debate boils down to this- risk vs. benefit. As a parent, you have to decide if the risks are worth the benefits of being protected from these diseases. I believe they are. They are my children, and it's my choice to decide what is best for them. On the other hand, if you chose to go the alternative route and not vaccinate, you have to feel comfortable with the risks of NOT vaccinating.
According to my completely unscientific Facebook poll, I'm not alone in believing that vaccination is the way to go. I posed a question on Facebook to see how many people vaccinated vs. not vaccinated, and 17 out of the 18 that responded said they did chose to vaccinate their kids.
So, that's where I stand. I'm concerned about the aluminum in the vaccines, but I did the best I could to ensure the lowest exposure possible. What about you? Do you vaccinate your kids? Do you not vaccinate? Why?
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