Vaccines, Etc.

I really wish you would reconsider the shots. My child is in daycare, and I just assumed every child had their shots. I can't imagine exposing my child to all the germs/diseases without his shots. There is not enough evidence to convince me that they cause autism. Not having them might cause greater diseases though. Good luck with whatever decision you choose.

Stephanie,
the eye cream they use in infants eyes to prevent them from getting any kind of infection from your vaginal area. Years ago before they started giving it lots of kids ended up blind. So in my opinion it is necessary. But i'm sure you could talk it over with your dr. Now when it comes to the vacines. I would simply ask that you research your reasons behind not wanting them. If, like so many people today, you are afraid of autism then carefully research this and talk with your dr about it. There is no evidence whatsoever that vaccines cause autism. And as someone who works with the autisic population everyday I can share that I have seen children who recived no immunization present with autism. Lots of parents are choosing to spread vacinations out. So instead of 4 shots in one day the child gets one a month for 4 months. It's not as hard on your baby's system. One thing I personally wish you would consider before opting out of vacines is that you are not only putting your child at risk put also the children your child plays with and goes to school with. OUtbreaks of once thought cured diesases have been linked to unimmunized children.
I do hope i didn't offend anyone because that was not my intention at all.

My advice is to get your baby his shots, and if it really is for religous reasons, I would reconsider the beliefs you have towards doing something that has proven to prolong life, and prevent the spread of deadly and/or painful diseases!

Do you know what you are risking, by skipping your baby's inocculations?

There's a lot of propaganda on the web about getting all these shots and what not, but I'm sure you can find at least one website out there that is opposed to everything! Someone is against grocery shopping... they make a great case! Are we going to starve until the potatoes I planted in my backyard finally sprout?

Be careful what you believe... especially when it comes to your health!

Yes you can opt out of vaccinations for reasons of conscience including religious beliefs and medical reasons. You can go to http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/IMMUNIZE/school/school_exclus... and download a letter to send in requesting the form. All public schools are required to accept the form. Private schools and daycares have the right to turn you down so I would check with them prior to enrolling your child when the time comes. The ointment is not necessary if you test negative as your last appointment for vaginal diseases. My son did not have the ointment nor has he been vaccinated. If you decide to give birth at a hospital definitely have a birth plan and give copies to your Dr. and to the hospital to put in your file. Make sure your Dr. is aware of your choices. At the hospital they will also try to give your baby the Hep B shot right after birth if you are not insistent that you do not want it. Good luck and congratulations on your little miracle.

J.

I'm sorry Stephanie, but after reading all the responses, I'm very worried. When I read your request, I was sure everyone would tell you to just get your child vaccinated- I had no idea that so many parents were refusing have vaccines administered to their children! This is scary to me because now all I can think of is how many kids in my son's and daughter's classrooms have not been vaccinated for diseases like pertussis, which is now making a prominent comeback because of the lack of everyone being vaccinated! I, too have heard about the autism scare, but I work in the medical field, and must stay up-to-date on different studies to remain licensed, and I know that there is no medical proof nor is there a credible medical study that proves this theory. But, there is medical proof that people who don't get vaccinated can DIE unnecessarily of preventible diseases....Just think hard about your child and all the other children that will be in contact with yours before you set your mind on this!

It is possible to opt out of vaccines. You don't need anything for your doctor for you to opt out of vaccines but you will have to find a doctor that will support your decision or at least "allow" you to make your own decision. The only time you need a waiver is when you go to enroll your child in daycare/school. Then you can ask for a waiver and sign for religious or philosophical reasons. They can't argue with you on religious reasons, I believe it's illegal. The antibiotic eye cream is also optional although doctors will try to tell you that it is not. It is for babies whose mother's have STDs. Since the doctor wouldn't know which moms have STDs, all babies get it. You can opt out but you have to sign a paper releasing the doctor/hospital from liability if baby goes blind.

We did vaccines for a while with mine, but then after reading so much I decided not to continue. I told my Dr and he was fine with it. The religious waiver is usually only needed when it comes time to enroll your child in school, as the vaccines are required there. We will finish the immunizations eventually, but not until they are older. I think overall the shots are good, I just personally question the need to give so many so young. Your views may differ.

As for the cream, my 1st sons eyes swelled up terribly from this and so we really did not want to have it done on my 2nd, but the hospital would not budge and our pediatrician talked to us about the risks of not using it, so we decided it was a good thing. Turned out if did not bother my 2nd son at all. Talk to your pediatrician, see if they can relieve your fears, if not you can go from there to deciding how important it is for you.

These vaccines are safe vaccines. I would SERIOUSLY think twice about not giving them. I know some schools and daycares will not let children go if they do not have them. Also the eye cream helps the newborns eyes since they are so sensitive to different types of bacteria when they are born. Think about if you were in a "bubble" with no bacteria around them then they are "dropped" into this world with bacteria just floating around.

I hope you research ALOT!!! before harming your baby while thinking you are protecting it. Remember this is your child and I would hate to think that someday I was the one that made my baby sick because I opted out of something because I was the ignorant one and didn't want it.

Good luck with raising your little one....

Hi Stephanie,
Are you sure you really want to do this, not have shots, you are setting your child up for all kinds of illnesses and diseases. I would think twice about this especially in this day and age. God does take care of his people but he expects us to use commen sense also. (Sorry not trying to be harsh but I believe strongly in shots).
D.

