Altering Vaccine Schedule.

Hi A.,

My daughter is 16yrs old now, she had all of her shots on time as scheduled, she is perfectly fine. vaccines are important in life for a child. You have to do what you feel if the right thing to do. My brothers daughter did not have requires shots for school because of the same thoughts of everyone else...she was kicked out of school in the first grade. Parents refused to give shots, my brother and his wife were reported to the child welfare for not sending the child to school and not having the shots. Daycares would not accept her. My niece was almost put in foster care. This is a very serious issue. With the thought of their daughter being taken away made them give her her shots, but now they were only spread out weeks. Think about Olivia being taken away from you, not a good thought.

A.
I am a apediatrician who had found this siste looking for other info.
If you dont mind my advice....those vaccines are to protect against illnesses that our body would be subject to otherwise. The reality is that our bodies are exposed to dozens of antigens every day. These aantigens are proven to be safe by numerous studies. Look at anay medically scientific site to confirm this.

the concept that babies cant handle the vaccines is a fallacy that grew out of the autism/measles myth....which is long ago proved invalid.

Pleasse ask questions, and use good scientific sources to help you with this.

I woould be happy to guide you.

Dan

follow your pediatrician advice and vaccinate on schedule. you are not putting toxins in your child's body. you are putting anti-bodies and dead viruses that will strengthen her immune system. otherwise, you are putting at risk of very deadly diseases you baby and every other child around her.
last study from Canada revealed that there is no connection b/w vaccines and autism.
I honestly don't understand why is this even a decision you need to make? to defend your daughter against awful and painful death or not? how tough can it be?

Hi A.,

As a speech therapist who works with autistic kids, I have done lots of research and been to many conferences on this issue. i am also a mother of an almost 3 year old, and I am expecting a new baby in June. Every single conference has stated that a child is predisposed to developing these disorders. That is why so many of us have received the vaccines and are completely normal. When they started combining vaccines and using thimerisol as the preservative, that is where some of the issues started to arise. It may be that it triggers what is already going to happen, but thimerisol is in other things as well, so you really have to do your research. I made it a point to have my son's vaccines spread out so he wasn't being exposed to so much at once, only to find out the flu shot I got had thimerisol in it. You can also ask for thimerisol free vaccines - our pediatrician doesn't even use the kind with it in anymore. Also, some of the autistic children I have worked with were NOT vaccinated due to parent's fears, so it is not only one trigger or facet that leads to the disorder. Our environment is filled with so many things that we are not even aware of. Even a bottle of Johnson's baby shampoo has stuff in it that has been linked to cancer and other problems (cosmeticdatabase.com), so it is impossible to know what combination of environmental toxins leads to different things. But talk to your doctor about options for vaccines - there is a greater chance of them contracting a potentially fatal disease (or giving it to another child) than having the vaccine cause autism. I would also look back into your family histories. Do you or your husband have any one in the family who had symptoms of autism? There is a definite genetic component, so I would investigate that as well. It is a hard decision, I know. I am obviously in favor of vaccinating, but that didn't stop me from bawling my eyes out each time my son had to get one. I was equally as scared, but he is a healthy, happy little boy (thank god). Also, it is the MMR vaccine that has been linked to problems, not all of them, which I think they get around 18 months. Ask for the thimerisol free one to further put your mind at rest. Good luck with everything!

i agree. it is so scary with the autism/vaccine link. particularly the MMR at 15 months seems to be the worst of them. I am thinking about giving one at a time when my guy turns 15 months. i am clueless too, but my friend sent me this article.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/vaccines/...

there is more information out there. your pediatrician will probably think you are crazy, but you have to do what is best. i am as ambivilant as you are!

I had sleepless nights after having my first baby and it all had to do with vaccinations. Make sure they are mercury free. you can alter the schedule, I did and I do believe they give these children an awful lot at once. the tricky part is when they enter school because they need a copy of the vaccination sheet and you may be missing a few I just tell them I am on a different schedule I know a few parents that fill it in them selves. You have to do what you feel is right. My sister in law told me they just pass another vaccine in Jersey what for---diarrhea how many more can their little bodies take and wreck their own immune systems. remember it is the Government, the Drug companies and the schools they are all making the money off of these vaccines( the school gets more money for the more children they have that are vaccinated) also all the vaccines in the Docter's office are not all required for school so call your High School and ask the school nurse what vaccines are required. This way you will have an over view. Also you have to consider her exposure at an early age---day care, travel ect.

hope this helps I can,t day I found any great resources they either said it is required or don't do them at all so I went with altering and finding the ones for school.

Hi A.,

Speak with your pediatrician about altering the vaccine schedule, if that is what you and your husband decide to do. Most pediatricians are okay with delaying certain vaccines (Hep B, Hep A, etc.), and they should work with you on a different calendar of shots. I don't want to get into a debate about whether to vaccinate or not - I know people have very strong opinions about it - but I will say that this is an important discussion to have with your pediatrician.

My husband and I did choose to not have our son vaccinated against Hep B immediately after he was born, which some hospitals are starting to do. We wanted him to have a few months to adjust to living before being poked with needles. With that said, my little guy has received all of his shots to date (he's now 14 months old) and has had absolutely no adverse reactions to any of them, other than running low grade fevers the day he receives the shots. We give him a little Tylenol when we get home from the doctor and he's perfectly fine.

Good luck with your little one! I hope you have a safe delivery!

Hi A.,

Thanks for asking this question! It is something that I am always looking into. I have a 21 mo old dgtr and have chosen to vaccinate on an altered schedule. My Ped is pretty good about discussing the pros and cons with me (but the first I interviewed gave me the impression that they'd alter...'if we REALLY wanted them too..." and didn't give me a warm fuzzy!). But as stated earlier, things like Hep B (my response was the same to my MD - as far as I know she's not having sex of using IV drugs, she is in her crib all night...but, as far as I can tell, we're good there!), polio, flu, even the MMR - she hasn't started those yet. And the chicken pox one doesn't actually fully work anyway - so I am not for that when the time comes! She has mainly had DTaP, Hib, - those kind of ones. And, I used to take her to the MD 1x/month so she could get shots spread out instead of clumped together - for various reasons. I do believe she shouldn't be overloaded with all the ingredients in them and that I wouldn't know what she had an adverse reaction to if she had any. She's been good so far. She also does not attend daycare and stays at home with a babysitter - so she's not exposed to as much. But, I do work in healthcare so she's not completely sheltered.

