What do you think of... - Parents who dont vaccinate their kids?

TeagansMom609 wrote: I used to work for a husband and wife who refused to vaccinate their kids. Which I thought was crazy! They were "all natural". I dont think anyone likes getting their kids vaccinated but hey thats life, and if you want your child safe from deadly diseases thats what you have to do. I think the ones who dont are Coo-Coo!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I have some friends who don't vaccinate their kids. I know the school system and day cares frown on it. A lot of people don't from what I understand. I know they are trying to get a lot of the minorities in Dallas to vaccinate their kids and even give them a deadline in school. If they don't have it done their children aren't allowed to attend school.

IMO... I think it is rather important. There are a few vaccines that I'm iffy about, but I think they are needed to protect our children.

kit_kats_mom replied: LOL. Warning! This is a highly charged debate topic. I've seen it get out of control on other boards. I know our ladies & gents are very civil and happy to share their reasonings behind their choices without getting viscous though.

I've heard both sides and the Non vaccinators (I'm unsure of the political correct term LOL) have some very valid points. However, I chose to vaccinate K and will do so with the next baby too. Mainly because I trusted my ped and we discussed the options a lot. She was not a real "establishment" type and I know that if she didn't really feel strongly about the benefits outweighing the risks, she would have told me.

The only thing that worries me is that the people who choose to not vaccinate for non medical reasons (allergies to contents of the vacs etc) could be putting those children who are not able to be vaccinated at risk for the deadly/preventable diseases.

I don't think they are coo coo though. There has been a lot of research on the bad parts of vaccines, for example mercury and a link to autisum, that are scary.

Some families just did the same research I did and came to a different decision for their family.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:

My sentiments exactly. We researched it A LOT before coming to our decision as well. IMO when it comes to the safety of our children we shouldn't do something just b/c the pediatrician recommends it. I'm not real quick to medicate my children, either. I believe in a more natural approach. HOWEVER, I wouldn't intentionally let them suffer....EVER. AND I trust my ped. He knows and respects my feelings regarding these issues.

LOL! I just had to add that ANYTHING can become a debate, but I agree this board is a little less controversial and for the most part people respect other's opinions.

loveydad replied: All I know is that my girlfreind's daycare doesn't allow kids who haven't been vaccinated there. They'll pay for the vaccinations but Tav said she just won't risk it. She has only had that problem once, and it was because the person couldn't afford it (or so she said).

MommyToAshley replied: In my opinion, those that choose not to vaccinate put not only their children but other children at risk. Some of these diseases are just horrible and have been practically wiped out because of vaccinations. I understand why some choose not to do so, but nothing has been proven about autism and mercury has been taken out of most shots. Therefore, the risk is greater if they choose not to vaccinate. I would say this is a personal choice, but in reality it is not because it affects others. I stand by the schools that have policies that support vaccinations.

amynicole21 replied: Someday, everyone should read the content of some of the vaccinations (lots of nasty animal biproducts)

That said, I got Sophia vaccinated, but felt badly about it later. My friend did not because when she was a child she had a terrible reaction to a vaccination, and later as an adult had a 3 year battle with a reaction she had to a tetnus shot. Her baby cought whooping cough earlier this year, but is fine. THe CDC was all over her though because it is such a communicable disease... she had to get super duper antibiotics and give them to all of the people her child had been in contact with. That was unfortunate to say the least! They are finding that lots of the vaccines wear off after only about 10 years or so! That's how he caught it... from an adult who had been vaccinated as a child but it wore off.

It's a really personal decision which could have implications far beyond the immediate family... something to really research first.

MomToMany replied: I agree with the others that those who don't vaccinate put everyone else at risk. I'm not taking any chances with my kids' health, so they are vaccinated.

My BFing support group that I have gone to is all anti-vaccination, home birthing, organic foods, etc. I don't agree with most of what they do. The one lady had a home birth in April, and her baby almost died. He was stuck for over an hour, wasn't breathing when he was born, but his dad got him back. To me, that's SO selfish; I would never do that, even though the thought has crossed my mind out of frustration with the Dr.'s.

And the ladies there are always talking about all the bad things in vaccinations, how unhealthy that stuff is, and what it can do to you. One even said that a certain vaccination contains something from aborted fetuses. Everytime I hear them talking about this stuff, I want to run away. They've made me cry at times, making me feel so guilty about putting that stuff in my kids' bodies, although I never let them see it. There's one other lady there who is with me on this stuff, so at least I have someone normal to talk to.

KatieLeigh79 replied: My cousins sister didn't give her son shots and he is back in the ICU with spinal menengitis (sp) and a few other things, that they said was brought on from things that could have been prevented with the new baby wellness shots - they are thinking he probably will have some brain damage and growth problems because his temp has been hitting so high he keeps having seizures and last night they put a shunt in his brain to reduce swelling (He is 5 months old).... so I guess that is just anoter reason I am so for it - I have seen how bad it can get when the parent doesn't want to and tries to go "all natural"... But really it is a parents choice.

Guest replied: I just think there are side effects to EVERY drug. Their isnt one out there that doesnt. Even the most simple drugs like Advil have side effects. BUT, we still take them knowing the side effects but also knowing what can happen if you dont take certain drugs. For example Im on Depo- Provera and like most birth controls the side effects are things like stroke, blood clotting, headaches, weight gain. But I still take it. Another example, we will all be getting a flu shot this year, including Teagan because I would like our chances to be minimal for getting the flu, considering how many babies, and elderly died from it the past couple years because of the flu's strength. You have to weigh out the consequences. Get the vaccine or have the chance of getting the flu and possibly losing your child. Hmmm...which one sounds better?

