Vaccination: Researching the Issue

Vaccination can be a very touchy subject. While it is a generally widely accepted practice, it is becoming increasingly controversial in light of recent legal developments, different interpretations of safety data, and media coverage.

For the sake of our children, all parents have an obligation to be fully informed of everything that goes into their children's bodies. However, a simple internet search can produce so much conflicting information on the subject it can make a parent's head spin.

This sticky is dedicated to parents who wish to discuss the issue and exchange resources for research. Please be respectful of other people's views.

I'd like to start by sharing this information from the National Vaccine Information Center:
http://nvic.org/Issues/Intro_Message.htm

VACCINATION DECISIONS FOR PARENTS

Vaccination is a medical procedure which carries a risk of injury or death. As a parent, it is your responsibility to become educated about the benefits and risks of vaccines in order to make the most informed, responsible vaccination decisions.

1. Your doctor is required by law to provide you with vaccine benefit/risk information materials before your child is vaccinated. Consumer groups, including the National Vaccine Information Center, worked with government health agencies to develop parent information booklets on each mandated vaccine. Ask your doctor for the booklet and take time to read it before your child is vaccinated. You may also ask your doctor to show you the information insert provided by the drug company which manufactured the vaccine(s) your child is scheduled to receive.

2. Your doctor is required by law to keep a permanent record of all vaccinations given, including the vaccine manufacturer's name and lot number. Ask for a copy of the doctor's record on vaccinations given to your child to keep for your records.

3. Your doctor is required by law to report all adverse events, including injuries and deaths which occur within 30 days after vaccination to federal health authorities. If your doctor refuses to report a reaction following vaccination, you have the right to report to the government yourself.

4. If your child is left permanently brain damaged or dies as a result of a vaccine reaction, you may be entitled to benefits under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. http://www.hrsa.gov/Vaccinecompensation/

DO:
Become educated about childhood diseases and vaccines. You have the ultimate responsibility for your child's health and well-being and you, not your doctor or state or federal health officials, will live with, and be responsible for the consequences of your decision.
Ask your doctor to give your child a physical exam to make sure your child is healthy before you permit vaccination. A sick child can be at increased risk for having a vaccine reaction.
Write down your child's personal and family medical history listing major illnesses and diseases or medical conditions, especially previous reactions to vaccinations, and have it included in your child's permanent medical records. Before permitting vaccination of your child, ask your doctor if any of these conditions will put your child at risk for having a vaccine reaction. A child who has had a previous severe reaction to a vaccination can be especially at risk for even more severe reactions if more vaccine is given. If you are not satisfied with the answers you are given, get a second opinion.
Monitor your child closely after vaccination. Call your doctor if you suspect a reaction. If your doctor is not concerned and you are, take your child to an emergency room.
Obtain a copy of your state mandatory vaccination laws. Become educated about state vaccine requirements, your rights and legal exemptions to vaccination. Click Here to Review Your State Law
Don't be intimidated by medical personnel and forced into a vaccination decision before you are comfortable with your decision.

I just love your posts..your so informational...lol...i think a lot of parents arent educated that they even have a say in the matter..i know that until my first son was 18 months my doctor told me he HAD to have them...and the booklet they hand out makes it sound like the symptoms are very rare and arent a big deal...

Just thought I would share a GREAT book i invested in before my daughter's 2 month shots were supposed to be given. "The Vaccine Book" by Robert Sears. It has everything you need to know about shots for your child's ENTIRE life!!! It really helped me decide whether or not to vaccinate my daughter. I don't know what I would have done without it!!

I was watching either on the news or on the Doctors, about how vaccines RARELY harm any child, allergic reactiosn and such do occur, but it's not something they would give if it was happening chronically. And there is NO link to vaccines and autism, some monkeys have shown signs, but that doesn't mean anything for humans, yet. there is nothing that is crazy harmful like some people said mercury in any vaccines used NOW. There used to be. And parents are just being selfish if they don't atleast try (some children have serious issues and can't be vaccinated, yes) to have their children vaccinated cause then there can be serious outbreaks that could have easily been prevented.

I know your post didn't say anything about this, and yours was very informational. But I know how some moms feel, haha.

Quoting Brittni+2:“ I just love your posts..your so informational...lol...i think a lot of parents arent educated that they ... [snip!] ... me he HAD to have them...and the booklet they hand out makes it sound like the symptoms are very rare and arent a big deal...”

Thanks...that's what I want to explore with other parents...exactly how "rare" are these serious reactions? My daughter had an alarming reaction which I now know is not all that rare. However, there is a great deal of denial and downplaying in the medical community when it comes to vaccine reactions. The neurological or immunological issues thatcertain children experiencesoon after vaccination are often dismisssed as having nothing at all to do with the shots, even though these are documented risks and included in the packet inserts as possible side effects.

