Vaccines Blargghhh

Before I get started, this is not meant to replace your doctor's medical advice yada yada...

Along with a newborn comes the push for multiple vaccinations. I've been all over the internet researching. I've talked with my amazing chiropractor (who hasn't vaccinated her kids ever for anything). I've chatted with our pediatrician. Ultimately, we just aren't on board with the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendations.

For starters, I don't trust that they are safe. I understand that the study about the autism-vaccine link has major holes in it, but there are other concerns. I doubt that at any time in the history of vaccines doctors told their families anything other than, "this vaccine is totally safe." And yet, we have clear evidence of vaccines being recalled due to their being wholly unsafe. One version of the Rotavirus vaccine was recalled in 1998 because it caused intussusception, a horrific bowel disorder. Another rota vaccine was recalled in March of 2010 when they discovered that it was contaminated with a pig virus. Going further back in history, 1976 and 1955, we find that in '76 vaccination efforts to combat the swine flu caused some to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome. In '55 the polio vaccine, which should have had inactivated or killed viral elements contained a live virus and actually GAVE recipients polio!

Drug companies in general are not high on my list of trustworthy companies. More than one drug has been pulled from the market after FDA approval; remember Vioxx?

Furthermore, I'm not happy with the research available about the safety of these vaccines. To gain approval they are studied and approved on an individual basis. There is very insufficient evidence regarding the safety of receiving multiple vaccinations all at once, as children do following the AAP vaccination schedule. For a long time vaccines contained mercury as a preservative because the FDA approved this neurotoxin, with single vaccine research and approval, with the caveat that the small dose in a single vaccine wasn't problematic. Eventually they came around and realized that with the mega vaccine doses our children were receiving much higher quantities of mercury. I'm sure doctors told those parents that the multi-dose mercury bolus was "safe" too.

I remember when the controversial HPV vaccine was approved. The vaccine was studied in adult women to get approval. Then, once it passed, they began recommending vaccination for teenage girls. I have issues with the way that happened. Adult women are not physically the same as hormonally-fluctuating adolescents. Who's to say that teenage girls would react the same as the adults? We're far enough in to its usage that they now have studies regarding the safety for teenagers, but releasing it first, then studying it second seems like the wrong way to go.

Thankfully, our pediatrician isn't pushing us too hard. Though of course she did utilize a bit of the fear mongering present in the "YOU MUST VACCINATE" crowd. I must say I am rather disappointed in her analysis of vaccine studies as well. In an attempt to reassure me she sent me a copy (after I requested to see it myself) of this article, and told me roughly, "Actually, there was a recent study of thousands of kids comparing those on the AAP vaccine schedule, those delaying, and those who didn't vaccinate. They found that those who followed the schedule scored better on intelligence tests." Well if that's not a glowing recommendation to not worry about the possible negative neurological outcomes, I don't know what is! After reading the study I found HUGE flaws. For starters, there's possible research bias; yup, this too was funded by the drug companies who make vaccines. Second, the non-vaccination group had a sample size of nine. NINE! That isn't significant to even count. Third, those who "delayed" vaccinations were simply those who had at least one vaccination outside of a 30 day window for the recommended time to vaccinate. There was ZERO consistency among the way the "delayed" vaccinated children received their shots. Further analysis also showed that those who fell into the "delayed" group had significant socioeconomic factors which could clearly count for the lesser success in the intelligence tests. Lastly, I'm disgusted that the study included absolutely no mention regarding negative outcomes. Clearly they designed the study to help alleviate parent's fear about autism and other neurological disorders. Why then did they not address the prevalence of autism and/or ADD etc? Might it have something to do with the huge flaw in the study's sample groups?

