[Barbiescraps]

Wondering what everyone did once their babies came home. Did your pediatrician recommend to just re-vaccinate or did you run the titer test and based on that .. carried on with the shots or redid them??
I am in such a quandry over what to do...
YIKES!!!!!
Also, my dh took our baby to the IA specialist.. who looked over her medical prior to us accepting her referral. He said that it is a choice that is up to us but he finds it easier to just re-vaccinate because when she goes to school. they are going to want lot numbers , etc.. which would be difficult to get from GC...
Is that true??? My ds preschool never asked about 'lot numbers and exp. dates, etc....
GOOD GRIEF!!!!!
Also, did you ins. co cover titer testing.. and how much was it????
tia ... can you tell I am freaking a little!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wvamom]

Our pediatrician gave us "credit" for vaccinations in Guatemala. In fact, in looking at Joseph's vaccination record (which the attorney gave us, from Dr. Montiel), it appears he was vaccinated for TB there, too, which they don't even do here.
Carolyn

[babyjsmom]

Titer.....it tells all, I do not believe in doing it twice so to speak, it is so much better to get the clear picture. I hate all these shots! I wish I did the titer for my older one!

The only negative, lots of vials - 6!!!! Victor cried & cried.... :-(

[tamedane]

Our daughter came home at 11 months and was up to date on her shots. Our Pediatrician did not re-do any vaccines.

Sincerely,
Jessica

[Laura7542]

We did titers for both boys. My first's record and titer showd he received more shots. My second's record showed less shots. His titer did too. While doing the titer my doc retested for Hep, HIV, anemia, etc.

Laura

[KyBarb]

Just went through all of that with Nathaniel.
I don't know if insurance covers the titers because I have not got the bill yet.
Our peditrician recommended revaccination he said it does not hurt and you don't know for sure if the ones he had are up to United States standards so my own personal decision was to have them redone.
All the blood work came back normal and I had his hearing tested yesterday that was also normal my little guy got a clean bill of health.
So that it up to you really I don't think they push to have them redone they just give you the pros and cons and let you make the decision.

[csw]

Hi
For a pediatrician to routinely revaccinate is not right...I would get the titers done. Even though the mercury has been removed (still a trace in Hib) from infant vaccines (except this years flu shot) they still contain aluminum, MSG, formaldehyde and antifreeze!!
Why subject your precious baby to unecessary chemicals they dont need. If you asked Dr. Montiel he could probably give you lot numbers..have you tried emailing him? I have never heard of anyone needing lot numbers anyways. They should be using pediatric very small blood tubes for all the tests..they should not be using adult size blood tubes. I wanted a HIV and neg. Hep panel on record here anyways..and we wanted to check a blood count for anemia etc..so she had to have blood drawn anyways. If you tell your doc that Dr. Montiel was trained in England, that his Dad was a pediatrician as well as his wife..and that he uses only top quality vaccines I am sure they will not push you to revaccinate.

[becky]

I would absolutely have the titers done, and only then make a decision about revaccination. It is NOT true that redoing vaccines is harmless...there is much scientific discussion about the potential dangers of vaccinations...so why would you redo them if you didn't need to?

[DPline]

I had titers done on both my kids and it was covered by insurance. Daniel had to have several shots redone and Lauren had a couple redone, even though their shot records were totally up to date. While I firmly believe in immunizations, I did not want to give them extra shots unnecessarily. Yes, it was a fair amount of blood drawn, but they were also testing for HIV, hepititis, anemia (which Daniel had) etc. And both my kids were more upset about being held down than the actual needle.
I have never heard of needing lot numbers and expiration dates for school.

[avoel]

I highly recommend the titers...as a health professional and a mom! My first daughter had a perfectly acceptable shot record with all the dates recorded appropriately yet did not have any immunity to anything! So she had to "repeat" all her shots (in quotes because I have my doubts whether she received them in the first place). My newest daughter saw Dr. Monteil during her stay in foster care and I fully suspect that her titers will be fine but I am still checking them anyway. If a child has adequate titers then the only vaccinations needed are the ones appropriate for age...in other words you just pick up where they left off. If not then you do need to start over. In addition, the Prevnar vaccine is not routinely given in Guatemala yet recommended for all infants here so that one will likely need to be started on arrival home.

[wannahave3]

Our pediatrician (IA specialist) said her experience with the titersfor Guatemalan adopted babies has always been excellent. We are also getting "credit" (her word) for the vaccines he's already received. Our son saw Dr. Montiel whose vaccines are of US quality.

In our state, to register them for school you only need the date that each vaccine was given, no other information. Since Dr. Montiel gave us a vaccination record (isn't this required by the Embassy as well?) which is all the information we need to one day regsiter him for school (gasp!! )we chose not to re-vaccinate.

[heikkila]

Our doctor did NOT re-vaccinate. Her kept our daughter on her regular vaccine schedule when she came home.

Rebecca

[smmars]

No re-vaccinations here. We got our son's little booklet with all of the dates. Our ped. was impressed with what had been done. She just added prevnar.

[mac308]

With our now three year old daughter our doctor revaccinated her. She also had blood drawn for the other tests. I am really considering the titers with this adoption. I guess you should just call your insurance and see if they cover it. Hope all goes well... let us know what you decide to do.

Megan

[foxl]

No titers, no re-vaccinations, from Guatemala OR India. Our pediatrician gave us strong, well-reasoned arguments for his decision. He was not being lazy or ignorant, at all -- he is very active and opinionated about vaccines and in general believes more is better.
Linda