Vaccinations Causing ADHD And/or Autism?

I have 5 children ages 21, 19, 8, 5 & 2. All have been vaccinated. My 8 yr old and my 5yr are autistic. I personally do not feel that the vacianations are a cause of it, I could tell that there was something wrong with my daughter just days after she was born. I sometimes wonder if it is enviormental issues that can cause i, I have read many articles stating this and therefore with my own personal experiences I feel that this may be more of a cause of autism than vacinations. My two oldest children who are NT were born in Paradise California, my two children that are autistic were born in Crescent City Ca. Lastly my 2 yr old was born in S. oregon and he also is NT. Only the two born on the coast have autism. When my 5 yr old daughter started school she was not allowed to continue school after about 2 weeks as she was in need of one shot so I dont know what the laws are regarding school attendance. Ive never had to deal with that part of it. I would continue to research all that you can and good luck.

My daughter is three and a half, and the only shot she has had is her vitamin K she got the day she was born.

We've decided to put off her vaccinations until she is old enough to go to school. There is a much lower chance of side effects when they are a little older.

Also, we are only getting the ones required by law.

Hey T.,
First I want to tell you a story that was told to me when I was pregnant by mid wife. She told me a story of an old patient of hers, she came to her pregnant and brought her older daughter whom was autistic. My mid-wife was hesitent on
performing a home birth because of the added risk. Her patient then brought in a video of her daughter before she had her first vaccinations. She was completely different, her patient said that the change was immediate, right after the vaccine was administered she notice her baby start to change. It was heart breaking.
I know that this is not the case every time a vaccine is administered but if you have the gene somewhere down the line you are more susseptible to it. In my family my cousin has down syndrome so I did not feel comfortable taking the chance. So I made the choice against the vaccines.

Now a year and 9 months after Cadence was born at my moms home, she has seen a doctor 4 times. Once after she was a week old, one month old, 6 months & once when she had the stomache flu around 2 weeks ago. She has never had any vaccinations. I work full time and she is in day care 1 day a week the rest of the week she's with my family. She is a very healthy, smart, playfull and happy. She has no problem communicating and zips thru the flash cards meant for 3 year old.
Cadence's daddy said it best "if it's not broke than, don't try to fix it".

Make an educated choice.

Thank God you (we)live in America. The majority of children are vaccinated. So if your child were in a classroom or a daycare, she would probably be safe.

Just a few tips. The mercury is not in the infant shot, but it is a preservative in the childhood shot. It's not in all shots only one (ask your Dr.). The main problem with mercury is that it's a neurotoxin. But, there are preservatives in other shots such as flu shots that people also think are linked to autism.

I think you'll find that most people that claim there is a link between the preservatives (not the immunizations themselves) and autism are moms of kids who have autism, organic fanatics, and natureopath fanatics. It seems to me like they feed off of each other about diet, nutrition, and then of course the immunization thing as a thing to blame autism on. And it seems very obsessive to me. Just my personal opinion of some moms who struggle to understand and come to a conclusion about WHY their child has autism.

My experience:
My son has a neurological disorder and he's been through intensive chemotherapy. His medical care is managed by a team of top pediatric doctors in the country. When he was done with chemo they instructed me to wait 6 months and then get him re-immunized. They didn't instruct me to avoid the mercury or the preservatives even though he already had enough neurological problems. When I asked them why they weren't prudent with their instructions, the head Dr. said that it is because there is no factual link between the two. He further explained that the main reason why people blame immunizations is because the odd behaviors of autism can become most apparent during the toddler years, and that's when the majority of immunizations are given. I also worked for the head Dr. of the State of Oregon (a major organic fanatic state) who wrote and directed protocol for the care of medically fragile children, intensive behavior children (primarily autistic). She also educated many Dr.s and parents about how there is no factual link between the two. These are both people who care about children and would jump on it, if they were convinced that the claims where legit.

So, I take all of this in myself... and I try to listen to the arguments from both sides. And this is what I personally have come to: I decided to have my children immunized.

As far as my son goes. I had already decided to put him through chemotherapy. In chemo there are preservatives and chemicals that have huge side effects long term and short term. Because he went through the chemo, he's considered immune compromised for another 5 years. Regardless of the fact that just about everyone around him is already immunized, I wanted him to be covered also.

He does display sensory processing trouble, he's hyper, he's aggressive, and his behavior is hard to handle. But, the Docs keep telling me he's an absolute miracle and they are impressed and amazed by his tenacity to make up for lost time. He faught for his life and boy oh boy does he have the strong will to match it. I wouldn't call him autistic or Aspergers... but, still I'm learning the same skills (and using them) that parents of those kinds of kids use to manage their intense needs. And I don't blame his behavior at all on the immunizations. It's clear to me that the brain tumor, some of the side effects of chemo, and all of the medical fear and trauma that he went through contribute to his difficult behavior.

Kids get symptoms of things like autism, or allergies, or hyper sensitivity, for many reasons. So many in-fact that that's why I don't buy into the immunization arguement. Seems like a lot of parents of autistic kids also go a little over board about the "food allergy" argument. But, from what I learned when Hunter was on a G-tube and receiving intrevanous nutrition (which probably has preservatives in it), is that it kept him alive, brought him back to life, and nourished him. Everything we eat or comes into our bodies breaks down into the same basic vitamins, minerals, and fats. And God gave us a liver and kidneys for a reason. Hunters are tested regularly and everything tests out fine. They are doing what they should. Even when it came to his body processing the Big Gun chemicals or those immunizations, his body did what it should.

Isn't all of the analysis about immunizations, organic foods, alternative medicines, and narrowing down food allergies all about trying to answer the question: Why is my child behaving this way?

For me, I'll never know WHY Hunter got a brain tumor. His was so rare and the only link that's been proven is to depleted uranium from the mine fields over seas. There's a lot of kids over there getting the same kind of brain tumor that live among the mine fields. Where the heck around my house is a mine field of depleated uranium??? And also for the rest of the kids in America that have been diagnosed. I asked the Dr.s if it was my fault because I ate Reeses peanut butter cups (which have preservatives in them) a little too much when I was prego with him. And I asked them if it was because I ate processed food sometimes... and I drank non-organic milk. They reassured me that it wasn't my fault and that there are women who have healthy children who are FAR FAR FAR worst off than me. No matter how hard we try, sometimes there is nothing to blame. What is... just is...

And with that, I also had my new baby daughter immunized. She's absolutely wonderful and normal. I personally think that this immunization/autism thing is similar to lung cancer and cancer in general. Why would someone who has never smoked a day in their life get lung cancer, yet someone who has smoked more than a pack a day, and cigarrs, and drinks, live till they are 99 without a lick of cancer. Every body's body is different. I think that some kids are just going to be prone or lean toward displaying autistic symptoms whether or not they are immunized.

And if by any chance there is a valid link discovered some day, we should also consider how many children (the majority) where not effected at all and look more into why some where pre-disposed to react that way and so many were not. So, I'm not dismissing it all together.

I hope you appreciated some of my thoughts and experience. I too am a mom that has spent some time weighing this issue. And I just wanted to share how I arrived to my decision.

