Please green the vaccines. I’m asking as an undecided, expecting mother who already has a child with autism.
Statistics show that I’m 10 times more likely to have another child on the spectrum. Only it’s not that simple. It’s thought environmental factors could trigger autism in an already genetically predisposed baby. My baby.
This leads me to vaccines. My great-grandmother was the first person I knew who refused to vaccinate her children. She believed they killed a little boy on her block. At the time, I understood her apprehension. Her children were born in the 30s. Who knew what harmful substance was in vaccines then?
When my 15-year-old son was born, I automatically took him to get his shots. My grandmother’s fears didn’t play a part in my decision. It was modern times and was unquestionably the right thing to do.
Now I’m expecting again. In April I have a decision to make and it’s an incredibly difficult one. Typically, I’d talk to the pediatrician for advice. He is the wise man regarding my children’s health. I’ve trusted his medical advice implicitly before.
What I want to know now is — does he truly understand vaccines? Has he studied their effects on his own or does he rely completely on the AMA (American Medical Association) for information? Will he take my questions seriously or mentally roll his eyes at a parent questioning what’s supposed to be safe prevention to horrible diseases?
Obviously, I will ask him. I just don’t know how much to trust the information in regards to my genetically predisposed child.
On the other hand, information against vaccinating is confusing and overwhelming. I’m not a scientist or a doctor – so processing and understanding it is difficult. Even then, the information isn’t coming from one of my trusted medical sources. I don’t know whether to believe or disbelieve. All I know is it raises the credible question, are vaccines safe? Could they trigger autism in my susceptible child?
I wish finding information geared towards parents was easier and unbiased. Instead I have to wade through two warring groups to garner it. Looking to other parents for advice doesn’t help. The loudest voices tell me: If I vaccinate I’m hurting my child. If I don’t vaccinate I’m hurting my child. It’s either autism or a deadly disease.
This is a complicated, guilt-laden decision. It’s one thing for my child to be born with autism. It’s another for my parenting choice to trigger the onset of it.
Maybe I’m naïve, but wouldn’t the best option be green vaccines? Does it have to be proven beyond a doubt that mercury and thimerosal aren’t harmful? Is it ridiculous to err on the side of caution? And really, isn’t the danger to the population at large greater when a higher percentage of parents decide not to vaccinate?
Please help a mother out; green the vaccines.
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Genevieve Hinson is a social media coordinator for Children's Hospital Central California. She's also a writer, wife and mom to two boys and a girl. The opinions she expresses here are her own, as is her obsession for coffee.
Heated subject, I know.
Personally – we opt for a “delayed” schedule of vaccines. And we only do the ones that are “required” – no flu shots, or whatever the one for the ear infection is called. My 18 month old still hasn’t had his MMR (given at 12 months here) and probably won’t get it until after he’s 2.
Every doctor should offer a delayed schedule and should respect your decision to do that (or any decision, really). If they don’t – change doctors.
And yeah, it sucks.
Our pediatrician recommended a delayed schedule of vaccines as well. He’s our local “autism doctor”. He sees primarily kids with autism as his adult son is on the spectrum. He has specialized in the care of our kiddos for years and stays on top of all the latest info.
I don’t discount what some people say about vaccines. I’m just not positive that is what cause autism in our son.
Good luck on whatever you decide to do!
Hi,
That is a very hard decision: good luck.
Am not a doctor, just a Mom, so all of this is just thoughts and ideas, not medical advice.
Did not vaccinate my kids, and with the risk factors in our family, am glad I did not.Despite severe food allergies and a family member possibly on the spectrum we have no autism. But there is still a risk from illness.no easy answers sometimes.
Depending on the state religious or philosophical exemptions exist in most states, so if you qualify for an exemption that might be useful re schooling.Or delayed schedules are a possibility too.
