On one of the pregnancy boards, under the attachment parenting section, there is a post about how this women is postponing, if at all giving, her 4 month olds shots. He had his 2 months, but she doesn't want him to have anymore until she knows more about the shots given and can make a decision herself.

Other mothers chimed in saying they haven't given their kids their shots at all (a couple being over 2 yrs old) and even one saying she doesn't bring her baby to every well child visit.

What do you think about this?

For those that chose to not vaccinate, what were your reasons?


IMO, I would think not bringing your baby to every visit is not being very responsible. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. I understand you are the parent, but this doctor went through 4 + years of college, did training at a hospital and you are just going by your instincts and what you have read on the internet. I know not every dr. is right, but common sense to me would be you'd want to go to every visit.

Each parent can make their own choices obviously, but we saw & still see no other option that immunizing our children to help them in the best ways possibe to fight off germs & illnesses.JMO-My kids have always had shots!

I don't understand the reasoning behind not vaccinating your child much less not taking them to doc appts. Yes, kids went many years without shots and regular doc appointments but how much higher were the disease rates and death rates in children then. Why would you take the chance with your child when you have the technology available. :dunno

I've missed some well baby appts, due to ummmm....natural disasters and moving. Other than that, why not take the baby to get a check up? Now, some people don't like having to pay for their doctor visits so that's their decision, imo, but shots are free provided by each state health dept. No reason not to do it.

Schools will accept children without up to date immunizations if they state the reasoning was for personal or religous beliefs.

Schools will accept children without up to date immunizations if they state the reasoning was for personal or religous beliefs.

Only certain states are like that, not all.

I would NOT miss well-baby checkups, although the GL peds and SD peds through the Navy did a wonderful job of having Gwen be 10 months behind on her immunizations. Really, each to thier own, but I would rather have my kids protected from disease than put them at risk. If you have the oppurtunity to protect your child from these awful diseases, why wouldn't you? There are only so many things you can control in you and your child's life. Now, I am not saying be a germaphobe, but there is a big difference between DISEASES and ILLNESSES.

I delayed George's shots, as Ive stated before, and also my dd's. My reasons are my own, they are completely personal. I made them with a TON of research, and knowing they were not going to daycare or going to be around many other children. When we have another child, we will do the same.

Im not a sheep, I dont just follow what someone tells me is right, without knowing facts. Thats just my opinion. If you ask questions of your doctor, as I did, you may find that they agree with you. Just because the american academy of pediatrics reccommends something doesnt mean it is the only way.

They reccommend children dont use trampolines too. How many of us have one of those, or want one for their children? They reccommend children not be taught to swim until they are at least 4 yrs old. How many people have taught their children to swim prior to that age mark?


We did attend well baby checks to answer the other inquiry of the post ;)

I personally think it's irresponsible of parents not to have their children vaccinated. The risk of something happening because of the vaccine is very small compared to the risk of something happening from not getting it. There's obviously a reason why vaccines were created in the first place...it's OK to do research about what's in them, but to put them off completely? Irresponsible. JMO

Only certain states are like that, not all.


IT IS ALL, CA included. They can not REQUIRE you to have all immunizations. The schools may tell you this, but they are misinformed. :yes You can not be denied entrance to a public school for religious reasons or beliefs. Its one of your constitutional rights.

I personally think it's irresponsible of parents not to have their children vaccinated. The risk of something happening because of the vaccine is very small compared to the risk of something happening from not getting it. There's obviously a reason why vaccines were created in the first place...it's OK to do research about what's in them, but to put them off completely? Irresponsible. JMO


So when you child dies from excessive levels of mercury will you still sing the same tune? Mercury is poisonous. Yes its rare, but I think the statement of irresponsibility is a little bold here. When you lose a child, come tell me this again.

Im not a sheep, I dont just follow what someone tells me is right, without knowing facts. Thats just my opinion. If you ask questions of your doctor, as I did, you may find that they agree with you. Just because the american academy of pediatrics reccommends something doesnt mean it is the only way.

They reccommend children dont use trampolines too. How many of us have one of those, or want one for their children? They reccommend children not be taught to swim until they are at least 4 yrs old. How many people have taught their children to swim prior to that age mark?


We did attend well baby checks to answer the other inquiry of the post ;)

We don't use trampolines because of the injuries I have personally seen and heard of. :D

I wanted to add, that missing well-baby checkups because you do not want to go- is extremely irresponsible. You are having your child checked for illness and developmental issues. Better to have them find something that you would miss than to have it get worse. ;)

I wanted to add, that missing well-baby checkups because you do not want to go- is extremely irresponsible. You are having your child checked for illness and developmental issues. Better to have them find something that you would miss than to have it get worse. ;)

My thoughts too.

MacKray is completely up to date on all vaccinations and W/B visits. Bradley, however, is un-immunized. Yes, that's completely and totally non-vaccinated. The original plan was to delay vacs until 6 months when the majority of his medical problems would hopefully be gone. Now, at 10 months, he is still not healthy enough to receive any vacs. We are looking at maybe vaxing at 1 year but probably dealing until 2. Does that somehow make me irresponsible? Making blanket statements that people who don't vax are wrong is rude. There are 2 sides to every story. You're child has received their shots and been fine. Great for you. There are plenty of people who aren't so lucky. If Bradley had come first I would have delayed MacKray as well. I've done loads of research and IMVHO delaying is right for me and my children.