As for the vaccine companies - they are surprisingly protected from any adverse reactions and little to no legal recourse can be taken. Many people who are on the board for vaccine companies are also closely involved in the political aspect. So, they come up with a vaccine, and push for it to be mandated, therefore they can make money without much worry that anything will come back at them. It really scares me because that is way too much of a conflict of interest in my opinion. In all likelihood, the future will bring with it many more vaccines, because the companies really do make a TON of money!

There are dangers of vaccinating, and of not vaccinating. In all likelihood, most of the vaccines that we had as children are no longer effective, so many of us have the potential to be carriers. But, I feel that these little bodies are so delicate,and nature is always better than science (for crying out loud, when I was baby, the big push was to bottle feed, because mother's breastmilk was supposedly inadequate - how ludicrous!!!) But, we realize now that breast milk is best (nature really does know what it's doing sometimes!). MD's don't have all the answers (and there have been plenty of things over the years to prove they aren't always correct) and we have to find our own way through all of the info.

What I truly believe is that something has gone wrong. Autism has skyrocketed, ADD, MS, cancer, etc - there are more and more people who are deathly ill and dying in their 30's even. Are vaccines to blame? Are pesticides in foods to blame? Is it the chemicals leaching from plastic bottles and containers? Could it be the plant down the street and the superfund sites? Could it be the ridiculous amount of chemicals in our makeup and skincare products? Probably not any one of these things, but possibly, very possibly it is a combination of many of these things - that is what I believe.

So, I personally use as much organic as we can afford (with certain produce that we avoid altogether unless it's organic), use glass, not plastic as much as possible, buy things with little to no preservatives, use skin care (especially for her) that is as little chemically laden as possible, and vaccinate on a different schedule. I question myself EVERYDAY if I am doing the right thing. I also question myself EVERYTIME she gets a shot if I did the right thing. Welcome to motherhood!!!

Basically - no matter what you decide, someone will tell you that you are right and someone will tell you that you're wrong. I am going to follow some of the advice here as well and get the Dr. Sears book. I read "What your MD may NOT tell you about vaccinations", but that was written in 2001 (I think) and is a bit outdated now. Investigate and follow your instincts like with everything else and don't let anyone pressure you to vaccinate or not vaccinate.

Good luck and congrats!

Hi A.,

Please do not think about NOT vaccinating your child. Not only does it put your child in danger, but also mine! The vaccines are here for a reason, and not some scheme by the government to make our children ill. My pediatrician has a child with autism and he strongly disagrees with the vaccine having ANY involvement in his child's autism, he believes it is genetic.

You can space the vaccines out, if it makes you feel better, but talk to your pediatrician about your concerns before you read all this "BS" (sorry) on the internet that is enough to scare any first time mom!

Take care and good luck!

L.

go to the website: generationrescue.org, it may have some resources to look into. Yes, there is a lot of controversy going on that indicates that too many toxins can influence ADHD, austistic behaviors or other neurological disorders. I'm not saying not to vaccinate your child, but they are finding information about the immune system as well as genes in the father that may ract to the shots given. I don't know much about it yet. In fact I'm going to a mini-conference about this subject on monday. You may be able to go onto CNN's website and look up Anderson Cooper 360 (Finding_____-I don't remember the girls name) or better yet, Larry King Live's interview with Jenny McCarthy about autism. Very interesting stuff and that may give you some more resources. Good luck with your search, if you'd like to e-mail me "____@____.com" and subject it "altering vaccine schedule" (I delete mail tht I don't recognise the address), and I may have more resources for after I go to the conference. Good luck, J.

Hi A.,

Congratulations on being an (almost!) first time mom! You are entering (imho) the most incredible time in a woman's life! I have three children, and I just thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience with each of them. (I'd love to have more, but I'm 40 now and think I'm a bit old for another!)

I am standing up and applauding you right now for questioning what you put into your newborn child's body!! Not enough parents question what our docs tell us and NEED to. My oldest, Grace, now 9, has autism brought on by a vaccination she received at 1 hour old. Her body was unable to detox the mercury contained in the hep B shot. As a result, everyday since then has been a challenge. We are unsure whether she will be indepedent as an adult. She suffers from health/ neurological issues that we are still trying to address on a daily basis with therapy, diet, vitamins, chelation, etc.

By the time we realized vaccines and autism were linked (and they ARE, despite what mainstream docs want us to think), Grace had gotten almost all of her shots. Fortunately for our younger children, however, they are not vaccinated and are perfectly healthy.

I suggest checking out the websites below for starters. They provide info on ingredients, reactions, etc. I wish you all the best with your new little one!!

B.

http://www.909shot.com/

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/

both of my kids have all their vaccinations up to date. i have not chosen to pick and choose which ones they get. in my opinion, you will be putting other children in danger by not getting all the vaccines that are suggested, not to mention your own children. i know the risks, i've read some studies but i think that no matter what you do, there is always a risk with anything and their are TOXINS EVERYWHERE and if they were not safe, they would not be offered. the benefits out weight the risks, and i would never want to put my kids at risk of getting the mumps or measles, or polio or even chicken pox for that matter. those diseases cause more harm than the vaccine it self. you may not agree, i'm sorry but i feel strongly about this and it would really upset me if my kids went to school with kids who haven't been vaccinated and something happened and they got sick. but you are a nutritionist so maybe you know more than me, but i guess i just wanted to put my two cents in. congrats on the new baby :)

hi A.,

you sure hit on a hot topic... and a very emotional one. our pediatrician recommended we read "what your doctor may not tell you about vaccines" by dr. stephanie cave. she offers altered shcedules.

my background is in classical chinese medicine and that philosophy holds that the first 2 years of life are crucial for laying down the "blueprint" that will inform the rest of our lives, so it is important to keep those years as toxin-free and as healthy as possible. getting vaccines introduces toxins, heavy metals, preservatives etc which will remain in your child's body. likewise, having a serious illness in the first 2 years of life may also become a part of yor child's life for years to come.

i hope that whatever you choose to do you make your peace with it. congratulations and good luck.

K.

A.,

The Vaccine Guide by Randall Neustraedter OMD is a real learning tool with lots of resources and facts about the vaccinations. Dr. Stephanie Cave also has a book with an alternate vaccination schedule. The Vaccine Guide also recommends natural alternatives to vaccinations if your okay with that.

