What’s a mother to do in this age of so many vaccines? Are they harmful? Are the possible side effects worth it? What exactly am I putting into my child’s body? Do they cause autism? As a mother I am overwhelmed at times.
According to the suggested vaccine schedule, Gage should have 28 vaccines before he’s 2 years old, and 9 more before he’s 12. That’s a lot.
I’ve been reading The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears and have found it very helpful and scary. He does a very good job of telling you about each separate vaccine, the history, what’s in it, the benefits. Dr. Sears also provides an alternate shot schedule which we’ve been loosely following. It’s essentially spreading out or delaying vaccines, so Gage is never really more than a few months behind.
On Friday he got the big one, the MMRC. It has a long list of serious side effects and is the one linked to the autism scare. I’ll admit I’m nervous about it.
So, how do you feel about vaccinations? Do they make you nervous or do you think it’s much ado about nothing?
Sometimes he gets cranky after his shots and I was hoping he’d be happy since the grandparents are visiting. Well, here he is on Friday night, my favorite picture ever…
Stacy's Books 
He looks adorable! My understanding is that the autism scare has been pretty much debunked. Here’s a link to an article about it in Pediatrics: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/121/3/621.short
Yes, I’ve read it, but until they know what causes (?) autism I think there will always be some questions. We’re vaccinating, but the book does make me take just a little control of Gage’s health. My pediatrician couldn’t really answer any of my questions/concerns, so I had to look around.
There are more vaccinations than 27 years ago! I delayed them back then and my kids(27, 24 & 20) are just fine. They were behind and I did take a lot of “crap” from the school system, but I held my ground. Do what you are comfortable with Stacy, no matter what the “experts” say.
Thanks for the back-up Nise!
Absolutely a winning pic!!!
I’ve not had children, but know I’d be very nervous about all the vaccines too.
That pic of Gage is wonderful. Happy Sunday to you and yours! (furbabies too).
The furbabies appreciated being remembered 🙂
When my son was born, I didn’t do any research about vaccinations; I had no idea that there were any problems associated with them so I let him have any and all that were offered. He’s perfectly fine now so I think that decision in his case was fine. I’d definitely wouldn’t be as trusting and gung ho about it today.
What a lovely, joyous face for this Sunday morning!!!
It’s just so many! I had 7 as a kid. That’s a lot more intereference the drugs are making these days.
Forty years ago we only had a few vaccines and I did whatever my pediatrician told me to do. The hardest part for me was seeing that big needle coming toward that little body. I cried every time.
I agree with you on the picture. It’s my favorite too. He looks so deeply happy.
The week in the hospital watching them try to get blood at least 3 times a day left me a little numb to the crying. And now it’s only bad for about 5 minutes and he’s happy again 🙂 As you can see by his picture!
There were less vaccines when Vance was small, but I actually got some of his ahead of schedule since we were moving to France. They reuse needles there, so I wanted him to have the shots here before we left. As far as I know, he didn’t have any side effects from them.
Eww! I wouldn’t want Gage to reuse needles either!
Sweetest pic! I got informed. One website really helped me out, and has continued to on all things medical: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/
Do what you feel is best! Hugs!
Interesting site. I spent a lot of time looking around there. It’s nice to read the non-worriers.
I could just gobble him up! I love that face..seriously!
As for the vaccines…I understand your concern. Not sure about the autism rate being higher in than in other countries that do not vaccinate. But I believe that you have valid concerns. My brother has his girls vaccinated against chicken pox which I strongly disagreed with. Both of my boys got the chicken pox and were pretty covered with them. I only vaccinated for what I believed in…but I am thinking of making Marc get the Mennegitis (sp?) vaccine. I have never nor will I ever get the flu shot. We also did not get the one last year that everyone felt that they had to have…I get sick about twice a year and according to my doctor that is pretty darn good. I don’t trust my government 😀 about those extra shots!!
We think alike! I’ve gotten more shots for me and more for Gage than I’m comfortable with, but I’m trying to find a happy medium. I think a mennegitis vaccine is a good ones for teens since it seems to hit so fast.
My kids are 25, 28 and 31. I went along with the schedule at the pediatrician’s office. All three graduated college and in good health. The youngest was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was six. At the time there was a theory that it could be related to one of the vaccinations but that hasn’t been proven.
It is a scary proposition when you think of all the shots. I say go with your gut. Gage’s photo is wonderful. What a cutie!
It’s hard to know what’s best, but I can only work woth the info that I’ve got. It would be nice if some of it were a bit more conclusive.
Well, I have to say, he doesn’t look cranky to me!:)
Cute, right?
It’s my favorite picture too! That smile makes the whole world brighter. You received vaccines as the pediatrician recommended and look at how you turned out:) He was in great spirits this weekend, so I’d say he weathered the vaccines very well.
Yes, but I only had 7 vaccines, not over 20!
We did the vaccines recommended by our pediatrician (it didn’t SEEM like 28 … that does seem high) and there were no problems. It is so hard to know what to think — I agree with you. I think Dr. Sears is pretty measured and practical. Love that smile!
Lots of the vaccines are combinations, so he won’t get 28 shots. The MMRC is four in one and there are more like that.
Hi Stacy! It is very scary when you hear all the press about these vaccinations. As a special education teacher that works with children with autism, I can say that the vaccination theory has no bearing on autism. I have worked with so many children with autism that never even had vaccinations. There are so many other factors that play into this diagnosis. Don’t be alarmed. You are doing the right thing. That picture is sooooo cute, too! He’s getting so big.