Adding HepB to the infant immunization schedule further increases my distrust for the CDC and AAP recommendations. Do you know who is at risk for getting HepB? Prostitutes and IV drug addicts. Do you know who is least like to go out and get immunizations? Prostitutes and IV drug addicts. They've added HepB to the immunization schedule for the sake of herd immunity. In other words, in order to protect future drug addicts and prostitutes, I should expose my infant to yet another virus and whatever other toxins are in the vaccination. Excuse me? I don't think so! The only infants at real risk for getting HepB are those born to HepB positive mothers. My midwives screened me for HepB while I was pregnant. I'm negative, my baby does not need HepB vaccinations. He sure as heck didn't need to receive the first dose before we even left the hospital! What are they thinking mandating this for infants? I have googled and googled and googled looking for some justification for infants to receive this vaccine and I've come up empty-handed. The only other people really at risk for HepB are healthcare workers (like me), correctional officers, those with multiple sex partners, and a few choice other professions where exposure to blood is more likely. I didn't have a problem with taking the HepB series for myself, as an adult, with a job that puts me at risk. That makes sense. Immunizing my non-IV drug using, non-sex having infant; that does not make sense.

If the CDC and AAP want more parents to follow the vaccination schedule they need to give us a little more information as well. I have a few questions and still haven't found adequate information. I understand that infants who become sick from these illnesses are more susceptible and suffer worse than older children. So it makes sense for infants to receive the vaccinations. I don't understand where they came up with the schedule for every two months. Is the first dose useless? Does immunity wear off after two months? Are they not fully immunized until they've received all 3-4 doses, putting them at 6-8 months old before they are even covered anyways?

I think it's crazy that I received only TWO vaccines at each 2, 4, and 6 month check when I was an infant, and the doctors expect me to be OK with giving my child SIX plus shots at each check-up! That variance alone is enough to cause me pause. Take a peek at some of the differences in vaccine schedules. That last link may have a questionable source, but I've seen similar about the web (it's just getting late and I'm not up to further browsing right now). Roughly speaking infants from birth to age 6 in 1983 received 10 vaccines total. Birth to age 6 in 2007 received 36 vaccines total if you follow current recommendations.

So with all this information you may think we'd choose not to vaccinate. I was tempted when I first began my research to wait until Jace turned two years old to start any vaccinations. After further consideration we're opting to vaccinate him with the DTaP and HiB. I've worked in pediatrics a bit. Managing respiratory illnesses is challenging. DTaP has been around FOREVER, and I think the risk of Pertussis, or whooping cough, outweighs the risk of vaccine side effects. I am aware that Josh and I could easily carry pertussis germs and not be sick, or only feel like we have a cold. Also, a co-worker pointed out that once Jace starts toddling he will likely have accidents, with cuts and scrapes, and potential exposure for tetanus. We're also vaccinating for HiB, because I couldn't live with myself if we didn't vaccinate and he ended up with bacterial meningitis as a result of this infection.

Vaccines we're skipping: We are not doing the polio or HepB vaccinations because I think the risk of exposure is virtually zip. We're skipping the Rotovirus vaccine because I don't trust the drug company given its history. Also, while I think the chance Jace will catch this virus is comparatively high, I also think we are more than capable of managing it. Josh and I are attentive, educated parents, able to care for a sick child and recognize if/when an illness requires going to the hospital. We're also skipping the pneumonia and annual flu vaccines. Often times they end up vaccinating for the wrong flu strain anyway, and I don't think the flu virus is unmanageable either in our otherwise healthy child. Lastly, we're doing everything possible to keep Jacek out of daycare (which is a part of our parenting philosophy), which means his exposure to illness is significantly reduced.

Even with the two vaccines Jacek received I'm tempted to report his reaction to VAERS. No, he didn't have any "serious" reactions. However the lethargy that followed for the next two days was clearly not "normal." We kept up with the Tylenol after his shots too, so I can't say if he would have ended up with a fever. Clearly the vaccines affected him.

I am thankful that so many children receive the new schedule without any ill effects. Clearly we'd have a swift change to recommendations if the majority of children suffered as a result of the current schedule. On the other hand, I am not willing to risk my own child's health with mega vaccine doses. We still don't know what causes autism or ADD. I don't believe there is enough research to rule out the potentially neurotoxic effects of polluting an infant's body with whatever preservatives, viruses, and/or toxins are contained in those shots.

So that's my/our take on vaccines for Jacek. It wasn't an easy decision, we certainly didn't enter into this plan lightly. I hold no ill thoughts towards families who choose to vaccinate per CDC recommendations. Following their guidelines simply isn't for us.