If I had to do it over I would not give any vaccination before nine months and every one would be a single vaccination. Mercury is still in the vaccinations - check out info by Senator Dan Burton, but mercury is not the only issue - they are loaded with toxins not to mention the other garbage. My six year old daughter has no vaccinations and she is healthier and smarter than her peers and brothers. My nine year old son is autistic and has seizures - definitely from the vaccinations. I am in a couple of mom's groups and they can all tell the horror stories of losing their kids to autism through vaccinations - what you are hearing out there through Jenny MacCarthy and finally the Government conceding that vaccines caused the Polin girl's autism is TRUE! If you are the type to dig into research, you will find unbelievable info about vaccinations but if you only want to read one thing - read The Vaccine Guide. I only wish someone educated me first because my son and my family would have a different life. My son has no language, still wears diapers and has to be fed - it is a loss that is hard to recover, if ever and to think you might have been able to keep it from happening is a terrible thing to think about.

I don't mean to scare you but I would like all mom's to get educated and stand strong for your baby - he/she is dependent on you to take care of them, don't let doctors or anyone else push you into doing anything that doesn't feel right. You will be the decision maker, know your facts. There are many docs that will work with you without forcing vacinations, they should respect what you are struggling with. There are many choices based on what you end up believing is right or okay. Homeopathys and Naturalpaths are options that keep drugs and toxins away from your family. This country is big on homeopathy anymore, but it is coming back fast. Homeopathy was the way before drugs came on the scene. I do not use drugs to treat my childrens illnesses anymore (except the anti-seizure medication which we are trying to remove ASAP) and it feels good as a mom to not poison their immune system everytime it tries to work.

Sorry for the lengthy response, I am passionate about helping new mom's not end up where I am. I cannot stand to see another child become autistic when it can be avoided. Austism is a very difficult world to live in - stay away!

Best of luck on the birth and life of your baby.

D.

I know you have received lots of advice across the entire spectrum of thoughts, beliefs and theories, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents worth. My son's pediatrician recommended spreading out vaccines and used vaccines that were thimerosal free. My son is happy, healthy, intelligent and rarely gets sick, not even the sniffles. (I did nurse him for 2 years, as recommended by WHO)

I work in home care with adults, mostly geriatric. The reason I bring this up is because I have had many patients who had polio as a child, who lost siblings and friends to polio, chicken pox, small pox, rubella, diptheria. Name the childhood disease and I have listened to someone over the age of 70 sadly relay their tale of personal loss to it, still carrying this loss so close after many decades had passed. These diseases don't claim or irrevocably change lives like they once did thanks to vaccines.

If you choose not to vaccinate, then what you are really doing is counting on everyone else to vaccinate so your child may benefit from "herd immunity". As more and more people choose to not vaccinate, I fear some of these childhood illnesses may have a resurgance. Just today on WWOR radio out of NYC there was a news story about an 8 month old who flew into New York from Israel and was diagnosed with Measles once here. They announced it because anybody on the flight who was not vaccinated, particularily any young children, were exposed to this airborne illness during a transatlantic flight with its recirculated air at at risk themselves.

Millions of vaccines are safely adminstered every year without side effects. In recent years so many people have been screaming to be heard about the possible connection of vaccines and autism and this makes parents ask, "how would I feel if I gave my baby all these vaccines and they ended up autistic?" But nobody seems to also ask "how would I feel if I didn't vaccine my baby and they became gravely ill/died from (take your pick of childhood disease)?" As long as you look at both sides, you will decide what is right for your child.

I didn't allow my doctor's office to give my kids Pediarix. It's like 4 shots in one plus they get the Hepatitis B shot then too. So 5 things at once. I read a book called What your Doctor may not tell you about childhood vaccinations
http://www.amazon.com/What-Doctor-About-Childrens-Vaccina...

It was very informative. I did choose to vaccinate my kids but on a much different schedule then they recommend now. And they did not get the Hep B shot in the hospital. I didn't start their vaccines until they were 4 mos. Good luck in finding a doctor that will work with you. It was hard to find one. But don't be bullied into doing something with your childs health care that you may regret later. You may want to use a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) doctor. Their more open to different vaccine schedules.

Well I recently heard on the news that the number of invaccinated children in America whom developed Measles and other diseases, HAS dramatically increased, and of course with that so have the infant deaths from these diseases,

Attached are a few sites which discuss this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measles_virus

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/reco...

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/meas...

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3136&q=397194

http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic1388.htm

Hi A.,
I am a pediatric nurse and have given many hundreds of immunizations in my time. I agree that there are so many vaccines to be given and that can be somewhat unerving. However, the side effects of most shots are not too bad. Only the dtap and prevnar generally cause fever and discomfort. The polio, hib and hep B most of the time have little to no side effects. If you as mom can get past the inhibitions I can say that immunizing is much better than not. And what I have seen happen over and over, is that at times parents who are aprehensive about shots tend to avoid them and spread them out which causes children to end up getting shots when they are older and wiser and then it becomes much more difficult. Kids under 9 months don't remember getting them between visits. For me, I have seen kids at 15 months-3 years getting shots for the first time and then they are overwhelmed and fearful and getting 5 & 6 shots at a time at that age is horrendous. The other thing to think about avoiding immunizations is that when it comes time for your child to enter school and or camp or play sports and they are not immunized they will not be able to participate.
Above all is the shots are better than the disease. Our country is relatively safe and free of disease but there has been a resurgence of whooping cough which is what the dtap immunizes against.
And finally, if you have questions, your local public health has info on all of these things as well as the web site, CDC, center for disease control.
Best wishes and may you enjoy your little one. What a gift!
M.

The question becomes what do you see as the lesser of two evils? My kids are vaccinated and I will continue to do so, since I not only researched the negative aspects of vaccines, but also the impact of the diseases we vaccinate against. Preventing those diseases is, to me, the safer course of action.

Measles, for example, kills around one million people each year and 20% of all measles cases cause complications of differing severity. As long as most people continue to immunise their children, those who don`t are not at great risk. But as that number grows, the risk of infection increases as do all the negative complications of the things we vaccinate our children against. There is currently a measles epidemic in Austria and while this might sound far away, it is simply a matter of time before the same is true in the US.

It is your decision, but do reasearch the danger posed by disease and not just the danger from vaccines. Nothing is 100% certain in this life, so make an informed decision and be prepared to live with the consequences.

