Comments on: vaccines [undecided] http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/ Stephanie Sheaffer writes about books, babies, travel, food, and philanthropy. Wed, 23 May 2012 19:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Oddete http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-292761 Oddete Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:19:01 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-292761 I do not have children but I would never vaccinate my future child(ren) if I was given a choice. There are too many harmful chemicals in a vaccination that can cause long term learning disabilities, infertility, femininity in boys, high testosterone in girls as well as possible inabilities to have healthy babies of their own in the future. Not to mention autism and many more plethora of issues that have been documented by mothers and brave doctors throughout the world. From the age of 5-15 I was constantly catching anything and everything at school. I was literally sick at least once a month. At the age of 16 I graduated from high school and was out on my own attending college. I decided then and there to stop having vaccinations. It was a personal choice because they made me so ill and dizzy. I hated how odd it made me feel and the migraines. Since I was 16 and refused to take any vaccinations I can honestly count how many times I've been sick with the flu (2) cold (3). Ive caught no other serious disease or illness. I'm now in my late 20's and it's been more than 10 years since my last vaccination and I feel that I am perfectly healthy. When H1N1 did it's route I did not catch any sort of illness throughout the entire ordeal. I honestly felt it was more propaganda to see if we will react with mass hysteria and get the latest shot in order to stay alive. I felt that they ended their campaign promptly when the numbers came out showing that less than half of all Americans and Canadians decided to get the shot whereas a great majority opted to ride it out. Funny huh?? You can live your life without vaccinations, it is not a crime, you are not a bad person for having a choice, it's merely peer pressure that forces you to act like the other sheep, be independent and decide what is best for you. Do your research and if possible, hold off for as long as you can from vaccinating your child. Give your baby time to develop naturally and organically. During the 1st five years eating organically and living a pest free, chemical free, green tea oil free, lavendar oil free and plastic free life is KEY to raising a very healthy and immune stable child. YOU WILL ARGUE THAT EATING ORGANIC IS COSTLY----- However I will argue that eating organic you will find that you EAT LESS because the food is MORE FILLING, because it is packed with REAL and UNHARMED NUTRITION and isn't pumped up with water, gels, pest control and horomone boosters to trick your body into thinking it's eating something filling. You will eat less organically, you will create meals more carefully and you will notice a huge difference. PS: I work in public health. I have immunity to ALL major vaccinated diseases because I take pro-biotic's, vitamins, cleansers and large amounts of vitamin boosters during seasons where I have been known to be sick the most. I am not a RISK to the public. In fact I have the least amount of sick days out of my entire section. I am a healthy person who does NOT take vaccinations and I work in healthcare. Great post...I just had to add my 50 cents lol. I do not have children but I would never vaccinate my future child(ren) if I was given a choice. There are too many harmful chemicals in a vaccination that can cause long term learning disabilities, infertility, femininity in boys, high testosterone in girls as well as possible inabilities to have healthy babies of their own in the future. Not to mention autism and many more plethora of issues that have been documented by mothers and brave doctors throughout the world.

From the age of 5-15 I was constantly catching anything and everything at school. I was literally sick at least once a month. At the age of 16 I graduated from high school and was out on my own attending college. I decided then and there to stop having vaccinations. It was a personal choice because they made me so ill and dizzy. I hated how odd it made me feel and the migraines. Since I was 16 and refused to take any vaccinations I can honestly count how many times I’ve been sick with the flu (2) cold (3). Ive caught no other serious disease or illness. I’m now in my late 20′s and it’s been more than 10 years since my last vaccination and I feel that I am perfectly healthy.

When H1N1 did it’s route I did not catch any sort of illness throughout the entire ordeal. I honestly felt it was more propaganda to see if we will react with mass hysteria and get the latest shot in order to stay alive. I felt that they ended their campaign promptly when the numbers came out showing that less than half of all Americans and Canadians decided to get the shot whereas a great majority opted to ride it out. Funny huh??

You can live your life without vaccinations, it is not a crime, you are not a bad person for having a choice, it’s merely peer pressure that forces you to act like the other sheep, be independent and decide what is best for you. Do your research and if possible, hold off for as long as you can from vaccinating your child. Give your baby time to develop naturally and organically. During the 1st five years eating organically and living a pest free, chemical free, green tea oil free, lavendar oil free and plastic free life is KEY to raising a very healthy and immune stable child. YOU WILL ARGUE THAT EATING ORGANIC IS COSTLY—– However I will argue that eating organic you will find that you EAT LESS because the food is MORE FILLING, because it is packed with REAL and UNHARMED NUTRITION and isn’t pumped up with water, gels, pest control and horomone boosters to trick your body into thinking it’s eating something filling. You will eat less organically, you will create meals more carefully and you will notice a huge difference.

