[binkybear]

That's what has personally always concerned me... how the public is made aware of those unvaccinated (in appropriate situations like daycares, schools, etc) and what real options parents have on both sides to ensure "their kids" are "safe".

I'm all for vaccinating personally, but I'm also more for spacing some of the shots out and making decisions based on discussion with your pediatrician (not random online info that can often be misrepresented either way). Anyone getting 3-4-5 vaccines all at once is a lot, I can't imagine hitting a baby's system like that.

I appreciate the opininions, thank you for posting

[shy_bear]

So to all the "epxerts" who do you listen to??? I keep reading how a developmentally delayed child should wait on some vaccines? Why would I add more problems to his already lengthy list? We talked to his ped. and he said we could hold off until we saw the developmental ped. and he told us it was ok for him to continue his vaccines. I am all for getting their shots; both my girls who were healthy and on target got them according to schedule. This may sound harsh, but my child comes first to me and I would not on purpose want another child to be harmed or become ill b/c of something we did, but HE is my main concern not everybody elses kid.

[SupaModel]

Thank you guys for educating me on this matter. I had no idea I should be worried about this. When DS starts daycare I will definitely be bringing this up.

If my child was to become ill because of something like this I would definitely sue the school, daycare etc... and also if I could I would come after the parents of that child as well.

If what I am reading is correct it sounds like there is a element of selfishness going on.

[shy_bear]

When you are raising my child who was born as a product of rape to a drug using homeless young woman then you can comment on me being selfish. Between taking him over an hour each way once a week to PT, doing speech therapy, going to so many specialists I have lost count, to having to leave my other kids behind so we can travel out of state for him to see a doctor I just don't see how I have the time to be selfish. That comment is WAY out of line...it must be nice to have perfect kids.

[court5505]

Originally Posted by Whirled_Peas

I am an RN who has been vaccinated for measles MULTIPLE times. I am not immune. There was recently a measles outbreak in our city. One of my patients had a theoretical exposure to the measles. I was unwilling to get the vaccine again given how many times I've had it. Mainly I was unwilling to get it again because I am nursing my son. According to the vaccine manufacturer, a nursing mom can give all three of the diseases to their nursling. Although I was not too concerned about my son getting measles, I didn't want him to have the theoretical chance to have all the diseases at once. Even bigger than that, we never know when we'll get THE call about a baby. Since I will nurse the baby, I could not even risk the theoretical transmission of even one disease to a newborn. I could also not risk getting measles from my patient and giving it to a newborn. I was not concerned about my 2.5 year old getting it, but for a newborn it could be devastating. So, I stayed away from that patient during her theoretical contagious period. Of course she never got the disease and my paycheck was short and the baby never came, but oh well.

So what would happen if you came into contact with a child at the grocery store whose parents chose not to vaccinate him and you were infected that way. Would you still feel it was okay not to vaccinate? I'm not being smart here, this is a real question.

[MamaS]

Originally Posted by shy_bear

This may sound harsh, but my child comes first to me and I would not on purpose want another child to be harmed or become ill b/c of something we did, but HE is my main concern not everybody elses kid.

So, again the question. Do you tell the people/parents that your child comes in contact with that he is unvaccinated? Like Whirled Peas, a nurse and a nursing mom who could pass the virus to her child by nursing? Or the mothers whose children come in contact with yours in playgroup or church nursery - do they have any right to know and make an informed decision for their children?
Yes, it does sound selfish to me. But, if you are so certain that you are absolutely right in your decisions, you should be willing to make those decisions public to those who are affected by them. Honesty is something I can respect, even if I disagree with the opinion expressed.

[Stormster]

I question my docs all the time but when it comes to infectious stuff I do defer to the CDC (my sister sits on the board for Pediatric Infectious Diseases there). I mean do i know more than the CDC? Does the CDC have an investment in giving my child Autisim or lying about the studies? Does his Aunt want him to have Autism? I don't think so. I'll be vaccinating. I am curious about waiting but I'll do it because we are members of society and I do care about "children" not just my child. Not to say others who don't vaccinate don't care about other children! But that's what motivates me in this matter as much as DS's safety.

[crick]

Folks....let's remember to post respectfully. This is always a heated topic so remember everyone's opinion is to be respected even in disagreement.

Thanks!
Crick

[shy_bear]

He does go to church nursery, he goes to weekly story time, and he goes to a play group. If someone asked me if he is current on his vaccines I would tell them no, but I am not going to put a sign around his neck and advertise he is not vaccinated. Do you ask everyone that your child comes in contact with if they are fully vaccinated? Before you have playdate do they have to show proof of vaccines?

