are immunizations safe?

[faithhope]

I think I erased my post, that is so annoying. Well Noah is 2 months old. He is my very first baby. He is due for his first immunization on the 25th. I have heard that immunizations could be dangerous and could lead to autism and all sorts of other issues. Has anyone heard of this? Any input would be appreciated.
Also I have heard a little about vitamin therapy for kids with DS. Has anyone heard of this or any other ways to help our kids development and health.
I am desperate to find all the first hand knowledge about what our kids need, therapies, tests, etc.
So much to learn.
Thanks, lOve,
Jessika

[momofrussell]

I will preface by saying these questions will get varying degree of opinions (pro AND con) based on past experiences and what has been learned.

Ok... vaccines... I am one that strongly believes in them. Although I have met a few parents (and so had my husband) who SWEARS their child got Autism from the vaccines, I still don't know how convinced I am personally. I am not saying it CAN'T happen, I have read some pretty interesting things on it which is medical informaiton, but I still don't know where I stand. Russell, my son w/DS, DOES have Autism, and I know without a doubt, he did NOT get it from any vaccine he received. But I already had a 5 yr old with a full series of shots before I had Russell and 10 yrs ago it wasn't "talked" about like it is now. I still would have done the shots though. I'd risk the Autism over the risks of NO vaccines anyday. That is just me though. I do know a parent who's daughter got very sick (not Autism) from a vaccine and she does NOT vaccinate... to each his/her own. I have no problems if someone else doens't, but I will

Although we tried to educate ourselves on the vitamin therapies out there, we didn't go that route. To be honest it was too expensive for us when Russell was little. We talked to our pediatrician and at the end of the day agreed a good multi vitamin was good enough. I know some parents that SWEAR by the vitamin therapy and I know plenty that say Don't do it. So, vitamin therapy is going to be something you will need to investigate and go with what you feel is best. Don't let anyone tell you it's right or wrong about the care you are giving your son. I feel vitamin therapies fall into this catagory. I've actually seen some pretty heated discussion over the topic, over the years... my thoughts are who cares what others think! LOL

We gave Russell a regular Polyvisol infant drop for many years.. until he knew the taste... long after he was an infant actually. Russell doens't chew though and doesn't eat good foods so for a few years he didn't have a vitamin at all. I then found a powder formula through a friend and that worked for a bit.. then we stopped. Now I give him something called Liquamax that is a adult liquid vitamin I get from Sam's Club. I half his dose and I also take it in the regular dose. In fact I don't even think our ped knows this because I think they've stopped asking me about his nutrition years ago because it's a mute point LOL

And since I am feeling long winded today I will close with this...I bet you are overwhelmed with all the information out there and being a new parent.. and your learning curve is a bit different since you now have the DS in the mix. Don't feel like you need to be the "perfect" parent or think everything you read on the net about what to "give" our kids is BEST for you and the DS... take the info one day at a time and try to remember all the info is wonderful but that doesn't mean we are all doing it. Heck, if I did everything that was "the right thing" for Russell, I'd be no closer to anything and I'd be running myself ragged. There are going to be plenty of things we should and shouldn't do with parenting in general, but at the end of the day, it's up to you and your other half to decide what is best

I hope I am not coming off as preachy and appologize if I am.. I am just trying to let you know I think it's wonderful you are getting all the info you can but try not to get too overwhelmed with it all. I don't want you to worry about things.... and I wish I could take any worry you have away!!!!

Ok... that's enough from me.. in my rambling mood I am in.

Hugs Jessika!

A.

[Ericsmomma]

