10-02-08

From the Boards: Vaccination Debate

Ok, so I had to share, I’m not really allowed to put my two sense in on the TCMo site, so sometimes I go in, type out long answers and hit “delete”. I think I’ll start pulling them in over here instead.

I had my 3 year old vaccinated on the schedule recommended by my doctor..I really didn’t think twice about it. Now, I am so nervous about my 6-month-old’s vaccinations. I was determined to do an alternative schedule, but caved at the dr’s office when I heard one of the shots prevents meningitis. I feel so anxious getting her vaccinated, but I’d feel terrible if I didn’t get her vaccinated and she got sick. I also dread vaccinations because she gets fussy for the like an entire week or so afterwards and it throws her whole sleeping schedule off whack. What do you think about vaccinations? Any good info to share?? ~N

FROM THE LEFT: ()

Do your research and go by your gut instinct, if your 6 month old isn’t out and about at daycares and such, like ours isn’t, we felt safe pushing their schedule back. We’re also going ahead with some vaccines (like small pox) and not others (like chicken pox, well, only chicken pox, we get the rest). If your child has some sort of immune issue though, and there is no religious reason not to, I would strongly suggest it.

You still have to take a proactive role in your kids health even if you don’t take them for routine shoots, probably more so then not. More paperwork, for starters. You can get into schools and such if you do your research thoroughly: look in to Religous Exemptions. Easy to get and they make it so you can’t be alienated against b/c of your religion…whether or not you actually have a religious reasoning for sustaining from them. They can’t ask you questions legally about it.

As always, make sure they are getting good nutrition, exercise, vitamins, build up their immune system. Just having them sit in front of the TV isn’t good for anyone. Not saying vitamins are going to keep your kid from getting the chicken pox, it just makes them more able to take on the infection when they do get it. The biggest risk there is with secondary infections. WASH WASH WASH