God bless you on this one, may He make his daily direction clear, YM

hello...i'm so glad to share my thoughts on not vaccinating your kids...its so rare, but that is exactly what I've done. i have two boys that are 6 months and 26 months...i have not vaccinated them at all....i have done my own research and am getting ready to start school to be a naturopathic doctor....I firstly want to say I'm so proud of you to that you are questioning vaccinating your children..if your worried about your childrens health...dont be....my kids have never had a sick day in theyre lives that includes earaches...i get compliments all the time on how well behaved they are and calm and mature compared to other children...the trick is that you keep theyre immune system strong so that theyre bodies can fight off all sickness....i get all my information from a naturopathic doctor who is also a chiropractor and he has 8 children and they were all born at home and he has not vaccinated any of them, i know its very hard to talk to anyone about these issues...i have found alot of help going to certain websites to keep me positive...here are a few to get you started.

http://healthtruthrevealed.com/search-results.php

this one is the actual site to print off exemption form to give to your schools or daycare its basically showing that you refuse to inflict harm on your children and that you morally believe its wrong to do it..
http://www.unhinderedliving.com/statevaccexemp.html

i know that if my kids are healthy i can put them in an environment such as daycare where they wont catch colds or other sicknesses from other children, which it is common for other vaccinated children to be sick 10 to 12 times a year, Again ..my kids have never had a sick day in theyre lives. It is definitely a battle you will have to fight with schools daycare and other health practitioners. i have heard lots of horrible things from people including family members, just be strong and educate yourself. one of the things i give my kids every day is a product called vibe...I've decided to sell it because i want to tell other parents about how great of a product it is...it gives everyones body what it needs to heal itself. my site is

http://www.enivamembers.com/?ID=lritz

and the product is called vibe there is a product called vibe junior, i just give my kids half an ounce of vibe 2.0 which is what i take so we can all take the same thing its got a great berry flavor that my boys both love if you want you can put it in diluted juice so you can mix and match different flavors...but anyway this is one of the longest e-mails i have ever written...i wish you the best and pray that you stay positive about not giving vaccinations....here are some more sites...

http://www.909shot.com/

http://www.mercola.com/2004/oct/30/mercury_vaccines_medic...

well i wish you the best I'll let you go now...bye... let me know how things turn out...
another concerned mother, L. Lee Ritz

I haven't really got anything to add- just wanted to say that one of the first responders said something about if you choose to get one vaccine the schools make you get them all- and that's not 100% true- my daughter (almost 7) got everything except the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine for kindergarten- mainly because I wouldn't let them do the 5 in one shot so they gave her 6 shots in one day and varicella was optional in CA (which is where we lived when we got the shots) so I opted to not traumatize her with that one. (they didn't have that one when she was a baby- my younger two got it as infants) Plus I had heard it was not 100% effective in prevention and I would rather her get it as a child than as an adult, etc. When we moved to WA, varicella was on the standard shot list and I just told them I chose not to get it and they were fine with it.
I have heard now though that they are making it a requirement for new kindergarteners this year or next.

I don't know if autism is linked to vaccines or not. My 5 year old son is developmentally delayed with some signs of aspergers syndrome (a much milder form of autism). Did it start after his vaccines? Who's to know. He never had any big CHANGE that I noticed, he just never became quite like other 5 year old boys. His sisters have had the same vaccinations (minus the chicken pox for his older sister) and are both 100% normal and healthy. Personally- I'd rather risk autism than the kinds of illnesses those vaccines can prevent. I have worked with a lot of autistic children and there are all kinds of options for them- therapies and centers and the like to help "find them" again. I have seen kids in some of those centers- after three years they are almost like regular kids again. And they are the joy of their parents lives. What causes autism is as unknown as what causes any other random "fluke" defect. It's not "supposed" to happen. Young women are not "supposed" to have Down Syndrome children because they aren't at risk until they are 35, right? I was 21 when I had my first child- born terminally ill from some random chromosome defect that obviously she wasn't "supposed" to have. We all want someone to blame when our kids aren't "perfect" but there is no blame. As someone else said, what is... just IS.

If you're going to panic about immunizations causing autism, you better not ever give your kid a hot dog either- they cause brain tumors.

Hello T.,

I am just like you in the questions about vaccines and autism or any other disease of brain altering effect.

Here below is all the information I have found on vaccines. Right now, my hubby and I are discussing this very topic and what to do with our 15.5 month old twin girls.

God Bless,
M.

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http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/ingredie.html

http://locator.overture.com/locator/d/search/p/yahoo/xml/...

1. WildChildMagazine: http://www.wildchildmagazine.com/display.php?id=28&la...
2. What is wrong with Immunizations: http://www.medicalpoint.com.au/what-is-wrong-with-immuniz...
3. Slate.com: http://www.slate.com/id/2123647
4. Mercola on vaccines: http://www.mercola.com/2004/mar/31/mercury_vaccines.htm
5. Mothering Mag: http://www.mothering.com/articles/growing_child/vaccines/...
6. Pro Flu Shot while Pregnant: http://en.allexperts.com/q/ObGyn-Pregnancy-issues-1007/fl...
7. Con Flue Shot while Pregnant: http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/10/vaccine_pregnant.htm
8. Moms Aganist Mercury: http://www.momsagainstmercury.org/index.htm
9. Dads Against Mercury: http://www.dadsagainstmercury.org/
10. The CDC: Centers for Deceit Control: http://www.mercola.com/2006/may/18/the_cdc_centers_for_de...

Hope these help make your decision better?

I know how you feel. I had the same concerns as I had heard all the controversy as well and happen to be an RN. I know how the medical system works and how close minded main stream medicine can be. I did let me daughter be vaccinated but I didn't have them all bunched together and I waited for her to have the MMR until she was 2 or later. My daughter has High Functioning Autism. I do not know if vaccines are responsible or not. She did not have the regression after a vaccine or any bad reactions. SHe just stopped progressing past 2-3 words sentences. She does have an immune deficiency that her DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) doctor says is vaccine induced. She also has a toxic mercury load in her system that likely came from vaccines. They say there is a genetic component and an environmental component. At a conference I attended they gave the example, "The gun is loaded (genetic component) and then something causes the gun to go off (environmental factor)." I also learned at the conference that they may say childhood vaccines are mercury free but a chemist from Kentucky, Dr. Boyd Haley, sent vaccine bottles taken from pediatrician's offices and sent them to an independent lab for testing. They were the "mercury free" vaccine bottles. They came back with mercury in them. The bottles had the word "stabilizer" on them. Very misleading. Also, the reason mercury is not in the MMR vaccine is the virus is a "live" virus and mercury kills it! The MMR is a problem for some kids because it is such a large amount of virus at once and it is live. Some kids like mine had an immune deficiency and just can't handle it. So if further destroys their immune system. Until further notice, she will not be receiving anymore vaccines. Like I said, I do not blame vaccines for her autism as I just don't know. Looking back, I would demand that her vaccines be given one at a time, at least a month apart and not give her any multiple (3 in 1 shot) vaccines together like the MMR, DPT. They are available in single injections though very hard to find. So what if she has to have 10 shots instead of 4. She's a baby and won't remember. At least one at a time a month apart you'll know if she has a reaction which vaccine caused it. Do your research. Great websites are TACAnow.com. autismwebsite.com (ARI Autism Research Institute). danwebcast.com shows the speakers on video at dan conferences talking about many subjects. You can probably find one of Dr. Boyd Haley's. It's a difficult decision but be informed. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me gotta run and get her off to school. We hope that we can recover our daughter from autism (loss of the diagnosis). It is possible but takes a lot of therapy and a great deal of money.

B.

Ultimately it is your choice. But me and my sisters have had all the vaccinations and none of us is autistic nor has ADHD. My older son is 9 and he has had up to date vaccinations. It has probably saved his life because he was always getting respiratory infections because he had moderately severe asthma. And he doesn't have autism nor ADHD.
I firmly believe that the vaccines help to make sure our kids dont get too overwhelmed by disease.
I'm a nurse and I have seen what diseases, which are totally preventable, can do to children. I've always believed that prevention is the key to good health. There is something skewed about the present health care system which puts too much emphasis and relies too much on curing disease instead of preventing them. I know this would be bad for my job security but I think I prefer to see a society where the populace is healthy - and vaccination is one way to achieve this.

