I am looking for a new pediatrician for my 2 year old and 4 month old. My husband and I have done extensive research into vaccines and have decided not to vaccinate our children. Our pediatrician knew we were always on the fence and was ok with us holding off but had let us know that if by the time our daughter was two we would need to find another pediatrician. She completely understands where we are coming from and knows the controversy with some of the vaccines but her beliefs are that kids should get vaccinated (although she would continue to treat us if we got the Hib vaccine) and if she made an exception for us then she would for others. We really like each other so it is an amicable parting. She said there was a Dr. Sears in Newport but didn't have his name. The only Dr. Sears I know is the one who wrote the books and he is in San Clemente-way too far for us to go. So if anyone has any referrals it would be most welcome.
Thank you thank you for the responses I've gotten. I have the names of 3 Doctors in my area that I am going to check in to. Here is a link to Doctors in CA that are ok with not vaccinating/altered vaccination schedule-it's from Dr. Sears book http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/Vaccine_Friendly... I also found out that it is illegal for a pediatrician to say they will not treat your children anymore because you do not wish to vaccinate. To all you mom's out there-do your research on vaccines. Dr. Sears has a good book but there is also another out there called Vaccine Safety Manual For Concerned Families and Health Practitioners by Neil Z. Miller.
Dr. Sears wrote a book called The Vaccine Book. I believe he lists a handful of doctors in OC that will take kids not being vaccinated or on an alternative schedule. You might find the book in the library.
Just a little heads up. You may want to reconsider the chicken pox vaccine. My husband and I both had chicken pox as children and it was no big deal. The thing is, if one has ever had chicken pox it makes it more likely that one will get shingles. Shingles used to be an old person's disease or the disease of those immuno-compromised, like chemo patients. But my husband was under a lot of work stress a couple of years ago and at 39 broke out in shingles. For weeks he was in debilitating pain and had nasty blisters on his forehead. The doctor said that more and more people in their 30's and 40's are getting shingles because of the busy, stressed life we live. If one gets post-herpetic neuralgia from shingles one can suffer for months! If kids get the pox vaccine and adults get the shingles vaccine, it can save a lot of pain and grief. I am a SAHM and was so worried that my husband would not be able to work because of the severe pain. Luckily he was only out for a couple of weeks, but my friend's grandfather suffered for 6 months from it!
I get why you don't vaccinate for MMR because of the risk of autism, but small pox and polio were eliminated by vaccines and chicken pox was close before the nonvaccinating movement. I think it is a mistake to blanketly eliminate all vaccines because of problems with a few. The long term health problems are not worth the risk, IMHO:)
Hi Angie,
what is the name of your current doctor? I am looking for someone who will let me spread the shots out.
Dr. Jay Rothman in Huntington Beach is great. The phone number is ###-###-#### and the office is located on Beach Blvd right next to Huntington Beach hospital. I have not given my daugther any vaccinations is he is fine with that. He is also an allergy specialist. He did not give me any problem or ask any questions when I said I was not vaccinating my daughter. I hope that this information helps you!
My pediatrician does not agree with my choice not to vaccinate. He continues to present me with literature for his point of view. He does treat me with respect and is very professional and I would reccommend him and the group he works with. Dr. Harry Pellman with Edinger Medical Group in Huntingotn Beach. Good luck. C. (mom of 3 unvaccinated)
Angie,
Big hugs to you and your husband. Too many, too soon, is not a good thing. I would recommend going to the www.tacanow.org site and look in Resources. This is a site for families of autism and there is a huge resource of information there, including doctors who feel the same way as you. One of the biggest supporters of this is Dr. Robert Sears, who wrote a pretty good book on vaccinations, The Vaccine Book. He is down south though and might be too far.
Our Pediatrician's office is pro vaccine but they have accepted us not vaccinating our children but still push us into 'catching up'.
Good luck and hang in there. You are not alone in this.
For anyone else reading this, at the TACA website, go to Vaccines and in there is an extensive resource list of studies that have been done, how they were done, and the flaws in the ones that the AAP and CDC use for their beliefs. Here is some more places to check out.
www.909shot.org
www.tacanow.org
www.generationrescue.com
The Vaccine Book, by Dr. Robert Sears
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Childhood Vaccinations, by Dr. Stephanie Cave
Evidence of Harm, by David Kirby (great book)
