vaccine debacle

originally steve and i decided to go with a modified, delayed vaccination schedule. we were going to start at 2 months of age with dtap...but asher's now nearly 3 months and we haven't gotten any vaccinations. when we went in for his 2 month, he had a bit of a cold so i refused to inoculate him. our doc told us that we could walk in at anytime for a vaccine. but then i talked to my friend tiffany who is really freaked out about vaccines. she told me to read 2 books.
  • what your doctor may not tell you about children's vaccines by stephanie cave, m.d. f.a.a.f.p.
  • vaccines; are they really safe and effective? by neil z. miller
the stephanie cave book was a lot like the sears vaccine book with the added note that she recommends to usually only get 1 vaccine at a time. sears allows a few vaccines to go together. but, the miller book is frightening...i'm trying to take it with a grain of salt. i know there are people out there that are totally fanatical on some subjects...they only see their viewpoint...you see this with vaccines, circumcision, sleep schedules...and originally i thought this way about mr. miller's book. but seeing he has ever 916 citations in his small 116 page book, i think i need to take a closer look.

when you discuss delayed, modified or completely forgoing all vaccines to people, they're usually in 3 camps...the go with the flow camp, the adamant about vaccines are the best route camp and the vaccines are child abuse camp. i don't see or hear about the people in the, i just want to do what's best for my kid and i have no idea what to do because of all the conflicting info out there camp. that's where i am. i want to vaccinate my child. i want my child to be safe. there are diseases out there we have vaccinations for and i want my child to be ok...but will he?

there are so many documented cases of vaccine reactions out there...and no, i'm not just talking about autism. there are seizures risks, cancer risks, encephalitis, edema, increased asthma and allergy risks, increases of chrones, deafness, anaphylaxis, rash, fever, death...the list goes on and on.

so, is it worth it? measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis...are the possible side effects worth vaccinating my child when the probability of him contracting the disease is so minimal plus, if he does contract it will the disease just be a normal sickness...a rough one, but normal? i mean strep throat sucks, mono sucks...but we can get over them...with relative ease.

man, i just don't know what to do right now. i want to protect my child, as all parents do, but does that mean to vaccinate for all disease, modify vaccinations or forgo all vaccinations? i just wish the medical community would be truthful about diseases and vaccinations, i wish that the pharmaceutical companies didn't have doctors in their pockets and weren't money driven, but people driven. i wish i could believe these books without question. i wish i knew what to do.

as for now, we're waiting. probably until at least 6 months. so we can do more research and for ashers blood/brain barrier to fully close so the substances in the vaccines cannot pass into his brain.

i want to vaccinate my child to protect him, but by vaccinating him, i could harm him. he could also be harmed if i don't. what's that saying...you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Those tough decisions! To have access to so many things and so much knowledge is both a blessing and a curse. Personally I followed the typical schedule for vaccines for my three children. I wondered about whether it was the right thing or not but did not have the courage to question the doctors. When I feel overwhelmed with these decisions I just try to remember that God is bigger than diseases or vaccines. My decision is not going to alter his grand plan for my kids. With the Holy Spirit living in us God can alert us when something is really wrong. He does not want us to fret over these things! (Now I need to go and listen to my own advice as my kids start school tomorrow!) Cindy Agnew
Working Momma said…
Thanks for writing this. It is encouraging to know that I'm not the only one freaking out about it. That feeling of being responsible for her and wondering if I made the right decision etc. Hang in there.
Phoenix Rising said…
thanks for the love ladies. it's sure hard being a mama!!! all i want is what's best for my little man!

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