I worked as a nurse in a pediatric office for over 20 years. I gave ALOT of vaccines....
Things changed...more vaccines added, children got them younger, boosters recommended..
it was constantly changing. I do believe in vaccinating children, and I had my son Eric immunized as scheduled. IF I had it to do over, I would get the vaccines separate, and further apart. I know we would give DTAP, HIB, HEP, IPV, and PREVNAR ...that is 7 vaccines at once. And that was at 2 months.(this was usually in 4 shots, some vaccines are combined).
My own opinion is its quite alot for these little immune systems to handle. I would split these up...I feel DTAP(diptheria, tetanus, and accelular pertussis) is very important because whooping cough is rearing its ugly head again in the USA. Older teens/college students are coming down with it and passing it on to babies, which is very life threatening for them (older kids usually handle it better). So I would get that for sure. Then I would come back in a few months and have another vaccine...like IPV (polio). I think if you are at risk for hepitits B, then get the vaccine. But a healthy baby not at risk may be ok to wait awhile. By the time the child gets ready for kindergarten, they will have been caught up with everyone else. As far as the chickenpox vaccine goes, I'd much rather of had Eric get the disease and be done with it, but he didn't. So I had him get it before kindy. But I didn't have him get the recommended booster. I would much rather have them do a titer (blood work) to see if he has the antibodies and doesn't need the booster. But thats just my opinion....nothing to back it up, just my thoughts. I don't want to persuade anyone from getting the vaccines. Just maybe space them out a bit. But the choice is yours, with input from your pediatrician.
p.s. As far as any vaccines containing thimerisol (they linked this with autism), today's vaccines do NOT contain this. The only vaccine that contain tiny amounts is adult flu vaccine, multi-dose vial and its not enough to cause problems.

[Connie]

Jessika,

While I don't believe vaccination are the cause of Autism I was not willing to risk it.

With my last 2 kiddo's I chose to spread them out instead of giving them multiple shots at one time. Could this make a difference? I don't know but I do know it made me feel better to do it this way.

Now both Collin (8 y.o.) and Lauren (5 y.o.) are up to date with the exception of the Chicken pox vaccine. I personally would rather my kids have chicken pox than the vaccine and my doctors have agreed with me and not objected so far.

Connie

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

I spread Brook shot's out too. Just a little though. Some are mixed up together now days. If they were seperate, we'd go back on a different day. My poor Googs had sooo many pokes and shots in her first 2 weeks of life I just felt horrible they wanted to poke her more. Even now they get ONE shot at taking blood. If they can't, we do it later. I've never heard of shots causing Autism. Hmmm... I indeed got all Brooks shots including chicky pox when she was 1 yr old.

Brook only takes her poly vit the doc said

You should get hooked up w/ Early Intervention. Ask the doctor or even look in the phone book. I'm not sure if it's called that in your town. Brook has three girls well, ladies, that come by the house, well work actually cuz they come on Tuesdays, anyway, they come over and have been a big help. She has a physical theripist, a specialist, and a nurse. The nurse comes about every other month now cuz Brook is thankfully pretty healthy and doesn't need her every other week anymore. The other two are such goofballs. They play w/ toys and teach me how to help Brook do more stuff. They were such help's those first few months. Check into it, it just might not only help Noah, but you too.

One more thing in my ramblings, which I tend to do , have you contacted Social Security? You should just to see if you qualify. SSI goes buy income and I have to mail in my pay stubs every month but Brook's $600.00 a month comes in handy when i'm the only one who can work.

Take care of yourself Jessika

Jennifer

[momofrussell]

Connie I am glad your doctors agreed with your chix pox vac and not getting them. I feel the same way but after Russell our ped was VERY adamant about Russell and Regan getting them and explained the what if's (try scare tactics) and well, I am not a push over by nature but I went with the vaccines anyway. I always thought chicken pox were a rite of passage and I got ripped off! LOL

Now come to find out Regan's vaccines state she didn't have one? LOL I was just told this and need to go check!

Oh.. and on the spreading the vaccines out.. I think that is a good idea and I think more doctors are warming to the idea. We didn't spread ours out but I know more and more are doing that.

A.

[Chris too]

I found out recently (from Merck - the company that makes it) that the chicken pox vaccine includes the lung tissue of aborted fetuses. It is up to the individual to decide what to do with this info, but at least now you have it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Spreading out the vaccines is proof against murcury poisoning. The possible connection between the vaccines & autism is in the preservative called thimerisol (sp?) which contains a quantity of murcury - a heavy metal. Kids do not have the ability to remove heavy metals from their systems until about 6 months of age. So if you spread them out (most of the vaccines no longer include the preservative), then the amount of murcury in their system is less. It's what I did with each of mine, and our pediatrician is in full agreement with this plan.

When considering the vitamin therapy, or any "cure" for Ds, remember to take their claims with a dose of reality: Ds is caused by that extra chromosome, so anything short of early removal of that chromosome will not "cure" it. Vitamins are likely to help anyone stay healthier, but they are not gene-altering. I would advise you to use your money wisely & just get a nice, ped-approved multi-vitamin & sign up for early intervention services (generally free to you - therapies in your home for Noah). We don't even use the multi-vit because my kids all eat well from a variety of food groups. Time will tell what Noah will do in that arena - at 2 months (I love that age!!) it's anybody's guess.

