Help, feel pushed into a corner with vaccinating my son

[maybub]

Am wondering if anybody can help me with this.

After much researching we decided not to use the mainstream vaccination schedule for our son but we do vaccinate homeopathically.

My problem is this. My son is now nearly 14 months old and is very fond of everything dirty and we spend a lot of time in the garden. I contacted my Dr today and spoke with the nurse about organising a tetanus shot for him should he hurt himself. I've been told that I cannot just give him a tetanus shot but have to give him the Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough shot which for a range of reasons I don't want to do.

I asked the nurse what DS would receive should he stand on a nail and she said he'd get the DTP shot - grrrrrrrrrrr. I feel backed into a corner with nowhere to go. I have valid reasons for chosing not to vaccinate my child and did not come to the decision lightly and now I feel like I"m being forced to do so.

Has anybody been able to successfully obtain just tetanus for their children.

I'm so upset about this and would greatly appreciate hearing about others experiences (and hopefully that the clinic nurse has got it wrong...)

[Lulu]

Nah, she hasn't

DD3 fell over and split her head open last week. They asked if I wanted to give her a tetanus shot, and I really hummmed and haaa'd over it (I don't imu either), until the Dr came in and told me she could only have it mixed with Diptheria. At one stage I thought 'ah well she is 3 now, her system could possibly cope ok with the Dip but then Dr came back and said nah, it has Pertussis etc in with it as well so I said no.

However Dr and I decided the risk of tetanus in this episode was very small (clean wound, inside injury) and it wasn't worth it in the end.

BUT, I'm going to do some research on tetanus and see how I feel about things, but I'm nearly 100% certain you can't get it separate until they are 8 years old.

hth xoxox

[maybub]

Thanks Lulu, you've confirmed my fear.

I just called my naturopath who basically said the same but also said that the DTP is one of the least dangerous vaccinations and as my son is past 1yo and has a strong immune system (daily doses of flaxseed & probiotics) that she feels that he would handle it ok. She said they used to offer it singularly but don't any more... Am scared as Tetanus can kill but feel like my hand is being forced. Will mull it over some more... not happy Jan

[Schmickers]

Tetanus is difficult. Unfortunately the tetanus toxoid "booster" cannot be given until children are older.

I would suggest giving the DTP - as someone has mentioned, it is one of the vaccines recognised as "least harmful", and tetanus can be quite dangerous.

[Lulu]

Schmick - if I did go for the DTP shot for the tetanus component, what would that mean as far as the D and the P. What would the repercussions of a quarter (iykwim?) imu status?

I'm not sure that makes any sense...

[maybub]

Thanks Schmickers. I keep abreast of your posts and greatly value your opinion. We've pretty much decided that getting the vac is probably the lesser of 2 evils but I still don't feel that good about it.

Lu, Not sure if you mean administering 1/4 of the dose but if you do, I doubt that the vac would work at all...?

[Pretty Butterfly]

Lu, do you mean getting 1/4 of the vac dose, as in only the one dose, not all 4??

I *think* the first couple, at a young age, only last till the next one anyway, so if you just get the last one, your still covered, like a vac'd person.... again, I *think*....

[Nelle]

That's how I understand it? I'm pretty rusty on this stuff though. Kind of like, the more times you fight something off, your immunity gets a bit stronger each time? Or is it just that the immunity doesn't last?

[Lulu]

Yeah, I want to know what an incomplete dose of the *ahem *immunisation could do.
Could it actually stuff up her body's natural immune response?

[Inertia]

I did have this problem. I didnt immunise Harry by the schedule (because NSW health only uses the rotten Hexa) and waited until he was 2 before I started them and then did them at 6m apart. At 3yo he had only had 2 of the tetanus and did - literally - step on a rusty nail. I called my Dr who sent me to the hospital to get the full Tetanus Immunoglobulin for him.

I told them this is what the Dr wanted, I gave them the Drs mobile number so they could double check with him. Harry got a shot and off we went. When the Dr opened the letter from the hospital it says they gave him ADT - which is Adult Diptheria and Tetanus. Not what the Dr wanted at all because it is a vaccination that takes 2 weeks to built up antibodies where as the immunoglobulin is antibodies that start fighting Tetanus immediately.

What annoyed me about this is despite having the ADT, NSW Health still insisted he needed the third Hexa Dose because ADT only covered 2 of the 6 virii that the Hexa does. So my poor boy has now had 4 doses of Diptheria and Tetanus. The point is, the hospital does carry TIG (the only place that does) should your bub be exposed to a tetanus risk factor - but you have to stay on their case and make sure they are doing the right one.

In the interim, I know this may sound bad, but if bub does cut themselves on something dirty - make sure it bleeds. Get a bottle of saline, make sure the wound is open and irrigate it with saline. Tetnus can only grow without oxygen and so by having the wound open, letting it bleed a bit and irrigating, you can hopefully clean it out well enough to reduce the risk factor. Harrys was a puncture that sealed immediately and didn't bleed enough so I had to go the needle way.

[Michelle71]

If a child or adult has not been immunised they need the TIG which is generally obtained from the blood bank of the hospital as it is an immunoglobulin. They also get given the ADT (generally - the CDT equivalent is not readily available in ED). This means 2 injections - usually one in each butt cheek because the TIG is thick and a reasonable volume and hurts.

[maybub]

Do you think that if I went to my GP and specificially requested the immunoglobulin I may get a referral to the hospital to actually get this? My doctor is not supportive of us not vaccinating Luca so I think I'll have (another) fight on my hands...

[Schmickers]

Lulu, how old is the child we are talking about?

[Lulu]

She was 3 in March

xoxo

[Schmickers]

The paediatrician we discussed this with most recently suggested a course of 2 DTaP-IPV vaccinations for that age group. While it is possible that some children will have a long-lasting response from one, comparing the risks and the benefits of the immunisation, you might as well give both.

He didn't think it was warranted giving the full course, though.

[maybub]

Schmickers, do you know what kind of dosage for a 14 month old? and if more than one shot how long in between? We've decided to have this done but would like to do my own research before I assume what I'm doing is correct. My Naturopath suggests no less than 6 weeks in between doses.

[Schmickers]

I have ewdited my above post to read "DTaP-IPV" - the Boostrix vaccine (which covers for diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis) is only licensed for used in children 10 and over. The Infanrix-IPV vaccine (which is a DTaP-IPV vaccine, or diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio) is licensed for 6 months to 8 years of age.

For a 14 month old, I am unsure. There is a chance 2 doses would be sufficient, but I am guessing that that chance is less than for an older child.

[Heaven]

The Infanrix-IPV vaccine (which is a DTaP-IPV vaccine, or diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio) is licensed for 6 months to 8 years of age.

REALLY?? Well then. When I saw my GP to talk about DDs vacs at 2 months I said I didn't want them but was worried about pertussis and might get that, she said the smallest she could get was the diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio vaccine and that the would order it in for me. But DD was only 2 months, and still isn't 6 months yet!!!!!! Glad I haven't got it yet then.