What's Your Opinion on Shots?

I'm not going to claim to have any background in the medical field and I only have one child (14 months) so I'm no expert. However, I would never even consider NOT giving my child the recommended shots. Why take the risk? It just isn't worth it.

J., as a mother of 3 healthy boys, I say that you should definetly vaccinate your daughter. Yes, it is uncomfortable for them (and you), but a few seconds of misery is better than a serious, potentially fatal disease that could have been prevented. My sons never had more than a slight fever from their shots. Another thing to think about is society as a whole. You are not just protecting her, but helping to protect all of us. People not vaccinating their children is why some diseases haven't been completely eradicated.

P.S. I am surprised that so many mothers responding to this request are against vaccinating. I am also shocked at the number of people who claim they have a "background in health care" that are against vaccinating. Just curious, where did you people go to school and where do you practice this so-called nursing? I will make a point never to go to any of those places. Have you people been living under a rock or something? If you can't stand for your child to cry for a few minutes in order to save their life, you shouldn't be a parent. What are you gonna do when they're older and crying b/c they have to do something they don't want to do...that's just life. Sometimes life is uncomfortable. Face it. The sooner you and your child learn that, the better. Stop putting my kids at risk just b/c you don't want your baby to cry...Do what your dr. says. Did any of you people go to medical school? Didn't think so. J., I hope you get some good advice somewhere other than here. Some of you moms have really dropped the ball on this one.

Seriously? Better SAFE and healthy than sorry and sick down the road! There is a reason doctors go to schools for a very long time-Listen to them! As a mom with kids all caught up with vaccines I would be very upset to learn that a child whos parents were against shots for whatever wacko reason became ill in their class. Vaccines are not a conspirousy-you can get them for free at clinics all over the world! So the rarity that they might sleep a little later or get a low grade fever right after the shot is that a tiny price to pay to be healthy from a major illness down the road! Get over your fears- get the shots!

J.,
Please, get your daughter her shots. The benefits outweight any danger by far. If you have ever seen a baby with whooping cough you would understand. Listen to your doctor, he's right.
M.

I firmly believe in innoculating children. Alot of people think that some of the innoculations are not necessary because they are diseases that "nobody gets anymore". What they fail to realize is that "nobody gets them anymore" is because most people are innoculated. Some children will have more serious side effects, this is not something that is kept quiet, the Dr's office is supposed to give you a handout with each shot your child receives describing the frequency and severity of side effects. They are not dead diseases. I have heard the hype about side effects of innoculations and the supposed link to Autism. From what I have researched this is a stretch and the typical mild side effects from shots (fever and pain at injection sites, my daughter even had a mild rash 2 wks after her first MMR) are much better than the deadly and incapacitating diseases that they protect against. Two days of crying are nothing compared to hte pain and debilitating effects of Polio. There is no way, regardless of how many herbal supplements and healthy diets and exercise you get or give, to guarantee a healthy immune system, these vaccines fill in the gaps. I don' think that I could explain to my child, when they are suffering from Whooping Cough that God must want them to have it. I encourage you to do your own research, but use trusted sources such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, their website is searchable and informative with medically sound information and this is most likely where your pediatrician's innoculation schedule is founded. There's a reason they recommend the shots at the times that they do. I strongly encourage you to maintain your child's vaccinations according to the recommended schedule. Disorders like Autism are more in the media today, not necessarily because it's more common now, but people recognize it and get it treated more now than in the past.

I hope this helps, I don't mean to be on a "soapbox", but this is something that I feel strongly about and worry about.

Since you didn't care for my first post, let's try # 2. PLEASE VACCINATE YOUR CHILD! unvaccinated children are the reason some diseases we vaccinate against are still around, because parents don't like their children getting upset, well, that's all part of life.

I agree with your dr. I would never take the chance that my child would end up in a grave situation because I didn't get him/her vaccintaions. The chances of anything happening to her is so slim to nothing but you are the only one that can decide that. I have four boys and I would have them all vaccinated again even knowing what I know now. Congratulations on your baby girl. I had four boys and now have an 8 mos old granddaughter. So fun!
http://www.childcaremedia.com/

I have mixed concerns about this also. My daughter did react negatively to shots. See www.generationrescue.org AVOID all shots with mercury in it, like the Flu shot.
I you choose to get shots, make sure your child is very healthy at the time, that the nurse shakes up the shot good before drawing out liquid, and give only 1 type of vac. at a time, yes that means break up the mmr, etc.
I am not sure what I will do for future children, but for now my current children will never have any more.