MacKray is completely up to date on all vaccinations and W/B visits. Bradley, however, is un-immunized. Yes, that's completely and totally non-vaccinated. The original plan was to delay vacs until 6 months when the majority of his medical problems would hopefully be gone. Now, at 10 months, he is still not healthy enough to receive any vacs. We are looking at maybe vaxing at 1 year but probably dealing until 2. Does that somehow make me irresponsible? Making blanket statements that people who don't vax are wrong is rude. There are 2 sides to every story. You're child has received their shots and been fine. Great for you. There are plenty of people who aren't so lucky. If Bradley had come first I would have delayed MacKray as well. I've done loads of research and IMVHO delaying is right for me and my children.


:yes How very true. Every child is DIFFERENT. What is best for one is not best for all... unless of course you are a sheep :D

My boys are up to date on all their shots with the exception of chicken pox. After doing research, we've decided that we would prefer the kids to build a natural immunity. However should they reach either middle school or maybe high school (haven't fully decided yet) without getting it, we will vaccinate.

My boys are up to date on all their shots with the exception of chicken pox. After doing research, we've decided that we would prefer the kids to build a natural immunity. However should they reach either middle school or maybe high school (haven't fully decided yet) without getting it, we will vaccinate.


Dont forget to push them to remember their booster shots for it as an adult if you vaccinate later on. Its a lot harder on adults to get them. :yes

well there is new evidence showing that with all the vaccines and antibiotics out there that many forms of viruses and bacteria are becoming resistent to them. maybe that's why? i personally will get my children vaccinated and take them to all their well-child appointments.

There was an outbreak of chickenpox at my niece's school and all my nieces and nephews got it when I was SNOWED IN at my IL's house with my newborn DD. It was hell. Aiden had the vax and never got chicken pox. We got it because almost everyone in my(not my ILs) family had gotten it so severely that they were close to hospitalization. There is still a chance that my kids will get it, but they will not get it as severe since they had the vax for it. I am happy they have it. Much less worry for me. Aiden got his at 1yr and Gwen just got hers this week at 19 months. The new baby will get his between 12-24 months also. Again, my personal decision based on OUR NEEDS.

i don't know if i'd have my kids the chicken pox vaccine, i had it and dh has had it and neither one of us had it severely. we'd have to wait and discuss it with our doctor i guess. dh was sick alot as a kid so we'll see.

Does that somehow make me irresponsible? Making blanket statements that people who don't vax are wrong is rude. There are 2 sides to every story. You're child has received their shots and been fine. Great for you. There are plenty of people who aren't so lucky.

Edited: nevermind, I see where someone replied with that.

It was stated on the first page by another member. ;)

:blush I missed that post! For some reason I skipped all those bottom posts. Thanks...I will edit my reply.

IT IS ALL, CA included. They can not REQUIRE you to have all immunizations. The schools may tell you this, but they are misinformed. :yes You can not be denied entrance to a public school for religious reasons or beliefs. Its one of your constitutional rights.

Ahh...thanks

Ahh...thanks

I luv ya Rach ;) If you were to decide to delay vaccination, you need all the ammunition you can get :lol

Yeah, but you have to provide proof for the religious or medical reason as to why. I know this because Conor's parents did it for his youngest brothers. They had to prove that Paddy and CJ were very sick as infants and their immune system was unable to handle the vax.

In most states you actually just have to sign school waiver paperwork. How do you prove your religion? Devils advocate here... seriously Catholics dont have beliefs that say no vaccinations....

But how do I PROVE Im Catholic? I go to mass? Im a member of the local church diocese?

Exactly, how would they expect someone to prove they didn't get the shots because of religious/personal beliefs? It's word of mouth. That sucks they had to jump through some hoops but with Jr, I didn't in California, Missiouri, Florida, and Washington.

Ohhh OOPS :blush :threadjacked :threadjacked :threadjacked

In PA you have to PROVE IT. Medical records, dr's note and obviously if you belong to a religion and attend a service in your religion- you will have something stating it. I am a non-practicing Catholic, but I have a baptismal record and a 1st Holy Communion Record.

yup, had to jump through hoops here with Gabe. he is behind on his vax's cause his immune system is still not strong enough, it may never be. but even with his dr's note, it was hard!!!!!

yup, had to jump through hoops here with Gabe. he is behind on his vax's cause his immune system is still not strong enough, it may never be. but even with his dr's note, it was hard!!!!!