PS: I work in public health. I have immunity to ALL major vaccinated diseases because I take pro-biotic’s, vitamins, cleansers and large amounts of vitamin boosters during seasons where I have been known to be sick the most. I am not a RISK to the public. In fact I have the least amount of sick days out of my entire section. I am a healthy person who does NOT take vaccinations and I work in healthcare.

Great post…I just had to add my 50 cents lol.

]]> By: Stephanie http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-222086 Stephanie Sat, 07 May 2011 03:34:13 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-222086 Thanks so much for commenting here, Marie. You are clearly an intelligent and loving mother. It's okay to have hesitations and questions. In fact, I think it's very healthy. I completely relate to the part where you wrote: "I can’t say that I won’t change my mind, I pray for discretion daily." P.S. How fortunate you are to have such pediatrician that is also a naturopath! Sadly, I think that is quite rare. Thanks so much for commenting here, Marie. You are clearly an intelligent and loving mother. It’s okay to have hesitations and questions. In fact, I think it’s very healthy. I completely relate to the part where you wrote: “I can’t say that I won’t change my mind, I pray for discretion daily.”

P.S. How fortunate you are to have such pediatrician that is also a naturopath! Sadly, I think that is quite rare.

]]> By: Marie http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-217917 Marie Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:23:42 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-217917 And also, just want to say I am SO with you on the hating this fear motivating our decisions. I, too, wish i could wave my flag with confidence. And also, just want to say I am SO with you on the hating this fear motivating our decisions. I, too, wish i could wave my flag with confidence.

