12 months vaccinations...my thoughts

[Tuesday's Child]

I need somewhere to put my thoughts in order regarding DD's 12 month vaccinations. DH isn't much help. He's happy to go with the schedule, or whatever I decide (but that's probably for another thread).

So DD is almost 14 months and I've been putting off her 12 month injections. First there was her birthday, then Christmas and now whenever I think about it she seems to get whingey so I put it off just in case she's coming down with something. Maybe she's trying to tell me something

I declined the Hep B vaccine at birth but she's had all other vaccines as per the schedule so far. My mum was having chemotherapy so not vaccinating was not something I'd considered. I had reservations about the rotavirus one since it was a live vaccine, but DD didn't have any issues with the first one so we continued with the next two.

I know we won't be having the chicken pox vaccine at 18 months. I just don't see the need for it while she's so young.

We will be getting the meningococcal vaccine as it can kill so quickly (a family friend died within 48 hours and he was a middle-aged man) and DD is in day care. Will probably also get the HiB as well.

I'm just not sure about the MMR vaccine. I'd consider having them if they could be done one at a time - but that doesn't appear to be an option. The link with autism doesn't really concern me. But I am becoming increasingly concerned about giving vaccines at an age where her brain is developing so much. Plus it seems a lot to give them 3 live viruses (albeit weakened) in one go.

Also, it's my understanding that an allergy to egg is a contraindication to MMR vaccine. Some sources say a severe life-threatening reaction, others say if any symptoms of an allergic reaction to egg occur. DD has reacted to egg in the past. The first couple of times she had a red rash appear on her face and hands. The last time (she was around 9 months old) she had a rash, which spread to her neck and upper chest and her lips became swollen. She used to react similarly to dairy, without the swelling, so I'd try every few weeks and she's now grown out of it. But I haven't tried egg again since the swelling. Like her injections, I keep putting it off. Perhaps my gut is telling me something.

So with all that I'm thinking I'll delay MMR until 4-5 years, before she starts school. Then, if she needs another one, it'll be when she starts high school. That's what DH and I had, I'm not sure of the reasons for the change in schedule.

So the schedule I'm leaning towards is:

12 months (14 months by the time I get there):
HiB
menigococcal

4 years (probably done separately):
DTPa
MMR

Year 8 (if not contracted naturally):
MMR
Chicken pox

Thanks for letting me put my thoughts into some kind of order. Any thoughts/comments are appreciated? It's so hard wading through all the info out there, no wonder so many parents just go with the schedule.

[Babyluv]

The decision to vaccinate is a tough one. Our bub will be due to be done in 2 weeks & I'm not sure yet what she will be getting done.
We also declined hep b at birth.

[skybie]

its such a tough desicion! good on u for giving it thought.
FWIW our DD2 haas had no vaccinations to date. she'll get hep b and MMR at school age and thats probably about it

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I'm not 100% sure but i have a friend who has had her needles done through a doctor and they will do them seperately for her, she has to pay for them i think but she didn't mind as it was her choice not to do them all at once.
FWIW my DD had her 12mth needles yesterday all 3 and it's heartbreaking but i think for me personally i prefer to do them in 1 day and get it over with rather than have her jabbed on 3 seperate occasions.

[Persephone1]

Unless someone corrects me, you can't separate the MMR.

I'm with you Hannah, we're likely to delay the MMR until DS starts school. I think many people do.

It is such a personal decision for each family. Have you got The Vaccine Book by Dr R.Sears? It's worth reading. Well done for thinking it through. Good luck with your decision.

[Daytona's Mummy]

I know how you feel, My DD is due now for her 12mth vaccine and I'm really getting a sick feeling in my gut. A good friend of ours's baby had her 1st vaccine while we were away for xmas & we came home to the news she reacted badly from it, had a seisure & went unconsious (sp?). Once in ICU, they found she had bleeding on the brain & almost died. She's out of hospital now and all is ok (unfortunately the stress broke the family up & friend is living with us for w little while)
But this is DD 1st vaccine since this happened and It has made me wake up & take a better look at them. Before this though, I was one of those who just went along with the regeime.

