Is Immunization for baby safe?

[hannanat]

Of course no-one would want that Caro, but the fact remains the risk is there and parents need to be informed of it. People telling their story doesn't result in scaremongering, it leads to the ability to weigh up the pros and cons and make an informed choice. Lies and exaggeration result in scaremongering.

[Trish]

Caro, I certainly wasn't saying that all Autism is directly linked to immunisation, just that there is a link there and it needs to be pointed out. As with anything there are pro's and con's to be alerted to.

An informed decision is the best kind to make.

[hannanat]

I agree completely Trish. Thank you so much for your support and kindness.

[christy]

Hello there, mod hat firmly on... lets keep this discussion just that thanks. You are doing well so far, but just a gentle reminder .

Mother hat on... as a personal choice made by my husband & I we are not getting Jovie fully vaccinated and surely not the MMR vaccine. Matilda was able to have the vaccine split because someone ordered it from overseas & decided not to use it once it arrived in Australia. But after weighing the risks any more vaccinations will be done at later dates if done at all.

[{sarah}]

There is a common misconception that being vaccinated prevents you from getting the illness. This is not always the case, but is does mean that your body can recognise the virus and produce the correct antibodies faster so the infection will be milder.

This is not necessarily true either. I was immunised as well as both of my sisters at the time & we all got chicken pox. My older sister was 7 and had a mild dose, my younger sister was just over 1 and had a mild dose also. I was 5 and had a very very severe case in that I was very very ill & it took me years to recover. I lost a ridiculous amount of weight & it was only in my 20s that I was able to start regaining weight & it is believed to be a direct result of the chicken pox I had at five.

Having said all that I have decided to vaccinate my children. I know how damaging a severe reaction can be when immunisation has been done, so I really wouldn't like to see what it would be like without IYKWIM.


ETA: Just like to add that this is my decision & I don't object to any person deciding not to immunise for their own reasons. That's the joy of free will, we get to decide what we do or don't want to do

[Lilli]

Hi Natalie,

I'm new to this forum, sorry to have to ask you this (u mentioned that u have told ur story several times) but which shot did you think caused the autism in your daughter? and do you believe it was the mercury (albeit small levels?)?

[hannanat]

Hello Lilli, Layla was hospitalised the day after her Hep B, polio and Pedvax HIB which were her 4 month vaccines that she had a little late. It was very likely the mercury as this was 2002 and there were still lots of 'hot' batches floating around. Its so hard to say though. She also has a rare metabolic disorder called hyperprolinemia but her specialists don't know whether she was born with it or if it was a result of her vaccines. They are sure though that the vaccine is what did the damage.

Even without the mercury vaccines can be dangerous - especially the MMR. Its often the straw that breaks the camels back so to speak because its such a huge shock to the system, and thats why it has such a bad name. Thre is no benefit of giving them in one dose - its cost cutting and expediency and those are ridiculous reasons to risk our kids health,

[christy]

The MMR is a 12 month old vaccination. To have it in separate amounts you have to a) have a compliant GP who recognises your wishes and b) $$ to do so. I was so lucky as our GP wasn't one that was compliant but just happened to have someone's vaccination in the practice. Our GP told me it was rubbish and to "Get over it" but phoned me later to say that someone who order the vaccine from overseas had decided against having the separate vaccinations and I could have it if I paid for it. We decided the $$ was worth the safer option at that time & took it.

[hannanat]

Hi Tanya sweety - love Lucas cloth nappy

Um, 12 months and theres a booster at 4 yrs I think. You would have to order it in. They don't routinely offer it. It should just be given separately and spaced out and we'd see a lot less problems.

ETA I was pondering and writing Christy when you posted, lol.

[christy]

LOL great minds hey Nat?

[hannanat]

Don't be scared hun. Just get advice from a GP that you have faith in and trust. Thats very important so you can feel confident about your decision. Christy will be able to tell you more about spacing it out because I'm not sure. Try not to let it stress you out though - there's plenty of time to get your head around it. *Hugs*

LOL @ great minds Christy

[Pandora]

Actually, the vaccination schedules differ from one state to the next, and the 4yo MMR is standard in Victoria.

As I said, I agonised over this decision. The research (aside from the mercury issue) that I read indicated a problem from combining vaccines not only in the same shot (like MMR) but the seperate shots on the same day - we have MMR and 2 other vaccinatins all at once at 12 months.

[Coolabahdee]

This is a hot topic and can be found in a number of places within BB alone, reading through the post can give you a varied opinion about immunizations. The following is my personal view and is in no way a slur on anyone for the choices they make in the best interests of their children, I will say now, each to their own, on this one.

I have had all of my children immunized as I too believe the risks of complications arising from the immunizations are much smaller then the risks of the diseases themselves. Personally and I reiterate PERSONALLY I could never forgive myself if I didn't do my bit to prevent a disease and my child got it and either got very sick or died or passed it along to another child. Personally I believe that the link between Immunizations and Autism have been greatly overdramatized and understudied, that and or maybe over the past 20-30 years Dr have gotten better at diagnosing even the mildest forms of any disease due to advances in technology and awareness. Just my opinion.

[Coolabahdee]

Kate, yes that is my point, actually for alot of things not just immunization. There are alot of people out there who want to be published, who want to do their thesis and get their Docorate or Masters and they have to choose a reseach topic so they say Oh I know I will be the first person to prove that this equals that and is congruently related to such and such. So before they have started their reseach they already are biased one way or the other and they conduct research and alter, ignore information that contradicts the point they are trying to make. They graduate, get some more letter's after their name, get published and some poor lay person comes along and is trying to get all the facts to make a decision and tells themselves well this person is a Dr with a lot of letters after their name so they must know what they are talking about O(hell I have letter's after my name and at the end of the year I'll have even more). The internet is to blame for alot of it since it is so easy to access information or misinformation these days and it is so simple to make an inviting website that looks really professional to sell your point. We as parents, nay citizens rely on Medical researchers to be non biased so that we can see the fact for what they are not for what someone doctored to graduate and or be published. I don't know maybe I'm just more cynical then most??