I've been traveling this summer with my infant. Due to the travel he has missed his two month check-up and vaccines with our regular pediatrician, though he has seen a naturopath recently for digestion issues.
We're currently away from home and leaving in one week for Tokyo,Japan, then we'll be home for a week, then we leave again for Istanbul, Turkey. We'll be home ten days after that. He'll be four and a half months old then and will not have had any immunizations yet. Should we try to get his first round of vaccines before we leave for Japan?
Absolutely! I would never take my kids on an airplane, period, without having all of their vaccines up to date.
YES! Get your child vaccinated before you travel the world; especially to places where not everyone can afford to be vaccinated, like Turkey! Do you really want him coming down with rubella or polio or measles because you didn't want to squeeze in a doctor's appointment?
Sorry to be so harsh, but I feel very very strongly that there are more health dangers in traveling then just in staying home, and medical care in the rest of the world is not always as good as it is here. By not vaccinating your child before you go, you are actively putting him in harms way.
I would wait on the vaccines. Use the time to research them more. :) Did you ask your naturopath about them? If you son has digestion issues, the vaccines can complicate that. Research, research. Know what you are doing before you do it. Don't just go with the status quo. Google Dr. Tenpenny, Dr. Mercola, nvic.org. Enjoy the travels! You will be so jetlagged, and flying often brings illnesses. I wouldn't risk it.
Yes, vaccinate him ASAP. Wherever you are right now, go to the local health department and get his vaccinations. Especially being in and out of airports, and with international travel, you really need to make sure he is protected from disease.
Bon voyage!
It all depends. Talk to a ped about it--some infants have slight reactions to the vaccinations and--if you're flying--the cabin pressure could magnify them.
This is a very personal decision...Do you plan on going ahead with vaccinations? I, personally, vaccinated all of my children on schedule, so am obviously for vaccinations.
If you want your son vaccinated, I would say get it done before you go to Japan. You might also want to talk to your ped and find out if there is anything extra he might need due to all of the traveling. I would think the traveling would increase his risk.
Hi E.,
If you're going to vaccinate, I wouldn't do it before the trip. Tokyo is as safe if not safer than the US and Istanbul is as well. I personally wouldn't (and didnt) vaccinate before a trip out of the country because if there is a reaction of some sort, you'll want to be home to manage it.
My two cents!
Yes, I would get them before you go. If he has a reaction, it will happen fairly quickly, but if you don't get it done Lord only knows what he could pick up on the plane, in Japan, in Turkey, etc. Have fun!
I would be hesitant to do it and then leave the country. What would you do if he has a reaction???? Most kids don't but some do have serious reactions to the vaccines.
A lot of people do delayed schedules (which you will obviously be doing as well if you do vaccinate. Do NOT let the doc give him all to catch up! That alone could cause serious problems.) Some people don't even start until their child's first birthday.
PS> We took our kids to the Bahamas and Mexico (as infants- 6 months and 9 months) un-vaccinated.
Either way this is a personal decision that ONLY YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND CAN AND SHOULD MAKE! Do not let anyone else convince you one way or the other. Do some research and then make an informed decision.
I would talk with my dr and see what he thinks about it. Personally - i would do it. You will be taking him to countries that do not have vaccines andcould he could possibly contract a disease that is under control here in the US due to vaccinations. The other thing to think about too is - what if he catches something while you're away that he could have been treated for before. Speak with your dr about any additional shots he may need because you are taking him to foreign countries.
btw - sounds so exciting to be traveling to all these places!
I would too, but if you can't make that happen, try and at least do it the week you're back home before leaving again. Maybe call a local pediatrician and see if they'll do it or look for a clinic closeby.
By all means get his shots BEFORE you travel to any foreign countries! Just call the doctor and explain the situation and I'm sure they will be able to squeeze you in before you leave.
I know this question is from months ago, but I think I just stumbled upon wise advice that all of us moms should know. It is a FREE replay of an interview with Donna Gates, who wrote "The Body Ecology Diet."
http://www.theawareshow.com/connect/gates/