The last person to respond is one of the few who are sane. I am in nursing school now and the vaccines are fine. Yes, there are some side effects (autism IS NOT one of them, the increase in the number of autism cases is due to better diagnosis. And because when autism is usually diagnosed is near the time frame for a vaccination so uneducated people who believe everything they see in the papers and magazines jumped to big conclusions. THere hasn't been ONE reputable case study done to suppport that vaccinations cause autism...) like fevers and sometimes a cold. THe mercury is not found in every vaccine and even at that not all companies who make them use that. There are more than one company who makes this stuff... And even if the vaccine did contain mercury it is actually less than what you find in a piece of certain fish. So there is NO reason to worry about mercury. And like the previous poster said... the reason that polio and stuff isn't around alot nowadays is because our these vaccinations. Without these they wouldn't have them. And remember, they are still out there. We just dont seem them as often due to these vaccines. It is devasting to find out that people actually even consider not vaccinating their children against something like that. And even more scary is that someones child like that can get into school without having thier vaccinations, putting others at risk just because they don't want to do them.

Sorry to go off on my little soapbox there. But this is something that I feel very strongly for. Ultimately the choice is yours though. I hope you make the choice that is best for your child and your family. BUt i hope you choose to get them vaccinated. For your childs sake and mine.

Also, you people who say you are in healthcare and nurses and midwives or whatever,.... you need to go take some refresher courses or go back to school altogether... Your info is old and inaccurate.

Hi J.,

I just wanted to comment on the 'shots possibly causing autism'. I watched a show about autism and it talked about how vaccinations in the past contained mercury and there is talk about the possibility that mercury can cause autism. That is why pregnant women are told not to eat too much fish that are know to contain higher levels of mercury in them. Vaccinations now (at least in the USA) do NOT contain mercury.

In my opinion it is much better to vaccinate your child to protect them from the many horrible things that many children in our grandparents time died from. The number of children that have serious reations to shots is so small that I think the benefits FAR OUT WAY the risks.

Hope this helps.
R. B

I guess the only thing I have to say about this subject is if you are planning on sending your child to any schooling down the road they are going to require that your child be vaccinated. I would inquire with your school district and find out their rules and regulations before making your decision. Delaying on vaccines now could cause you to have to vaccinate your child a lot later into her life.

I don't agree necessarly with vaccinating children but I would rather take the precautions now then deal with the outbreaks that could happen. I don't know if this helps you but it is something to think about.

J.,

I know it's hard to subject your daughter to those shots, but I'm with your doctor. They are absolutely necessary. The media garbage concerning a "link" between vaccinations and autism is a dangerous deception.

Autism is a neurological disorder. The vaccinations that your daughter is required to have do not include ingredients that have neurological side effects. Denying your daughter the proven protection provided by her innoculations would be like removing the steering wheel of your car to prevent a flat tire.

If you're still concerned, I recommend talking to another pediatrician (or several). Best of luck to you.

Hi Jenny,

I am so glad you are asking questions! My son had his first set of shots and after I heard a horrible story about a baby about dying because of these shots I stopped there. My son is now 9 years old & VERY Healthy! Rarely gets sick & if he does, it is very short lived. My 15 1/2 month old daughter was born at home & has never & hopefully will never receive a vaccine. Autism is something that parents should be concerned about...1 in 151 children are diagnosed with Autism...why is that? Well, a very good friend of mine, Tamara Mariea, CCN (Certified Clinical Nutritionist)has over 200 children in her practice that she is treating for Autism. Some families have more than one child with it...how devastating. It's the mercury (thymaresol) that is in the vaccine that they are saying is the culprit. Also, electro pollution(all our electronic devices & appliances)is causing some of these problems as well. There are a couple of good websites to check out:
www.generationrescue.com
www.internalbalance.com (Tamara's site)
Educate yourself & inform others...Doctors are not always right, they are just giving you the information that they learned about in college & mostly from pharmaceutical companies.
I hope I have helped you feel more comfortable with stopping the vaccinations. I am so glad that my husband & I looked into it more. When you enroll your daughter in school, all you will need to do write a letter stating that you choose not to vaccinate your child and have your doctor give her a physical exam and ask them to sign your letter and stating that your child is healthy(which hopefully she is during that visit). It is NOT a law in the state of Ohio that you have to have your child vaccinated. Thank the Lord. God Bless you & your family, that he keep you all healthy.
Good food(low sugar),clean water, good supplements and a low electrical environment will help keep the immunesystem up & running. My friend Tamara lead me to a great company that covers all those areas. If you would like more information, just email me and I will be glad to help you out.

I just go w/what the Dr. tells me. I have an 11 year old and a 10 year old who are just fine from all the shots they had when they were babies so I see nothing wrong w/them. You're always going to hear conflicting stories on alot of things. I guess just go w/you gut. Some shots they HAVE to have had to go to school tho so make sure you get the right ones.

S.