See, and Donna in your situation his medical record should speak loudly enough. Had you done the :quote Responsible thing :quote according to some, it could very well have killed Gabe :no


We need an open mouth with a foot hanging out smiley :lmao

That is why i do not get into debates uninformed with you women!!! :neener

That is why i do not get into debates uninformed with you women!!! :neener

Because I want a foot in mouth smiley? Im not allowed to use my other one :lmao

You can just PM it to me. :lmao

But Joy, it wouldnt be YOUR post Id be quoting if I used it :rofl

See, and Donna in your situation his medical record should speak loudly enough. Had you done the :quote Responsible thing :quote according to some, it could very well have killed Gabe :no


We need an open mouth with a foot hanging out smiley :lmao

to me, getting your kids vax is the responsible thing. when the class lists come out i will be fighting again to make sure that Gabe isnt in a class where a child isnt vax. right now with him, an un-vaxed child puts him at greater risk. and to me, yea, it may be selfish, but my child's life is more important than someone else's beliefs.

to me, getting your kids vax is the responsible thing. when the class lists come out i will be fighting again to make sure that Gabe isnt in a class where a child isnt vax. right now with him, an un-vaxed child puts him at greater risk. and to me, yea, it may be selfish, but my child's life is more important than anything.

Ya know, I have to say I completely understand why you think that. When it comes to your child, of course he/she is the most important over anyone else's kid.....

to me, getting your kids vax is the responsible thing. when the class lists come out i will be fighting again to make sure that Gabe isnt in a class where a child isnt vax. right now with him, an un-vaxed child puts him at greater risk. and to me, yea, it may be selfish, but my child's life is more important than anything.

I understand you wanting to protect Gabe 110%. But, as a mother with a sickly child, how am I being unresponsible by not vaccinating?

I think there is a difference between delayed vaccinations and no vaccinations.

I understand you wanting to protect Gabe 110%. But, as a mother with a sickly child, how am I being unresponsible by not vaccinating?

your's is for a medical reason, not a belief. to me there is a BIG difference!! sorry if you took my post the wrong way.

But Joy, it wouldnt be YOUR post Id be quoting if I used it :rofl

:lmao it's ok, if you did send it to me, I'd just send you a group hug. :D

IT BURNS NOOOOO IT BURNS!!!!


Donna, to me, POSSIBLE Death is about as medically related as it gets.

your's is for a medical reason, not a belief. to me there is a BIG difference!! sorry if you took my post the wrong way.

Yes, I did misinterpret (sp?) what you meant.
I'm sorry but this is a very touchy subject for me. Even at my pediatrician I often have to defend my decision (Ped says its ok but pulmo and ENT disagree). However, when you go to keep Gabe out of a class because of un-vaxed kids do you find out their situation first? There is a possibility that Bradley may never be able to handle vaxing. Would that somehow change your decision of having him in a class with your child?


ETA...Donna please understand I am not in any way attacking you or your choices! Just trying to defend my own.

I've missed some well baby appts, due to ummmm....natural disasters and moving. Other than that, why not take the baby to get a check up? Now, some people don't like having to pay for their doctor visits so that's their decision, imo, but shots are free provided by each state health dept. No reason not to do it.

Schools will accept children without up to date immunizations if they state the reasoning was for personal or religous beliefs.

Not our state. One of the kids was due for a shot and we were told that they couldn't attend school if they didn't have it by the date specified.

IMO, I would think not bringing your baby to every visit is not being very responsible. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. I understand you are the parent, but this doctor went through 4 + years of college, did training at a hospital and you are just going by your instincts and what you have read on the internet. I know not every dr. is right, but common sense to me would be you'd want to go to every visit.

Well then I guess I am an irresponsible mother. I refuse to take my children to every well-baby visit & all of Ashlynn's shots are delayed. She hasn't had any in over a year. And I am very selective about what vaccines she does receive & what Brendan will receive in the future.

And just because a doctor has 4+ years of schooling does not make him less human. They are human & make mistakes!

I delayed George's shots, as Ive stated before, and also my dd's. My reasons are my own, they are completely personal. I made them with a TON of research, and knowing they were not going to daycare or going to be around many other children. When we have another child, we will do the same.

Im not a sheep, I dont just follow what someone tells me is right, without knowing facts. Thats just my opinion. If you ask questions of your doctor, as I did, you may find that they agree with you. Just because the american academy of pediatrics reccommends something doesnt mean it is the only way.


:thumbsup I agree completely!

I personally think it's irresponsible of parents not to have their children vaccinated. The risk of something happening because of the vaccine is very small compared to the risk of something happening from not getting it. There's obviously a reason why vaccines were created in the first place...it's OK to do research about what's in them, but to put them off completely? Irresponsible. JMO


My thoughts exactly.

My children have always had their shots and well baby/child checkups. I know parents have their reasons, but they also need to be aware that their child will be at greater risk getting a serious illness or disease, unlike the children who are up to date with their shots.

Making blanket statements that people who don't vax are wrong is rude. There are 2 sides to every story. You're child has received their shots and been fine. Great for you. There are plenty of people who aren't so lucky. If Bradley had come first I would have delayed MacKray as well. I've done loads of research and IMVHO delaying is right for me and my children.

Amen to that!

Not only is calling someone irresponsible because they don't believe as you rude but also quite offensive!

In most states you actually just have to sign school waiver paperwork.

That's all I have ever done, no questions asked. And I will do it again next week when I register Ashlynn for pre-k.