TeagansMom609 replied: Opps that last post was me. I wasnt logged in..

Maddie&EthansMom replied:

This same thing happened to a friend of mine...the one who doesn't vaccinate her children. Her DH insisted that they have a home birth...their son almost died and so did she. Her DH is so stupid. They just had a baby girl. SHE insisted this time that they give birth in the hospital.

My2Beauties replied: Well while this is a controversial topic and it's a parent's choice I totally think that people should vaccinate their children. Dee Dee had it right when she said not only does it put their child at risk but it puts other people's children at risk as well and I would not put my child in a daycare or school that didn't require the children have their vaccinations. I didn't even know this was an option to opt out of vacs...I don't think it should be personally. Just my 2 cents! Don't anyone get mad at me My ped never said anything to me about not getting vacs and the hospital gave Hanna her vacs as soon as they took her after the first time I BF her, I had no clue she was going to get a Hep B shot that early but she did!!! So i seriously had no clue that you could tell your ped not to do this Of course, I'm clueless to so many things It must be a blonde thing!

coasterqueen replied: OUCH! This is kind of a touchy subject . I never considered NOT vaccinating Kylie but I did consider "delaying" vaccinations. Unfortunately I didn't consider it early enough and so I didn't get to do it. I *may* do it with this baby, not sure.

I do think that I did my child an injustice by getting her the chicken pox vaccine. Dh and I found out more about it after the fact and are very disappointed in ourselves for not researching it before hand and if we would have we wouldn't have gotten her this vax.

There are so many debates on vax and IMO I would have delayed vax Kylie if I researched it ahead of time.

What I think is awful is giving these children "cocktails" (multiple vax in one or two shots). That's too much for their little bodies to handle. I think they should be spread out over several years..not the majority of them done in the first year.

But I won't go into that debate.

Really as far as this one...unless children who don't get vaxed are going to be homeschooled they will have to vaxed at some point and IMO I don't see a problem with "delaying" them. I think I did my dd wrong by not doing it personally. I know that now and so does Dh and we regret it. Will we delay them for this baby..not sure...but now I do know the potential risks in giving them all so quickly.

kimberley replied: well, all of my kids have had the "basic" vaccines (DPPT and MMR). those are the only required vaccines here in canada. with Jade i was given the option to get the one against meningitis (prevnar i think) and the chicken pox vaccine and we opted out of both of those. i have read the pros and cons and there are horror stories on both sides. i have a close friend who chose not to vaccinate her twin girls. her decision was educated and supported by qualified paediatricians who know all too well the unspoken dangers of some of the elements in the vaccines. especially with the newer ones, there is no long term data to tell us their effects. she isn't a horrible mother... she is more nurturing and loving than most parents i know. she isn't trying to hurt anyone else's kids. she signed waivers at school that the girls would NOT attend if they so much as had the sniffles. and all is fine with them. it is a parenting choice like any other you make... whether to breastfeed or bottlefeed, cloth diaper or not, cio or ap... they are all loving choices we parents make with the best interest of the child at heart.

as for a home birth, if i have another child, i am seriously contemplating having a midwife assisted home birth. i have worked in my local midwife clinic and the quality of care is superior! i think it is the most loving choice i can make after what happened with my previous births. The majority of my OB visits were brief and uncaring. i felt like something on an assembly line. my first birth experience was awful because of Dr intervention. he gave too much epi, didn't tell me when to push, misjudged the size of baby and Jacob was stuck for an hour. he didn't assist with massage or anything. he slept in a chair. i couldn't walk without crying for months. my second birth happened so fast and no one would listen to me. i kept saying this baby is coming and they kept telling me to walk around the hospital. ugh! i went from 3cm to 10cm in an hour and he was born in 10 minutes. if i didn't demand care, he would have been born in the hospital corridor and with jade, the completely misjudged my edd and told me that i was 11 days late and if they didn't induce she would die. i was pg and scared and it was one intervention after another. the started pitocin which puts baby in distress, then broke my water and found a minute trace of merconium so they called the resp. guy. then when Jade decided she was coming, the nurse tried to push her back in until a dr arrived?!?! i about kicked her in the head. they cut the cord, took my baby (who was perfectly fine and healthy and covered in a thick coat of vernix) and wouldn't let me bf for the first few hours. basically, everything on my birth plan went out the window because they took over. why... so they could get the birth over with and enjoy the impending labor day weekend. so after all this rambling, i think home birth is a natural, caring option. it's the doctors who are selfish imho.

A&A'smommy replied:
I didn't know that they were going to do that either but that might be my age....
I choose to vaccinate Alyssa because I think there are benifits to it I don't want to be in the hospital with for example the chicken pocks being worse than they could be.... It scares the crap out me I love my baby and I want to do everything in my power to keep her healtly and safe!

A&A'smommy replied:
I wish I had known more about this too and maybe I would have delayed them but I'm not even sure I would have a choice with that considering that I get hers done free at the clinic (health department) actually everyone around here does (not all free I don't think) but everyone I know has at one point gone there and NEVER had problems.... NEXT baby will be better as far as knowing stuff I have three, four or even five years to plan, read and research and thanks to everyone here I have learned more than I would have just by reading or researching you guys have been my role models!