I was wondering what your thoughts were on the subject of immunizations. Conner has gotten all of the regularly scheduled shots so far and he is scheduled to have his 12 month jabs on the 15th. I was told that I should ask if the MMR shot could be administered seperately because of the possible link to autisim. To be honest, I couldn't tell you what shots he has already had. I figured that if his doctor said that he needed it, then I said OK. I would like to hear your thoughts and concerns on the subject. I am trying to do research on-line and I am finding that there is no link between MMR and autisim but my parent educator said that she recenly heard that now they have found a link. I am not saying that there is, I am just asking what you know about it.
I've become quite passionate about the subject of immunizations. My son got all his shots as scheduled, but with my daughter, I started researching the subject and haven't been happy at all with what I've found. A great resource is The Vaccine Book by Dr Sears. It's a very balanced book written by a pediatrician.
It's a personal decision, but I'm delaying Chloe's vaccinations because I'm concerned with the amound of aluminum in them. When I return to America, I plan to get the DTaP series, but separated as is decreases the aluminum. I can't get it done here.
As far as the MMR, that's the big one with the controversy, and actually, in America, a court case has just been resolved in which it was decided the MMR brought out a pre-existing condition of autism. (http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/tm_headline=court-links-mmr-to-autism&method=full&objectid=20587416&siteid=50081-name_page.html) The MMR has the live viruses in them along with a lot of other suspect things. You might be interested in this: http://talkaboutcuringautism.org/jenny/dc-rally/green-our-vaccines-rally.htm Jenny McCarthy is hosting a rally in DC on the subject.
I'm not opposed to vaccinations, but I think there are too many given in too short of time and the combined effects can be toxic. I think it's worth researching even if you plan to get the vaccinations. That way you know what you're injecting your child with.
Hope that helps!
Rachel (Nov 07 thread)
Posts: 232 | Location: UK | Registered: 28 January 2007
This is a real touchy subject and we all hear different things, so what do we beleive?
I agree that too much is given to babies little bodies too close together however because of the scare there has been decreased take up of the jabs resulting in certain illnesses coming back. The parents who decline their children (althought i understand that it is lack of choice forces them to do so) not only put them at risk but also other children too. My son had the mmr jab but at 3 had mumps, it was really nasty and he was very ill but i was told had he not had his jabs it would have been much worse.(which i really couldnt imagine)
The thing is we have no choice which is what we as parents object to, we put our childrens health in the hands of the health care profesionals who agree with whatever is dictated to them at the time.
The best thing you can do is be as informed as possible when it comes to anything to do with your child, it is the only tool you have and choice doesnt really come into it!! As Rachel said 'that way you know what your injecting your child with'
All I can say is that I am a health care professional and my son has had all of his jabs, including the MMR. The biggest body of evidence supports the use of vaccines, the biggest risk to your child is still the illnesses they are being vaccinated against rather than the risks of the vaccines themselves. Meningitis, measles, mumps and rubella can kill, cause infertility and all sorts of disabilities. Even if there was a small risk involved with the vaccines (and current evidence overwhelmingly says there is not) the likelihood of you child contracting one of these diseases would still be much greater than of having problems from the vaccine.
The more people avoid vaccinating their child the more these diseases come back into the general population - i feel very strongly that vaccinating your child protects not only your child but everyone elses too.
By all means do research, rachel is right that you should make informed choices...but make sure it is based on good quality sites not scare stories in tabloid newspapers. I did my research particularly about MMR and the single vaccines have never even been licensed for use on children, there is no evidence that giving it this way is safe.
Patient.co.uk and the NHS direct site are good starting places.
(rant over - off for dinner now. Sorry but I have seen children really sick with these illnesses and the current decline in immunisation rates really worries me. There was even a case of measles at my sons nursery recently)
I say no one's right and no one's wrong. We all have one thing in common here and that is, that we want what's best for our children, so i say wether or not you let your child have the vaccinations or not just make sure its your own choice and you look deeply in to whatever decision that you make. Also whatever outside organisation that you are reading from, make sure what they are saying is correct. I have heard so many stories that have escalated & gone round & by the time you hear them they're not the total truth. I will say, connected to the MMR or not, i have a close friend with an Autistic child. I for one would hate to have what i thought was a healthy child then one day find that , that child is not anymore (especially if i believed it was caused from an injection that "I" chose for my child to have). I guess what i'm saying is, i'm not going to preach anyone (whatever decision they make) Its our right as parents to decide what we think is best for "OUR" own children and if people decide not to give there children the jab then that's "THERE" decision and no one should be made to feel bad about it!
(& i would like to say, i have three children, who have had all the jabs).
Char Nov Dec 07 thread
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Char,
Posts: 243 | Location: United Kingdom | Registered: 15 July 2006
I agree its a worrying time. I was adamant (sp?) with my 1st son that I was going to wait until he was at least 14 months old before allowing him to have the MMR. I had been told by a healthcare friend that autism in a child can be detected from that age. However, when I called the nurse for some advice she told me that there was a measles epidemic and they had an appointment free that afternoon, he was 12 months. I took the appointment and he had the jab that day. I just couldnt bare the thought that if I waited and he got measles, this would be much worse! He has been fine. I did however wait until my 2nd son was 14 months before letting him have the MMR. There were no measles scares at that time. Hope this makes sense and helps a little. Take care.
My son had really hard lumps at the site of his 1 year imunisations, they were hot and hard for ages, then got bigger, the doctor said nothing to worry about. Now at the age of 7 he has dips in his legs where the jabs were done, if he was a girl it would make a difference to swimming costumes etc but as a boy he does not worry. He is also ADHD but i am sure there were signs of that from birth, but as its social its not noticible til later on, i just know he was into everything more than usual and there were other signs early on.