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by shy_bear

When you are raising my child who was born as a product of rape to a drug using homeless young woman then you can comment on me being selfish. Between taking him over an hour each way once a week to PT, doing speech therapy, going to so many specialists I have lost count, to having to leave my other kids behind so we can travel out of state for him to see a doctor I just don't see how I have the time to be selfish. That comment is WAY out of line...it must be nice to have perfect kids.

I'm sorry my comment offended anyone.

My main concern is my child and his health. If he gets sick because of someone else beliefs then I definitely think that person/parent is selfish.

We are ALL very protective of our children. I will never apologize for that.

[sbaglio]

Originally Posted by shy_bear

When you are raising my child who was born as a product of rape to a drug using homeless young woman then you can comment on me being selfish. Between taking him over an hour each way once a week to PT, doing speech therapy, going to so many specialists I have lost count, to having to leave my other kids behind so we can travel out of state for him to see a doctor I just don't see how I have the time to be selfish. That comment is WAY out of line...it must be nice to have perfect kids.

There are several legitimate reasons for SOME kids not to be vaccinated on schedule, or not to receive certain vaccinations. Perhaps your child has one of them, I don't know. I doubt that Supa was referring to cases such as yours.

Kids with impaired immune systems (chemotherapy, most immune-deficiencies) should not receive live attenuated virus vaccines. The severity of measles is such that we advise even kids with HIV to be vaccinated with MMR and VZ.

There are several exceptions to the recommendations - but one of them is NOT "my child could develop autism".

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by shy_bear

He does go to church nursery, he goes to weekly story time, and he goes to a play group. If someone asked me if he is current on his vaccines I would tell them no, but I am not going to put a sign around his neck and advertise he is not vaccinated. Do you ask everyone that your child comes in contact with if they are fully vaccinated? Before you have playdate do they have to show proof of vaccines?

I never thought to ask but I will definitely be discussing with the daycare he's starting!

[binkybear]

Originally Posted by shy_bear

He does go to church nursery, he goes to weekly story time, and he goes to a play group. If someone asked me if he is current on his vaccines I would tell them no, but I am not going to put a sign around his neck and advertise he is not vaccinated. Do you ask everyone that your child comes in contact with if they are fully vaccinated? Before you have playdate do they have to show proof of vaccines?

I'm thinking that "you" /parents shouldn't have to walk in and announce anything to anyone, but before any child walks into these types of group events and/or programs there should be proof of vaccinations asked of you ahead of time.

Not for nothing my dog can't get groomed before I show proof of vaccinations. There are indeed risks to the people AND the other dogs.

If it's commonplace to ask for proof for the pooches, why not the kids?

It might mean missing out on some group run events/programs/etc for an amount of time or even forever, but that's the choice in all of our hands...right?

[ProspectiveSingleMom]

Originally Posted by court5505

So what would happen if you came into contact with a child at the grocery store whose parents chose not to vaccinate him and you were infected that way. Would you still feel it was okay not to vaccinate? I'm not being smart here, this is a real question.

The fact that adults are getting infected makes me wonder why adults are not being vaccinated themselves, or receiving boosters. I know that here in Wisconsin, where there have been outbreaks of pertussis, some Dr.'s have started giving adults a pertussis booster when they get a tetnus shot (or something like that ... an RN mentioned it too me, but I don't remember the exact details). My understanding is that an adult who was vaccinated as a child is presumed to be immune for their entire life (except when boosters are indicated, of course.) I am planning to travel to Africa in the near future (not an adoption-related trip) and have had titers to ensure that my vaccines all worked, and fortunately they all had.

Do children ever receive titers to make sure the vaccine actually worked? I know for myself that I did not get a titer when I got my Hep. B vaccine through a county health dept. (that my job contracted with), even though that is the protocol for the hep. B vaccine because it has about a 10% (I think, maybe even higher) failure rate. Luckily, when I went to my next job and they did a titer I was immune, but I wasn't too happy when I found out that I should've gotten a titer in the first place, especially since one of the residents I worked with was known to be a carrier for hep. B.

[shy_bear]

For us, I think some of you are missing what I am saying; I plan on finishing his vaccines. In Nov. he goes to the developmental ped. and when he tells us it is safe for A. to get the last sets of shots he will.
If some of you feel this strongly about this I would suggest you start asking around...there are SO many parents we know who have decided b/c of the autism scare not to vaccinate or delay it. From my son's previous physical therapist, to the guy we know who works at the deli where we grocery shop( his son is also special needs that is how I know this), to several of the families we have met in our foster/adopt support group none of them have followed the suggested schedule. You can not possibly expect every play group or story time leader to request that we all bring in proof of vaccines; that is just crazy.