Vaccines - Sebastopol,CA

This is one of those hot topics, so you'll get a million responses. There are plenty of such discussions in the Mamasource archives. The studies have pretty much shown that vaccinations are NOT the cause of autism, but for some reason people keep wanting to think they are. I don't know why people would want to think something they did caused their child's autism. That would be a terrible burden to bear.

I think vaccines are good. People live much longer now than they did a century ago, due in large part to vaccines. There is an extremely small risk of adverse reactions to vaccines, but usually the benefit outweighs the risks.

Now everyone will tell you why not to vaccinate your child.

Note: I just had all of my children vaccinated against the killer meningitis, and now I can send them off to high school and college without worry.

L.,

i have actually been dealing with this same issue. the MMR is the real questionable vaccine when it comes to autism. it does not CAUSE autism, it can TRIGGER autsim. i have done SO MUCH research on this topic. we gave our son some vaccines: polio, the dtap, and the menengitis one. we chose to hold off on the MMR and the chicken pox, (he is 1 year old). if he does not contract ch pox as he gets older we will vaccinate him because it can be serious as an adult to get it. we may never give him the MMR. we also made our own schedule. instead of 4 shots at once we did 1 or 2 and just had to come in more often but that is well worth it to me. the scary thing is they give the same shot to a 200lb man as they do a 15lb infant. i am not against vaccines, i just think there needs to me a new schedule and they need to take weight and size into account. in 1983 there were 10shots recommended, we now have over 35 shots recommended before the age of 2. that is insane. you have to start to wonder what the motive is and is in the best interest of our children. are all 35 of those shots necessary?? it is hard being a parent and having to decide. talk to other moms, do your own research and go with your gut. my gut told me to vaccinate slowly and pick and choose which are most important before age 2 and which can wait until he is older. good luck to you :)

Tricky one,as you can see with lots of different view points.I recommend you read read read,and see what resonates with you. We vaccinated for polio(because i knew someone with polio )and also tetanus,but not for the rest. My children are strong and have had no problems. They had chicken pox and hardly complained!!I will be looking for someone with measles or mumps,esp before my son is 12.
P..

For my kids I felt the benefits COMPLETELY out weighed the risks. So I vaccinated my kids. None of them had any kind of complications what so ever.

From all the research I've done they haven't found a real link between autism and vaccinations.

In the end you'll have to decide what's best, but I'm always for preventing the nasty stuff.

Hi There,
I have three sons and only the first one is fully vaccinated. My oldest son has severe developmental delays, and although it hasn't been called Autism YET, it's very similer. I chose not to vaccinate my second son till after 2, and even then only some. My baby who is 14 months has no vaccines as of yet. Having a special needs son, I am too scared of the possible links. There is nothing worse then seeing your child who you love with all your heart slip deeper and deeper into a life of struggles and pain. I don't really believe any of the studies that show it is not linked, because most of the studies are done by the pharmacutical companies trying to DENY a link, but covering up who's really funding the studies. I read this article recently about a major goverment cover up of a study linking Autism to vaccines, and now I am even more untrusting. Check it out at http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0616-31.htm. Let me know if the link doesn't work. Good luck in your decision, I know it's a hard one.
Sincerely,
W. Sanders

I went the middle route.... Vaccinations, spread out (takes extra trips and tracking), had the nurse write out all lot # so I had records of all the materials given, and always make sure thimerisol was not a component. I skipped some that I felt we not necessary (chicken pox!) I read mothering as well and know the pressure is strong to keep our kids safe from vaccine damage (I believe there is a connection), but I also know that the diseases that can be prevented are devastating as well (have an old family friend who had polio... wheelchair bound with plenty of other issues). Look at it this way, at least we have choice. Only you can decide what you can live with. good luck!

Hi L.,
I too am curious and concerned about this issue, and haven't reached any resolve. So I guess my response won't help much, but I know that one way people are approaching vaccinations are by spacing them out instead of bombarding the child with everything at once. Best of luck to you in your decision. You're not alone.
M.

L.,

Vaccination is a really hard one- it has pros and cons. But you have to do what is best for your family.

I know someone personally who became severely mentally and physically handicapped after the DPT vaccine. It was directly related to it and unfortunately, she will never be the same.She has suffered tremendously with seizures and became stuck mentally. She will be required to have care the rest of her life. I also know tons of kids who have done just fine with the vaccines. I think the best thing is to weigh the pros and cons of vaccines and see what is right for your family. You can also just get some vaccines- you are the parent so just make sure that you have all the information before making your decision. But I wish you the best in your decision!

Molly