I think it's great that you are questioning whether vaccinating is safe or not. I chose not to vax my kids. They are fine. I don't have fears that they're going to get chicken pox and die. The dr. gave me a really bad time about it. Made me feel like I wanted my kids to die or something. BUT he told me at the last well check that my girls are the healthiest patients he has.

I did my research. I got the information I needed to feel comfortable with my decision. The information from the dr & the cdc is propaganda designed to make you feel like vaxing is the right thing to do. They try to discredit any study that shows anything other than what they want you to believe. They prey upon your emotions and get you to make an emotional decision. Of course you wouldn't take chances with your child's health! Every parent's decision to vax or not is made with the same best intentions for their child.

I ask you this... do you trust pharmacutical companies to have your best interest at heart? One example is Vioxx. Merck is being sued for billions over that one that they KNEW was harmful and they put it on the market anyway. Merck makes vaccines. They are the ones who just put the new one on the market that is supposed to protect our little girls from HPV and cervical cancer. Who knows what the long term complications from that one will be?

I reccomend that you do research until you feel comfortable with your decision, whatever that may be. Look at www.mercola.com. search for vaccine and you'll get LOTS of information. www.nvic.org is a good one too. And I highly reccomend a dvd by dr. sherri tenpenny called "Vaccines: What CDC Documents and Science Reveal". That dvd is what solidfied my decision. It's plain english, just facts, no propoganda.

if you dedide not to vax, your kids can still go to school, daycare, etc. you just have to sign a waiver.

if you have any other questions, feel free to message me.

i had the same questions so my husband did some research (he reads like every science mag. out there) what he found was that there was a study that was released saying that vaccines cause autism well research into the study found that there was falsification of data as well as a lack of a control group a later study performed correctly found that this was not true vaccines do not cause autism and remember the only reason that average life expectancy has gone up is because vaccines have dramatically reduced infant and juvenile deaths. Please get your child vaccinated

I chose not to vacc. my 3 year old son. I think too that there is a high correlation between autism and mercury. As others have said they did remove the thermosol several years ago, but you still don't know if they're using old shots or not. Someone else also mentioned to never use the 5 in 1 shots, I've heard that as well. You can ALWAYS send your child to school, camps, preschool etc. without shots. There is a waver that will allow you to say it's against your personal beliefs or religion. You can't discriminate against someone's religious beliefs in the US. All of my younger siblings were not vacc., and they've still attended public school, snow board camp, girlscout camp, etc. Do a little research from the natural health side and decide what's best for your family. :)

As far as I know, you can refuse to vaccinate your child for any reason you choose. Your child cannot be vaccinated if you don't sign the forms, so if you don't sign, no shots. Also, the only excusable reason for school enrollment to not vaccinate is for religious purposes or something similar. I could be wrong on this, but I think as far as public school is concerned, that it cannot be that you simply "don't want to". I have read an article on this when my son was an infant...if I can find it, i'll send it to you, but it was about 2 years ago. In this particular article it said that most of the shots they are using now don't use poisons like mercury anymore. there was one more chemical that I think it highlighted that I believe the article said as only being used in very few shots now...it highlighted the flu shot as being one of those few.
I do not agree with the way our government works...not requiring us to give our kids shots, but then requiring them for admittence to school...and jail time for parent who don't send their kids to school...but there's little I can do to change that...too bad. I cannot offer you advice on Autism, but as far as ADHD goes, there is a lot of help out there...from both advertised sources such as counselors and psychiatrists, as well as those of us with personal experience. I have ADHD that was not diagnosed until I was 19 year old and in College. By then I had learned lots of ways to cope with this problem i had that everyone told me i didn't have. Since then i have learned many more ways to deal with it. In some ways, I am glad to have it because I would not be the same person I am today and probably not in the same place. ADHD can be dealt with although it can be trying at times. and the person with ADHD can lead a very normal life with no drugs to control it.

I recently conducted a presentation at my university regarding a study in Japan where the MMR vaccine had been withdrawn from use in 1993 as a result of fears that there was a link between it and the spike in diagnosis of autism. In this longitudinal study, they studied children in Japan and found despite the withdrawl of the MMR vaccine, cases of autism remained on the rise. It had been determined that it is not the vaccine that causes autism. And as far as mercury is concerned, it is no longer used as a preservative for vaccinations.

I have heard, that you can opt out of vaccinating for religious reasons. I decided to do it, and my daughter is fine. I understand your concerns, as I would be too. I do have a friend who has two autistic children and she belives it is linked to that. I would talk to your doctor about your concerns.

Hello,
I really struggled with this question as well. What I decided to do was to give her the vaccinations for things that could kill her if she caught them. I asked myself, what would be best for her to get polio or to have a slim, possible, probably not get autism. It's still a hard question to answer. I did however opt out of the Hep B vaccine because of how it is transmitted and knowing that at 2 my daughter won't be partaking in any of those activities. It is such a hard decision, this is just what I decided but it isn't necesarily right for everyone.
A.

My advice would to be cautious. ask about the vaccines and if they have thimerasol and space them out. dontgive you child the 5 in 1 shouts ask that they spread each shot out. I think it is a little rought to subject them to so many at one time. thier little bodies need time to deal with each one. But vaccinations are important. My son is autistic but he wont get rubella and go deaf or die. it is really more risky to not vaccinate. but i think as time progresses trying to make things easier makes things more risky. as in the 5 in 1 shots. With my 2 year old I insisted that he be given one shot at a time. They wanted him to have the pdiarix shot as well as his polio and something else all on the same day. that is 7 vacinations at once and that just seemed extreme for thier immune systems. any how that is my advice. I am tired so I hope it makes sense. good luck

Im a Hospice Nurse and I can tell you that all the research that had been done has pointed to. Vacines are not causing ADHD. It is hereditary. I have it so both my kids will. my sons father has it, his brothers, sister, and so on. ADHD is not caused from there shots. Mercury was removed years ago, and it still hasnt proved that was the cause. I know alot of people have there own reasons for not getthing the shots but I feel its better to have them done. As for the schools, there are alot of schools that will NOT allow your children in unless they have had there shots. And they can do this buy local laws. When we moved here they said my kids needed to have the Hep A shots, not needed in Ohio. That if I didnt get them done, they wouldn't allow my children to attend classes. That I would have to home school them. So do your research, talk to your Doctor, your local schools and make your decision. Only you can decide what you want for your child.

T.,
I have two boys diagnosed with autism so this issue is, as you stated, very heated.
Be assured that because of this, a LOT of pediatricians are using mercury-free vaccinations and if not, you can request them. If they try to charge you more for them - might be time to change doctors. They should not.
I go to a great practice in Encino, that uses mercury free shots, if you're interested!
Have a great day..
Jen

Well I am a teacher and a new mom of a 5 month old. I too worried about the same thing, however, I am willing to take the risks and get my daughter immunized. ADHD and Autism are functioning diabilities. I would rather my child live with them than get a disease or disability that cannot be lived with.
As far as the school/immunization thing goes, you do NOT have to have your immunizations records with the school. I havent done it myself, but I heard there is an option to decline immunizations for "religious reasons" so it exempts your child from the issue in public schools.Hope that helps...it's a tough issue.

i dont know where u r getting ur school info. i have lived in about 7 states. and every state that i attended school or had my children attend have always asked for their shot records. a few time we had to get more vaccinations for them to attend. i have 3 beautiful children whose shots r up to date and NO ADHD problems due to vaccinations.
talk to ur family doctor. dont believe everything u read on the internet. believe the doctor that went to school for close to a decade and choose from that.

