Should I Vaccinate My Kids?

Posted on 10. Apr, 2009 by TheCuteKid Photo Contest in Baby Center, Parenting, Toddlers, Tweens

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate Your Kids?

Three sides of the vaccination debate

By Michelle Bruns

Childhood vaccinations are one of the most contested topics out there today. Whether you join the growing trend of parents choosing to skip the recommended vaccine schedule, or stick with what’s worked for parents throughout history, this is a decision every new parent must make. Recent headlines about the negative side effects of some vaccines are pitted against those outlining fears of possible infectious outbreaks should vaccinations cease. Weighing the benefits and the risks can be an overwhelming decision for many.

Pro-Vaccinations

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stands on the pro side of vaccinations for children. Thanks to the current vaccination schedule, many childhood illnesses have been reduced or stamped out entirely. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have compiled statistics regarding the annual occurrence of diseases in the U.S. before immunizations. The center states that, pre-vaccination, more than 13,000 people contracted paralytic polio and 9,000 people (mostly children) died of whooping cough. In addition, 6,100 people died of invasive pneumococcal disease while survivors developed complications which included seizures or deafness.

Fortunately, with the development of vaccinations and adherence to vaccination schedules, diseases such as these are preventable today. However, those traveling to and from other countries where these illnesses are still present and others are more common can reintroduce these disorders back into the U.S. With the risk of infection still at hand, so is the risk of unvaccinated children (and adults) contracting these deadly diseases.

Anti-Vaccinations

All the benefits of immunizing your tiny patient aside, recent headlines are influencing personal beliefs and causing an increased number of parents to opt out of vaccines. People are questioning the correlation between vaccinations and autism or other chronic conditions, as well as vaccine manufacturing concerns. But not all parents have the right to refuse inoculation for their infants. In the United States, 20 states allow parents to decline vaccine for personal reasons, 28 states require that you have a religious reason, and both Mississippi and West Virginia have made full vaccinations for infants mandatory.

William Sears, MD, author of more than 30 books on childcare, including The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, says, “I believe our nation can tolerate a certain percentage of unvaccinated children without risking the overall public health in any significant way. Since most children are vaccinated, our nation has enough ‘herd immunity’ to contain outbreaks like [the recent measles eruption in San Diego, CA].”

However, parents who skip shots for their infants often face a roadblock they cannot avoid: daycare and school immunization requirements. Each state has its own prerequisites where vaccines are concerned, so check with the National Network of Immunization Information (http://www.immunizationinfo.org/) for requirements in your state.

Alternatives

Parents like Jennifer L., mother of two from Orange, CA, has chosen an alternative immunization for her children, based on Sears’ methods. “I know that vaccines have positives, but I’m really concerned about the number of them when the babies are so small,” she says. “I’m also wary of them because of all the issues that we see with various drugs getting recalled, having side effects.” Taking into consideration her own concerns as well as her pediatrician’s recommendations, Jennifer chose to immunize each of her children based on what she believed to be their individual needs. Her eldest son did not receive his first vaccination until the age of nine months, since he did not attend daycare, whereas her youngest son received his first immunization at two months of age based on concerns of a recent whooping cough outbreak.

Choosing to delay certain vaccines is one alternative to skipping the traditional immunization schedule completely. Another possible option is to choose which brands of vaccinations your child receives, such as those that are mercury-free or contain minimal traces of mercury, which may ease your concerns about the studies that link autism to vaccinations.

Finally, talk to your pediatrician and see what he or she has to say about the most current research on vaccinations. After all, it is your child’s health that should be the number one priority, whatever stance you decide to take about your infant’s immune system.

Immunization Schedule for Birth Through 23-Months-Old:

·         HIB Vaccine

·         Pneumococcal Vaccine

·         DTaP Vaccine

·         Hepatitis B Vaccine

·         Rotavirus Vaccine

·         Polio

·         MMR

·         Chickenpox

·         Hepatitis A

·         Flu

·         Meningococcal

·         HPV

·         Combination Vaccines

What is your approach to vaccinations for your children?

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