MMR Vaccine?? Do You or Don't You?

M., just be ware when you approach the pediatrician with the issue of vaccinations. Just 2 days ago my daughter (2 months old) had her checkup and my Ped flipped out when I told him of my decision to not vaccinate my kids anymore. He went as far as calling me stupid and telling me to go find another doctor. My choice is for a couple reasons, but mainly religious. I figure if God made our bodies, and God made the foods we eat (we eat whole, natural foods, not junk or McDonalds) then we're not putting anything else in our bodies that God didn't make. However, of all the friends I have, 2 kids have autism, and neither showed signs of it until after the vaccines were finished. If you do vaccinate, watch your child carefully. Work with them now on social and motor skills and it will be less likely that anything will show up.
~in love and light~
Deanna

I was concerned about the vacs as well so I delayed my last baby's shots. She didn't receive some until going into preschool and Kindergarten. My second baby had a couple of seizures at just a couple days old and was in the NICU for 4 days - I really think it was from the Hepatitis vac., but the docs disagree. Of course. Nothing wrong with delaying some of the vacs!

Get the shot - there is little research, that is solid research, out there that links it to autism! In fact, being an educator I can tell you that I have some students with autism in my class (present and past) that did not get the shot, and were still diagnosed later in life. In the grand scheme of things, wouldn't you rather a healthy child over a sick chld. Autism is not the end of the world - in fact all of the autistic children I have been blessed to meet are actually more fascinating that the "norm".

In the end, the decision is yours, but please don't think that autism is a death sentence - after all she is your child and you will love her no matter what, right? So at least assure that she is able to be as healthy as possible!

1 in 1000 die that get measles. Mumps can cause sterility in males. Rubella causes severe birth defects. There is no link from MMR or mercury preservative to autism. You decide.

I am a first time mum too and I had concerns, especially with having a nephew who is autistic. I gave my concerns to my pediatrician and she assured me that the mercury that was once in vaccinations is no longer there. My son has had all his vaccinations. I figure some of the things that he is vaccinated against can be life threatening, so it is best to get them.

Hi M.,
Not too long ago I was in the same boat as you. (My son just turned three). I have extensive training in working with children w/ Autism, so I have for years advised parents that there is "no link between Autism and the MMR". However, after becoming a parent (who has family members w/ autism) I changed my stance.
Most medical associations and autism researchers agree, "there is not a link between autism and the MMR, yet." We do know that the MMR does not make a child Autistic. We do not however know if a child is genetically predisposed to Autism, what environmental triggers might actually begin the process.
Perhaps the combination of the three vaccinations (I believe there is even a fourth component option right now), the bombardment on the developing immune system, or the perservatives used in the vaccination. Perhaps other things in the environment are more crucial triggers...
After years (seriously, this was part of my undergrad and graduate work) of research, we decided to hold off on the MMR until our son was 2.5 years old. Currently, where we live, the risk of contracting Measles, Mumps, or Rubella are very low. So we felt it was worth the risk. At 2.5, our son hadn't had any other vaccinations for 6 months and I knew he didn't show any of the markers for Autism.
It's a personal choice...and whatever you decide, feel confident in your decision. Don't be swayed or allow yourself to be disheartended by your choice. You're doing what you perceive to be best for your child.
Good Luck,
Please feel free to contact me if you'd like more specific information.
M.

If your doctor is part of a big practice and can afford it they may split the vaccine for you upon request. Just ask- there are doctors out there who still do it. I recently requested for my doctor to order them seperately for our upcoming appt. If not, your doctor is not the only person who can give your child vaccines. You can also go to the health department in most cities and receive vaccines. Sometimes they are even free if you have low income.

YES!!!!!!!! The dangers of these childhood diseases are MUCH worse than the possible side effects ( unless there is a specific health problem) of the vaccines. DO NOT count on herd immunity, as more people don't take the vaccine, there will not be any herd immunity. There was an outbreak of measles in Britian because of reduced vaccination. The only reason you are even considering this is because you have not seen the consequences of the diseases. Read about the diseases ( NOT the unproven autism claim) to see how devastating they can be ( deafness, even death). Please Vaccinate!!!!!! Ask you doctor to tell you about what can happen with the diseases. ( or ask your grandmother or any other older person who remembers before these vaccines)

I too was concerned about the MMR, mostly because when they give it at the 12 month well baby visit, they also give 4 other vaccines. That's too many at one time, in my opinion. I have 2 children and when the time came for the MMR vaccine, I asked the pediatrician if they could split it up. In other words, neither child received the MMR. Instead, they received three different vaccines, each a month apart - a measles vaccination, a mumps vaccination, and a rubella vaccination. And since you had to order them in advance at our office, the vaccines were given without any others so their little bodies weren't overburdened with processing all those vaccines. I don't know if it mattered in the long run but I felt better about it. Good luck!