Last weekend This American Life did a segment on "ruining it for the rest of us" one of the sections was about the measles vaccine. Basically there was an outbreak, and the children who had NOT gotten the vaccine were okay, but the children who were getting the vaccine got very sick. This reinforced to the non-vaccinators that it was a good decision and to the vaccinators that ALL children should be vaccinated. Interesting show if you're not familiar with it.


Anyway, just wondering if you guys vaccinate your children.


Edit: Just wanted to add my answer.

I do not have children, and have not done much research on it. But now I my gut tells me no. Hopefully in the next 10 yrs vaccines will become safer and regulations more strict.

This is post is really eerie because we were just discussing this the other night. The subject came up during a conversation about autism and the belief of some that it is caused by vaccinations.

I did vaccinate my daughter (now 12 years old) because I had to and because I didn't know better to question it. We were living in a different country at the time and didn't have the option to say 'No". If I had to do it over again I would give it a lot of thought and a whole lot of research before vaccinating.

I have a real problem with some of the newer vaccines that are being recommended or required; Specifically the chicken pox and HPV vaccines. I also think that advances in medicine have given us the ability to effectively treat/cure illnesses that once, long ago, caused death or severe disabilities.

As I understand it, parents now have the option to opt out of vaccinating and their kids can still attend school... maybe only in some states and provided you ask for the right form?? Not sure if this is true...would be nice if it is.

I did and I wish I hadn't.
Last year he had to play catch up and get 5 shots at once in order to be able to go to kindergarten.

I saw some real behavior changes and some sudden difficulties in learning that had not been there before kindergarten.

I stuck to a really healthy diet for him, good multivitamins, omega fatty acids, and Thuja and he seems to be leveling back off and catching up to where he should be.

This is a subject that is very important to me right now. I have small children and have been looking for websites that could give me the right information. I won't let my kids get a flu shot as they still have Mercury in them. I read somewhere that the other "normal"/ more routine(required?) shots have been merc. free since the 90's but the flu shot still contains mercury. I was also reading in a locally distributed magazine, that a 22lb baby gets 25 times over the amount of mercury that is considered harmful. I have questioned the need for the Chicken Pox vaccine, as what did we do with the chicken pox before they made a vac for it. Kids got little red bumps all over, itched a lot, but in the end were fine. They now give(I never remember which one) one orally. My daughter wasn't behind on any and still got 4 in the legs and one in the mouth. I don't like it one bit, but to go to kindergarten where I live they have to be vaccinated(at least that is what my wife tells me anyway).

I am going to ask more questions about this topic, and the next time I talk to the school this will also be a topic of discussion. I know they will most likely tell me kids have to be, but I will be asking to see where it says it in the policy manual.

If they don't require it I may not be getting my kids anymore vaccines.
We have three alternative schools in my area, one had a child that had gone to a european country and contracted the measles and the whole town freaked. It was isolated to this one child but scared everyone into a panic.........

I am torn between the two...what to do, anyone have some good information for me to read? Ideas for my situation?

Thanks

had chicken pox....
itched, had to have oven mitts taped to my hands, and nasty pink lotion all over me and guess what....

IT PASSED!!!!!

like cindy has said a thousand times with the dogs, i would rather deal with the illness itself than the results of the vaccine.

Brandon,
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4032071156806560888 this is only the first 60 minutes of this documentary... you used to be able to watch the whole thing online.

Here in Wisconsin, you are not required to vaccinate your kids in order for them to attend school.

You can sign a waiver (I know because I do this every year)
You can choose between refusing to vaccinate for medical, religious or personal reasons.

 Quote: Brandon LaMere

This is a subject that is very important to me right now. I have small children and have been looking for websites that could give me the right information.

Check out http://www.mercola.com/

leih

Brandon, here is a site decribing the illnesses of measles, mumps and rubella. Seems like most of the serious side effects would be if you contracted these as an adult, or as a fetus in an unprotected mother...

http://stayinginshape.com/3osfcorp/libv/k21.shtml

I vaccinated my son, and if I had it to do over, I would rethink my position on some vaccines and the schedule on which they are given. That being said, I would not reconsider polio or MMR. I think the serious side effects if contracted as an adult (or child, in the case of polio) outweigh the serious side effects of the vaccine itself.

If I have kids, I would do anything to avoid getting them vaccinated. I'm willing to move to other states where they don't require vaccination. I'm wondering what if you guys plan to send your kids to college? I know they do require a proof of vaccination.