I have heard the eye cream is needed, and as far as the doctor being a problem at vaccine time I don't know. I do know that you will have a problem when it comes time to take your child to a mother's day out program, preschool, vacation bible school and especially public or private schools. I taught in the public system for 15 years and it is frowned upon, in fact I don't know of anyone at our school that didn't have the vaccines. I don't know what kind of hoops you would have to go through to still attend one of the educational institutions but I imagine it is not easy. In fact, many will not even let you enroll without shot records. I have never really heard of the religion thing working for shots.( THAT is just my experience, and I am no expert) I have heard of it for not saying the pledge of allegiance, opting out of holiday or other celebrations and activies and even a few assignments that could be against their religion. I would also check with my medical insurance company to see IF you opt out of giving your child the shots and they get something that could/may have been prevented by a vaccine --will the insurance company cover the bills.(????) They may not! I found in my own life in many instances the insurance companies will look for ANY REASON not to pay a claim or bill. I really would try to find all of that out too, even though that is down the road a way for you. If you had to make shots up at a later time that might be difficult. Many of the students I worked with came from other countries as you find in most schools. Some of those countries the diseases that you don't find often here are more prevelent there and can be brought back. Just something to think about for down the line when you child is exposed to all those extra germs when being around large numbers of other kids. I just think it would be smart to check out everything like that before you decide. I just believe in being extrememly prepared and looking down the road as much as possible. Good Luck!

I've seen the effects of childhood diseases and I know I don't want my children going through that. Why were the vaccines developed? Too protect children from deadly and life altering diseases. Too give children a chance to live out their lives. I've never enjoyed watching my children get shots and cry, but I do enjoy watching them grow up healthy and just plain watching them grow up. I know some children, like one of my nieces, had terrible reactions to some ingredient in the vaccinations, so she hasn't been vaccinated. But choosing not to protect your child? It's like getting in a car and going down the freeway at 95mph and not having your child in a car seat. Would you do that to your child?

Neither of my kids are vaccinated and it is very easy to get the form from the health department but it is very hard to find a good doctor that won't give you a really hard time about it. Our last pediatrician missed the fact that my daughter had strep throat because the entire time that we were in her office, she only gripped at me about her not being vaccinated, she didn't even give her a full exam when she was running very high fevers. We wound up in the ER that night. They will put a lot of pressure on you to vaccinate and you just have to be informed and stand your ground. While you're still in the hospital for the birth, make sure they know that you don't want any vaccines. Neither of my daughters had the eye ointment. You can opt. out of that but really research it first before you do. Research birth plans online. Write a birth plan of what you do and don't want to happen at your birth. Give a copy to your doctor and take a copy to the hospital to give to the nurses. I hope it works out the way that you desire.

Yes, Texas has laws that allow you to "opt out" for vaxs. All you have to do is tell the doctor that you don't want your baby vaccinated. You will have to sign a waiver. Same thing for when he or she starts school. Are you into Attachment Parenting? I have been doing research about AP and find it very intriguing. If you're not, check this website out if you are interested: www.granolachicks.info.

About the ointment, I was told that it was necessary because it protects the baby from any "ickies" that he or she could have come in contact with during birth. It's a vitamin K ointment, I believe.

Hope this helps!

Hi there, You can certainly refuse vaccines and erythromycin ointment. In the state of TX you do have to sign papers to refuse. Also your pedi has the right to refuse to see you, but if you feel strongly shop around for one that will. The ointment is to prevent blindness due to STDs in vaginal canal. Do some research, because you can refuse this as well. Good luck, M.

The cream is to prevent blindness, which can occur because of the bacteria that comes in contact with the eyes during labor.

As far as vaccines go, they are not mandatory unless you want to enroll your child in day care or the public school system. If you are homeschooling, you just don't have to get them. You don't have to give a reason. Just say, "No vaccines." It's not a law. However, if you want to enroll your child in daycare or public school, you have to have proof of vaccination and would have to talk to your school system about it because I don't think it's a state mandated thing (though it might be - you will still want to talk to your ISD).

Yes you can opt out of the vaccines. There is a form available from the health dept to use when your child starts school. The eye ointment is not something you can opt out of I do not think. It is a law due to the possible effects if you have undetected Staph B for blindness of the baby..

C.

I don't know if this helps, but I haven't allowed my son to get the MMR shot. He is 14 months old and he was supposed to get it during his 12month check up. All we had to do was sign some form stating that we were refusing the shot. I did, however, allow him to get the hepatitis and flu vaccinations, previously.

So, I think you can deny all of the immunizations, but if he or she is going to go to 'any' school or child care center, they won't let them in without up to date immunizations.

The state law requires antibiotic ointment be placed within 2 hours of birth to prevent blindness caused by STDs. If you are sure you have none of these, you may refuse the ointment. It gets a bit sticky with the hospital, but it is your baby -- you have the right. You might want to find a pediatrician in advance who backs you on this and would be willing to write an order to this effect that you take with you to the hospital/birth center when you go.

I'm not qualified to answer the immunization question, so I'm passing on that one.

A.

Sounds like most of you need to do a little research on the horrible side effects of flu and MMR vaccinations. If you know what's best for your kid you won't have them vaccinated. Organically grown food is the best preventative measure against and disease and illness. Daily fruits and vegetables and no processed foods. Quit feeding your kids sugary soda and fake, synthetic chemicals in the awful cereals promoted towards kids, along with high-fructose corn syrup gummy snacks and the like.