Do what ever you think is best i say, Mummy's have that natural 6th sense and just know what is best (most of the time) but yeah, I just wanted to say, I know how you feel & I think it's great you have done so much research into it & are making an informed choice!

[Tuesday's Child]

I'm not 100% sure but i have a friend who has had her needles done through a doctor and they will do them seperately for her, she has to pay for them i think but she didn't mind as it was her choice not to do them all at once.
FWIW my DD had her 12mth needles yesterday all 3 and it's heartbreaking but i think for me personally i prefer to do them in 1 day and get it over with rather than have her jabbed on 3 seperate occasions.

Thanks ZF. The MMR one can't be separated as the manufacturer no longer produces the individual vaccines for measles and mumps. Actually, I'm now thinking it's better to give the one jab as well. The total amount of other stuff (preservatives, residuals from manufacture etc) in the vaccine is probably less with one than with three. Plus, I should trust that I'm keeping her immune system strong naturally so her body can cope with it.

Persephone - Thanks. I will look into getting that book.

Alicia - That's so scary for your friend. I hope their DD is okay and that the family can heal.

Hmm, not sure how I feel about this. The consumer information for priorix (MMR vaccine) advises caution (not contraindication as per my OP) for those with reaction to egg. Yet the national immunisation register says that there it can "safely be given". Still, I'll stick with my decision as it's what I feel comfortable with.

[Schmickers]

If you want to go ahead, perhaps talk to your GP and get a referral to a paediatrician. I know for children who we are concerned about reacting, we have arranged for them to be admitted as a day patient and immunised in hospital, so that we can treat a reaction straight away if it occurs.

[JellyBean]

Such a personal choice - not one you can make lightly either. My best advice would be to check out the raw ingredients of the vaccines and do some independent research on what it is exactly that will or won't be injected into your child's bloodstream - in the same way that you would check out the back of a food packet for harmful additives in the supermarket. It's your right to know - the doctor won't tell you.
The World Association for Vaccine Education (WAVE) is a useful website for checking out vaccine ingredients listed according to pathogen type and manufacturer.

Best Wishes.

[trishalishous]

correct that the MMR cant be separated.
Also egg allergy IS a contraindication for vaxx,and its not just MMR which is cultured in egg protein, I think the Flu shots are too?
Its definitely something Id check with your doctor about, and perhaps delay vaxx while you investigate the egg allergy.

[courts&munchkins]

My Ds2 is 17 months and hasn't had his 12 month vax's yet. I've been meaning like you to get the Hib and meningincoccal part of it for some time but he keeps getting runny noses when he's cutting teeth so they keep being put off.

The mmr won't be given to him until at lest 2 years old but most likely later, closer to 4. I haven't decided on this whether I should wait until he starts school or earlier when his brother does.

I have done extensive research on vaccines though, and everything about the mmr scares the **** out of me. I like your schedule. I won't be doing chicken pox till 12 or 13 either.

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[Tuesday's Child]

I did end up getting the HiB and meningococcal shots. Had to put up with bull from the nurse for not getting the MMR as well. I won't be going back to the council after that, I'll take DD to my GP in future. My GP is awesome! She was happy to sign the COF as she trusts my judgement. She knows that this is my INFORMED decision. I am so proud of myself for not letting the clinic nurse bully me into something I wasn't comfortable with (funny how she pulled out the guilt card once she realised my information came from the Priorix CMI ).

My GP did mention that there have been some cases of measles in Adelaide in the last few months, all in immigrants.

Since making my decision I have bought a copy of Sears' The Vaccine Book. According to this, if MMR is given around 4-5 years of age, the child won't need a booster shot as their immune system works much better by this age (this is the exact opposite to what the nurse told me btw). It has also reassured me that I don't want to give DD the chicken pox vaccine.

After getting her HiB and meningococcal shots, DD had a fever and wasn't quite herself for a couple of days. I am so glad I didn't give her MMR as well as clearly her immune system had enough to deal with. The 2 shots had made her system work so another shot containing 3 viruses may have overwhelmed it.

Thankyou again BB for giving me the confidence to trust my instincts.