]]> By: Marie http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-217916 Marie Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:15:34 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-217916 I stumbled across this post and so grateful to God I did. Just to hear that someone else, anyone else, is also CURRENTLY struggling with the issue and CURRENTLY undecided is really so comforting. The vast majority of my group of friends is strongly anti-vax and they all have been fully decided for years now. (The voice of your friends is so much more booming loud than everyone else even if your friends are actually a minority ... ) I felt really judged and questioning my own intuition for daring to disagree with my anti-vax friends! (Most people tell of feeling judged etc. by their in-laws, doctors, etc. for daring to disagree with a pro-vax position!) Even knowing all my friends had to say about it, when my first was born I just honestly was still undecided, especially since my husband is from overseas and has a different take on the issue, the history point, etc. So, I got the standard recommended round for my little 2, 4, 6 mo. Each time I really felt sick about it but felt like it was the "right" thing to do. She really didn't seem to have any adverse reactions, other than she was unusually sleepy after the 2 mo set and 6 mo set, not the 4 mo for some reason. After that, I did more research, came upon different information and got myself freaked out. Said, no way, never again, no more!!!! Well, she's 3 now and has been absolutely perfectly ridiculously healthy, I mean, not a single ear infection, fevers never last longer than 12 hours, has never had antibiotics in her life kind of healthy, and smart as a whistle to boot. Praise God. She does have eczema but no food sensitivities or anything, and the eczema is most likely a genetic gift from her daddy. We now have a 10 month old as well. I was not going to get her a single shot. We finally found a pediatrician who I feel really good about, the kind who would listen to and agree with your letter. He's also an ND/ARNP. I asked him about vax, because I've still been only 90% anti, not 110% yet. He surprised me by being moderately pro-certain-vax, as long as they're spaced out, which I didn't expect from a naturopath, and presented some very thought-provoking points I hadn't considered, but all extremely low-pressure. I asked him point-blank, "Isn't vaccination immunity not actually that effective, and therefore the entire herd immunity concept somewhat bunk?" He said that in his own personal experience in his own office, he has hospitalized many unvaccinated children for pertussis and there have been two deaths this year, and that in his own office, yes, many vaccinated children have still gotten pertussis, but have consistently shown milder cases and he has never hospitalized a single vaccinated child for pertussis. Wow, I thought. To make the long story short, I ended up deciding to go ahead and get my then nine-month-old just the DTaP-HIB-IPV, and got the 3 yo. just the DTaP booster she had missed. I felt strangely peaceful and just okay about it. Well, when I got home emotional fallout began. (Both children are fine, btw. No reactions. Praise God.) "What was I thinking?" "What have I done?" "I can't believe I did that!" etc. It is a really, really, really hard decision, even when you have good friends, even when you have a good doctor, even when you have a good husband. I found myself feeling unbelievably heavy and guilty, afraid that I've ruined them for life. Enter this blog post. "Most of all, we PRAY." you said. One of your commenters said, "I have to trust God to protect them, not trust the vaccine to protect them from a disease or trust not getting the vaccine to protect them from a reaction." Thank you, thank you, thank you. Truly, sweet sweet comfort from someone I've never met, but now feel a kinship for. And here I am, again vowing that I will never again get either child or any future children another single shot. I feel mostly peaceful about this anti-vax position. But still wonder about whether I've got it wrong. I can't say that I won't change my mind, I pray for discretion daily. For now, my main reasons for being not just selective/delayed but anti are, that to me something just feels wrong about the vaccination model, and indeed the entire modern medical model. For example, HIB is actually a very common bacteria which 99% of the time coexists harmlessly with us, dwelling in the lining of our noses, etc. But, sometimes, for some reason, it turns against us and causes meningitis. That fact does not make me want to run out and get the HIB vaccine. It makes me ask, "Why? What were the other factors in those scenarios that cause a usually harmless coexisting bacterium to turn aggressive?" I would rather focus on the OTHER FACTORS of the whole person to prevent the bacteria turning aggressive, than focus on just trying to vaccinate the thing out of existence, or antibiotic the thing out of existence. That said, thank you for that comfort and perspective of trusting God to keep our preciouses healthy strong and sound even if and when we, being fallible and frail, make the wrong decision sometimes. I stumbled across this post and so grateful to God I did. Just to hear that someone else, anyone else, is also CURRENTLY struggling with the issue and CURRENTLY undecided is really so comforting. The vast majority of my group of friends is strongly anti-vax and they all have been fully decided for years now. (The voice of your friends is so much more booming loud than everyone else even if your friends are actually a minority … ) I felt really judged and questioning my own intuition for daring to disagree with my anti-vax friends! (Most people tell of feeling judged etc. by their in-laws, doctors, etc. for daring to disagree with a pro-vax position!)
Even knowing all my friends had to say about it, when my first was born I just honestly was still undecided, especially since my husband is from overseas and has a different take on the issue, the history point, etc. So, I got the standard recommended round for my little 2, 4, 6 mo. Each time I really felt sick about it but felt like it was the “right” thing to do. She really didn’t seem to have any adverse reactions, other than she was unusually sleepy after the 2 mo set and 6 mo set, not the 4 mo for some reason. After that, I did more research, came upon different information and got myself freaked out. Said, no way, never again, no more!!!! Well, she’s 3 now and has been absolutely perfectly ridiculously healthy, I mean, not a single ear infection, fevers never last longer than 12 hours, has never had antibiotics in her life kind of healthy, and smart as a whistle to boot. Praise God. She does have eczema but no food sensitivities or anything, and the eczema is most likely a genetic gift from her daddy.
We now have a 10 month old as well. I was not going to get her a single shot. We finally found a pediatrician who I feel really good about, the kind who would listen to and agree with your letter. He’s also an ND/ARNP. I asked him about vax, because I’ve still been only 90% anti, not 110% yet. He surprised me by being moderately pro-certain-vax, as long as they’re spaced out, which I didn’t expect from a naturopath, and presented some very thought-provoking points I hadn’t considered, but all extremely low-pressure. I asked him point-blank, “Isn’t vaccination immunity not actually that effective, and therefore the entire herd immunity concept somewhat bunk?” He said that in his own personal experience in his own office, he has hospitalized many unvaccinated children for pertussis and there have been two deaths this year, and that in his own office, yes, many vaccinated children have still gotten pertussis, but have consistently shown milder cases and he has never hospitalized a single vaccinated child for pertussis. Wow, I thought. To make the long story short, I ended up deciding to go ahead and get my then nine-month-old just the DTaP-HIB-IPV, and got the 3 yo. just the DTaP booster she had missed. I felt strangely peaceful and just okay about it.
Well, when I got home emotional fallout began. (Both children are fine, btw. No reactions. Praise God.) “What was I thinking?” “What have I done?” “I can’t believe I did that!” etc. It is a really, really, really hard decision, even when you have good friends, even when you have a good doctor, even when you have a good husband. I found myself feeling unbelievably heavy and guilty, afraid that I’ve ruined them for life.
Enter this blog post. “Most of all, we PRAY.” you said. One of your commenters said, “I have to trust God to protect them, not trust the vaccine to protect them from a disease or trust not getting the vaccine to protect them from a reaction.” Thank you, thank you, thank you. Truly, sweet sweet comfort from someone I’ve never met, but now feel a kinship for.
And here I am, again vowing that I will never again get either child or any future children another single shot. I feel mostly peaceful about this anti-vax position. But still wonder about whether I’ve got it wrong. I can’t say that I won’t change my mind, I pray for discretion daily. For now, my main reasons for being not just selective/delayed but anti are, that to me something just feels wrong about the vaccination model, and indeed the entire modern medical model. For example, HIB is actually a very common bacteria which 99% of the time coexists harmlessly with us, dwelling in the lining of our noses, etc. But, sometimes, for some reason, it turns against us and causes meningitis. That fact does not make me want to run out and get the HIB vaccine. It makes me ask, “Why? What were the other factors in those scenarios that cause a usually harmless coexisting bacterium to turn aggressive?” I would rather focus on the OTHER FACTORS of the whole person to prevent the bacteria turning aggressive, than focus on just trying to vaccinate the thing out of existence, or antibiotic the thing out of existence.
That said, thank you for that comfort and perspective of trusting God to keep our preciouses healthy strong and sound even if and when we, being fallible and frail, make the wrong decision sometimes.