Medical professionals will help you to understand you are potentially doing more harm than good for your child by not vaccinating.

after reading the responses i just had to add a word about going to school when you do not vaccinate or spread them out. every state in the use offers 1, 2 or 3 reasons for choosing to wait or not to vaccinate. they are for religious, philosophical or medical reasons. in the state of ny you can claim medical or religious reasons. on the back of every vaccination school form should be an exemption box - a waiver that you can sign. this applies to both private and public schools. they cannot make you give your child a vaccine just to go to school. they may give you grief - but vaccines are not mandatory despite what people say. check out this website for more info -
http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions.htm
it lists all the state exemption laws and more info as well.

*****
this is a really personal decision. i just believe everyone should make an educated decision. anyone who tells you that vaccinating or not vaccinating has absolutely no risks is not telling the truth. most thimerasol has been removed from vaccines today (but not all) but this is not the only 'bad' ingredient. there is also formaldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue, vesicle fluid from calf skins, continuous line of monkey kidney cells and chick embryonic fluid which is really bad for anyone with egg allergies! to see a complete list of vaccine ingredients check out http://www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html .

i personally do not think you can blame just vaccines on children becoming autistic. i think some children are predisposed to such disorders and when you overwhelm their system with vaccines - it's like an electric socket short circuiting! it's just too much for their little systems to handle. but it's not for others which is why it's hard to lump every child into the same category - every child will react differently and there are no guarantees! also - when you combine all the environmental things we are exposed to with the not so great diets we eat - we are just not helping our children's bodies handle the vaccines. if you have any history of auto-immune disorders, autism, neurological disorders, etc - i would really examine the vaccine process. if you choose to do it - spread it out and don't give the 'all in one' shots. i personally think those are too much for any baby! there have been no long term effect studies done on these - so no one can assure us 100%. and in nature - you never have that many diseases at once in your body for your immune system to fight off - so why do we inject little babies with this many? my pediatrician had a great analogy - he said that if you take one aspirin a day it's not going to kill you - but if you take 365 in one day...well then that's not good! so when people (dr's, vax companies, etc) tell us that the miniscule amounts of 'not good for you' ingredients in vaccines shouldn't be a problem - that is usually based on an adult size person and not adding them all up together.

i am posting my list of resources below - feel free to ask me any questions or add to my 'collection'!!! as for us - we have chosen to wait. it's a daily consideration - and one we have been happy with so far. my 3 1/2 year old has never had antibiotics, tylenol, or tradtional medicines - and we were 'full term' nursing and eating healthy. most kids i know who are not vaxed - are very healthy but they also have parents who make sure they are eating healthy which definitely makes a difference to one's immune system. we treat all of our illnesses with homeopathic remedies, traditional osteopathy, accupuncture and chinese herbs and supplements. we are not anti western med at all - see a time and place for it - but view medicine as preventitive rather than reactive. if you do decide to vaccinate - just make sure your child is not sick and hasn't been for a few days before. if you can - make sure they are as calm as can be for the actual shot. and if you notice any reaction - report it and keep note of it for future reference.
hope this helps!
J.

Vaccination Information

Books:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations By Stephanie Cave, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. (pro vaccine)

Vaccines: Are They Really Safe And Effective? By Neil Miller.
The Vaccine Guide By Randall Neustaedter (non vaxer).

The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears (gives pros and cons to all of them!! very good book!!)

Natural Family Living By Peggy O'Mara, the publisher of Mothering Magazine.

I village has some great message boards – for vax debate, non-vax support and many other boards (breastfeeding, etc)

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/main.asp?webtag=iv-pp...

Article:
Deadly Immunity by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – EXCELLENT article!!! I have a copy I can email to you.

Video:
Dr. Jay Gordon’s seminar at the Skirball Cultural Center – the first event in the “Well Loved Baby” series called “Vaccinations?” - www.childcaremedia.com/dvdproducts.php

Websites:
www.mothering.com
www.drfeder.com
www.drjaygordon.com

http://www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html - lists all the ingredients in vaccines

http://www.whale.to/a/hoax.html

www.909shot.com

http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions.htm - state exemption laws

www.tetrahedron.org

www.vaclib.org

www.thinktwice.com.

http://www.mmrfacts.nhs.uk/library/timeline.php?t=showall or search NHS

http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/thimrosal.html

http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/mmr/a_faq.html

http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/mmr/a_report.html

http;//www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/julvacc.htm

http://www.medalerts.org/ (where also is found an online, searchable version of the VAERS database. Just have a look at what that thing is saying about the Hepatitis B vaccine! )

http://www.nmaseminars.com/

http://www.whale.to/vaccines.html

http://www.mercola.com/

http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/immune_suppressio...
http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles/list01.htm

http://www.proliberty.com/observer/

And, the following article on the Hep B vaccine is excellent:
http://www.insightmag.com/news/438502.html
"The EPA limit is 0.1 micrograms of mercury per kilogram body weight per day. It doesn't take a genius to do the calculations when on their day of birth children are given the hepatitis B vaccine, which is 12.5 micrograms of mercury. The average newborn weighs between 6 and 7 pounds, so they would be allowed 0.3 micrograms of mercury - but in this one shot they are getting 12.5 micrograms. That's 39 times more than allowed by law. And it gets worse when you consider that children are getting multiple vaccinations at 2 months. And this limit is for *oral ingestion* and not injection, which is much worse."

http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm (the vaccines shaded in grey are no longer produced)

HI,

Kudos to you for being wise enough to questions vaccines. Our son is almost 9 months and we are NOT vaccinating. After two years of research on the subject, we have concluded they are not only dangerous but also ineffective. In many cases they cause the disease they are supposed to protect you from. The ingredients in vaccines would make you cringe and they are manufactured in filthy conditions.

What shocks me is that federal court just proved vaccines do casue autism and as such paid monetary compensation to the family of the affected child. They have down played this story on the news when this should be the decade's biggest story! But billions of dollars are at risk and so they just casually mention it.

Here are some very valuable links: GOOD LUCK!
http://www.ghchealth.com/vaccinations-the-hour-of-the-tim...
http://nvic.org/
http://www.informedchoice.info/index.php
http://203.39.116.251/adkins/nexus/index.php?option=com_d...

And there are ways to get around the school requirements. No school can force you to inject your child with poisons.

You will no doubt hear a lot of hype about unvaccinated kids spreading diseases in schools. Well, that doesn't make sense. If these vaccines were so effective, why should the vaccinated kids be at risk? Yes it's true that your child might catch a disease but he or she is not at any greater risk than the vaccinated kids.