Quoting Riley[Waiting for Olivia]:“ I was watching either on the news or on the Doctors, about how vaccines RARELY harm any child, allergic ... [snip!] ... I know your post didn't say anything about this, and yours was very informational. But I know how some moms feel, haha.”

There is mercury in some shots still!! Just not as much as there used to be!

Quoting EmmaGrace:“ Thanks...that's what I want to explore with other parents...exactly how "rare" are these serious reactions? ... [snip!] ... all to do with the shots, even though these are documented risks and included in the packet inserts as possible side effects.”

that's horrible if they're just dismissing them. Here they make you sit tehre for 20 minutes after your baby gets a shot and tells us if ANY thing seems abnormal to come in. and they will run crap loads of tests. Obviously they happen, but if they were super common, happening to like 1 out of every 5 children, that vaccine would obviously be rethought.

Quoting ~Danielle*Marie~:“ There is mercury in some shots still!! Just not as much as there used to be!”

I believe there's ones, and that's the measles. I think, I'm not sure exactly what shot. And there's such a small trace that you can get more from eating fish.

Quoting Riley[Waiting for Olivia]:“ I believe there's ones, and that's the measles. I think, I'm not sure exactly what shot. And there's such a small trace that you can get more from eating fish.”

yes, there is trace amounts. Not much at all, but there is trace amounts in thetetanus and diptheriashot, and also in the flu shot but some forms of these shots, which is still given, contains more than 25 micrograms!!! But most only have .3 micrograms.

There is also aluminum in a lot of shots these days. Which is also a very contraversial ingredient.

Quoting Riley[Waiting for Olivia]:“ I believe there's ones, and that's the measles. I think, I'm not sure exactly what shot. And there's such a small trace that you can get more from eating fish.”

No, measles or MMR has never had any mercury. And the concern parents have with even "trace" amounts of mercury is that the heavy metal is cumulative in the brain, and each child may have his or her own individual tolerance level. The symptoms of heavy metal toxicity are identical to those of autism.

Also, when they decreased the levels of mercury in most shots, they increased the levels of aluminum which is another known neuro-toxin.

And many versions of the flu shot still have a ton of mercury in it.

Quoting EmmaGrace:“ No, measles or MMR has never had any mercury. And the concern parents have with even "trace" amounts ... [snip!] ... levels of aluminum which is another known neuro-toxin. And many versions of the flu shot still have a ton of mercury in it.”

Like I said, I wasn't sure which one exactly.
But then don't feed your children certain fish,cause it has mercury.

It's all a bounce back and forth really. Because parents are so against vaccines and what they can do to your child and blah blah blah, but yet they will feed their children certain foods and let their children play outside in dirt, that can cause teh same problems.

Quoting Riley[Waiting for Olivia]:“ I was watching either on the news or on the Doctors, about how vaccines RARELY harm any child, allergic ... [snip!] ... I know your post didn't say anything about this, and yours was very informational. But I know how some moms feel, haha.”

These reaction are not as " rare" as you may think, for example. I fever can be a side effect, is that rare? And if the fever goes high enough the child may have seizures, sadly also not as rare as people think. And the whole debate on vaccines not causing autism? Well it depends on the scientist, or doctors you ask, many so no BUT just as many say yes, and the number of yes is increasing.
By the way, HI Kellie!!! I miss reading your posts
 

Quoting EmmaGrace:“ Thanks...that's what I want to explore with other parents...exactly how "rare" are these serious reactions? ... [snip!] ... all to do with the shots, even though these are documented risks and included in the packet inserts as possible side effects.”

which vaccine did your daughter have a reaction to? when i was a baby i had a reaction to pertussis. i was having seizures and had to be rushed to the er. when my parents got me there the doctors just treated them like they were paranoid new parents. it's one of the main reasons i do not vaccinate my daughter.

Quoting Riley[Waiting for Olivia]:“ Like I said, I wasn't sure which one exactly. But then don't feed your children certain fish,cause ... [snip!] ... yet they will feed their children certain foods and let their children play outside in dirt, that can cause teh same problems.”

The mercury in fish is different. http://www.myomancy.com/2005/05/ethyl_mercury_v

And I do limit the amount of fish my children eat.

Quoting **Cheri**:“ which vaccine did your daughter have a reaction to? when i was a baby i had a reaction to pertussis. ... [snip!] ... the doctors just treated them like they were paranoid new parents. it's one of the main reasons i do not vaccinate my daughter.”

I suspect the P of DPT. Did your mother then continue to vaccinate you with only the DT portion of the shot?