There are now vaccines that don't contain mercury. I don't know anyone personally that has ever had a bad experience or health problem from a vaccine. I am up-to-date on my vaccinations and I vaccinate my son. The thing about vaccines is that they PREVENT life threatening illnesses that run rampant in third-world countries. We have the technology and medical expertise and can afford to avoid these diseases so why put yourself and your child at risk?

Here's an example. My dad got polio as a kid. He didn't get vaccinated. His whole life he has suffered from weakened muscles and leg cramps. Polio is still around, but it's now considered under control thanks to proper vaccinations. Why risk a resurgence of horrible preventable dieases?

I was a school nurse in Vancouver, WA two years ago and parents are allowed to enroll children in school even if they are not vaccinated. Parents are allowed to refuse them based on medical/religious reasons. But as a nurse, I feel that the benefits of a vaccine highly outweighs the slight risks of the vaccine. As a parent I was also told this, but it was not from anyone in the health care field. In fact they told me that there is no real evidence that ADHD and Autism are caused by the vaccines. It is a personal choice though. I hope this helps a little bit.

Hi T.,

I completely understand your concerns! My husband and I have temporary custody of my 11 year old brother who has autism. Since David has come into our home we have spent many hours researching this issue. This is what we have found. At this time 1 out of every 166 children in America has been diagnosed with autism. This number does not include other spectrum disorders or ADHD.
Here are some websites you can look at to help you with your decision on whether to vaccinate. tacanow.com and cureautismnow.com.

Autism is quickly becoming an epidemic in this country and if the reasons that cause this and a cure are not found soon it will get worse.

Good luck

S.

i too had this fear, and i talked to my ped about their shots (of course she said there is no link) and i went ahead and did it. with no problems. but my nephew had his, and really soon after he got really sick and was in icu for a while and after he got better he was different. he was a perfectly normal toddler, and now he is autistic. so i don't know if there is a link, but i do know that i will make sure to talk to my doc again before i get my daughter one. i do have to say, i think its more dangerous not to get their shots because of the things they could be exposed to. and the only shot that is thought to be linked is the mmr shot they get around 2. i've never heard anything bad about the other shots, and no one i know has ever had problems with those. i like knowing my child is less likely to get those diseases out there that are deadly. i could never forgive myself if they contracted something that could have been prevented. good luck in whatever you decide! and remember, you're the mom, so as long as you can i would do what you think is right.

Hi T.
I have a 8 month old boy and my husband and I chose after much research to not vaccinate our son. I was not vaccinated as a child either. I firmly believe that ADHD and autism are linked to vaccinations - not all cases but there is a connection I believe to many cases. There are arguments for and against and you and your husband need to decide what is best for your family. A great website to check out is www.NVIC.org Your pediatrician can also give you info in favor of vaccinating. It is truly amazing what is found in the vaccines. As far as doing activities and going to school I beleive you write a letter stating why you chose not to vaccinate. It won't limit her admittance to any school becuase as you stated you are her parents and it is your choice to do it or not. I hope this helps. It is easy to live in fear and make choices as of course you want the best for your child(ren). Take into account what people suggest and then as a family you decide what is best for you. God Bless.

Yes the debate on vaccinating or not. Me on the other hand a child who did not have any vaccinations, but ended up at 8 yrs contracting measels after several months in the hosipital and not sure wheather I would make it or not, in my adult years have decided that I personally would protect my kids by immunizing them. As I found the hard way how dangerous a disease that most are protected from can almost kill someone who is not. Especially with the two second graders who died from just contracting the flu am glad that we faithfully get that shot as well. As far as the vaccinations causing ADHD am not so sure on that as my youngest does have ADHD/ODD and with the research and studing that I have done it is a generic disorder which would make sense as his father was also diagnoised with the same as a child. But, ultimate the decisions lies within each person and only each of us for whatever reason can make the decision that we feel is best for our own individual child.

L.:)

T.,
Kudos to you for THINKING about how you want your child raised, not just doing "the norm"!
I've been reading some of the comments in response to your request and haven't got anything new to add I just wanted to be another voice of support for what you are doing. Like some of the other moms said, you're best bet is to take the time to do the research and be educated about what you ultimately decide.
I completely agree that you cannot ignore the fact that in our hypertechnologicized (is that a word?) world there are unmistakable parallels between things like hormones/chemicals/advertising/television and conditions such as ADD and other mental/emotional/(and sometimes) biological effects on our children. And while "research" may prove that there isn't a direct correlation you can't just ignore it. Do the research yourself and TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS.
As for us, we've chosen to let our daughter have the major immunizations (polio/rubella, etc) but are not vaccinating for flu. As she gets older we will see what we choose to do but in any case, never let your doctor pressure you into what he says you must do.
Best of luck with anything- you're daughter is a well loved girl and someday will appreciate everything you've done for her- including teaching, by example, her how to think for herself!

Hi T. :)
I have a great website for you with TONS of information. It's the best out there. http://thinktwice.com/

I have more to say but I think I'll send you a note instead hehe :)

Best of Wishes,
M.

We also have chosen not to vaccinate our daugther. I didn't read the previous answers, so forgive me if I repeat.

It is a personal decision, and a decision that is not done light heartely. In our way of viewing things, being a parent does not mean you leave decisions to others and then have the excuse of saying "they did it". Thus, we take to heart all decisions, and as human beings with the use of reason, we examine an issue and come to a conclusion, take into acct imput from different trusted sources as well.

So, again, for us, vaccinating our daugther would mean putting her at more risk than refusing to do so. We do not believe vaccines are quite safe, effective, and administered properly.

One can debate the many things that they "may" cause. the bottom line is that we don't quite know waht injecting foreign substances into the body of a child who is developing rapidly, and has an immature immune system, can do. The 'may' in the equation is too much for us.

We have a waiver we printed off of www.vaclib.org, and use that in her medical chart and daycare stuff. We haven't had any issues, partly because i don't say "is it ok?" I just say "we don't vaccinate, here's the waiver", adn the waiver lists the nevada statutes that I am protected by and that allow me to not vaccinate and receive the services.

Depending on your state, you may have religious or philosophical exemption grounds. We claim the religious grounds, and teh waiver is carefully worded to cover us without being affiliated to any religion in particular, grounded onthe constitution's ammendments.

Now, for some info, I really recommend a book by Aviva Jill Romm, called "a thoughtful parent's guide". I also read "what your dr. is NOT telling you about childhood vaccinations" and I like the www.mothering.com (in the commune) forum for vaccinations. LOTS of info in the archives. And, I did take a vax class offered by a local lady who provided me with TONS of info as well.

We did have to switch pediatricians because our first was a moron who could not respect our decision. So we found a great dr. who is very comfortable with non-vaxed children, alternative medicine, and not doing scheduled child well checks. (so long she is healthy and bfing).

Hi T.,

I believe that they have taken the mercury out of vaccinations. We have a great pediatrician that we trust and is very knowledgable. I would ask yours and maybe check out some trusworthy websites that are fact based with research to back it up. As far as I know, there isn't anything solid yet in the cause of autism arena.

Just be cautious about info that has been gotten from small studies; you wouldn't want your daughter to end up with some preventable disease trying to avoid one that "might" be caused by something. Beleive me, if the world knew what caused autism, it would be big news.

Good luck!