The fact is that HEALTH(diet, exercise, breastfeeding) will protect your child from diseases. Not injectable poisons.

Congratulations and hope you have a peaceful, beautiful birth experience! I have a 6-month-old and had the same questions and concerns. We decided to vaccinate but to spread them out. I highly recommend The Vaccination Book by Dr. Sears. I read others and did a lot of research on this topic, but by far think this is the newest, most comprehensive book to date on vaccines. I appreciate that Dr. Sears is neither anti-vaccines nor of the "do whatever your doctor tells you" school of thought. He has compiled thorough info in order for parents to make their own decisions, and provides a few different possible alternative vaccination schedules. Also, we opted out of the Hep B vaccination in the hospital -- and you need to inform them ahead of time that you don't want it (if you don't). I just calmly said we would have it done by our pediatrician (which we aren't until she's much older). I understand the public health concern about wanting to get the population vaccinated against something potentially dangerous, but at 24 hours of age? For something sexually transmitted or transmitted by blood? Seemed like overkill to me. The book's available at Amazon and you might want to check out his website as well: http://www.askdrsears.com/. One more thing -- I always breastfeed my daughter right after she gets her shots. Definitely soothes her and is recommended as a pain reliever. (Amazing stuff, that breastmilk!) Good luck!

I'm excited to see someone doing the research about vaccines before blindly bombarding their child's immune system with the "mandatory" shots.

Let me first say that my two oldest children were vaccinated as I was unaware that I had a choice, nor had I done ANY research. My last three children have not been vaccinated as my husband and I realized the risks were higher receiving the shots that not receiving them. The younger children were healthier and did not have the ear infections, tonsilitis, etc. that my older two seemed to be plagued with.

Your state you live in has a lot to do with the extent you have to go to to claim an exemption, even if you just delay getting the shots. I live in NY and the only exemptions here are medical and religious. While our belief to not vaccinate is not part of our "religion", it is part of our FAITH and belief in God to protect our children (as well as common sanitary habits). My next battle will be when my oldest goes to college and has not had any "boosters". If you need a copy of what we submitted to claim exemption, send me a message and I can attach a copy to you. It was accepted by our public school, daycare, and even girl scouts.

My sister chose to delay vaccinations (her husband thought they should, but agreed to delay). The research I saw showed a significant reduction in SIDS death (by 85%) if vaccines were not given until after 2-years.

My choice was to not vaccinate and I do not condemn those that do. I only wish parents would DO SOME RESEARCH before blasting their perfect newborn with all those toxins.

The rise in autism, asthema, and allergies seems to be linked to the increase in "mandatory" vaccines.

One problem with not getting the immunizations is that when the child goes to school, they're required. My youngest child had gotten a few of them and then I started reading bad things about the potential effects, and I didn't take him for the rest. When he was in first grade (somehow we skimmed thru kindergarten), the school nurse told me in no uncertain terms he had to get the rest of the immunizations or he would not be allowed to come to school, and that furthermore I could be charged with neglect. I was backed into a corner. The school made an appointment with the local immunization clinic that we had to keep. However, on that first appointment the nurse planned to give my son four shots and I refused to allow that many at one time. She got very disturbed with me and said "we do this all the time", but I was insistent. I asked "if he has a reaction to one of them, how are you going to know which one it is if you give him four?" Eventually she agreed to give him only two and then had us come back in a few weeks for the other two she planned for that day. No one "has to" allow any doctor or clinic to give their child multiple immunizations at one visit.

Personally if I were to do it all over I would not vaccinate my children. You state "a lot of toxins", well that should make it simple! Would you want to put ANY toxins in your child? Visit this sitehttp://www.vaccinenation.net/ and take some time to review the info. It's a real eye-opener!

I had the same issue with my husband. He wanted to and I did not. In the end, I agreed to go ahead, but had to make peace with it as well. It's not a good idea to vaccinate and live in fear and bring any negativity to fruition. What I did do was insist that we only do 2 injections at a time. My doctors did not like that and the nurses were a bit put off but I stood my ground. It's def more work because you have to go more often, but in my opinion totally worth it. Good luck

Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parents' Guide has some very good, relatively well-balanced info.

I vaccinated my twins until they were 7 months old and I realized my daughter had some physical delays. They got a couple of other shots after that, but sparingly. I have a 13-month old that has had no vaccinations, however.

Hi A..
My husband and I learned a lot a couple years ago about dangers of vaccines. We've decided not to vaccinate either of our girls. This is a tough call to make because of how the info is presented by most. I think it's great you guys are willing to look into this further. The internet has lots. If you google vaccine dangers you'll get the other side of the debate.
I think this site has some good stuff: http://educate-yourself.org/vcd/
You are the parent and get to decide what is best for your kids. Good luck.
P.

Hi A.
Congrats on the baby! Good on you for doing research now (I did so much pre natal research, that after my baby came I had all of these new challenges). Anyway, I sit on the fence of the vaccine issue. For example, I always get a flu shot b/c of my asthma. I get that b/c of vaccinations, we've been able to decrease or completely rid ourselves of illnesses like polio BUT seeing my little 2 month old baby about to get 5 injections was nuts. I backed out of several, and made my own schedule. now she;s about 9 months, and i've decided not to continue with this next cycle of vaccines (incl the MMR) until she's at least 2. I talked to the pediatrician (whom i hate---yes, i'm looking for someone else) and they were ANGRY that I would even think to question them. But it's my child and i'll do what I feel is best. hope this helps!

A.,

A friend of mine stays at home with her kids, and she waits until age 2 to start the vaccines. Apparently that cuts out a lot of them because some of them are designed for infancy. If you don't go too many places and the baby isn't going to be in a daycare situation, this seems like a good option. I know that this is a hot topic, and I definitely understand the importance of the vaccines, but my friends kids have been ok doing it that way.

With that being said, I have 5 kids and they have all been vaccinated per the recommended schedule and except for a fever after the chicken pox vaccine, they have never had a problem, but of course everyone is different. My point is I have seen it turn out ok both ways, and you need to do what feels right for you. As long as you are going to be home, no one can force you to do vaccines until your child is school aged. You might have to shop around for a pediatrician who is willing to work with you on this though. I know that my friend took a while to find a doctor who would wait on the vaccines until age 2.

D.