The hep B at birth does not seem to have much going for it,if you are not hep B positive.The immunity sometimes only lasts about 5 years anyway, so I hear, so it seems basically useless if no one is hep b around you,and you think it unlikely that your baby will be exposed to other peoples’ blood. If it is given later, then at least the child has a chance to start growing first. And it seems that there was one study that suggested the later the vaccines were given, the less risk of asthma? Have heard that some people advise splitting them up into single shots, wait til the baby is older before giving vaccines, and making sure they are well at the time.
Lots of ear infections and lots of antibiotics are things other people have identified as problems.Putting tubes in might be of to help there.
Others suggest tylenol is bad to give with a shot because it effects gluathione, and makes it harder for the body to remove heavy metals. Also, some say vitamin D is helpful in protecting against autism.I don’t know whether any of these things will end up being shown to be helpful or not, but they are just things I’ve picked up from different people Did your first child react badly to a shot? it seems like there are probably different causes of autism.
Maybe you could find a doctor who is knowledgable about both sides of the issue to talk with you?
Again, good luck on whatever you decide in a difficult situation.
I’m a new reader…came here from Another Piece of the Puzzle (Trish) and I am with you.
The FDA issues recalls for mislabeling and incorrect marketing of drugs daily. Why oh why can’t they pull vaccines and order testing so we can KNOW?
I have to say, I’m really glad I didn’t know much about the vaccine issue when my kids were born. I didn’t give it a second thought. And while I tend to believe that the possibility of the vaccine causing autism is dwarfed by the probability that nonvaccination will lead to a resurgence of deadly contagious diseases, it’s easy for me to feel that way because I don’t have to make the tough choice.
Good luck.
We have made this choice already. I am due in April and my husband has a son with Autism.
The study’s all talk about kids with the same parents- but even though I feel that the mix of new genetics (his and mine versus his and his ex’s) could help offset that since I have 3 children- all fully vaccinated and none with Autism.
We are going to skip vaccinations- not all- but most. It is definitely a no on the MMR because that is still made with the mercury. My husband has done all the research so I will honestly say that I am just following his lead. I have only been around his son for 2 years but he’s seen the effects since the autistic signs were showing when he was just 19 months old.
I don’t want to imagine how it would be to have a child that doesn’t respond to you as a mother. That would be heartbreaking and I feel bad for everyone who has gone or is going through that.
One thing I can say of my own research is even if you decide to vaccinate- use the delayed schedule. There are pints on the CDCs vaccination schedule (when baby is about 12 months) that they want to give 6 vaccinations at a time. WOW that seems a bit much. In the least I think a delayed schedule allows you more time to decide and you can always sign a waiver for everything you don’t get if you need your child to be in daycare, etc.
Good luck with your research.
I didn’t know about the vaccine issue with both my boys — is there a book or site any of you recommend on delaying vaccines? I’d like to know what to delay and for how long.
With my son sons drastic vaccine reactions and the fact that he has Autism, we decided to take it very slow and selective with my daughter. I’m not anti-vax, but for the “choice” in vaccination.I just felt better delaying and skipping some completely. I’m pretty vocal about shots on my blog, but my email box is always open if you have questions I think you’ll find that I’m really quite reasonable
Plus, I promise to not condemn you for your decision either way – it is so tough.
My best advice for you is to do just what you are doing. Question. And when and if you do vax, read the insert and also write down any lot #s in case of a reaction you have it and can file with VAERS database.
A book that deals with a delayed/alternate schedule is Dr. Sears The Vaccine Book.
I have a bunch of vaccine websites on my blog-roll also
If I can help you in any way, just holla.
~MT
The amount of error and misinformation in this post and its comments is tragic. I’m dad to an 8 year old severely autistic child. No vaccine, no vaccine ingredient and no vaccine schedule causes autism.
Take this comment from dywags “It is definitely a no on the MMR because that is still made with the mercury”
The MMR has never ever contained mercury. Ever.
What do people consider ‘greening’ of vaccines? The ingredients? There is Aluminium in vaccines yes, the same amount in all vaccines from age 0 – 6 can be found in between 50 days – 1 years worth of breast feeding.