I also want to add that the only time I feel that it's ok for a child not to be vaccinated is if they have been extremely ill or a weak immune system. In cases like that, it's probably best to wait.

trent is on the delay route right now but still unsure what we are going to do. i have read what is in the shots and it disgusts me. aborted fetal cells, chicken parts! he has not been to a doctor since we was 6 months old. at his year old appointment we will go and see what our options are. you can call me whatever you want but i will continue to be the best parent to my baby!

:sheep Guess I am a sheep, because I chose to have all 3 of my kids immunized. :lol

Well then I guess I am an irresponsible mother. I refuse to take my children to every well-baby visit


Can I ask why? Not that you have to explain why you do things, but I did state that I didn't understand that...so maybe if I know other reasons (besides what Joy stated- not wanting to pay for it), than I can understand better.

I didn't take DD to her 9 month W/B. There were no shots, I had no concerns about her development, and I didn't feel like sitting in the Dr. office for 40 minutes so they could tell me she was still 50th percentile in height and weight!

Can I ask why? I did state that I didn't understand that...so maybe if I know other reasons (besides what Joy stated- not wanting to pay for it), than I can understand better.


i will answer for myself it that is okay?;) did you know that there was an outbrake of mumps or measles in Utah and 60% of the children that got it had their vaccinations? check out the website that i posted. it has ingredients in different vaccinations. it is scary of the things doctors want to pump these babies full of.

http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/ingredie.html

(still just my personal opinion)

I'm not talking about vax...but why not every well baby check up?

I wanted to add, that missing well-baby checkups because you do not want to go- is extremely irresponsible. You are having your child checked for illness and developmental issues. Better to have them find something that you would miss than to have it get worse. ;)

Again, just quoting her b/c this is why I don't understand why you wouldn't take your baby to every visit.

I'm not talking about vax...but why not every well baby check up?

oops, sorry!:oops i just feel that there is no need for it. like exnavychick said about sitting in a waiting room for them to tell me that he is fine. just a personal reason i guess

oops, sorry!:oops i just feel that there is no need for it. like exnavychick said about sitting in a waiting room for them to tell me that he is fine. just a personal reason i guess

Yes, but there are several things I would NOT have seen just by looking at my DD and she was my SECOND child. To me she looked fine, turns out- she was VERY SICK. If I didn't take her in for that appointment and she got worse, we would have been waiting in the hospital instead of a simple dr's appointment.

I have taken George to his appts. Sometimes not right on the 4th month or the 6th month or whatnot, but he has always had his well baby visits. We live in the real world. We have a co-pay. We pay for insurance. I believe when Joy had Jr, she lived in the real world too. No tricare, not military doctors for free. Not saying that is why she couldnt afford it. Not everyone has things as good off as others. Some people hit rough patches... and can hardly afford to eat. :dunno just some things to bounce around.

Yes, but there are several things I would NOT have seen just by looking at my DD and she was my SECOND child. To me she looked fine, turns out- she was VERY SICK. If I didn't take her in for that appointment and she got worse, we would have been waiting in the hospital instead of a simple dr's appointment.
:agree

I was going to delay Gabe's vax's. So I avoided a few well baby visits just to avoid getting into it with his ped. but guess what, i thought he was healthy too. boy was i wrong. his cancer started when he was 18 months old and it wasnt caught till he was 28 months old. now everyday of my life, i have to live with knowing that if i had taken him sooner, he wouldve been checked out better than the er will do and it could've been caught sooner.

:sheep Guess I am a sheep, because I chose to have all 3 of my kids immunized. :lol

and that is perfectly okay too :giggle

To each their own. ;)

and that is perfectly okay too :giggle

To each their own. ;)
I know :lol I remembered there was a sheep smilie and had to use it!!!

I have taken George to his appts. Sometimes not right on the 4th month or the 6th month or whatnot, but he has always had his well baby visits. We live in the real world. We have a co-pay. We pay for insurance. I believe when Joy had Jr, she lived in the real world too. No tricare, not military doctors for free. Not saying that is why she couldnt afford it. Not everyone has things as good off as others. Some people hit rough patches... and can hardly afford to eat. :dunno just some things to bounce around.

:yes real world, working a full time job, being a full time high school student, full time mom, and still keeping track of everything else including rent, bills and insurance payment (health/car) when i was a baby myself.

I understand the real world...but using Donna as an example- she found out a serious condition.

No matter what, I'd like to think there is an answer for every obstacle when it comes to your childs health. Maybe I'm stupid to think that...

There is, and I still took Junior to every well baby appt. Guess what, when the doctors told me was a "simple cough" and that I was a "inexperienced over wrought mother" I listened to them. But I kept going back, and kept getting told the same thing. 4 months later the cough that wouldn't go away was actually a bad ass case of pneaumonia that almost killed my son. These are different doctors too, and no one caught any of it during his well baby, or other appts I set up. So i agree well baby is important but trusting your insticts is important too.

