Please, let's not make this a debate. :)
I am currently delaying all of my daughters vaccinations. The more research I have done the scarier the vaccinations are to me. Liliana is 1 1/2 and so far has only had her Hep B vaccine in the hospital (her ped came to me in the middle of the night (around 3 am) and had me sign the authorization form - I was so out of it and couldn't think it all through). I really regret that I didn't know more about vaccinations at the time and just believed what I had always been told.
My daughter's ped is really unsupportive of my decision to delay and is constantly pushing the vaccinations. I have debated starting at 2 years old (refused to even consider any prior to that) but I am still struggling with this. I am so scared that something might happen with the vaccines (I really don't think that they are safe). Liliana has also had medical issues her first year of life (that they couldn't diagnose) and she is finally at a point where she is relatively pain-free and thriving. I would never forgive myself if I did something to jeopardize that.
So I guess my question for those of you who delay/don't vaccinate is: How did you come by your decision? Anyone have any reading materials you recommend? Any personal knowledge you wish to share? For those of you with kids in daycare and/or school - how did you manage that? Are exemptions hard to come by in MA? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
We delayed all vaxes until my son was 9 months - did the Hib and Polio and after further research have decided to forgo all vaccinations. There are lots of good resources out there. Do all the research you can and don't let yourself be forced into anything. There are exemptions available for daycare and school. Good luck and follow your gut instinct.
I pretty much went along with the shots recommended, but started all later than recommended.
I felt strongly about having the Tetanus shot, because this is really serious especially for a kid. How often do they scrape a knee and get dirt into it afterward?
Anyway, I was able to delay the chicken pox vac. until after my son started preschool, but they needed it for the second year.
As far as I know, you can get an exemption for school, but it is an "all or none" exemption. When I looked into it, you couldn't pick and choose which of the vaccinations you want for your child.
I have two daughters. One had all vaccinations on time, and has been diagnosed w/autism. She is now 5 and while still on the spectrum, she is doing exceedingly well. She wasn't diagnosed until age 3, right after my second daughter received her first Hep B in the hospital. So....after many long talks, we decided to vaccinate again and go with what we do know, instead of what we don't. My second daughter is fine. She is so perfectly normal and has none of the things my first did. I don't know if the vaccines accelerated my older daughter's problems or not. But I do think the vaccines have been altered to remove what is speculated as harmful.
I am a nurse, my husband a doctor. You are brave, it is very scarey. You may do well with in-home childcare. Good luck.
Hi,
I did not give my daughter 3-4 vaccines each time, I did spread hers out as well. I felt 1 shot at a time was enough. What I did not give her until she was 3 1/2 was the MMR shot. I am a very strong beleiver that MMR is causing Autism. There is no need to put 3 vaccines in one shot. When this shot is available in 3 seperate shots.
Good Luck!!!
Hey L.,
We didn't totally delay vaccines, but we spaced them out. I would never let them give her more than one per visit and would bring my daughter back every month or so for another vaccine. I felt that the individual vaccines were maybe safe, but giving four at once was probably not, so that's how I justified it. Our ped seemed to be OK with this plan and it all worked out great. Good luck.
