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PatriceA
Guest
If it was me, I’d read as much as I can on the subject, research the internet. Ask my ped the very same questions you asked in your post and then make the best informed decision that you can with the answers your ped gives you. Each of us has to make the best decision we can for our children based on the vaccines that are available and any immediate health concerns that are present in our own unique situations. Some of us will be able to “opt out” of the scheduled vaccines, some of us will not. Those of us that can not avoid giving vaccines to our children because of our individual circumstances should feel some comfort in that the Vatican addressed the issue and realizes that sometimes giving the vaccines is the only option. Then you put pressure on the pharmacetical companies and the government to offer alternative vaccines.Which is my situation.
My son is four months old and according to the chart in the OP, he wouldn’t be getting a questionable vaccine until possibly six months (for polio.) He has a ped appointment (regular 4-month check up) this Monday and I am wondering exactly how to bring this up. Would/should these alternatives be easily available (I remember that I wasn’t able to get a mercury-free flu shot while I was pregnant, for example.)? Would using an alternative affect cost? If I bring this up with DS’s ped, would this be something he is likely to have heard of before? (This practice refuses to see children whose parents will not vaccinate their children.)
Then the other dilemma becomes vaccinations for diseases that don’t have an alternative vaccine - it looks like that’s the case for rubella, chickenpox, Hep A, and shingles in the US. I don’t have a problem with not vaccinating for chickenpox as it’s not required (I didn’t get it, I remember my mom taking us to play with some kids who had it so we would all get it while young), but I am definitely not comfortable just saying “no” to rubella or Hep A vaccines (it looks like the vaccine for shingles is only given in adulthood; I’ve never had it - is this a common one?)
I really like DS’s pediatrician so I don’t want to come across as a “crazy lady” or some kind of conspiracy theorist. I’d also like to make sure I have my facts straight and that I can present my concerns clearly. Any suggestions for how to talk about this effectively with the pediatrician or other resources I can check out or bring with me to the doctor’s office?
That’s my suggestion.