To vax or not to vax..

Your opinions?

I will start by saying I am pro vax, but i realize that there is a whole world of opinions out there. Hopefully we can have a good discussion while remembering that just because we may be on opposite sides of the fence doesnt mean we cant debate!

We were on the regular vax schedule with our oldest (who is almost 12). Our middle son had a severe reaction to a vaccination when he was 4 months old, and I pretty much stopped with him at that point. He is my kid with autism. My youngest (who is 6) gets them occasionally. I'm not even sure what he's had!

I don't feel like certain vax are necessary at all, like chicken pox and hep b (for children). I'm more on the fence on the other ones, but it's a risk/benefit thing for me. There is NO WAY my autistic kid will ever have another vaccination. My 12 y/o is completely up to date, and I think I will keep my 6 year old on the really, REALLY spread out schedule he is on - one at a time, with a huge break in between, and NOT chicken pox or hep B.

So, I guess I'm kind of in the middle on vaccinations. If I didn't have a child with autism, I might feel differently. I really don't know what came first for him - the autism or the vaccination - but I don't want to take any chances.

It's a tough decision! (or it was for me!)

I had all mine vacinated however my third son had a bad reaction to his first jab and had his second and third under the care of the hospital, I wouldnt let him have the MMR untill he was five years after the recomended age and I am glad I did wait, so I could explain to him why he ended up with measles mumps and rubella ! I was told by a Dr over the phone that it is impossible for him to have all three from the jab, the Dr came to my home and in a shocked voice said ... he does !

So dont believe all you read.

I think that this is a kid by kid issue. I believe you should have the right not to vax your child if you feel it is unsafe. I did a great deal of research when my oldest (now 22) started showing his disabities. I was sure by this time there would be more concrete evidence out there one way or the other but there really isn't. Very frustrating. All mine have been vaccinated as well.

I do think however I should be informed if a classmate or fellow day care child has not been vaccinated. There was quite a big deal here a year or so ago. A very good day care facility had a child that had not been vaccinated and ended up with the measles, the problem was that an infant in the facility caught it from that child was got really really sick.

I think each parent has to do some reasearch themselves and make an informed decision.

Matthew had chicken pox when he was an infant. I'd never had it and didn't know what it was and I took him to the doctor. He was vaccinated for it when he was three or four because I was unable to prove that he'd had it. He, the rest of the kids and eventually I ended up getting again when he was four. Getting the chicken pox as an adult is not a pleasant thing. I was a lot sicker for a lot longer than the kids. So there is something to be said for vaccinating them.

As a dad, my wife tended to follow all the guidelines of the doctors in terms of vax. However, my daughter is about to be "pushed" into getting the optional Guardasil vaccination which I am very hesitant about. Her doc was really talking it up at her 10-yo annual visit.

I want to do more research on this one due to things I've heard about it. My wife will typically say "do what the doctors want to do". I also don't do flu shots for any of our family due to the thimerosol in the mix.

Oh my daughter got the gardiasil vax. Her first cousin had that bacteria (discovered it when she went in to get the vax). With the history of cervical cancer in my family this was a no brainer for me. But you bring up an interesting point, I checked out the traditional vaccines thoroughly but fear talked me into this vax without even checking out the side effects.