Hi T.,
You are right, you have the option to not vaccinate. However, could you live with yourself if your daughter caught a life threatning disease? That's the question that I had to ask myself.
I am the parent of s severly autistic child who also has ADHD, and a daughter with Asperger's (a higher form of Autism). They are 11, and 12. When i had my other daughter olivia 3 years ago, i was a bit scared to have her vaccinated, but I did it becuase i knew it was the right thing for me to do. If i didn't she wouldn't be able to go to public school, not sure about private, no camps, no sports, and other parents may not want her to be aroulnd their kids as well.
I'm sure you know that there is no sure link to vaccinatiions at this time. There is lots of spectulations, but nothing concrete. I myself think that this could be a genetic issue that may be triggered by environment, or maybe vaccinations, but at this time your guess is as good as mine.
I hope this helps. My daughter is 3 yrs old now, and shows no signs of Autism, or ADHD. She actually is very intelligent, and has been asked by the doctors to have her IQ tested. I choose to let her be just a normal kid, no tests. Good luck with your decision, i know it's not easy.

I researched vaccinations before my daughter was born. You can google this topic and will find mounds of evidence against vaccinations, so I don't need to fill you in on that. I will say, however, I have a nine-year old daughter who is extremely healthy and has not received a single vaccination. All I allowed her to have was the Vitamin K shot recommended at birth, and a recent TB test. We've been around the world with her... even to India! Never has she gotten anything that she couldn't handle right away. She gets the usual colds or flus passed around school, but gets over them QUICK. You are smart to question vaccinations. Go to www.mercola.com for more info. Why take the risk???

By the way, no one ever questions me about this here in CA. I exempt myself at school by using the "personal belief" exemption on the vaccination form... perfectly legal. I had no problems at any of her camps or other group activities. She has been to over seven schools in her life, so I should know!

There are people out there who might say you are putting your child in danger... well, I know some adults who have not had vaccinations and are fine. I just tend to do my own research, since quite often a doctor's opinion only gives you one side of the story. By the way, polio is said to have been eradicated in the Western hemisphere... the only cases have been those that have contracted the disease from the oral (live) vaccine (said to have been discontinued because of that reason). There are arguments that many diseases seemed to have disappeared due to vaccines, but our sanitation and hygiene also increased in quality during the same time.

Oh, I forgot to add... if you think you are preventing your child from getting the disease simply by vaccinating... think again. My brother and I got German measles as a child, and we were vaccinated against it! I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Hi T.. I think it is perfectly ok to get your child vaccinations. but you should talk to a pediatrician about it. if you have doubts or worries, maybe he can help explain the pros and cons to you. personally, i don't see any harm in it. but a doctor's opinion is much better than mine. good luck with this ok? Best Wishes, T.

I don't have time to read the responses (which makes me sad, because I am interested, but I have made my choices). I only respond at this late time because I have a solid biological explanation for autism I have not seen elsewhere, based on wide reading and experience.

Buildup of thimerosol literally can't be The Answer, because most parents experience a fairly sudden onset of autism: it is event-related, not gradual enough to be exposure-related. The pro-vaccine folks love it when activists bring it up, though, because then they can cite studies that show no-correlation, and declare vaccination therefore "safe." _Thimerosol_ being not directly related to autism does not mean _vaccines_ are "safe," even regarding autism--that is such an analytical dishonesty that I am surprised the statisticians involved don't jump off of high buildings in shame. But then I was raised to believe science should be about truth ... and of course the statisticians can only work with the data someone will pay to collect.

So this is what I think happens:
1) Ultrasound damage sets the stage for autism and is maybe the reason some kids seem to have been born that way.
Ultrasounds damage the cellular, including neurological, development of a baby (perhaps specifically causing the types of damage accepted to be related to autism--see mainstream media summer 2006 articles about experiments in mice). This may or may not be enough to cause diagnosable problems (humans are pretty resilient and will biologically compensate if given a chance). Midwifery Today had a strongly researched article in 2006 or 2007 that tracked the statistically related increase in autism+ultrasounds over time and internationally, and specifically showed that the more standardized technological prenatal care was, the more autism that nation sees: Britain and Japan have it worse than we do! Who knew?!
2) Incorrect inflammatory immune response, and the neurological damage it causes, are accepted to be implicated in autism. There is no accepted medical explanation for the incorrect inflammatory response.
Mothering magazine had a cover-article (2005?) that detailed nicely a probable and sensible pathology. Essentially, vaccinations trigger inflammation that isn't naturally suppressed (either in time or at all)--and the more early and the more often such stimuli occurs, the more deeply the developing child will "learn" the incomplete (over-inflammatory) response.
3) At some point, usually around 2 or 3 and often anecdotally related to the MMR (possibly this is just because of its place on the body's learning curve rather than the specific vaccine), sudden-onset autism occurs. If the body has learned incorrect response, I'd think any fever-reaction (teething, vaccination, infection) could trigger it ... parents often speak of an infection or cold when they don't associate a vaccination.

We damage children in womb, then damage them some more (the vaccination schedule is almost diabolically designed to screw them up, if this pathology is true), and eventually their bodies just can't compensate and a specific immune-event drags them under.

Anecdotally, there is also something about B-6 absorption. Lack of B-6 causes serious neurological damage. I saw sudden-onset B-6 blood-absence after a baby-vaccination (not my breastmilk, which we tested, although no thanks to her ped for immediately assuming and convicting me for the problem : P ! ). B-6 is one of the things people who nutritionally treat autism pay attention to adding. But this correlation is Very Anecdotal, I only mention it so others can watch post-vaccine bloodwork for that drop. Usually B-6 absence is noticed because of the damage it has already caused :(. We were lucky.

Personally,
We vaccinate ... late, and selectively, and only one or two at a time (was the infant seizure related to the D,T, or aP? we guessed aP, so far so good no further seizures with DT shots, but it would have been nice to know for sure). Vaccines have done wonders, for humanity as a whole, after all, and population immunity is the only reason we can choose not to immunize with little risk.
We also eat organic, to remove as many toxins as we can from the kids' immediate consumption and from their long-term environment, to give them the best chance we can at strong, healthy, non-depleted immune-responses. If we were stuck with conventional food or lived closer to a lot of pollution, I would be more worried.
I avoided ultrasounds.

We pray when there are outbreaks of things.
But autism rates are high, and we have genetic concerns.
Either way, it's taking chances.

I wish there was a "safe" answer. But there can only be balance, and balance is very individual.

Hello there My name is M. and i donot vaccinate my child and he is 3 1/2 i work for a Chiropractor and yea yea a lot of people think that they are quacks but if u find the right one. My son gets Adjusted at least 1 time every 6 weeks. He is rarley ever sick and a chiropractor would be a good source whokm can explain the positives and negatives. What state are you in?

I too have been scared immunizing my younger son. I have done way too much research while in college. The facts are there, but researchers have not been able to correlate these three factors to each other. What they are merely saying is there is a rise in ADHD and autism and are concerned it has to do with immunizations. Recently autism may be linked to chromosone 11. The United States is the ONLY country that diagnoses children with ADHD and doctors are diagnosing too many and putting them on these hard drugs. Not immunizing your children b/c of speculation you are putting them and others at risk of getting diseases that are life threatening. Having ADHD is merely a matter of changing ones diet and using a dietary supplement because it is a lack of vitamins in their body. I am not in anyway trying to persuade you one way or the other, it is a personal choice. With anything researchers will always contradict one another. There will be no agreement amongst them.

I have a wonderful pediatrician and all the children in my large family go to them. My daugther is 6 months old now and has had shots at each of her month visits. I've read up on vaccinations and to me, it seems MORE important that they recieve vaccinations than not. Like you wrote, everyone is entitled to their own way of raising children. I hope that you find what will put your mind at ease and chose what is best and safest route for your daughter and her health.