Formaldehyde? Yup, thats there too. The same amount as is contained in 1 very thin slice of banana.
I don’t expect you to take my word for it. I blogged this here: http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/?p=873 you can get all my sources from there if you like.
And what about mercury? Did you know that the average new born is born with of 303µg mercury occuring naturally in the body? Whereas the entire pediatric US schedule from ages 0 – 6 currently contains 239.2µg of mercury.
Please don’t be swayed by bad information. Asks scientists. Asks doctors. There is no conspiracy.
Thank you Kev for the link and information. I’m sorry you felt the information in my post was tragic – I’m doing my best with what I know to make an informed choice. From my perspective: I believe vaccines save lives. I don’t know if, for some children, they can be a trigger for autism. I don’t understand the ins and outs of it like you and others do – jumping in and reading the debate on various blogs leads to confusion. Everyone is very strong in his or her belief. It’s difficult to process and come to a solid conclusion.
I had hoped to make that clear in my post – I wasn’t trying to educate but share my experience and thoughts in trying to figure this out. And my thoughts are if parents aren’t vaccinating because they think the vaccines are harmful – then it, in turn, is harmful for everyone. Wouldn’t it be better to remove the offending ingredients, keep the vaccines just as powerful and reassure those who worry and keep everyone safer?
Of course this is an emotional approach – and not scientific. It is the query and question of a mother – and like any parent, I worry about doing what’s best for my kids.
I haven’t read about the statistics you mentioned yet and will be reading the link you provided. I really do appreciate you – and everyone else – taking the time to comment and share.
Please let there be no confusion – I love my boys for exactly who they are. I wouldn’t change either of them in any way. I’m just trying to make the best parenting choices as possible – and that does include taking the information I gather to my children’s pediatrician.
Your blog title is aptly named, isn’t it? I can’t say what I would do. I wouldn’t judge you either way, that’s for sure. I do not envy this decision you will have to make, but no matter what I hope that you know that YOUR decision is the right decision.
I said the information in it was tragic. You start with the perfectly melodramatic phrase ‘green our vaccines’. A phrase coined by an acctress who once thought her son was a Crystal Child brought to this planet to fulfill an alien prophecy. I kid you not.
There is such a thing as quality of information. You will get this quality from journal published peer reviewed science. You will get it from your GP. You will not get it from Hollywood starlerts.
Thymerosol is being eliminated from most childhood vaccines, but some remain and sometimes adult vaccines (such as the flu vaccine) are given to children. I am an industrial hygenist, and I can tell you that such levels of mercury would never be allowed in the workplace without tight controls. I wrote the following on another blog:
“The thymerosol used in many vaccines (sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate) is very toxic and crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placential barrier. As an industrial hygenist, I would never have it in the workplace, let alone inject it. See the Material Safety Data Sheet here: http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/envhealth/MSDS/neuroscience/thimerosal.pdf
There are alternatives. Safer preservatives can be developed, and perishable vaccines can be refrigerated from manufacture point to patient administration, this is already done for some other drugs.” With your doctor, trust, but verify. Use the vaccines w/out thymersol, not the ones with it.-Jitney
No vaccinations. Absolutely NONE!
The vaccines still contain aluminum and secret ingredients protected by trade law. Vaccines are not food and do not have to list all of the ingredients on the package insert.
Peanut allergy has been in the news. The big increase in food allergies occurred right after the recommended vaccinations for children was substantially increased.
Peanut oil is one of the many many oils that can be used in the vaccine adjuvant. It is highly refined but trace amounts of peanut protein will remain. If your child is the unlucky one to get the vaccine with that trace amount…
Measles is not that serious a disease. All of the childhood diseases had decreased 95% before the vaccines were introduced. I remember having measles in grade school. I stayed home and played with my siblings all day.
Asthma is also related to the vaccines. Vaccinated children have a higher rate of asthma.