(not saying you don't Rach just saying in general to everyone)

:agree

I was going to delay Gabe's vax's. So I avoided a few well baby visits just to avoid getting into it with his ped. but guess what, i thought he was healthy too. boy was i wrong. his cancer started when he was 18 months old and it wasnt caught till he was 28 months old. now everyday of my life, i have to live with knowing that if i had taken him sooner, he wouldve been checked out better than the er will do and it could've been caught sooner.

if you dont mind me asking, how did you know that Gabe has cancer? was he sick and you took him or did they do a routely blood draw?

on a side~ you can not blame yourself. you are a wondeful mommy to ALL of your angels:hugs

I think it goes both ways, theres sad stories on both ends. So I take my babies to their check ups but I also trust my instincts as a mother. The 2 combined could do nothing but help your child.

I understand the real world...but using Donna as an example- she found out a serious condition.

No matter what, I'd like to think there is an answer for every obstacle when it comes to your childs health. Maybe I'm stupid to think that...


Using the same example, if I read correctly she SKIPPED well baby checks because she didnt want to be hassled by the doctors about delaying vaccination. You have to be the best advocate for your child.

I dont skip the checks, though I must say, a well baby check most of the time does not include random blood work, which would be needed to diagnose a problem as serious as cancer.....

Im just a supporter in the right to chose to delay or withhold vaccines.

There is, and I still took Junior to every well baby appt. Guess what, when the doctors told me was a "simple cough" and that I was a "inexperienced over wrought mother" I listened to them. But I kept going back, and kept getting told the same thing. 4 months later the cough that wouldn't go away was actually a bad ass case of pneaumonia that almost killed my son. These are different doctors too, and no one caught any of it during his well baby, or other appts I set up. So i agree well baby is important but trusting your insticts is important too.

(not saying you don't Rach just saying in general to everyone)


Yep, I had the same with Aiden, finally a SMART doctor found out he had bronchilitis and he got the treatment he needed.

In most states you actually just have to sign school waiver paperwork. How do you prove your religion? Devils advocate here... seriously Catholics dont have beliefs that say no vaccinations....

But how do I PROVE Im Catholic? I go to mass? Im a member of the local church diocese?

Sidenote here: You would prove your catholic by showing you have been baptized and have done your 1st communion and your confirmation and if your married, your marrige cert from the church.:P

I feel that EVERYONE should have the right to chose whether or not to vaccinate their child. In Germany it is not a requirement, it is an option. There is no way for you to know whether the kids in your child's class are or are not vaccinated. I don't see a real problem with that. I can understand the worries parents like Donna might have when their kid is an easier 'target' for illnesses due to a weakend immune system but that (IMO) doesn't take the right of me as a parent to decide without hassle if I want my OWN child to be immunized against illness xyz.

Can I ask why? Not that you have to explain why you do things, but I did state that I didn't understand that...so maybe if I know other reasons (besides what Joy stated- not wanting to pay for it), than I can understand better.

Just as Jill stated, I read what all is in shots & it makes me sick. I also do not believe in giving a tiny child the same size dosage that an adult receives. If I were to be the one who selected dosage amount, I'd definately go with a much smaller one.

Here is one site that states some of the ingredients. I have more but I figured one is good! ;)

http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0706/aspartame_in_the_pink_packet.php

I worry about the reactions especially with Ashlynn since she has asthma. Any kind of breathing difficulties & it could kill her! And just because a reaction is not seen within 48 does not mean it can not lay dormant.

Even if the vaxes WERE in any part responsible for the decline in these diseases, is the rise in autoimmune system disorders worth it? I would gladly take a case of pertussis over a lifetime of autism any day. And I've accepted that the risks of my children contracting one of these diseases and not pulling through are far less than my children having a reaction to the unknown of vaccinating. We choose to focus on keeping our bodies healthy through proper nutrition & being selective & delaying vaccines.

I do agree with vaxing to an extent but I think something needs to be done to these vaccines & they should be spaced out.

A great book I recommend is Aviva Jill Romm's Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide.

I could go on & on but I'll leave it at that.

***edited to add that my thoughts on vaccines were right on especially for Ashlynn who did experience reactions including difficulty breathing that resulted in a trip to the ER.

Off the original topic, but still within the posts of this thread.... how legal is it for the schools to disclose to Donna (*or anyone for that matter*) who is or isnt vaccinated? Doesnt that fall within the privacy acts?

i just feel that there is no need for it. like exnavychick said about sitting in a waiting room for them to tell me that he is fine. just a personal reason i guess

:yes

Plus I don't want to go into a clinic where there are sick children & expose my healthy child to those germs. If there was a way to seperate them, then by all means I'd be in there.

I don't have a problem defending my decision against doctors so that is not a reason why we do not attend.

I just don't feel I need to take them to the doctor every 2 months to be told all was ok.

Who knows, maybe we've been lucky?! There is no way for me to know for certain but so far in their 7 & 4 1/2 years, all has been well. But at the same time, with Ashlynn we've been in there enough times with asthma-related issues, food sensitivities, etc anyway. Brendan too had allergies but not as bad as her.