]]> By: Britt.Barnes http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-217533 Britt.Barnes Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:44:29 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-217533 I know this was posted a long time ago, but I just had to respond! ;-) The state cannot tell you what to give your children. By, law you have the freedom to say no. Hopefully you were able to get the exemption for your daughter. We are in the AF (and legal residents of WA too!), and my son has not had any vaccines. We told our pediatrician that we did not want any, she kindly shared her thoughts, and we have not discussed it since. Don't let the Dr. win. ;-) you are responsible for the care of your child, not the medical field. Blessings. I know this was posted a long time ago, but I just had to respond! ;-)
The state cannot tell you what to give your children. By, law you have the freedom to say no. Hopefully you were able to get the exemption for your daughter. We are in the AF (and legal residents of WA too!), and my son has not had any vaccines. We told our pediatrician that we did not want any, she kindly shared her thoughts, and we have not discussed it since. Don’t let the Dr. win. ;-) you are responsible for the care of your child, not the medical field. Blessings.

]]> By: Bree http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-175701 Bree Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:23:20 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-175701 So my question to all of you who do not vaccinate is... What do you do when schools or the state says you "must" vaccinate?!?! Our 5 year old daughter has a seizure disorder & the literature on the MMR and/or Chickenpox vax say people who have seizure disorders or people who have had family members (my husband) with seizure disorders should not recieve the vaxes or wait. We are an Army family (technically WA residents) living in NC & the NC laws on vaccines are extremely strict. I know in WA I would have many opt-out options. Here in NC that is not the case... We're going to try & get a medical waiver for our daughter. All that said, I do not like the fact that states can supposedly tell you which vaccines you HAVE to give. So my question to all of you who do not vaccinate is… What do you do when schools or the state says you “must” vaccinate?!?! Our 5 year old daughter has a seizure disorder & the literature on the MMR and/or Chickenpox vax say people who have seizure disorders or people who have had family members (my husband) with seizure disorders should not recieve the vaxes or wait. We are an Army family (technically WA residents) living in NC & the NC laws on vaccines are extremely strict. I know in WA I would have many opt-out options. Here in NC that is not the case… We’re going to try & get a medical waiver for our daughter. All that said, I do not like the fact that states can supposedly tell you which vaccines you HAVE to give.

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]]> By: alyssa http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-171834 alyssa Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:43:04 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-171834 I absolutely agree with you!!!!! That's exactly my husband and my stance on it. Very well said! I absolutely agree with you!!!!! That’s exactly my husband and my stance on it. Very well said!

]]> By: Tamara http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-171189 Tamara Tue, 05 Oct 2010 18:53:46 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-171189 We no longer vaccinate because our oldest daughter had a reaction at four months. Since that moment I have done hours & hours of research and now know that we are making the correct choice for our family in not vaccinating. I am a numbers person, so when I see the info presented in a way that lets me see real statistics it makes me cringe that we ever vaccinated in the first place. Toxins are toxins, so selective vaccination was not an answer for us and when I learned about the truth regarding herd immunity I realized that argument was laughable at best. (Info on both of these things are included in my post) I recently posted a four year since it happened post on our family blog. It also has a lot of resources there and in the comment section of that post. Lots of numbers that make you think... Please check it out if you have a moment and always feel free to pass this link on as well. http://moralescrew.blogspot.com/2010/08/vaccine-reaction_20.html Good luck in your choice for your family. We no longer vaccinate because our oldest daughter had a reaction at four months. Since that moment I have done hours & hours of research and now know that we are making the correct choice for our family in not vaccinating. I am a numbers person, so when I see the info presented in a way that lets me see real statistics it makes me cringe that we ever vaccinated in the first place.

Toxins are toxins, so selective vaccination was not an answer for us and when I learned about the truth regarding herd immunity I realized that argument was laughable at best. (Info on both of these things are included in my post)

I recently posted a four year since it happened post on our family blog. It also has a lot of resources there and in the comment section of that post. Lots of numbers that make you think…

Please check it out if you have a moment and always feel free to pass this link on as well.

http://moralescrew.blogspot.com/2010/08/vaccine-reaction_20.html

Good luck in your choice for your family.

]]> By: Stephanie http://metropolitanmama.net/2010/07/vaccines-undecided/#comment-164714 Stephanie Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:32:29 +0000 http://metropolitanmama.net/?p=21484#comment-164714 I received the invitation to view your site, but haven't yet had a chance to view it (hopefully soon!). :) I received the invitation to view your site, but haven’t yet had a chance to view it (hopefully soon!). :)

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