Hi, This is definatly a choice you have to make for yourself. It is hard! Just keep in mind that alot of the issues you are talking about have been phased out. That doesn't mean new issues don't arise. My 5 year old has never missed a vaccination. I was of course VERY worried. But, I think I made the right choice for us. Remember, it is very hard to irraticate illness if people/children are not vaccinated. Especially if you travel our come in contact with people who travel. A lot of other countries do not vaccinate. They have huge problems with diseases that we have irraticated or have controlled in the USA. It is a vicious circle. Good luck...

I have also the same fears and spoke to my sons Dr. about it and they have perservative free shots with no mercury in them, You can request perservative free. My sons Dr. doesnt believe in perservative filled anything flu shots, or vaccination.

T.,

I am choosing not to vaccinate my 2 daughters at this time. It sounds like we are similar in that we are looking for the "right" answer, but I don't know that there is one. So many conflicting reports out there. I've relied a lot on the advice of my chiropractor, Dr Mike Long at Renaissance Chiropractic Center in tacoma. He's been amazing. I have some CD's that he loaned to me that I could burn for you as well (very anti-vacc). The websites I've found most useful are 909Shot.com and mercola.com. The issue of mercury is fairly straightforward since mercury is no longer used. So, you can get the lot number on any vaccine you do choose to give your child, and call the maker before the shot is given to find out if it's an old lot that still contains mercury, or not.
Another issue is that the vaccine for various illnesses doesn't cover the strain that is most common. Examples of this are flu and meningitis. Other diseases like chicken pox is fairly benign at the younger ages, so I plan to just go through it with my girls, thereby building up their natural immunity.
Also the exemptions are complicated. WA state and about 15 other states have a philosophical exemption, meaning, if you choose not to vaccinate, you can write a statement regarding your philosophical belief and you are ok. If you move to another state, you could be stuck if they don't carry this exemption. Also, if you use the philosophcial exemption and then give your child one vaccine, you need to then go through all of them, as this negates your exemption. religious is tricky as well because it needs to be very specific and part of the church's core belief or you aren't covered. There is also a third exemption for medical reasons. I don't know much about this, but I believe it's based on a reaction your child had from a previous vaccination.
I hope this is helpful and that you find the right answers for you and your family.
J. C

Hi T., I am a mom of my 19 month old daughter and I have yet to vaccinate. I am a chiropractor and have seen first hand cases of children who were affected from receiving vaccinations. Parents can pin point when their child changed and it was always within one week of receiving a vaccination. The mercury was/is of course very concerning however there are numerous toxins and known carcinogens in all vaccines in order to preserve them. Not to mention the amount of these toxins that they inject into our babies is the same amount that they give a 12 year old child. So many toxins for such little bodies!! Here is one great web site that you can use as a resource www.909shot.com They will have other links that you can follow up on.
The laws for vaccines vary from state to state, but you have the right to choose not to vaccinate. In CA (I don't know where you live) on the backside of the vaccination form there is a waiver that you sign. By law schools cannot keep your child out of school for not vaccinating. It is NOT mandatory, regardless of what the schools want you to believe. As far as summer camps I believe that they probably have to follow the same rules, but I am not 100% sure. It probably depends on each camp. I have my daughter in different sorts of activities and they want to know her current vaccinations, but don't say anything when I turn in a blank form. They even tried to turn me away when I got her ears pierced at 4 months, but I told them my rights and she has had her ears pierced ever since.

You are making a great decision for your daughter. I would encourage you to do your research and know your rights in your state. You are going to come across some situations where you will have to defend your position. But to me it is worth it, without a doubt I know my daughter is going to have a better future.

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any more questions. I have spent hours on this subject. ____@____.com

One more thing... I just read some other comments. Autism is on the rise, and the numbers of vaccines given paralles to that rise... Has anyone stopped to ask why?
Plus autism isn't they only thing we need to worry about...SIDS for one is another big one to think about. Do your own research, study both sides. Being educated is your best defense! :)

My son is 18 months and has only had the 1st dose of shots. I had the same concerns and questions that you have and so I dug in and started researching. I worked with children with Autism for 11 years and this possible Vaccine link to it scarred me too much to just trust my Drs. We came to a point where we felt 100% ok about our choice for our son. Thimerosal, (Mercury), has been gradually removed from vaccines since 1999, however it is still present in some vaccinations, including virtually all flu shots. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Injecting it into a child, whose nervous system is rapidly developing, could have terrible consequences. Other vaccines have been linked to autoimmune diseases, allergies, asthma, cancers...So, before you decide to vaccinate your children, do them a favor and look into the many risks and side effects associated with common childhood vaccines. If children receive all recommended vaccines, they will receive 2,370 times the "allowable safe limit" for mercury in the first two years of life. That blew me out of the water! My son is Healthier than most kids out there. He has had 2 colds his entire life! I feel very strongly that not overloading his immune system in his first year and a half of life is what has kept him healthy. I believe 1000% that breastfeeding is the best thing you can feed your baby, however, I wasn't able to breastfeed my son. My friend did and has given him all shots. She made a comment to me the other day,"well I guess the whole thing about breastfeeding v. formula feeding and your childs immune system being stronger in breastfed babies is out the window". I know there are all kinds of factors that could play into this difference between our sons, but nonetheless, it made me think. My son is very healthy, active, sleeps wonderfully, loves veggies and pretty much anything you put in front of him, and is not fussy or canky! Im not making this up, my friends will vouch for me. In my mind, waiting to vaccinate till he's older, maybe 3, helped him become a strong, healthy and stable child. I do worry a little about the risks of him being exposed to diseases and as he gets a little older we, his parents, will reasses and research until we can again make a choice that we feel 100% ok about. Hope this helps.

If you choose not to have your child vaccinated, she can go to school. All you have to do is sign a paper saying you chose not to vax for personal, ethical, or religous reasons. I wish I had a link for reference, but I don't. :(
There is NO vaccine required by law.

I'm glad that you are doing your research and considering the risks of vaccinations. My son is 21 months old, and I didn't look into the vaccinations until just a few months ago.
He has them all through 15 months, but we have decided that the final DTaP and IPV will be delayed until he's 5.
He had a high fever reaction to his last DTaP. So, no more vaccinations for him until his body can handle it a bit more easily.
You could consider what is called selective delayed vaccinations. Your doctor will probably be against this, but don't let his/her propaganda get you down.
Remember that doctors and medical groups are paid by pharmaceutical companies that develop and produce these vaccines. So don't believe everything doctors tell you- we as parents MUST manage our childrens health care.
I will dig a bit and get some resources for you.
Good luck!

I'm not certain about the links to vaccinations in terms of side-effects. However, one good site to check out is www.webmd.com. They have descriptions for medications, illnesses and more! Good informational site!!! Hope that helps!

All I can do is share my personal thoughts and concerns. I won't preach to anyone to do things one way or another. I am a single mom and my son is my world and I want to protect him. I talked to the Dr and did research on my own. There are studies linking all sorts of things to ADHD and autism. There has been a rise in the past few years - one study shows that it can be linked to artificial sweeteners since people jump on the bandwagon and use whatever new and cool sugar substitute is now the rage. I stay away from them and will continue to do so because people do not know what the long term side effects are. Anyway - my son is up to date on his shots and is a very healthy little boy. He now takes JP Gummies from Juice Plus which is helping him stay healthy (and he LOVES them). I personally think children should be vaccinated to keep the diseases from the past in the past so they don't make a resurgance and start taking little lives or leaving otherwise healthy children disabled. I know that the whooping cough has been in the headlines lately because it is going around again. Something that children should have vaccinations for but parents are choosing not to. I feel that my son can go into situations and be safe because he is protected from certain illnesses and I feel better knowing that. I would never do anything that I felt would jeopardize his health and well being. In the end the choice is up to the parents. We got those shots as kids and I know that I for one had no side effects from them. Neither did any of my friends. All of my friends children are now vaccincated as well and they have not had any complications either.

