I know there are religions that do not allow children to be immunized, and I know, also, that there are parents who simply choose not to immunize for personal reasons. If anyone would like to share those reasons, I would be interested in hearing them. Also, I thought that children HAD to be immunized in order to start school. In our school district they say the kids can't start school without their shots. My children have all had all their shots & thank God they have never had any problems with them. I never really considered not having them get their shots.

By Tink on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 06:07 pm:

This has been debated a few times on here but here are the basics...School districts prefer that students be immunized. They don't advertise the fact that all you have to do is sign a waiver in order to bypass this. My oldest received all of her immunizations, my son has received almost all of his, my youngest hasn't received any of hers and my dh and I are still deciding if we will when she turns 3. We have heard that the risks go down then. My youngest didn't receive hers because that is when there was such a debate about the DTP and MMR vaccine causing Autism and my son was diagnosed with Autism when my youngest was an infant. I think she can get her shots at 3 but my dh is leery of it after all we have heard and read when we were looking at the cause of my son's condition. He did react very badly to his shots a couple of times and it seemed like a logical conclusion when the mercury in the preservative, thimerosal, was under attack. I am still not sure what to believe but I do know that parents need to be more informed by Drs when they are immunizing. All in all, immunizing is a good thing and should be done by the majority of the population but it wasn't right for us and the situation that we were in.

By Mommierenee on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 07:21 pm:

I just got their shots because that's what they do when you take them for their well checkups! Plus @ the hospital they give you litterature saying that they are healthy if they get their shots at 2 weeks/1 month/2 months, so on...
It's not like they ask you "do you want your children to get their immunizations?"
I just started here, so I didn't know that it had been talked about before.

By Tink on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 08:11 pm:

I didn't mean that you should know better but, if you do a Keyword search in the lefthand column, you should be able to find what other people's opinions are on this subject. There are a few women on this board that are very pro-shots and some that are very anti-shots. I think that there are some very good reasons for each side. It is something that is positive for most children. For my children I wish I had known a little more about risk factors. My dh and I have several for autism and might have looked at the shots a little more carefully before my kids had gotten theirs. Most Drs do assume that parents will immunize their children so they are given as a matter of course.

By Amecmom on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 08:37 pm:

http://www.momsview.com/discus/messages/23/23922.html

This was the most recent discussion regarding vaccinations.

Ame

By Palmbchprincess on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 09:26 pm:

I really didn't give much thought to this until my children were a year old. Then they started pushing for the chicken pox vaccine, which I am against. When they were 18 months old the doctors told me they HAD to have it, and it could not be pushed off any longer, because they were in daycare. They didn't stay in daycare very long, but they had the vaccine anyway. I'm furious about that!!! I'm now seriously questioning the whole vaccination process. I haven't taken the kids in for their well baby 2 year check up, but military healthcare doesn't really give parents an option. I'm not saying I would choose not to vaccinate my kids, but I don't like being forced to do it. With my next child I'm planning to do a lot more research on it before letting the doctor vaccinate without question. Anything I am forced to do without any say in the matter, especially when it comes to my children, makes me VERY uncomfortable.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 12:06 am:

My kids never got the chicken pox vaccine. It was just coming out I think about the time my kids actually got chicken pox. (October 1993 at 3yo and 1yo 2 weeks apart from each other) They have had all other shots.

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 12:48 pm:

I didn't know I had a choice either. But, when I realized I had a choice, I realized that it was my responsibility as a parent to make an educated decision. The weight was heavy, but eventually after talking to many doctors, midwives, friends and doing extensive research I came to a conclusion. I've also attended workshops on immunizations and I find it a facinating topic from any angle you look at it. You should take a look at how they are actually made! That would throw any mommy for a loop! There is a good national website called: 909shot. It will get anyone with questions pointed in the right direction, even if you choose to immunize your children, there are different, less risky ways you can do it.

By Palmbchprincess on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 02:10 pm:

Monica, I just noticed you are in TX... what part? I'm in Harker Heights, near Killeen.

By Monicamomof3 on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 02:58 pm:

I am from Houston! How far is that from Kelleen?

By Boxzgrl on Monday, June 14, 2004 - 05:45 pm:

I think there are more benefits from the shots than risks. I understand the fact that i'm no doctor and don't plan on going to school to be one so I read "enough" but overall I feel the doctors have DDs best interest in mind.

Its all a personal decision, there is no right or wrong way to do it.

By Palmbchprincess on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 03:36 am:

Monica, I'm about 3-4 hours north of Houston, depending on the route you take. I'm between Waco and Austin. Houston is a crazy city! I drove through a few weeks ago, and couldn't believe the highways!! Lots of insane drivers, it was kind of scary!! LOL!!

By Kittycat_26 on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 09:29 am:

I agree with you, Melissa.

I've read the literature and talked about this with our pediatrician who I know very well. She's never pushed me into anything and only gives me her opinion. However, it is her opinion after she has seen thousands of babies. Each child is different, yes. Each parent should make their own decision, yes. But you gather all of the facts and some of those facts come from personal sources and I believe one of those is your child's pediatrician.

Timmy has gotten and will continue to get shots recommended by his doctor. This includes an annual flu shot.

By Monicamomof3 on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 10:55 pm:

Just wondering if anyone has ever gone to 909shot. Just wondering what you think.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 09:05 am:

Interesting site - tries to appear unbiased but obviously is. It does give some good tips for making sure your child's immunizations are as low risk as possible, which is very good.

I'm in the camp for immunizations. They have protected us from so many horrible diseases. I feel I would be remiss in my role as a parent if I failed to give my child that protection.

As for the parents who choose not to have their children immunized, I respect their decisions. They must realize however, that their children are afforded a great measure of safety from these diseases because so many parents do immunize their children. If we all stopped, then no one would be protected.

Ame

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

I'm all for immunizations. My kids are all vaccinated. They also have the chicken pox vaccine which I think is wonderful as well. Chicken pox cases are getting more and more serious. Some even leading to blindness due to pox in the eyes.

I have always known that it is *my* choice to vaccinate my kids or not.

I love what Ame said "They must realize however, that their children are afforded a great measure of safety from these diseases because so many parents do immunize their children. If we all stopped, then no one would be protected."

That is exactly how I feel. IMO parents who do not vaccinate should be very grateful that the rest of us do. Otherwise, we could have an entire outbreak of some very serious diseases.

By Monicamomof3 on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 03:20 pm:

Just thought it was a good website for those who do immunize, because you can get the lot numbers to see if there is any documented adverse reactions. Just another preventative measure before you immunize. That is, if your doctor is willing to give you the lot # he/she will be injecting into your child. This would enable you to track it before the actual injection. Hope it helped your guys!