I have had 8 babies. Although with my youngest (5 months) for the first time I was scared to vaccinate. Wtih all the recalls on drugs and even some shots I started to rethink my reasons for vaccinating. All of my other kids have been. With the rising awareness of autism and the fact that they can't prove of disprove the link with vaccines I have been really scared. We all as mothers try to do what is best for our kids. I still am on the fence about the benefits. I believe that everyone is entiled to their oppinion and I have struggled over my decision over this. What ever you do with your new baby will be the best choice for you. Don't let any one sway you otherwise. Being a new mom for the first time is full of wonderful joys. Enjoy it they grow so fast. The internet is a great place to find info on the shot schedule and the pros and cons on vaccinating. Good luck on having your baby.

I am the proud mother of 3 and and an additional addition on the way. I have vaccinated all of my children and plan to vaccinate the new baby as well. I follow the recommended vaccine schedule and have had no issues or problems with them at all. I do know that the school system requires vaccines records for children and you could very well run into issues at the time of enrollment should you decide not to vaccinate you child.

This choice is a very personal one for every parent and I suggest that you talk to your chosen pediatrician, utilize the information available on the internet and then make an informed decision.

I HIGHLY recommend the book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations" by Stephanie Cave

Glad to hear you are taking your time to think about this so soon....

Good Luck!

L.

Marina & Mary k are absolutely right.

Here is another link about a measles outbreak this past year
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/18/earlyshow/healt...

Here are links about mumps outbreaks:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1817842&page=1

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/conditions/04/14/mumps.out...

And if you think that contracting any of these infectious diseases cannot happen to you or your child think again. It happened to my 2 month old son & he was hospitalized with whooping cough and trust me, you do not want to have to live with that. Someone who did not have their vaccines or booster gave it to him and almost killed him. Not cool.

Just make sure you discuss vaccines with your pediatrician and s/he will be able to give you a lot of great insight.

I wish you a fabulous birthing experience with Olivia Grace!A.

Edited:
Donna Z gave an interesting insight with the vax regarding her friend. I too am a stay at home mom and my children have never been in daycare. The whooping cough that my son contracted could very well have been from an adult that had it and didn't know it. Many cases of infant pertussis are contracted by an adult. So even if the kids are not going to be in daycare, they will still be out and about in the malls, trick or treating, the dr.'s office (loaded with infectious diseases, restaurants, etc. All anyone has to do is cough near an unvaxed child and that child could get measles, whooping cough, etc. That is why there are vaccines for these diseases - they are very very contagious and very easily spread.

The Vaccination issue has become super red hot right now. Lots' of info out there on both sides of the issue. This is the website of the national vaccine information center, a consumer watchdog group. http://www.nvic.org/

Keep in mind that the FDA does not require the drug industry to submit all studies done on drugs, including vaccines. what that boils down to is that they can submit only favorable studies, which results in skewed information. it's not easy being a consumer these days!

Our Daily Meds, by Melody Petersen is a real eye opener on this conflict of interest the pharm industry has. They spend way more money on marketing than they do research!

Good luck in coming to a decision.
Remember, as a mom, your bottom line is the health and well being of your child, not corporate profit!

Hi A., Thank you for starting the subject and thank you all for the informations and links... I have been reading all the info. for quiet few days, but I'm starting to completely break down... I had no idea. And now I feel like such a failure mother for letting the doctor put all those vacinations into my 11 month old daugher. I didn't know better... In a matter of 9 months she got 18 shots!! I was upset when I saw they were putting 4-5 shots in her at each visit, but they answered it was 'standard' and I didn't know any better! I feel like crying now and at the same time I'm so mad that I didn't know any better. She is fine now but most of the vaccinations she didn't have to get she already got... I dont know what to do now...stop the rest? I feel so guilty...

Google Jenny McCarthy. I just this week checked out her website. It is remarkable and SO easy to navigate. They have an alternative vaccination schedule on her website. She's done amazing work with her son. If you can't find it, message me and I'll send you the info.

Hi A.,

I am about to begin vaccinating my child using an altered vaccination schedule. For more info I suggest reading The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears or What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccines by Stephanie Kay, MD. I am taking both books and coming up with my own vaccine schedule. I refuse to give my 2 month old son 6 vaccinations at one time. I think vaccinations are important and definetly beneficial but I do not feel comfortable with the suggested vaccination schedule by the American Peds. Association. Good Luck!

I personally believe in vaccinating on schedule,but I know you have received tons of replies,both pros and cons.Have you thought about all the other garbage most families are subjecting their children to on a daily basis? A lot of health concerns are being related to the products we use in our homes on a daily basis.Many cleaning products are registered pesticides,there is Formaldehyde in many products including the leading baby shampoo,and so many chemicals,toxins and cancer causing agents in many things families use.

I think vaccinating on schedule is best for ALL kids,but do some research on the other things you use,you will be surprised.Then look at making healthier choices for your family and the environment.
www.concernedmoms.com

S.
www.LiveYourDreamsAtHome.com

One thing to remember - many of the things that these vaccines guard against are very big problems in other countries, even if they are almost non-existent in the US.

If your child comes into contact with someone from another part of the world who has been exposed to something they have not been vaccinated against they will be in extreme danger of becoming very ill, or worse.

This is the #1 reason we vaccinated my son. We hope he will travel in his lifetime. But most importantly we can't stop him from coming into contact with people who have traveled. The benefits outweigh the risks.

That being said - this is your child and you have to follow your own instincts. I can only tell you what my instincts were when I had to make the decision for my son.

Good Luck

Dear A.,
Glad to hear you are researching this topic. We have three healty children, born naturally, breastfed, healthy organic food eaters, and they are not vaccinated. This is a personal/family decision for you. Like many responders have said, don't let anyone push you in a corner or put fear in you to follow the status quo. We are not having any problem with the children going to public school. I my mind, my children's bodies have all they need to fight off most illnesses. I am not anti-Western medicine, however, I believe in allowing the immune system come into contact with germs so that it will fight the good fight. Sticking toxins, animal by-products, and even cells of aborted human fetuses straight into the blood stream does not allow for a normal immune response through the mucus membranes. My children came down with whooping cough in Jan. of 2007 - ages 4 years, 3 years and 6 months. I believe they have life-long immunity to this disease because of the way in which they got the sickness. If they received the innoculations for pertusis, they would need "boosters" to keep their fake immunity up. I wish you the best of luck and love. C. R.

hi A... as i was reading your question.. i thought uh-oh this is going to spark a lot of controversy.. i think the best thing to do wnen you are a first time mom is to trust your gut!!! (instincts)they are usually right. I chose to spread out the vaccines.. i worked it out with my doctor.. that is key- make sure your ped is comfortable with an alternate schedule.. i am a pediatric occupational therapist and work with a lot of children on the spectrum.. i have heard stories time and time again regarding vaccinations.. i chose to spread them out because of these experiences.. besides there are learning disabilities in my family.. ok i am rambling.. my ped at first tried to strong arm me into getting shots all at once for my children but i strong armed him back and he knew i was educated and was not going to take what he said as law so we came up with an alternate schedule..
the baby does not need Hept b shot in hosp. unless you are doing drugs... or they baby is going to have sex right there in the hospital..
Here are 2 good books to read "the vaccination book" by dr. sears (i love LOVE dr sears.. is very into attachment parenting, breastfeeding etc-check out his website
www.askdrsears.com in that book he gives an alternate schedule..
another book i think is called "what your doctor doesn't tell you about vaccinations" that also has an alternate schedule
GOod luck
J.