Just choose what you feel is right. I thought about not doing it but in the end I couldn't live with myself thinking that I was leaving my child unprotected and went ahead with the shots. What you feel is right is what's right for you and your child. If you're not comfortable with shots than it's not right for you. Only the parents know what is good for each individual child.

~H.

Thank you for asking questions! I think as a mother it's your JOB to ask as many questions as you want to get the answers you need to make an informed decision about anything concerning your child. Don't be sorry! It's great!
I don't know about Nevada's laws on vaccination, but in Washington parents have the right to refuse any and all vaccinations. On the back of the vaccination form there is a "waiver" that you fill out and you mark your reason being "religious" or "personal"..
As for the ADHD, autism, (I also read that vaccinations have been linked to the increase in childhood diabetes as well) I would say educate yourself..make your own decision..
I decided that there is a risk either way.
You should really look at each individual disease.. weigh your risk/benefit..
I decided not to vaccinate my son..at least for the time being. Though on his 3rd birthday he snagged his foot on a rusty nail, so I got him a tetanus shot..there was confusion about that at the ER. They didn't want to give him the straight tetanus vac..they wanted him to have the "baby" one dtp..so I took him to his doctor and we had a discussion. I wanted to know what the difference was between the dtp and the dt without the p. I thought there might be a variation in the amount, that the dt was for "adults" because it was stronger. Finally I got him to admit that the ONLY difference was the dt didn't have the p in it. So I got him that one.
It's tough sometimes because doctors look at you like you're crazy for not vaccinating, like you're abusing your child or something. But I think it's crazy to blindly let someone inject chemicals into your beautiful, innocent child who is depending on you to make their decisions!
Man..I really could go on and on..
Mothering Magazine has articles about vaccinations pretty often
mothering.com
Feel free to message me anytime..
;O)

I don't have a lot of facts, but I just go with my instincts. I am fine with my son getting some vaccines (mmr, etc) but find some to be rediculous such as the flu shot and the chicken pox shot. Unfortunately, my doctor talked my husband into my son getting the the chicken pox shot (which my husband didn't know I was so against) but nothing has happened to him. I'm not afraid that something WILL happen to him due to the vaccines, it's more that I don't feel that if my child receives vaccines for the common things (flu/chicken pox) his immune system will not strengthen. I mean, I don't remember there being flu shots when I was younger and I didn't get the flu that often. Chicken pox was GIVEN to everyone in the family when a child got it. Me and my cousins were all brought together to share it to get it over with. To me, this is normal. Why risk a shot that, to me, seems pointless?

These are just my thoughts. You need to make a decision for yourself on what you want for your child. I don't think less of mothers who DO insist on giving their children vaccines that I wouldn't give my child. It is their decision, not mine. If you are uncomfortable with the vaccines, try and pinpoint WHY you're uncomfortable. Is it because of the rumors of reactions to the vaccines? Or is it a moral thing? Religious stand? Personal choice? These are all things you should consider and think about before making a decision. But ultimately, you should make the decision, and not your doctor or anyone else.

I'm sorry if this made no sense. I'm low on sleep and heading to bed :)

I recommend a book by dr. sears. It tells you all the ingredients of the vaccines the possible side affects the risk to the child if they don't get one. It offers a selective schedule and an alternative schedule. I personally have chosen only to get my child about 25 percent of the recommended Vaccs. because to me the risks out wayed the benefits in most vaccines- and I may choose to revisit the issue when my daughter is 13. For example we decided against the chicken pox vac. We will get it when my daughter is older if she doesn't get it her self by them. I hope this helps- M

I am a mom of almost 6 year old twins who are both on the autism spectrum. While I think that there may be a sub-set of autistic children who have reacted to the vaccine, I do not feel that vaccinations are the cause of my twins' autism. Also boys are more likely to have autism than girls. Although the numbers are changing as new research comes to light. I do think that it is a personal choice and you really have to go with your gut feelings on it. I am sure that there are different professionals that you can question on both sides of the issue to make sure you are comfortable with your decision. Maybe one thing you could do is have her tested for heavy metal poisoning. I have read somehwere that the kids with autism that have reacted to the mercury, also have other issues with processing heavy metals. Just some thoughts to share from a mom who has kids with autism.

T.,

This is such a tough subject. I know exactly what you're going through. I know in Idaho, as far as school, daycare, etc, you can sign an opt-out form stating you aren't immunizing for religious reasons. That's it. No questions asked. My son is 6 months old. The only immunizations we have chosen to give him are the DTaP and Polio. My husband and I went round and round with this as far as which ones he should have. My husband's uncle contracted polio as a child and was very, very ill, but luckily got better. We aren't necessarily choosing to not give the others. Just not now while he's still so young. We just think it's better not to bombard their little systems with so many shots! My son has tolerated the shots very well. No fever, etc. He's a very healthy baby. He's never been sick thus far (knock on wood :))! Most pediatricians are very understanding of your concerns about immunizations. If you feel any doubt about your daughter getting them, be sure to discuss the pros and cons with her doctor. By the way, my son's pediatrician said that mercury is no longer used as a preservative. That is what was apparently linked to autism. Hope this helps.

R.

I'm a mother of 19 month fraternal twin girls and did SOME research before they were born which is why i waited to give them the HEP B shot until their immune systems were a little more developed (supposed to get it at birth). But i did the bulk of my research about 2 months ago with my husband. I read a book that i highly recommend, written by a pediatrician who gives vaccinations, it's called, "What your doctor MAY not tell you about Children's Vaccinations." by Cave and Mitchell.

In it she discusses the pros and cons of each shot; when you should and shouldn't get the particular shot; research for and against; and so many other wonderful tidbits of info about vaccines.

She discusses the fact that if you DO end up getting any or all of the shots, that right before your kids are going to enter school and are about to get their last set of shots, that you can have the doctor give them a blood test that checks their TITERS, which is checking their "levels of immunity" for each disease. If they already have the correct levels they may not need some or all of the last shots after all.

She also discusses the importance of getting each shot one at a time, for a couple reasons. One: to know exactly which shot has any side effects; Two: their immune systems will be able to regulate the toxins better if it's one at a time.

We decided to give our girls everything except, the rest of the Hep B (until they're about 12yrs old); Mumps shot, because males are the ones this disease affects most (girls get because they can be carriers - so it's to protect the males); Ruebella shot(until 12yrs old -we'll give it then). We're defintiely not giving the flu or Varicella (chicken pox) because, 1)we don't want to add yet another shot to the list; 2)we had it as kids and yes, it's a pain, but not life -threatening; 3)if you get this disease as an adult it's much worse which is what could happen if you get the vaccine as a child 4)we WANT our kids to get chicken pox so it builds their natural immunity to it, then they'll have a better chance at not getting the disease as an adult.

hope all that helps.
Y.

Mercury was removed from vaccinations over the last several years so in theory that shouldn't be a factor anymore. I have concerns over the consequences of vaccinating but wasn't the most informed consumer at the time my kids were getting them...now with my last child I cringe at every shot wondering if I am doing the right thing. All I can tell you is that millions of children used to die from childhood diseases that they are now protected from and the risk of side effects may be price we pay to not have our children die of preventable illnesses. Children who don't get vaccinated run a whole different risk in that they could still contract those fatal illnesses and die. I know this is a personal decision and would never fault someone for making a different one than I did but whatever you decide just make sure you are as well informed, from both sides of the debate, as possible. Good luck!

