Alternative Immunization Schedule

Here is a link that I once ran across. Not sure how helpful it is as I vaccinate my kids, but thought it would help in your research.
www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html

Hello! My daughter got her normal schedule at Birth, 2, and maybe 4 mo. appt. Then I decided to go to alternative vaccination schedule. I have her shot record, but did not write down the actual schedule that she is on in the future (although the doc and I did discuss and agree on it.) I will give you what I have so far, and will contact her pediatrician to get the actual schedule since it is good to have it anyways!

Hep B: Birth, 2mo. 6mo.
DTaP: 3mo., 5mo., 7mo.
Hib: 2mo., 5mo.
IPV: 2mo., 5mo.
PCV7: 2mo., 5mo., 6mo.
ROTA: 2mo., 5mo., 7mo.

I will let you know when I get the official from her DOC!
As it is set she will get 1 vaccine a month except the last two months before each birthday. She will recieve all vaccines. MMR in seperate doses.

wow - you're brave to ask this.....
So, my kids followed "normal" infant schedule for all except the DTaP. At 2 months, we did the polio, Hib, whatever. then, two weeks later I took them in for DT only. At 4 months we did polio, etc. And again, two weeks later we went in again, but this time did DTaP. I did this because DTaP is the most likely to cause issues and the pertussis part is the most likely cause. If we'd had any issues, we'd have been able to isolate which vaccine was causing the issue. And I actually read all the drug inserts that came w/the vaccines before I came up w/this schedule. If I were to have another baby today, I'd still do all the "normal" infant vaccines but I would definitely space them more than I did w/the first two, in part based on writings by Dr. Sears. All that said, you're putting your kids at grave risk not giving them DTaP. Tetanus (the disease, not the vaccine) kills 50% of people who contract it and it is abundant in the environment. My mom and uncle (at ages 2 and 10, respectively) had pertussis and have had life-long issues with their lungs. We forget that these diseases are serious and deadly because most of us have never seen them.
OK, now for the other two that are of high controversy....MMR and varicella.
I did MMR on 6 year old last year at his 5 yr visit. I will do MMR on my 4 yr old at her 5 yr well-child. I honestly think MMR does NOT have a link to autism, etc. BUT MMR are essentially non-issues in kids under 5 in 99.9% of cases. We vaccinate 2 year olds to protect adults (and oh, you should have heard my OB when he found out my 2 yr old did not have MMR and I was pregnant even though he'd given me a rubella shot after the 2 yr old's delivery!). So, I felt I wasn't risking my kids by waiting. But, again, these diseases can be horrible in older kids and adults, so they need their own protection, not "community" protection. Besides, I feel relying on other people vaccinating their kids but not doing your own is a coward's way out.
Varicella...chicken pox is not serious in 99.9% of kids under 12 who get it. Evidence indicates that routine boosters (like tetanus) will be needed for the varicella vaccine and evidence indicates varicella vaccine puts them at greater risk for shingles (ironic because it prevents shingles in those over 60). So, I'd like for my kids to get chicken pox. If they don't get it by adolesence, then they'll get the vaccine. I had chicken pox at 16 and it was awful! I also had two uncles hospitalized w/chicken pox because they got it as adults when their kids brought it home. So, the vaccine is worthwhile if your kids are older but I don't think its needed for younger kids and there are benefits to actually getting the chicken pox.
Lastly, I will put a plug in for the flu vaccine. I didn't really think about it much one way or the other for a long time and never got one. Then, we all got influenza when my kids were 18 mos and 3 1/2 yrs. Two emergency room visits (including an ambulance ride) and 10+ doctor visits in 2 weeks has made a firm believer in preventing the flu. Oh, and we didn't have really "bad" cases according to the doctor.
Sorry for the novel...I think that those who have a vendetta against vaccines actually have some very valid points underneath all the rhetoric and that the CDC and the docs aren't being as careful as they could w/our kids. However, the vaccines, for the most part, do an incredible job preventing some very awful diseases and we owe it to our kids to get them vaccinated. thus, I went my own path on schedules to minimize any risk pointed out by naysayers but still give my kids protection.

I recommend The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. He is a pediatrician who has developed a delayed vaccine schedule that makes a lot of sense. The link below is to his web site that describes the book. You can buy the book for $12 on Amazon...
Hope this helps!

www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/12_childhood_vaccines.asp

Hey Z.! Let me know what you find out, I am interested in an alternative vaccintion schedule as well! Maybe I will see you today at the BBQ!

Tracy

Your children if they are isolated are fine without vaccines yet, however your 4.5 year old is almost heading to school. I would please reconsider having her vaccinated as now there are measles, mumps and whooping cough coming back DUE to the lack of vaccinations or delayed. Do research from both sides for your children's sake. This 3 page article speaks volumes how it can effect a whole community not just your family if you choose not to vaccinate.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2265873&page=1

Z., Thanks for asking. I hope you get a lot of responses. I'm looking at doing this as well and need more information. Thanks!