Off the original topic, but still within the posts of this thread.... how legal is it for the schools to disclose to Donna (*or anyone for that matter*) who is or isnt vaccinated? Doesnt that fall within the privacy acts?

It does. Legally they aren't supposed to disclose who has what. They are however supposed to send out a general letter to all parents stating that there were cases present in the school, what the illness is, what you can do about it, etc. Atleast that is the way it is here in our district. And it was drilled into my head as a substitute teacher to NEVER disclose personal info such as the above, financial info or other sensitive info.

Just as Jill stated, I read what all is in shots & it makes me sick. I also do not believe in giving a tiny child the same size dosage that an adult receives. If I were to be the one who selected dosage amount, I'd definately go with a much smaller one.

Here is one site that states some of the ingredients. I have more but I figured one is good! ;)

http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/0706/aspartame_in_the_pink_packet.php

I worry about the reactions especially with Ashlynn since she has asthma. Any kind of breathing difficulties & it could kill her! And just because a reaction is not seen within 48 does not mean it can not lay dormant.

Even if the vaxes WERE in any part responsible for the decline in these diseases, is the rise in autoimmune system disorders worth it? I would gladly take a case of pertussis over a lifetime of autism any day. And I've accepted that the risks of my children contracting one of these diseases and not pulling through are far less than my children having a reaction to the unknown of vaccinating. We choose to focus on keeping our bodies healthy through proper nutrition & being selective & delaying vaccines.

I do agree with vaxing to an extent but I think something needs to be done to these vaccines & they should be spaced out.

A great book I recommend is Aviva Jill Romm's Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide.

I could go on & on but I'll leave it at that.

***edited to add that my thoughts on vaccines were right on especially for Ashlynn who did experience reactions including difficulty breathing that resulted in a trip to the ER.


I wasn't asking about the shots...I was asking about the dr visits, which from your post I thought you were saying it was offensive that I said it was irresponsible to not take your baby to every well visit. But you quoted Jill, so I get it.

I don't think it breaks the privacy acts if no names are disclosed. They can say, yes, there is a child that is not vaccinated, etc. or this class has all the kids vaccinated.

I wasn't asking about the shots...I was asking about the dr visits, which from your post I thought you were saying it was offensive that I said it was irresponsible to not take your baby to every well visit. But you quoted Jill, so I get it.

I replied above. I'm slow when it comes to replying tonight! ;)

I don't think it breaks the privacy acts if no names are disclosed. They can say, yes, there is a child that is not vaccinated, etc. or this class has all the kids vaccinated.

You are correct! It does not break the privacy act if no names are given as to who has what illness, who is or isn't vaxed, etc. But if a name is given, then by all means it is illegal!

:yes

Plus I don't want to go into a clinic where there are sick children & expose my healthy child to those germs. If there was a way to seperate them, then by all means I'd be in there.

I don't have a problem defending my decision against doctors so that is not a reason why we do not attend.

I just don't feel I need to take them to the doctor every 2 months to be told all was ok.

Who knows, maybe we've been lucky?! There is no way for me to know for certain but so far in their 7 & 4 1/2 years, all has been well. But at the same time, with Ashlynn we've been in there enough times with asthma-related issues, food sensitivities, etc anyway. Brendan too had allergies but not as bad as her.

Our clinic has a well side and a sick side. Every doctor I have ever gone to has this. they are on separate sides of the office.

Ours is seperated too

Our clinic has a well side and a sick side. Every doctor I have ever gone to has this. they are on separate sides of the office.

Really? They weren't like that when we were in VA years ago, in San Antonio (though now they are) & they sure aren't here (Ingleside). Everyone is mixed together in the lobby & rooms. Now the only Ped here is seperate but she isn't always the one who does the WB visits & we don't see her anyway.

I like the set-up that Lackland AFB in SA has now. They have a seperate waiting area for WB as well as rooms that are in different areas. :thumbsup

Off the original topic, but still within the posts of this thread.... how legal is it for the schools to disclose to Donna (*or anyone for that matter*) who is or isnt vaccinated? Doesnt that fall within the privacy acts?

They can't even disclose which kid found to have Head Lice... just a polite note to check your kids.

if you dont mind me asking, how did you know that Gabe has cancer? was he sick and you took him or did they do a routely blood draw?

on a side~ you can not blame yourself. you are a wondeful mommy to ALL of your angels:hugs

he had blood in his urine 6 times over that same time period. because it wasnt a well baby visit, his abdomen wasnt checked the way that it should have been. the er just got urine, he had a UTI and we were sent on our way with meds. finally the last time there was no UTI, they felt his belly. felt the mass and sent him for an ultrasound and it was all downhill from there.

if Gabe's cancer would have been caught sooner, he would have just had to have the tumor and kidney removed. no chemo, no radiation. but because it was so advanced, he did 3 different type of chemo meds and 8 days of radiation. which now, he has to be watched for the rest of his life because of the nasty side effects that can happen.

to me, not wanting to sit in a waiting room is playing russian roulette with your child's health. unfortuneately, i learned that lesson the hard way. i didnt want to argue with his ped about his vaxs being delayed and sit around a waiting room with sick kids for over an hour, exposing him to virus's and other crap. i so wish that i would have sucked it up and took him and dealt with it. that is one thing that i am dealing with. i will always blame myself for it not being caught earlier. now he has to deal with side effects, ie. heart damage, secondary cancers and who knows what else. childhood surviors are just reaching adulthood for researchers to be able to see what all the late effects are.

my point to all this..... at least take them in for well baby visits. if you dont believe in vaxs, so be it. but just to make sure they are healthy, growing right and there isnt something wrong that you cant see!