Hi A.: I have two girls ages 1 1/2 and 5 1/2 and to me the risks of NOT vaccinating are far higher then the risks with vaccinating. If you are very concerned maybe you could speak to your dr. and ask that the shots be spread out more then they normally are. Good luck and congrats...

Hi, don't know about altering schedules, I just don't vaccinate. I highly recommend that you visit www.mercola.com, which has a huge number of articles on the safety and efficacy of vaccines. For a good overview of the issues written by a medical doctor when he first started vaccinations with his own son, read "Dispelling Vaccination Myths", an article at the site. It has three 'pages', actually separate sections, so be sure you read all three. This is the article that finally convinced my husband (he was raised by a nurse who is of the 'medicine is god' mindset, she takes antibiotics every time she gets a cold). Contrary to what some other moms have responded, vaccinations are not a requirement for school enrollment. Most states have a philosphical, religious, or health exemption, or all three. Good luck with your decision!

A., you are going to get many conflicting responses to this but the most important this is to do what YOU feel comfortable with doing regardless of what anyone says including the doctors. We did not vaccinate our 2 boys. To us, the toxins in the vaccines offered more hurt than help to our children. We can't control the toxins and garbage in the enviroment but we can control what goes into our children directly. Also, I felt our odds of treating and curing them of a childhood disease like measles or chicken pox (which our parents all had) were better than curing autism or something else along those lines. My husband had very bad reactions to his vaccinations when he was a child and came down with auto immune issues that still are with him today. Just do your research ( which it looks like you are since you posed this question to begin with) and make the right decision for YOU and your family. Check out this website for an alternative look on the issue : www.nvic.org. Good luck!

dear A.
research on the net and avoid if possible. i believed the drs and i now have four year old twins with autism and developmental delays. I live in australia and have only just found out that most vaccines are made with mercury...
we are now trying to reverse the effects through diet and supplements fro our natropath. The info is all there just start googleing...
If you do decide to vaccinate make sure your baby has her gut microbes repaired.You can repair yours before the birth so that her "GUT"has a good start..

It takes time to find the answers but if i had half the info i have now i would have changed things.. Oh and in australia babies get their first immunization at 3 days old so ask ask ask

good luck.
J. (in australia )

I know that everyone has responded to this and it is of course THE hot topic. But, although I'll admit I didn't read every response so this could be repeat info, the big question for me when I researched vaccines was not mercury, they don't put that in shots anymore...but aluminum. They put way more aluminum in shots than it would seem a baby could handle.
If you get Dr. Sears' book there is a chapter devoted to it.
Good luck, everyone has to do their best and make an informed choice.

Hi A.,

Here is the article that i found on CNN and it tells you some downside of it, so that you can be more cautious of the Vaccines. I would talk to your Dr about your concern see what he or say think?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/02/mccarthy.autsimtreatment...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/24/autism.va...

Hey, A.!
This is definately a controversial issue for a lot of people - but then, everything that involves our most precious commododity (our children) will inevitably be worth some discussion. That being said, I think that it is each family's decision; there are risks regardless of your decision...it just depends on what you feel comfortable with after you research both sides of the subject.

We followed the recommended vaccine schedule for our first child, but nixed it for our second. I don't think vaccines, in and of themselves are bad; however, since when did parents feel comfortable handing over responsibility for their child's health and safety to the state? In essence, that's what we do when we - without question - agree to any and everything someone in a lab coat says. There should be open communication between a pediatrician and the parents. I, personally, feel that the CDC and pharmaceutical companies are in bed together and are subsequently turning a blind eye to any negative data gathered - but, again, that's my own personal opinion, and I realize there are many ways to look at a situation - and very often not just one correct way. Here is an alternate vaccination schedule that I liked (it also explains a lot about the infant's developing immune system, etc.): http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html
This one was helpful, too: http://www.mercola.com/article/vaccines/legally_avoid_sho...
As well as these: http://www.909shot.com/state-site/NewYork.htm
http://www.healthychild.com/vaccinations-choice.htm
http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_condition_info_de...

Don't let anyone - including myself - pressure you into a decision that you don't feel comfortable with - there's no single right answer. You'll find that the more you research, the more you'll lean in one direction or the other. Above all, enjoy this wonderful new person you're about to bring into this world!

Im sure you already know what your going to as you are questioning it all as it is ... I recently asked this same question to a group I belong to and you can see the kind of responses you get... from people saying way to go, and others saying your nuts not to do it.... And I was only asking about the chicken pox vaccine. To me science is not better then nature. Youll be amazed at what your body can do...

Besides we all had chicken pox when we were kids and lived. Id rather my child get the disease instead of being loaded up with poison to 'maybe' prevent the disease. A poison that is temporary!

No one can tell you want you have to do in this area... you may need a lawyer draw up a letter for things like school, it my even need to be a religious reason depending on your state. But dont be bullied into it.

How can your child 'without shots' put another child who as had them in danger? If they have the shots are they not 'allegedly' protected?

Has anyone actually read whats these are made of? Its pretty gross...

And no you cant believe everything you read in the internet, but can you believe the companies that are only out there to make money!

Did you know the last cure made was for polio over 50-60 years ago! And when it came out, so many companies went out of business... no one wants a cure to be made cause no one wants to go out of business...

There are also a heck of a lot more vaccines given to our children now then back when we were kids... why do you think that is?

Think about it.

