I was just wondering if any of you have requested combination vaccines for your children in an effort to reduce the amount of shots they must receive when young. I'm asking because we just returned from my dd's pre-KG physical, and I was so distressed to find out she needed four separate shots, all boosters. It would have been wise for me to check her immunization chart before the appointment. In the back of my mind I was thinking she might need one booster, but four? We left without her getting the shots. The nurse successfully did the finger poke for the blood test. When it came time for the shots, my dd was so upset she became ill. Neither my dh or I could stand to hold her down, and we didn't want a nurse to hold her, either. I held back the tears, but lost it at the end. At that point my dh (who was on the verge of loosing it) took our hysterical daughter out to the parking lot. My dh and I have kept up with her immunizations up to this point. Now that she's older, she figured out soon after we were there that she would be getting shots. I want to protect her and have her immunized, but today seemed more than any of us could handle. I'm searching for combination vaccines and wondering if any of your dks have had them and if there were harmful side effects. It just breaks my heart that these little ones have to be held down for so many shots. I'm an adult, and the thought of it made me feel ill.

The nurse suggested we get a waiver if we choose not to get our dd immunized. I want to do the right thing, but I just couldn't hold her down today. I feel like such a bad mom. I know this can be a controversial subject, and I myself have my doubts about some of these injections. I don't want to start a debate, I think I just needed to talk and of course I came here!
Thanks. I had no idea being a mom would be this hard at times.

By Marcia on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 09:07 pm:

What were the 4 shots she needed? I chose not to give my kids the pertussis part of the DPTP shot, so they had to have separate needles for the others. Most people do have those 4 combined, and the MMR shot is a combination of 3. The DPTP shot is the one that is needed at her age, and possibly HIB, from what I remember.

By Nicki on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 10:05 pm:

She needed to get one for Polio (4th), one for DTaP (5th), one for MMR(2nd and last), and one for Varicella(2nd and last). Personally I've always questioned the one for chicken pox, but dh was in favor, so we went ahead when she was younger.

By Amecmom on Friday, September 28, 2007 - 11:26 pm:

Something might be "off" on her immunization schedule. I believe my son needed the MMR for K. He'd already had the Varicella (my feeling on that is if they're going to get the cp let it be as mild as possible since my sister had a horrible case of internal cp.
I'm sorry you had to go through it. What a nightmare.
Hugs to you and your brave daughter.
Ame

By Kaye on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 07:56 am:

I am going to say this one thing. I personally would not give a combo drug, just because you don't know what the reaction might be. I would NEVER give my child the mmr with any other shots. You don't have to give all the shots at one time, you can do them slowly over the next year. You can ask your dr what is the longest you can wait for the second shot to still be effective.

By Tink on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 05:32 pm:

I would be worried about exposing my child to so many different vaccines in one shot, especially since you won't know which vaccine may cause a reaction. If one shot causes redness, mild fever or crankiness, what will four shots at once cause? Just my two cents and Kaye and I are known for being vaccine rebels!

By Nicki on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 05:39 pm:

Kaye, I asked if we could spread them out over the year, and the doctor strongly advised against it. She said it would only prolong things and make her fearful to come to the office. She's pretty fearful now, poor kid. Thanks, Ame. I think you may be right. We moved to another state just after dd turned one. I've been checking, and there are slight differences between the two states and their schedules for immunizations.

By Kate on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 05:45 pm:

I would ask about a blood test to check her titres for the various diseases. You will then know if she really needs the boosters. Check first, though, if your school will accept acceptable titres instead of boosters. The blood test will show 'how' immune she is, or rather, how well the previous shots took. The varicella and MMR shots are already combined.

That said, my girls only have a few of the 'required' or 'recommended' shots. I am mostly opposed to them and a blood test may scare your DD, too, but at least it might avoid unnecessary vaccines and vaccine components, and side effects.

By Amecmom on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 06:45 pm:

It's so funny how things vary. Here varicella and mmr are not combined. I just took a look at my son's record for fun. He's had three or four different vaccinations at the same time. Whether or not they were combined or four separate pricks, I don't remember. I do know he's gotten at least three at once - I remember two nurses and them doing them really fast.

I can say that neither of my kids ever had any reaction to vaccines. I gave them tylenol or motrin an hour before. But my kids were littler. I was afraid for my son who was older and knew what was happening.
Could they give her two at one visit and two at another?
I really feel for her. I used to get allergy shots and I dreaded them.
Ame

By Kittycat_26 on Monday, October 1, 2007 - 06:35 am:

Actually, four sounds right. My DS got them last year in prep for Kindergarten this year. We still need to get the 2nd varicella booster but that will be next year since I'm pregnant right now and can't be around him since it's a live virus.

I don't want to debate the whole "whether to give vaccines or not". It tends to get to be a hot topic no matter where or when it is discussed. However, I do think that kids read us (as parents) very well. Some of you DD's distress is probably coming from your approach and feelings (not all but some).

We approach shots and blood draws very differently and have since Timmy was 1 week old. They must happen. I'm sorry that they hurt (and yes, I do tell him that they hurt). BUT, they only hurt for a little while and then it goes away. I hold him and no one else. I have had to argue with nurses and lab technicians about this. But I have the final say and he must know that he has to listen.

Deep down, I'm always afraid that there may come a time when it is life and death that he get blood drawn or shots done and I need to be able to control him. He needs to believe what I say which is why I don't lie about them hurting.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, October 1, 2007 - 03:41 pm:

When Emily was 5, we went once, and she got the DPT and a hepatitis. Then a month later, we went and go the 2nd hepatitis and an MMR. Then 5 months later, went in and got the 3rd hepatitis. I don't remember her having an adverse reaction to having any of the combo shots together.

Some dog-owners don't like giving the combo shots, either, but Jasmine hasn't had problems getting them.

By Nicki on Monday, October 1, 2007 - 03:57 pm:

Thanks, Kate. I didn't even know they could check how well the previous shots took with a blood test. I'm going to look into that some more. Thank you.

Ame, I'm sorry to hear you had to have allergy shots. No fun, and I think the dread before hand is sometimes worse than the actual shot.

Amanda, I think you may be right about our dd picking up on our feelings. I'm a pretty emotional person, and have some hang ups of my own about medical procedures. As hard as I try to hide my feelings, my dd is super sensitive and she senses my anxiety. She's also had some painful, frightening experiences in ER, and I know these had an effect. We also suspect she may have some sensory issues, so of course, these type of things are overwhelming. We are honest about the pain factor, too. I keep telling her, it will hurt for a bit, but lets think about what we're going to do when it's over to help you feel better. We always follow up with something she loves to do, park, library, out to lunch.:-)

Thanks, everyone, for all the great advice and understanding.