Hi T.. (love your name by the way). I have done quite a bit of research myself as I have a family history of Autism. (1 uncle, my sister and 2 cousins - which almost seems to say genetics rather than environmental - but who knows as of yet???). If you are in California please be aware that California no longer allows pediatricians to use shots that contain mercury. I just asked my ped about this 2 days ago when I had my son in for a check-up. She is the one that informed me of this new law. Although I do think you should still question your ped about this before you get your baby any shots. Also, if you are outside of California, you can request a vaccine that does not contain Mercury. There are a lot out there that no longer use the Mercury. Several years ago many drug manufacturers removed the Mercury because of the "possible" link to Autism, etc... (although there is no conclusive evidence to date to show it has caused this new epidemic). As to sending your child to school, etc... Yes, if you don't vaccinate you may have problems. Many public schools do not accept children without vaccinations. I found this out while caring for my niece and we could not locate her vaccinations. Thankfully her previous school had a record of them. The school here in California was not going to enroll her without the vaccinations. The fear is that she may be able to pass diseases, etc... on to other children if she has not been properly vaccinnated. I hope this helps.

Hello everyone,

I just found this group and I hope I can help out here. Your child needs vaccines, to avoid getting very very sick. You should do some research on the type of vaccine they are using. There is a product called thymerisol (sp?) which was used on my soon to be 17 year old. DPT and Hep B both had it. I was told that was phased out in 1999. My older son is borderline autistic and also has ADD ODD impulsive disorder and has been unable to attend regular classrooms since age 7. We are currently involved in the class action suit for this very thing. It has been a long road traveled and the reason they used mercury was merely a preservative so they can use bulk vaccines to save money. But they refuse to take ownership of this issue. Your dr. will know which vaccines contain the mercury if in fact they still do.

I applaud you for taking this issue seriously. Many parents take it for granted dr's know best and have their kids vaccinated.

I am a mom of two unvaccinated kids. At first, I chose to wait until my daughter was 2yrs old to decide whether or not to vaccinate. The reason for this is because this reduces the chance of an adverse reaction. This time also allows for the child's digestive system to mature. In the meantime I read more info and decided I didn't want to pollute my healthy child with the toxic ingredients in vaccinations. I was shocked to learn what other substances are in vaccinations.

Yes, your daughter can still go to school. You just need to sign a waiver which states you don't vaccinate due to personal reasons. The schools have the forms, you just need to ask for them.

Also, I would suggest finding a dr that supports/respects your decision should you chose not to vaccinate. I changed dr's because I was tired of the lectures and his attempt to make me feel like a bad mother because I refused to vaccinate. I'm not a bad mother because I make well informed decisions that are in the best interest of my kids. I found a great dr that is anti-vaccinations but would respect my decision to vaccinate if I ever changed my mind.

A great source is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vaccinations/?yguid=.... Everything you would want to know is available here. I also read Vaccinations by Aviva Jill Romm which gives you unbiased info allowing the parent to make the right decision for their child.

I would be happy to answer any more questions for you. Just take your time before making such a serious decision.

Hello T.,
I can see you have had numerous responses to your inquiry. I am also a mom of a 16 month old daughter who chooses not to vaccinate. I am also a chiropractor so I truly believe your body works at is best once your nervous and immune systems are working properly. I can't say more than what has already been said, but I do recommend you see a chiropractor for your child, yourself and your whole family to maximize your body's potential.

Hi! T.:
One of my husbands aunts had brought to his attention the issue of autism being linked to vaccinations. Being a new mom, I was hot on the internet researching everything I could. I found the same this you mentioned about the mercury in the medication. I also discussed this with my father-in-law and he made a good point; what about the disease(s) the baby could get if you choose to NOT vaccinate. I believe the risk of autism or ADHD due to vaccinations is so low(if a risk at all) that it is not worth the risk to not have your baby vaccinated. My son is 10-1/2 months old and has had all his vaccinations. Discuss this with your pediatrician; they are the experts.
Good luck to you!

Hi T.,

I can relate. I have 3 kids. 2 boys (5 & 3) and a little girl(8 months). My oldest son was diagnosed with autism about a year and a half ago. He was fully vaccinated as was my 3 year old because we didn't know about my older son. When my daughter arrived I had to decide whether or not to vaccinate her knowing about the autism link. My 3 year old is fine which only made the decision harder. I decided to vaccinate my daughter on a modified schedule. She does not receive more than 2 vaccinations at one time. Also it's important to make sure the vaccines are thimerasol-free. Thimerasol is the preservative that contains the mercury. It was supposedly removed from vaccines but I heard that some doctors have older vaccines that still contain it. Ask your doctor to be sure. In the end you have to do whatever makes you comfortable. There is no right or wrong answer. Good luck!

I have two boys ADHD who were vaccinated as babies..nothing bad happens to them, but you can prevent alot of childhood diseases with the shots. I suggest you get them! I wish I'd had chicken pox shots when I was little, and didnt have to live through THAT! Also, they predict an outbreak of polio or whooping cough one day, since many parents are NOT taking the vaccinations seriously...they are not providing enough shots to cover everyone if there is an epidemic....so dont wait til its too late and your child is sick with a serious disease like polio! Also, ADHD has been shown to be a genetic link, and your children either have it or don't...there is not a cause for ADHD in shots. I know, as I have two boys who are ADHD and have done extensive testing for months at a time to determine this diagnosis. It runs in the family! So please dont confuse the neccessary precautions of vaccinations with a disorder you dont even know if your child has! ADHD is mostly 80% boys, and they usually get severe earaches after a cold...that is a sign that the ADHD gene may be present. My son had earaches ALL his life as a baby, and was VERY active even at 8 months old, taking stairs two at a time and running up them. Believe me, you will know if the child is ADHD! I hope this helps.
T. in Lancaster

Greetings T., I understand your concerns but as a parent myself I had to outweigh my choices and my risks, I looked at it this way we as a family unit do alot of traveling to foreign countries often and there are some severe diseases out there because they to were not vaccinated as a child. I chose to have my children vaccinated because I did not want them getting menigitis or some other disease you could die from to protect them and keep them healthy. As for the ADHD something many of you do not know you just "do not get it" you are born with it, meaning it runs in your family's gene's or the father's family genes someone before him had it, but you do not recognize it till they start to grow and then start acting slight differently and yes Mercury was taken out of the shots long ago. Whatever you think is right for you then it is for you however I chose because as I previously stated we do alot of traveling to foreign countries where there are shots/ vaccinations but only for people who can afford them so alot of individuals go with out and get Typhoid Fever, Mengitis< and other forms of bad diseases take care and god bless, P.

have you read randall neustaedter's book 'the vaccine guide'? very helpful, gives the history and risks of each vaccine. i have an 11-month old girl who we chose not to vaccinate. i think the vaccine schedule is based on convenience - since babies come in for well-baby checkups, they vaccinate them since they're already coming in for an appointment. i don't think it's right for their immune systems, there are correlations to allergies and asthma, not to mention adverse reactions to vaccines. being an acupuncturist in san francisco, i had support from a lot of other parents who also did not vaccine their kids, and whose kids have thrived. in california, your kid can go to school without vaccines based on a 'philosophical exemption.' (or religious). it's in neustaedter's book.

I would like to know where you are getting this information from and if it is valid. Not that I am doubting but these are serious allegations against something that is extremely important (immunizations) in protecting our children from desease.