Anyone Follow the Dr. Sears Vaccine Schedule Versus the Regular Schedule?

I haven't read his book but I am familiar with his work and his vaccine schedule. There are several children in our family that are Autistic. We have talked about this many a time. I have ended up slowing down the shots for my kids. I had to switch doctors because the old one had a nurse that tried to slip in shots when I hadn't given permission. I don't do the shot for chicken pox and I have the MMR split up. There are several others I don't do but can't name them off the top of my head. One of my other concerns is that some vaccines are made from cell lines from aborted babies. That just makes me sick so I try to find alternatives ones that aren't. Vaccines wear me out!

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way to go for researching such a messy topic! first of all...your child doesn't have to be vaccinated to go to school. anyone who tells you that is wrong and hasn't researched much at all. you don't have to put anything into their body that you don't want to. a waiver will probably have to be signed..but they just have to be "up to date". that can mean either have the vaccine or have the signed form saying you've declined the vaccine.
we're following a delayed and only partial schedule. and actually are pretty much following the 1983 schedule. its commonly used as its much smaller then todays schedule but covers the older and more well known vaccines. many people will tell you to delay at least two years since they really don't need these things and they're still developing so quickly in that time. in the end there is no right answer. there is risk involved on both sides of the issue... you'll have to choose what you find to be best for your child and family. best of luck!

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I am following a modified Dr. Sears schedule. I took his schedule, as well as one from another book I read by Dr. Stefanie Cave, and made up my own schedule based on what I learned from both books. I have delayed several vaccinations, and skipped some all together. My pediatrician has been absolutely wonderful about working with me on this - he believes that I should be comfortable with whatever I decide, and strongly believes that we should all be responsible for making our OWN decisions for our children. I would absolutely recommend following your gut instinct on this and go with a schedule that you feel comfortable with - not one that your Dr. decides is right for you.

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I haven't followed his schedule, but with our youngest, I never let them give her more than 2 at a time, and we just go in every month to stay on track. That has worked out well for us, and we have had very few adverse side effects. I would recommend this to anyone who wants their children to be immunized, but doesn't want them to have 4 to 5 needle pokes per doctors visit. :)

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Both my kids did it the way the doctors recomend . Because once they start school you need to have them current on shots other wise they can be very picky . I know all the warnings about certain shots . Both my children are healthy kids .

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I follow a modified version of the Dr. Sears Vaccine schedule.

I only allow one vaccination at a time separated by a month from the last vaccination and only when my son is healthy. I only do what I am comfortable with because I know two teenagers who were normal before shots and had horrible reactions and became mentally incapable to function. I also have a friend who's daughter had a horrible reaction and they were not able to wake her after her round of shots, so I choose to protect my children from that. Good job considering an alternate schedule then you are thinking about protecting your children too.

I started my daughter on Dr. Sears' alternative schedule when she was 6 months and our ped has been fine about it. We had to adjust the schedule when she was sick but it hasn't been hard - luckily things slow down after they're 18 months. Some people delay the very early ones but those are the ones that newborns (at least ones going in daycare or traveling alot) really need in my opinion, like rotavirus. When that went around our daycare, my daughter had just a couple loose diapers and threw up once in the course of 1 day while those that aren't vaccinated can have diarrhea for 10 days and get dehydrated. But you stay at home so that might not concern you at all....Our ped didn't mind seeing that we were educating ourselves and willing to come in to the clinic when we need to. What I learned is that the regular vax schedule is to minimize parents' trips to the clinics and to make sure the masses of people are vaccinated to improve public health. What each individual family decides is their responsibility. Good luck!

hi- we are using it with our 2nd child. We go to Southdale Peds and they have been fine with it. They just have a copy of the schedule in his file- just to show that that is what we want. We didn't do it with our first child, so this is new to us as well. Our son is 7.5 mons- the only 'issue' we've had is that in between one of his doses he was sick- so I didn't want to do shots as well, and that resulted in getting us off a month.

Hello!
My son just turned 2 and I started him on the Dr. Sears schedule when he was about a year old... late I know but I didn't read the book until after he was born. I wish I would have known about it before he was born. But anyway, we are doing it now and his dr. has no issues with it at all. My son is doing great and I think it is a good thing to not give more than 2 shots at a time. Let me know if you have any other questions!
L. L.

We didn't follow the Dr Sears schedule, but we did delay vaccines and follow our own schedule. I didn't alllow any shots until 6mos, then only one at a time and at least 2mos apart and no MMR until age 3. No chicken pox until needed for school if they didn't get it, and no Hep A at all.

I have been doing a modified Dr. Sears schedule since my daughter was born in Dec 07. I have a great pediatrician that doesn't mind at all, and doesn't pressure me to conform to the "normal" shot progression (Dr. Arispe). From what I gather, lots of doctor's don't like it when you deviate, but Dr. Arispe isn't like that at all.

Have you been to the mothering.com discussion forums? They have a vaccination discussion group. Lots of parents who have chosen selective or delayed vaccination schedules participate and can relate their experiences to you. We did full vax (mostly because we travel internationally a lot) but my sister did selective vax with some delayed. She interviewed peds before her 1st child was born and that was one of the criteria.

Hi, I am not familiar with Dr. Sears' schedule, but we delayed a lot of my son's shots and have so far skipped some altogether. I picked my pediatrician based on the fact that I knew she would be fine with my choice. She gives me the information she needs to as a medical professional but also understands why I have made the choice I have and is supportive of it. However, I have spoken to MANY health care professionals who have basically told me in no uncertain terms that I am a horrible parent for not having my child vaccinated. I do not regret my decision at all. You are not required to have your child vaccinated in order to go to school or daycare but some daycares might refuse to take your child (if you ever decided to use a daycare) if he/she isn't vaccinated. You just have to sign a form saying that your child is not to be vaccinated for personal reasons. My child is perfectly healthy. The choice is not always an easy one and whatever choice you make, you need to be comfortable with it. Good luck!

I follow my own schedule- similar to another posters: never giving multiple shots together, always separating out the shots like MMR and leaving 1 month in between shots. Skipping some like Rotavirus- it's too new and I think unneccesary. My dr is not 100% ok with it but doens't give me too much grief and says she has other patients that delay shots or follow alternative schedules. Just stand your ground, do what you believe is right and if your dr doesn't cooperate- find another.

i requested that from my doctor and he gave me a response about 'protocol' and his hands being tied.
you have to call your clinic and talk to administration - about the vaccination schedule that they require as protocol. meet with them if you can and present the schedule that you want.

good luck. if more people did this, we wouldnt have to work so hard. if anyone else you know is interested in the same schedule and goes to the same clinic, bring them with you or have them go at a different time and request the same thing. the more pressure we put on administration, the more we should see things start to change.