J.,
Get the shots!!! Autism is a neurological disorder..did you know that if you have a child with it that your chances increase by 50% of having another child with it? Autism is not caused by any shot you child would receive in the US. Shots are necessary to keep your child healthy. Good luck making the right decision for you family.

I do not agree with shots and here is why. My son got shots and everytime he got them he would get really sick and it was hard for me to see that. When I asked several doctors opinions they said that was a normal reaction and that I shouldn't stop giving the shots. Last shot I had him get he got a high fever and cried for almost two days. I took him to the hospital and they checked him and said that it was JUST another reaction and he would get better. I then took him to three more different docotrs and was told the same thing. So I decided that if these shots are suppose to be good for him then why do they do this, I wasn't going to make my child suffer anymore so I quit giving shots and he is a very healthy little boy. I didn't even try with my daughter becase I wasn't putting her through that. Thats like the flu shot everyone rushes to get this shot that is for this srain of flu, most people get some sort of sickness and then they could still get a different strian of the flu. Does that make sence. I just leave it in gods hands. Back then they did not get all these shots and they lived longer think about it. Good luck on your decision.

I understand your hesitation on having your child receive the shots. I was the same way with my son. I did exactly what the doctors told me to do, had my son receive the shots everytime he was suppose to, but each time he received them, he cried for hours and hours. He would stay swollen from the shots for a couple of days. It was horrible! (docotrs told me all normal)He also had trouble with talking until he was five, and now that he is in first grade, he still sees a speech therapist each week at his school, and part of me, deep down wonders if there is just a touch of autism that he is challenged with. It is not enough of it for him to be diagnosed with it (doctors have done testing), but something is different and I can't quite put my finger on it, the doctors can't either. I truly believe that it's from the shots! My sister-n-law is doing a great thing with her daughter regarding the shots. She allows the doctors to give her daughter shots on her own schedule. She does not go by the schedule of the doctors. She won't let the doctors give the 3 and 4 shots at a time, and I think thats a great idea. I think so many shots, especially all at one time is very hard on them. Maybe you could do that...

FIrst thing here the autism concern is no longer somethign to worry abotu while studdies did find a link the chemical is no longer in the vaccines that we use now, I stopped vaccinating my daughter wehn we started noticing severe developmental delays. Some of the vaccines are vital, the diseases they prevent can be deadly and are highly contagious other vaccines are nothing more than conventient. like chicken pox, ok if your husband or whomever ahsn't had them then vaccinate so you don't have that to worry about later because they can cause serious problems in grown men but if you've all had them and obviously lived through it I don't think it is somthign you should have to have BUT with shots it is all or nothing, you can not enter school or child care without your shots, UNLESS you have the paper work exempting you which is easy enough to get, but you can not pick and choose which vaccines you want to get and which you don't, I have a lot of trouble because my two oldest have had thier shots and my daughter has not we never went back and did them after all her problems I'm to afraid of the possible risks, but i have 3 healthy and happy children. something else to consider as well is that the side effects from the shots are no worse than the side effects of the medications they woudl be put on if they got any of the illness's, everyhting has risks and side effects and while i hate to give shots and I don't think I agree wtih them I do feel it is something that just needs to be doneunless the circumstances are extreme, good luck.

Hi,

Personally I would never think of not giving my children the recommended shots. I did ask our doctor about the link between Autism and the MMR shot and he said tht Murcury is no longer in any of the shots. I feel they are all perfectly safe and so does our doctor. Modern medicine is something that has greatly improved our society. To not give shots would not even be an issue I would remotely consider for our family.

LC

wow, what a hot topic this has turned out to be! i would say we are so lucky to have the option to protect our children from certain diseases. think of how many babies die in underdeveloped nations while mothers are crying "if only we had a vaccine"
what you decide to do is completely up to what you are comfortable with. there are many arguements for and against, so either way you will have the support of one side!
one thing to consider though is that many public schools require the children be vaccinated against measles mumps and rubella at least. you may run into problems if you decide not to vaccinate.

Congrats on the new baby. I do not really agree with immunizations causing autism. One of my friend's oldest has autism and he has four children, all have had their shots and only one has autism. All of my children receive all immunizations recommended by the Dr. I honestly would not give my child a new shot, like the one that might prevent cirvical cancer b/c it hasn't been out long enough to know the side effects. However, with the standard shots for MMR (for example) all of those disease are basically extint in America b/c of the shots. I would hate not to deal with the side effects of immunizations that include a fever and sore leg for a few days in order to burry my child b/c they died of Mealses, Mumps, or Rubella (spelling error). Honestly, there are all sorts of theories and statistics out there that can make all of us moms go nuts. Be aware of who is making the claims, they are all biased. Best of luck.