Really? They weren't like that when we were in VA years ago, in San Antonio (though now they are) & they sure aren't here (Ingleside). Everyone is mixed together in the lobby & rooms. Now the only Ped here is seperate but she isn't always the one who does the WB visits & we don't see her anyway.

I like the set-up that Lackland AFB in SA has now. They have a seperate waiting area for WB as well as rooms that are in different areas. :thumbsup

Maybe a good project for you. :D Get them to change the way they have the offices set up. ;)

he had blood in his urine 6 times over that same time period. because it wasnt a well baby visit, his abdomen wasnt checked the way that it should have been. the er just got urine, he had a UTI and we were sent on our way with meds. finally the last time there was no UTI, they felt his belly. felt the mass and sent him for an ultrasound and it was all downhill from there.


this is not your fault! the doctors should have done more tests:hugs

Only certain states are like that, not all.

exactly. z's preschools (the 2 that she has been at) will not accept kids without vaccinations... and her daycare that she attended when we moved out here did not allow kids w/o vaccs.

exactly. z's preschools (the 2 that she has been at) will not accept kids without vaccinations... and her daycare that she attended when we moved out here did not allow kids w/o vaccs.

Daycares arent publically funded preschools. Wasnt Zoe in a parochial preschool... or maybe it was something through the JCS... either way, they arent publically funded. Im talking your run of the mill 1st-12th grade PUBLIC schools. The public schools will tell you they wont take them either, but the minute you ask for the waiver they know EXACTLY what you are talking about. :yes You just have to know your rights. :dunno

My DS is too sick to miss any appts or shots!

my point to all this..... at least take them in for well baby visits. if you dont believe in vaxs, so be it. but just to make sure they are healthy, growing right and there isnt something wrong that you cant see!


Exactly. I agree with Donna :yes

For the moms who don't want to take their child into the doctor's for well baby checks, if you don't want to get your child vaccinated, then that is your personal choice. Do I think it's right??? No, personally I don't, but that's your child, not mine. I do feel it is extremely important that you do take your baby in for well baby visits, even if you decide against the vaccines. It is so important! You can't judge a book by it's cover, meaning that you don't know what underlying problems there *might* be. Not taking a child in for well baby checks IMO is negligence. Again, this is MY OPINION

over a lifetime of autism any day.

The medical journal article that stated MMR shots could cause autism has since been retracted for giving false information. At least that's what I have read lately.

Wow... I had a huge response in my head before I read the 9 pages (+1 post) of responses. I've been taking notes as to what I wanted to respond to... (I feel like responding to like half the responses- lol) This is such a hot topic for people and I knew after reading the initial post, there was no way that this was going to stay 'pretty'

First- I find it amusing that it took until page 5 for someone to say HIPPA won't allow you to find out if your kid is in a class with an un-immunized child. I wouldn't have even thought that I could ask that question, but to Joy's response. Even if they don't disclose the child's personal information, I believe that the school will try to hide behind HIPPA and you'd have to make a huge deal about it. I'm not yet faced with these things b/c my son isn't even 2, but I totally believe that when you end up having to go to the school board to fight issues etc, it ends up affecting your child at school. Both socially and the way teachers/administrators treat the child, so it should be something that you really believe in to your core before you make a big deal about it.

My experience- I had to FIGHT the NACC to see us for my son's 9 month visit. I think we were short handed on Doc, so they cut out any visit that didn't include shots... I, personally, think that is unacceptable that the Navy (or the military in general) believes that our children's health is unimportant. As a first time mother, I always go in with a list of things to ask the Doc. things that I've noticed that I'm not sure that's normal etc, b/c there are certain things that if they are caught early enough CAN be treated.
(i.e. I read in Parents magazine that the majority of parents don't know that their baby's eyesight develops between 6-12 mos. and you can get a free InfantSEE screening for your child. My son has what looks like a lazy eye, so we brought him in for the InfantSEE check up, and the eye dr. thinks that he just has a wide bridge, but we bring him back (free of charge) just to double check. I had brought DS in for a non routine visit and had to see a different Doc and the first thing she said when she walked in the room is , you need to have his eyes checked. Apparently, she had her daughter young and didn't know any better to have his eyes checked and her daughter, a teenager, is now considered legally blind) So, to make a short story long... I don't understand skipping well baby visits.

As far as vaccinations are concerned, I want to broach this subject very carefully b/c I don't want to get flamed. I find when talking about vaccinations, people are about as passionate as they are when talking about Breastfeeding. There's not really a gray area... you either are REALLY for it, or REALLY against it. I, for one, am for it, and other than for medical reasons (i.e. your child's body can't handle it) I don't agree with not vaccinating.