So if you look at the consequences of vaccinating your child – food allergies, asthma, autism and possibly ADHD…. or not vaccinating – diseases that are not life threatening, a vaccine that does not give full immunity, aluminum in the vaccine, vaccinating a young child before his immune system has reached maturity…
It is hard to listen to all the scare tactics but think of it as a sales pitch by a mis-informed salesman.
Sigh,
I am honestly on the vaccination side.
Most vax are without the mercury today. Measles, chicken pox and rubella are serious. Don’t go on stories of who survived what horrible childhood disease and is fine today. Look up the numbers. See how many kids DIE from chicken pox. How about rotavirus? Ever see your 8th month old in a hospital hooked up to an IV due to profound dehydration? Not fun
I would look up the studies. From what I have read, the vax do far more good than harm AND it is unclear if there truly is a vax/autism connection. Look up the numbers and bring your concerns to your doctor.
Good luck with this decision.
I used to stay on the side of ‘do your research’ before you vaccinate. Now, I would say, unequivocally, do NOT vaccinate. Our now 16 year old son suffered horrendous reactions to ALL his vaccines, starting with a reaction to the Hep B shot given to him at just 12 hours old (even though I tested negative). Had I known then that Ryan would suffer with severe jaundice and a low-grade fever, due to his Hep B shot, I would never have consented to it. Each well-baby visit, with corresponding vaccine schedule, left a cumulative list of side effects; high-pitched screaming and complete somnalence. It would take Ryan about 2 months to recuperate from his round of shots, only to receive another round…and then the horrendous reactions all over again. Finally, when he almost died from the whole cell pertussis DPT vaccine at four months, I said enough. Fortunately for us, we had an excellent pediatrician who frankly admitted Ryan’s vaccine reaction, noted it duly in his file, and agreed to continue seeing Ryan as his patient, even though we decided against further vaccination. I am a former legal assistant — my husband is an attorney — we have done our research into the whole vaccine safety issue. What we have uncovered is appalling. The public is not being told what the big pharma boys and the medical professionals have always known — that vaccines DO harm and kill infants (starting when the DPT and smallpox vaccines were introduced) — they’ve known about the hazards of mercury (Thimerosal) and other adjuvants put into vaccines and yet (read the Simpsonwood, Georgia paper on that one), they continue to blithely lead the public into believing these vaccines are safe. They are not — and there is absolutely NO proof vaccines safe lives. Polio? It’s still around — just called by a different name — Menningitis. These oft normal, benign diseases were just that — NORMAL benign diseases — read the literature from back in the 1940’s which explained to parents how to take care of your child when they had any of these diseases. But oh…wait…the vaccines are out…now, suddenly, these diseases are deadly and unless your child receives all these vaccines…oh my goodness…they’ll die. It absolutely sickens me to know…via the Freedom of Information Act, all that I now know about the lies they have perpetuated on the unsuspecting public about these vaccines. We are taught to trust our so-called authority figures. I have learned to use my own God given intuition and intelligence and perform my own research. Our son is now thriving, albeit with a few learning disability issues, but he is alive, he is healthy and he is now, un-vaccinated since the age of 6 months. He’s going to stay that way, too. He also knows he will never, ever vaccinate his own children, should it come to that.
Rant over. If people would just understand that we are told the truth about very little. Quit believing you have to do something just because someone uses scare tactics to get you to conform to their false belief systems. You don’t — you do not have to vaccinate your children to get them into school. That’s not true — there are exemptions in every state (MISS and W. Virginia are the hardest, though). NONE of these vaccines are safety tested to see if they cause cancer in children/adults. Vaccines are toxic brews of poison — it absolutely sickens me to read what I have in my many voluminous binders (through FOIA)…doctors openly stating to one another via closed door sessions, that they do not want their own children/grandchildren to take these vaccines, but they continued to lie to the American public and tell them vaccines are safe.
Here is a link re: a young girl’s reaction to the GARDASIL vaccine.
http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/gabrielle.aspx
Please educate yourselves re: vaccines and their harmful side effects. It could save your child’s life.