Vaccines are provided by your medical doctor or pediatrician.

The past few years have created a resurgence in the ongoing conversation about vaccinations.  Whether for personal, social, or other reasons, everyone has their reasons for making their choices.  I believe that whether you choose to do every vaccine offered, pick and choose which feel important, or none at all, you should be respected in those choices.  In my opinion, we are all doing our best to live our lives in health and happiness. 

My advice to parents is to find a pediatrician or family doctor who respects your choices as a parent, has good diagnostic skills, and is willing to answer any and all questions that you have about the health of your family.     

Remember this is 100% your choice. Medical staff are not allowed to do anything to your child that you do not give consent for, unless they feel that the child’s life is in danger. You are the one that will live with the choices you make. This information is meant for you to feel that you made the best choices possible for you and your family.

A basic version on how our immune system works and how immunizations work in the body:

The immune system basically keeps a catalog of toxins (viruses, bacteria, and fungus) that it has been exposed to. If the body is exposed to that toxin again the immune system pulls out the correct file and uses the same antibody to destroy the toxin. If the body hasn’t been exposed to the toxin before, it needs to create the correct antibody protein match to destroy the toxin. This is when other symptoms such as fever, lack of appetite, coughing, a runny nose or diarrhea start. Those symptoms are our body’s best possible way to remove or kill the foreign substance until our immune system can create the antibody.

Vaccines contain a bacterial or viral toxin that has been modified to be not active, but is able to stimulate the immune system to form the
antibodies.  After your body has created the antibodies for that virus or bacteria, if you are exposed to the pathogen your body will already have an ‘antibody blueprint’ to work from quickly and effectively.   

Considerations:

When someone is already ill, vaccines could be waited on because the body is already working hard at fighting an infection.  It is possible that a recently vaccinated child should, temporarily, avoid contact with people who are immune-suppressed or compromised. This may include people undergoing treatment for cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, or under some medications.  You will want to check with the administrating doctor to see if these precautions are required for the vaccine series that the child is receiving.  

Another consideration is if your child has many sensitivities already, then it may be valuable to have a very frank discussion with your health care provider about your individual child.  Many vaccines contain eggs or other substances that could possibly cause an allergic reaction.  Be sure to review the inert ingredients that the specific vaccine has in it to check for known allergens.  This can be given at your pediatrician’s office or found online.  

Risks, Benefits, and What to watch for:

Dr. Robert Sears states, “Vaccines are very important, diseases can be severe, and I’d say the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks, but you need to be aware that there is a very small risk of a severe vaccine reaction” (Margulis, 2009).

Side Effects from vaccines listed from common to less common: 

• Soreness at the injection site
• Swelling, redness, a rash, hardness or inflammation at the injection site
• Irritability
• Low-grade fever
• Anaphylactic allergic reaction
• Central nervous system disease
• Seizure
• Inconsolable screaming or crying
• Collapse or shock

*If you sense or feel like your child is acting unusual in any way after a vaccine or exposure to a substance, then take him/her to the clinic where is vaccine was given or an emergency care facility. Be sure to let them know what your child was exposed to. This could be applicable for up to at least 2 weeks following the shots.

Ongoing data collection is important.  The Vaccine Reporting Center can be accessed on the web at: http://vaers.hhs.gov/index

What if you choose to not vaccinate your child or follow an alternative schedule?

Well, the simple answer is that your child could become sick. Regardless of vaccination status your child will likely become sick during childhood. Childhood is our body’s strongest time to build up the immune catalog, whereas many illnesses become much more dangerous as we become older.

If you choose to not vaccinate, then it is suggested that you have a plan of action for a few potential illnesses. Many vaccines are meant to prevent against viruses, which once your child has it you will mostly be doing supportive care (fluids and rest). Do you have a trusted homeopath, acupuncturist, chiropractor, and/ or herbalist that can help with childhood diseases? If not, then are you willing to do the research on various treatments? Find out how to best support your child for when he/she does come down with a cold. Feeding your child healthy, unprocessed foods, practicing hygiene and health-awareness will help keep the immune system strong.

Again, remember that this is your choice and making the best choice means that you are taking responsibility-whatever that choice may be.

Know when to take your child into the pediatrician. Don’t let a fever go on for too long or too high. Coughs may need supportive care. Some pediatricians haven’t seen commonly vaccinated illnesses, such as measles or mumps. Be sure to tell your care provider what your child has and hasn’t been exposed to.

Suggested further reading:

• Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parents Guide by Aviva Jill Romm
• The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for You Child by Dr. Robert Sears American

Academy of Pediatrics recommendations:
http://aapredbook.aappublications.org/resources/IZScheduleCatchup.pdf
http://aapredbook.aappublications.org/resources/IZSchedule0-6yrs.pdf

Also attached are the vaccines and the inert or other ingredients that the vaccine is based in
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/p
inkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf

References:

Beers, M. H. (2006). The Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories.

Davidson, M. R., London, M. L., Ladewig, P. W., & Olds, S. B. (2008). Olds’ maternal-newborn nursing & women’s health across the lifespan (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Margulis, J. (2009, July/August). Vaccine debate. Mothering, 155, 37-55.

Below is an attached worksheet with some space for you and your partner to write about your feelings, things you would like to look into, and choices that you think you would like to make. This worksheet is to help you explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns about how to support the health of your family.

WorkSheet.pdf