Hello,

Congrats on your soon to be little girl. Great name!
Check out this website
http://www.hapediatrics.com/alternate_immunization_schedu...
It is has an alternate vaccination schedule and and standard one to compare. Talk to you pediatrician.
I think vaccinations are important but I believe there is some truth to taking more time and spreading them out is just as important.
I have a 4 yr old and 18 month. I am taking more time with my 18 month. Good luck.

Hi A.
You should definitely get Dr. Robert Sears' The Vaccine Book. It's discomforting to vaccinate. I have two sons - the second only 5 1/2 months. But vaccinating is the reason we are rid of diseases that were common when I was a kid. Sears suggests a more broken up schedule - spread out to throw less at the baby all at once. It's a very reasonable approach. NB - My ped. stopped giving the RSV vaccine (for Rotavirus) despite Sears' comments that the new one does not show signs of leading to complications with intussussception (the bonding of the inner sides of the intestine? She wisely feels it's too soon to know - and that RSV is not life threatening if you watch for it. So we skipped that one gladly. Talk with your pediatrician about the new schedule and what's in the book. It's not perfect but he also has a website where he updates the news and his errors. Good luck! (By the way - a friend of mine who thought about not vaccinating did some research and found that in Canada where she lives - Polio was coming back after many families stopped vaccinating for it....)

I recommend reading The Vaccine Book my Dr Sears. It describes every vaccine, the controversial ingredients, the likely hood of contracting each disease, and ends with two recommended vaccination schedules. This book gave me a lot of confidence when speaking to our pediatrician and I was as confident as one can be when making such important choices in her child's life. I decided to delay the polio and hepatitis B vaccines for now since I believe my son (5 months) is very unlikely to become infected with these based on his current lifestyle and where we live. I did not delay HiB, Pc, DTaP, or Rottavirus. However instead of receiving four vaccines every other month we get two every month. We have split up the ones containing aluminum and I had my pediatrician order a specific brand of DTaP based on what I read in Dr Sears book.

Congratulations!

Hi A.,
I'm a first time mom of a 9 month old son and I had the same concerns. We bought the Dr. Sear's VAccine book and it helped guide us through to make the right choices for us. Ultimately I chose to do an altered schedule spreading them and choosing carefully which two to give at a time. And I feel better about it.
E.

Hi A.,

I cannot advise you but do feel that there is some extremely beneficial information on Dr. Mercola's site. He has a free daily Natural Health Newsletter loaded with health articles and useful information. Many of his articles have a video. I think he is fantastic and makes a lot of sense.

go to:
http://mercola.com/
search on --> vaccinations

there are several links -- for some of them you need to enter your email address and he will send you reports

Good luck making the right decisions


Warm Regards,
C.

*
(: have an awesome day :)
*

A.
As a nutritionist you already know the answer to the vaccines. You do not have to put toxins into your baby!
Please do some more research...you will see there are many, many parents out there who have chosen what THEY want for their children and not what is being dictated. Toxins=Poison, and more importantly sets the stages environmentally inside your child all kinds of immune problems down the road
I wish you the best
D. K

Hi A., I totally understand your concern as well. I have a nine month old little boy, Benjamin. The thought of pumping his body full of medicine did not sit well at all. My husband and I sought the help of a nutrionist and she had a new baby as well. The schedule we have done is one that is highly recommended. It is one shot at a time spaced out so their little bodies can process it. There are also some wonderful vitamins and supplements to boost their immune system before and after every shot. Benjamin has done awesome with this schedule and our pediatrition is awesome and has let us. So... if you would like the schedule please let me know and I will get it all to you. GOod luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello A.! It is a tough decision to make. You want to trust the American Academy of Pediatrics, but then sometimes things just happen. For instance, my 9 month old did not receive her Roto Virus vaccine at all and PCV (Pneumococcal) until after 8 months. My pediatrician is "old school" and is hesitant to give the newer vaccines such as these that were only made in 2006. THe problem with the Roto Virus is that thousands or babies died from it when something occurred with their intestines. THe have now fixed the problem, but who knows how these will affect them later in life...they have not been studied for long enough. PCV was supposed to be given at 2, 4 and 6 months. My doc gives it after 8 months because he believes that giving more than 3 vaccinations at a time is unnecessary and could be hurtful to the child. I have teetered back and forth between my beliefs in modern medicine and my docs old beliefs. Then the nurse informed us that she has been a patient of his since she was a child. Also, I thought of how myself and everyone I know is healthy and has survived without all of these vaccinations back in our day. Its ultimately your decision. Do your research, weigh your options and I am sure no matter what you decide, it will be the right choice. Good luck!

I am selectively vaccinating my 3rd son, now 2 1/2 months, with only the state required vac's. Because of a family history of autoimmune disorders and 2 nephews with autism, I do not feel that the benifits of early vaccination outweigh the risks for us. I am delaying all of them until he's 2 yrs, maybe even 3, when I will start the selective schedule. I will be only getting 1 vaccine at a time and spacing them 3 months apart. A good book to read is The Vaccine Book by Dr Robert Sears - it presents the facts in a non-bias opinion and gives alternate schedules you can follow.

Your non-vaccinated child is not putting the other vaccinated children at risk! When not vaccinating, you do accept the risk that your child could potentially get one of the illnesses, but for the average person, there is not a great risk. Also, no state can mandate vaccines - there is ALWAYS a way to get out of them, and no child can be witheld from attending school b/c it if. That is not to say that you will not be given a hard time about it, most people don't know the laws. For the government to mandate them puts them responsible for any negative outcomes from the vaccine and the repercussions of that.

Dr. Robert Sears wrote a book on Vaccines. "The Vaccine Book" I would look into it.

I know you have tons of responses here, but I figured I would give you another source...I really enjoyed a book by Dr. Sears, "The Vaccine Book". It gives you several different alternate vaccine schedules along with a lot of great information about which vaccines have the lowest levels of aluminum. He also discusses not vaccinate, partial vaccination, complete vaccination, and alternate timeline vaccination. This is a very tough decision and get as much information as you can!! Good luck with your decision and the new baby!!

Good luck with your research. It's a tough issue made worse by media preying on scare tactics to sell news. Just remember, if you don't vaccinate, your child cannot attend most schools or daycares, and if you like to travel (or even leave the house) you will be exposing your little one to all sorts of potential diseases. As for the autism-link, Thimerosol has been removed from the measels vaccine in the U.S., but I think it may be used in the flu vaccine. You could try asking your child's pediatrician for the documentation for each upcoming round of vaccines so that you can have time to make the decision before you're in the office, otherwise, they just sort of overwhelm you with the information while you're there.