[momofrussell]

Chris... how DID you find that out about the Vacerella?? (sp?)

A.

[Ericsmomma]

I thought I'd post the web address for a interesting article I read today about vaccines and autism. Sure does make a case!
The article is tittled: "Government concedes vaccine-autism case
in Federal Court". Just type this in and its a article from the "Huffington Report"....(I'm computer illiterate so I don't know how to just post the website).

Here is the link (I am helping Dolly)

www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/government-concedes-vacci_b_88323.html

[mom28js]

Thanks for sharing, it was a very interesting read! I especially loved one remark David Kirby made in the intro to the official court document.....

But, of course, if you feel that this document in no way implicates vaccines, then let's just keep going about our buisness as usual and not pay any attention to all those sick kids behind the curtain.

I have printed both of these articles out and will take a copy of them to Luke's dr, who continues to strongly pressure & lecture us to immunize him at every appointment. He even admitted to me the last time that if he had a choice for his own children between an immunization that had thimerosal and one that didn't, he would choose the one that didn't. But I still shouldn't worry about the "negligible" amounts of mercury contained in the only flu shots available in our county. Uh huh, sure I shouldn't. That's exactly why I drove 50 miles to a larger county that had thimerosal-free flu shots available at a cost of only $4 more per shot than the ones that do contain thimerosal.

[Jessie]

I'm a believer in vaccinations, but honestly it does scare the crap out of me. I think that too many are given too quickly and am completely on board with the idea of at least spreading them out. They say the thimerosal issue isn't really relavant anymore in the US and that it's primarly third-world countries that have this problem. The thimerosal is used as a preservative, which is used when vaccines are sent out in 'bulk'. In the US, we primarily have vaccines distributed in single doses, so it's not used as much here.

As far as the autism thing, maybe it's not the thimerosal, but I think where there's smoke, there's fire. There is something environmental that is causing such a dramatic spike in the cases of Autism. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone knows the answer.

Heck, isn't it suggested that when you start introducing babies to food, you give them one at a time in case there is an allergic reaction? How come it's ok to inject them with different viruses all at the same time? Again, I'm not anti-vaccines, I just think we all need to get smarter about how it needs to be done.

As far as the vitamin therapy - I believe this came from one of our most-wise moms here - if it was so great, why isn't everyone taking these special vitamins? But, again, it's a personal decision based on your child's needs. I personally just believe in giving Jason a regular old multi-vitamin every day that I would give to any other 15 year old, Ds or not.



Jessie

[Kristin]

Most vaccines don't use the thimerosol anymore. Many of the recent studies show no link between vaccines and autism. The latest study from the MIND Institute at UC Davus is doing quite a bit of research that is implicating immune reactions in the mother during pregnancy. Here's the link to their latest study. www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/newsroom/newsdetail.html?key=425&svr=http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
The IgG immunoglobulin reactions are the same component of the immune system that cause my daughter to react to gluten, eggs, and casein.

Back to your original question. My mother-in-law was a pediatric nurse practitioner and she recommended that Clarice get every vaccine available. Our pediatrician's rule was no more than two at a time, so we spread them out. Clarice has always been healthy. We even still get the flu vaccine each year.

[Kristin]

That first url isn't working correctly. Here's the link to the news releases so you can see several of their studies.
www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/newsroom/releases/

[sandi]

Gee, I have learned a lot about vaccines here today. Cassie got half of the flu vaccine when she got her 6 month shots. I guess the flu shot is given in 2 half doses the first time. Cassie usually gets a slight fever for about 3 days after her reg shots. But this time after getting a half dose of the flu shot, she had a bit of a fever for a week. She barely ate, and was just so out of sorts the whole week. So I didnt go back to get the second half of the shot. I have a problem with what the government tells people. I dont believe everything they tell you. In my opinion, I think they hide things so people will get the flu shot because the outcome would be worse if people didnt get it, but they dont tell you all the symptoms or what could happen to a very small percentage of people if they do get it. Then people wouldnt get it period if they knew everything about it. Anyway.. I do believe in getting your child vaccinated for sure. Its been proven that without the vaccines, kids die with these terrible diseases.

[Googsmom aka Jennifer]

Just bumping this up for Sandi to see