My BFF is a cloth diapering, breastfeeding, home schooling non vaccinating mom, and I have a hard time bringing my son (and me since I'm preggo) to her house. I don't want to expose my children to hers, b/c God knows what they've gotten from living in the middle of the woods, and being with other children who are not vaccinated. (I understand the way I described my BFF may be taken as not nice, but she'd agree with the statement. It was not meant to be vicious) I believe I'm putting my child's life at risk just as much or MORE by putting him on an airplane or other random things that we do every day... like crossing the street. But I'm not going to not fly with my son and not cross the street b/c he could get sick or die from it. I believe that everything in life happens for a reason. If it's my son's time to go, it's his time to go... and I'm far from a religious person, let me tell you that...

I hope my very long response is not flamed, but If you have a respectful response, I think I can take the criticism.

Thanks for starting this thread... it probably will never die, and I think that it means that we're all good mothers because we have a passionate response to this one way or another... we're not complacent about this issue.

Well...from reading other responses I would say that if you don't vaccinate because of health reasons like a poor immune system, etc, that is understandable. But other than that I'm not really sure why you wouldn't want to vaccinate your child. I'm pretty sure we all had our vaccinations and we turned out fine. As far as the well baby visit...Not going to those is definately irresponsible. Even and especially if you don't want the vaccinations, you should still go, if anything just to make sure that your baby isn't getting anything from not being vaccinated. If you believe so strongly against not getting the vaccinations, then it should be no problem at all to tell your doctor that, and by going to the visits you're still showing that you care about the well being of your baby.

I vax my boys and we live at the doctors. Does that make me a better mom? No just a paranoid one :)

I vax my boys and we live at the doctors. Does that make me a better mom? No just a paranoid one :)


I don't think that it makes you a paranoid mom, but a concerned mom... (I'm not saying that if you don't "LIVE" at the Drs that you aren't a concerned mom) It's like me going in with my list of questions/things I've noticed... I don't think that makes me paranoid. It makes me involved and concerned.

I delayed George's shots, as Ive stated before, and also my dd's. My reasons are my own, they are completely personal. I made them with a TON of research, and knowing they were not going to daycare or going to be around many other children. When we have another child, we will do the same.

Im not a sheep, I dont just follow what someone tells me is right, without knowing facts. Thats just my opinion. If you ask questions of your doctor, as I did, you may find that they agree with you. Just because the american academy of pediatrics reccommends something doesnt mean it is the only way.

They reccommend children dont use trampolines too. How many of us have one of those, or want one for their children? They reccommend children not be taught to swim until they are at least 4 yrs old. How many people have taught their children to swim prior to that age mark?


We did attend well baby checks to answer the other inquiry of the post ;)


I know this is an older post, but I fully agree. Zach is not vaccinated but we still go to the well baby check ups, although for some reason his doctor has him about 2 months behind on them. When the new baby comes he won't be either.

Even now that my son has been diagnosed with Autism I will still vaccinate but only in single doeses.

Just to make someone laugh and I'm bored :giggle http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/SFerreira/footinmouth.gif... I dont have kids so I'm not sure yet but I think I'll be careful on what shots they get and when.

Does anyone KNOW what is in our vac's? Ask a Navy doc and he/she won't be able to answer you without checking the internet or a health book because in the shots there are things people don't like to disclose.
Lizzie has been vax'ed but not without me asking a million questions and looking things up. Do i like that she has been vax'ed.. NO! Do i feel like she is safer for being vax'ed... NO! I haven't had any shots after my first set when i was a baby due to a reaction that scared my mom too much and i haven't had any issues that isn't of the norm. Our country is shot happy as much as they are pill happy and i don't like it or believe it one bit!

Mine and Jesse's God daugter is 12 and she hasn't had one Vax due to her mom's belief. She is very healthy and her getting into school wasn't a problem either. But with Lizzie..... Some dumb ass people forgot to put things in her record so before we left for Italy they gave Lizzie most of her shots again. I wasn't happy at all. AND again we went to get a copy of Lizzie's shot record for CDC and the navy once again forgot to put in the records the shots Lizzie got IN Italy. I refuse to have lizzie get them once more.

If someone doesn't want to have their child vax'ed. I understand. If someone does get their child vax'ed. I understand. I don't see an issue and i don't understand how one mother can call another mother irresponsible for doing it or not.

Now, the well baby check ups.. I went to all the time because i had questions as well as checking up on Lizzie to make sure she was growing properly....

I don't think that it makes you a paranoid mom, but a concerned mom... (I'm not saying that if you don't "LIVE" at the Drs that you aren't a concerned mom) It's like me going in with my list of questions/things I've noticed... I don't think that makes me paranoid. It makes me involved and concerned.

Sometimes I feel paranoid because I will take them in and it will be just a rash. But other times, when they assured me everything was fine and the dr would have known it was staph to make me feel better. I was right, they were wrong. A lovely weeklong stay in the hospital for my Eli and an eye opener for me regarding how my "family" really is. So you just have to trust your instinct.