Is anyone else questioning the vaccination debate?

Question

Up until recently I had no doubt that I was going to vaccinate my kids and they would both be okay. My husband is totally against vaccinations and didn't want either one of our kids to be immunized, but I did it anyway with my daughter. But now with this new stigma attached to immunizations I'm wondering if I'm the only mother out there debating whether I should or shouldn't. I definitely don't want to put my kids in positions where they could develop autism by being vaccinated, but I also don't want to take the chance of them getting sick because they weren't. My two year old was vaccinated and she is perfectly fine. I'm pregnant with my little boy and although I haven't had any problems with immunizations it's still in the back of my mind. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this??

Answer 1

I think about it on a daily basis.. my son is due for his 1yr shots in a few months, Im still doing my research into the subject to decide if the "benifits outweigh the risks"
I dont sway one way or the other at this point. and its honestly not about the autism debate to me, Im more worried about all the deaths I read about and drs just passing it off as SIDS (they babies died just days after getting their shots!)

All it takes is once. Your first vaccination may be fine, but whos to say your next child wont be the one!

Answer 2

Lots of great talk here! I got my pupps all their puppy shots and their 1 year old parvo booster, which was a four-way. For the rest of their lives - they will only get what vaccines are required by law, which is typically only rabies. We will do titers in 3 year just to see where they're at. The "3 year" vaccines are by and large actually good for at least 7 years. The "3 year" thing is a purely political compromise with the vet and pharmaceutical industries which push for annual vaccination. Vets push annual shots, knowing they are not needed, primarily to incent pet owners to bring their pets in for annual checkups. I don't use heartworm preventative in the months it isn't needed (no mosquitos). There is a website out there that has mapped the entire US into zones, telling you when you can skip heartworm preventative. I don't have the link handy but I'm sure it is Google-able. Add: I also no longer vaccinate my cats for rabies. They are indoor cats, old, and their kidneys are shot, so it would be riskier to pump another overdose of rabies vaccine into their already taxed metabolism.

Answer 3

You're not the only one, there are many who are against vaccinations. It's good to do research on these things. My son is special needs so he sees a lot of doctors. I've learned to research what they tell me, and I always have a list of questions available to ask when he has appointments. Same with vaccinations. I always asked questions and even asked for second opinions from his other doctors. My husband and I sat down and made a pro/con list after doing some research on Google Scholar. Whether you choose to vaccinate your baby or not is your decision, but you and your husband should do some research together and make your decision. Doctors are smart people, but they are not necessarily baby experts. Do what you feel is best for your child.

Answer 4

I have done tons of research over the past 12 years and am still not comffortable with unnatural "immunizations."

Here's a recent post i made: Well, we are indefinitely postponing vaccines. If you are going to vaccinate, I would suggest you start out by looking up all the diseases that you are considering vaxxing against, and the rate of infection in your community or anywhere you may be traveling, and then cross reference the data with the age at which the disease most commonly strikes compared to the age of your child, what the cures are -if any, and weigh these facts against the side effects of vaccines on your child's long-term immunity. Consider also the ingredients in the vaccines and whether putting those substances permanently into your child's body outweighs the risk and probability of catching the actual disease.

If and when you do vax, please insist on single shots, so that you can properly report any reaction. Also insist on reading and keeping the package inserts that come with the doses. So many parents do not kee this information and it is vital in case of a recall, or other problems that occur from batch to batch.

http://vaers.hhs.gov/

http://www.mothering.com/articles/growin...


http://thinktwice.com

Answer 5

thats a very good question, its very unlikely that your child would become ill and die due to a vaccination, but i don't believe in all of them either, i fact only a few are nesessary, the rest are just drug companies scaring you into giving them your money, plus shots are full of murcury, and other harmful chemicals which never leave your body, ever!
so you should only give your child shots for common serious illnesses, ad the flu IS NOT SERIOUS.
In fact, viruses HELP a child develope a proper immune systom, if you clean like a freak and vaccinate them against everything they will be quite unhealthy children indeed. Did you ever wonder why children are sick three times as more as adults, because you never get the same virus twice if you've beaten it. Its simple biology, if your body makes its own immunities they last for life most of the time, vaccines ware off because the are synthetic (fake but potentially useful) immunities.

Answer 6

First of all, the studies that linked vaccines to autism were later turned inside out. The researchers in the studies admitted to "fudging" the evidence... Check out this article on the study retraction: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/04/science/04AUTI.html?ex=1197781200&en=5b052ec9676a1aaf&ei=5070

Also, I have a friend who vaccinated his first child, who developed autism and because of that did not vaccinate child number 2 or 3. Child number 3 still developed autism. Scary stuff!

I would vaccinate though, there are some rough illnesses out there with horrible effects that are totally preventable and we should prevent them...

FYI: Almost all vaccines are thimerosol-free now (meaning they do not contain mercury). Flu vaccine is available thimerosol-free, you just have to ask for it or you will get the one that uses thimerosol as a preservative.

Answer 7

You really have to do the research for yourself. I am firmly against vaccination for my family. There are too many known toxins: mercury, lead, aluminum, formaldehyde, etc. I just do not think that I want any of that in my child. Especially for a virus or disease that is not life threatening. The flu vaccine is not necessary at all... what is wrong with gaining natural immunity through natural exposure, this way there is no mercury and formaldehyde. There are many books that you can read, that help explain the "other side" of vaccinations. I have heard of many doctors who do not vaccinate their own children. The vaccines are not tested for possible carcinogenic potential. Also children do not need them to go to school, there are exemption forms.
http://www.thinktwice.com/
http://www.nvic.org/state-site/state-exemptions.htm
http://www.vaclib.org/index.htm
http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/neurological_damage.htm
http://www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html
http://www.vaccines.bizland.com/links.htm
http://www.laleva.org/eng/2006/03/dont_vaccinate_before_you_educate.html
http://operator11.com/shows/4166/episodes/21311

Answer 8

I never questioned anything. My children are vaccinated because I want them to be safe from the illnesses that they prevent. They are now immune to certain diseases that can have serious complications.
A friend of mine didn't vaccinate her first, and the child became ill with the chicken pox. Sadly, the child did end up with the complications that chicken pox can bring on, and passed away. She now vaccinates her other child.

It's nice to know that my children aren't at risk when they are exposed to those who haven't been vaccinated. At the same time, my kids cannot give those kids the illnesses that immunizations prevent. I would surely feel horribly if my child gave another child the chicken pox and that child ended up with complications that led to death.

There is no reason to be totally against vaccinations. Keep your kids healthy. Your husband needs to be educated.

Funny how some say that the chicken pox isn't dangerous. Tell my friend that.

Answer 9

I would say just get vaccinations for things that are actually needed, kids don't need vaccinations for chicken pox... Also ask for the side effects of every shot your child gets vaccination or not, me and my dad learned that the hard way!! I got a allergy shot and soon after I got it a "Dent" formed in my hip and we then found out that it was a side effect from that shot that I will now have to live with unless I get plastic sugery and we also found out that the doctor was suppost to tell us the side effects but he didn't!! Also me and my sister both had chicken pox vaccinations when we were young and got chicken pox when we were older (11ish) and it was terrible, better to just get it when you are a baby you don't want to remember it like I do!! So before any doctor gives you child any shots, ask TONS of questions and find out if it is really needed or not!!

Answer 10

Nothing has been proved on this one yet. It is all hearsay. It is just a coincidence that the vaccinations come at the same time as most children tend to develop autism.
The risk of them catching measles, mumps or rubella is far worse and can be fatal.
All mine have been (or are in the process of being) vaccinated.