What would RN's do?

JaneyW · Apr 12, 2008

I feel that you have gone to the wrong sources for your research. Please have a close look at the CDC website about the reasons to vaccinate your children and the fact that there is no longer mercury in vaccines (except for multiple-dose flu vaccines and you can get around it). Your infant and child are not safe from Measles and Mumps and Polio even if you think they may be. Diptheria is still active in most of the world and just a plane ride away from your corner supermarket.

There are NO valid research studies linking vaccines to autism. None. Be careful where your sources of information are. I think there may be a valid argument for hep B, but most childhood vaccines are necessary and life-saving. Look a little deeper than the hype.

chenoaspirit, ASN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

when my little girl was born, I did a ton of research on it. Sadly, I cant remember what I found, but I do remember how I altered her vaccine schedule. I refused the MMR super vaccine. I instead scheduled for 3 separate vaccines. There were risks with the MMR "super shot" (I cant remember what they were now, but I think the risk of autism). The Hep B vaccine contained Themerisol (spelling?) and I requested one that didnt contain that, because it is mercury. My stepdaughter received the live oral polio vaccine, at the time she received it I didnt know about the risks with that. There are risks, but the benefits outweigh them by far.

czyja, MSN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

Like I said, I have just began researching the correlation between Autism and vaccines...

In science we say "correlation does not mean causation." One can correlate autism with vaccination (ie children get vaccines, children get autism). But this does not mean that vaccines cause autism.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 12, 2008

mercury's been removed from most vaccines

see

welcome to the vaccine education center

the vaccine education center at the children's hospital of philadelphia educates parents and healthcare providers about vaccines and immunizations.

remember how classmates suddenly died in 1960's from measles/whooping cough/polio.....

when my oldest was 3 in 1988 next door neighbor decided 18 mo old didn't need whooping cough vaccine..... was visiting one day after being kept away due to child's cough x1 wk---heard that high pitched stridor and told her what son had.

pediatrician had never had a case due to vaccinations and child was miss-diagnosed, almost died.....promptly got different peds doctor.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

OPV is no longer used in the US.

I think parents should vaccinate for hep B at birth.

As my old division chief used to say "better to be a little bit sick than a whole lot dead."

There is no legitimate linkage demonstrated between autism and vaccination.

imenid37 · Apr 12, 2008

I had measles at age 25. I was so ill. I thought I'd die, but didn't care. My temp was 104.8. Initially, no one knew what I had. The local health department had identified several other cases at the hospital where I worked. I had a measles vaccine back in the mid 1960's as a baby, but it was given sooner than reccomended, so I didn't get lifetime immunity. I was told to get revaccinated about a year before I had the measles, but was pregnant, so I did not. I still hadn't done it a few months postpartum when I got sick. I hate to think of young kds being that ill.

emnicams · Apr 12, 2008

I was a research freak when I was pregnant with my son, who is now 4. In the end, I chose some things that are "wacky" by today's standards: I breastfed (he never had formula at all), cloth diapered his first 6 months, we did not circumcise, the list could probably go on. But one thing I definitely did was vaccinate him, and on schedule. I researched it thoroughly just like I did every other choice, but I just can't see taking chances with serious diseases. The only vaccine that I really don't see why they need it so early is Hep B, but on the other hand, I'm glad to know my child is protected from it early on, too. It really is weighing benefit vs. risk and to me, the benefit far outweighs any risk.

bollweevil · Apr 12, 2008

OPV is no longer used in the US.
I think parents should vaccinate for hep B at birth.
As my old division chief used to say "better to be a little bit sick than a whole lot dead."
There is no legitimate linkage demonstrated between autism and vaccination.

But autism is not just "a little bit sick". It is a devastating illness, lifelong in most cases. It totally tears up the victim and the victim's family. I wonder what happens to autistic adults when their families can no longer care for them. Nursing home, state institutions here they come. Bedsores, mean staff, mere existing. No thanks. Yes, I'm generalizing. I've worked with soooo many cruel nurses.

I think kids are given way, way too many vaccines and too soon. Worse, the vaccines don't always work.

As for going only to "mainstream" resources for our information, :confused: ? Too restricted, seems sort of close-minded. Sorry, do not mean to offend, just my view.

kburns0016 · Apr 12, 2008

Slightly off topic, but please read...