Thanks, Amy! That does make me feel better 🙂 Now that you’re not in NJ anymore I hope we can see you guys on a trip down south.
He is so adorable!!
To be honest, I never really worried too much about the vaccines. Our big problem is that Amber has always been, and is still deathly afraid of needles, so we put off a couple til next year, just to not overwhelm her. Just the thought of a shot puts her in tears.
That’s hard. Gage seems to be ok until they stick the needle in. At least so far.
God Gage is one cute kid. I don’t say that about many babies!
That’s a heck of a lot of vaccines by 2 yrs old! I would spread them out too. I think it makes sense. Give the body time to recover. I did get the chicken pox vaccine as an adult because I work in health care, and you know could go blind if I got chicken pox as an adult. Or die, which is not cool.
I work for a University Health system so it’s mandatory to get the flu vaccine every year. That one I made my peace with but the swine flu one, that was rushed out a few years ago, not so much. I felt like it was totally overblown on the news, and that no testing or study was done. Plus you know me and government conspiracies…was that a tracker they just put in? Crazy pants Jenny, that’s me 🙂
I’m not crazy about the flu shot, although Gage did get it this year. I’m not sure if we’ll continue with it every year, but because I don’t want him to end up in the hospital again this year we did it.
I remember getting chicken pox at 5 and still have a few scars on my face to show for it!
I will do as my pediatrician advises – I really love her and she is very supportive of parents who prefer to follow an alternative vaccination approach. There are some practices that refuse patients if they won’t vaccinate. I think that is a bit harsh myself. But I think that the increase in serious diseases that were almost eradicated is due to the reduction in vaccination participation. For me, the risk of living without vaccinations is far worse than the risks involved with receiving them. That said, it is soooo sad to see your baby get a shot :0(
I don’t have a huge amount of confidence in my pediatrician, although after he ended up in the hospital she was the only one out of 20 doctors/specialists who gave us a plausible reason for it. But lots of other times I think she’s wrong. Every time I think of switching, something changes my mind. The fact that the office is 5 minutes away helps.
Oh ya – and that is a beautiful photo!!! Lucky you with the timing of that shot – I’m sure he gives you that winning smile all the time – catching it in a photo is the challenging part.
I decided to take photos of him all day and see if I could get any good ones of him smiling. Out of 30 I think I got 4 cute ones of his smile. Thank goodness for digital cameras!
Now that’s a photo to scrapbook, Gage you’re just adorable.
I was extra scared and paranoid about everything as my baby daughter died not long after she was born but after much stressing my boys were vaccinated with no probs, they’re now 20 & 17. It pays to be informed and pro-active in your child’s health, which is exactly what you’re doing 🙂
It’s hard to know what to do but I’m doing the best I can 🙂
I say go what feels right for you. We got my 10 yr olds exactly when we were suggested — except for the chicken pox – my doc fought me to give him the vaccine and I said nope everytime. He got them when he was 8 and they were no big deal – even passed on to my 6 mth old and he barely noticed he had them — worked out perfect!
My 3 yr old we have been a bit behind in them but we have been doing them
That being said I say go what you believe in and don’t let anyone force you into anything Also best picture ever – I just want to pinch those cheeks
We’re behind, but not too. A few we are putting off for a few years, but still before he goes to school. I do feel better about spreading them out. A middle of the road choice.
ahh he’s so cute!
Thanks, Kaye!
LOVE the picture of Gage.
My neighbor has an autistic son is constantly asking me about vaccinating Elle. It’s so hard to know what the right thing to do is–benefits and risks and everything. I do have a few cousins with autistic children, but they aren’t sure whether they attribute it to vaccines or not.
If it makes you feel better the only evidence linking the MMRC vaccine to Autism has been widely discredited with the findings being unable to be replicated and the Dr who did the research was proven to have been fraudulent with the study and lost his license in about 2009 or 2010 (I cant remember now). Not to say there is no risk or no risk with vaccines just that particular “fact” is not so factual as it stands.
It is so hard to know though what is right but I have gotten all the vaccines for J to date and will continue to do so.I personally feel uncomfortable not vaccinating, but we do not have a family history of reactions so we are pretty safe. I believe you only need to exert caution if there is a family history of reactions.
As someone already said its what ever you feel most comfortable with dont let anyone tell you otherwise. Dr Sears certainly seems to be the voice of reason out of the parenting books being in the middle of the two sort of “camps”. I think his opinion is always well researched and well formed you cant go to wrong with him.
Gage is so cute!
I don’t remember taking so many vaccines when I was young or seeing my siblings took them. That’s interesting to know, though.
What a wonderful photo of your little man! He’s such a cutie!!
I hated vaccines for my kids too (they barely cried but it still broke my heart) and even as teens and twenty-somethings they still need some. I am fortunate that my best friend is a nurse for our county health dept. and knowing and giving vaccines is her job. She goes to seminars, meetings, etc. and then brings home the latest updates and recommendations. We live in one of the poorest counties on the state so it’s even more important to have access to health care, especially for children. It’s also state law here to have vaccinations up to date before attending school, including college.
I’ve put our care into her hands and we are so lucky to have her! She is a pro and explains it so we actually understand it as well. She is a wonderful nurse and an even better friend! It can be difficult to wade through all the hype but knowledge is power. If you trust your health care provider and can get appropriate answers to your questions than you can make informed decisions together. We all do the best we can do with what we know. Gage is very lucky to have you for his mommy! May he be blessed with good health!! 🙂