As a mother of a child who was born completely healthy just like his 6 siblings and right on schedule in his development but is now SEVERELY developmentally delayed (no DX yet so unlikely autism just very, VERY similar)and only of my children to present with any developmental delays(5yrs old and no speech ,delayed growth,and sensory issues) after a massive load of vaccs at 7 months when we moved into a different state and went to a pediatrician who wanted to "catch us up" to his states schedule and in a hurry(more than 10 shots in a 6 week period)...I saw changes in this child within a month of the date he recieved those shots, extreme changes...could not hold his own bottle, stopped even trying to sit up, lost what little "speech" he had already developed , gahhh, mahh and such! I was heartbroken once I realized exactly how profound his problems were and I realized when the chages started showing up...because I trusted a Dr I did not know well he will never have a normal life and if I had been more vigilant, trusted my gut that said woah Mom this is too much to fast...my child might ,just MIGHT, be "typical" right now...

I am asking you experienced nurses to please not discount that for certain children the standard vaccination schedule or certain Dr approved variations of it MAY NOT BE healthy, and until there is a way to ascertain which children can handle it , the CDC and companies charged with researching the connection these vaccines might have a motive to not be completely truthful about certain possible effects. I WILL NOT say vaccs cause autism , but my child had a "reaction" and now exibits autism like symptoms, I see it everyday with my own two eyes , I don't need their studies and proof .I would much rather have my child suffer through something like measles and have a better probablity for a normal life than have that all taken away just to follow a schedule the CDC says we should...caution is the best course! Vaccinate with those proven safe and do your own research on things that are questioned( by media or other parents) or that simply make you feel that twinge of concern...never take a Drs word that something is safe just because they are a Dr..if your gut says woah this is not good practice ...believe it~I wish I had....

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

But autism is not just "a little bit sick". It is a devastating illness, lifelong in most cases. It totally tears up the victim and the victim's family. I wonder what happens to autistic adults when their families can no longer care for them. Nursing home, state institutions here they come. Bedsores, mean staff, mere existing. No thanks. Yes, I'm generalizing. I've worked with soooo many cruel nurses.
I think kids are given way, way too many vaccines and too soon. Worse, the vaccines don't always work.
As for going only to "mainstream" resources for our information, ? Too restricted, seems sort of close-minded. Sorry, do not mean to offend, just my view.

I agree with the idea that other sources besides "mainstream" sources should be looked at, however, the source should be free of bias in either direction. Just make sure that you are aware of the source who is interpreting the data before deciding whether or not you accept it as valid.

However, your jab at "cruel nurses" not taking care of chronically ill patients is misplaced in this discussion and out of line.

To address the OP, I got my kids vaccinated on schedule. The age range for each shot is over a two month span, so there is no reason to give all the shots at one visit. But I also have the luxury of a $2 PCP co-pay.

Blee

Dental Hygienist · Apr 12, 2008

Let me first say that I believe in vaccines, I think they are probably the reason why our childhood survival rate is so high for the last 50 years....BUT...I am quite shocked at how many vaccines babies are getting these days in their first year of life...having witnessed this with my nieces and nephews.

I happen to have a copy of my childhood vaccine record. I was born in 1981 In my first year I was given 6 vaccines, the DPT and Polio at 2,4,6 mos then at 18 mos the MMR and a booster for DPT and Polio, then more boosters for DPT and Polio at 5 years old. That was it until my Hep B series and tetorifice booster when I was 17 and going into dental assisting.

Nowadays, the amount of vaccines is crazy! I'm admittedly not well versed in the subject but if I were a new mother you bet I'd be researching and questioning the vaccine schedule. I'm not quite sure why a chicken pox vaccine is necessary...Is chicken pox a deadly disease or just a childhood inconvenience? I honestly don't know. That vaccine didn't exist when I was a kid and I never heard of 1 child dying or even being hospitalized from chicken pox. And Hep-B? I think it's a great vaccine....but why couldn't it wait until 5 years of age or so?

Again, I'm a believer in vaccines. I get a flu shot every year; I signed up for the HPV vaccine (Gardisil) ASAP and have now completed the series...but if there is ANY question that giving all these vaccines in such a short period of time could harm kids...why not just wait on the ones that can wait?

My sister was treated like an uneducated, wreckless mother when she insisted on splitting up the MMR and waiting on some of the other vaccines for her kids...she merely wanted to spread them out over the first 2 years of life rather than get almost 30 vaccines done in 3 visits....I say kudos to her for being an advocate for her child.