I know there are arguments both ways.
I think of the hundreds of people I know who have been immunized and who are doing just fine. My siblings and I were all vaccinated as babies and we are all mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally healthy. Curtis was fussy the day he received his first series, but he's still sweet, alert, smart, attentive, calm and healthy. It's just really hard for me when mothers will come up to me and say "you didn't get Curtis vaccinated did you?" When I tell them I did they seem horrified. Am I a horrible mother because I don't want my son to get a serious disease?
I've prayed constantly about my decision to vaccinate Curtis (and to continue to do so) and I have felt peace about it. It's hard for me not to continue to doubt my feelings though.
Do you immunize your children?
I have always done Boston and will continue to do him and our other children. I think there are far more risks of not getting them then there are if you do.
ReplyDeleteYou know how I feel about it Rach. If you feel at peace with getting him shots then DO IT! You will second guess yourself, thats only natural. But you are given the stwedarship over him and the Lord will not let you do something wrong without trying to warn you first.
ReplyDeleteWow-- seriously? I didn't know there was still such widespread sentiment against it, especially after the most oft-cited study that cast doubt on the safety of immunizations was completely discredited. I haven't read anything that was well-founded enough to convince me that immunizations are not the best choice.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the sign at the doctor's office that says, "If you choose not to immunize your children, thank the parents who do." Because really, that will be the reason if your unimmunized kid does not get sick.
Ili gets her 3rd set of Immunizations next month. I think that it's good to look at both points of view but like your other friend said, getting them out weights not getting them. It's only natural to wonder whether you are doing the right thing, and i think thats just something that happens when you have to make a decision for someone else. You are doing what you feel is right and thats what matters.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was pregnant for the first time I was working as an assistant teacher in a 1st grade Special Ed class. Once some of the mothers of the Autistic kids found out I was pregnant I got bombarded by all the reasons you shouldn't get your kids immunized and few reasons why you should. And I felt confused and afraid because a lot of the moms were saying their child was fine until they let the Doctors give them shots. One of them was so adamant that the shots gave 2 of her 5 kids Autism and she was not going to give shots to her 5th child who was turning 3 1/2 at the begging of the school year. By the end of the school year the doctors were already starting to say that her 5th child was Autistic as well :( even though she didn't give the shots.
ReplyDeleteI am kind still on the fence. It wouldn't surprise me that some of the shots could give kids Autism or other problems, but at the same time there are no proven accounts of the shots causing a child to get autism. They still don't know what causes Autism in any of the kids.
It is your personal choice that you shouldn't be judge and ridiculed for, just like it is the other mothers choice to not and she shouldn't be judge or ridiculed either. My best friend does not immunize her kids because both of them had reactions to the drugs when they were first given as babies. The doctors have all advised her to wait until her kids are much older and can handle any side affects.
Do you remember I did a post about this a while ago?? I never thought about not giving shots until Cohen was about a year old. Still didn't actually think about it, but posed the same question on my blog. I too have given Cohen all his shots. My doctor is 100% for shots and I completely trust him. And in my opinion, I don't think Heavenly Father will punish all the kids who are getting shots just because we are trying to do what's best for them. I think if a child is supposed to have a disease and that is one of their trials in life, they will probably get it either way. Just keep going with what you feel is right and best for you guys :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, just saw your comment on my blog and it reminded me.... I meant to ask you about that book a while ago! The one you said I should read when I did that post about my etsy. Remember??
I have a very strong opinion about this matter--I am absolutely FOR immunizations. Go read the conference talk by Elder Oaks from the April 2010 Conference titled "Healing the Sick" and if you're like me, you won't have another doubt about it ever again. And you should refer this talk to anyone who gives you a hard time about getting immunizations to your son. Modern medicine is a gift from God. Here is a quote from President Hinckley, "We welcome and praise and utilize the marvelous procedures of modern medicine which have done so much to alleviate human suffering and lengthen human life." (From his talk The Healing Power of Christ).
ReplyDeleteI am of the strong opinion that anyone who gets caught up in this idea that immunizations are bad when there is no actual evidence of it AND the positive effects far outweigh the bad are denying a very wonderful gift from God.
There's my two cents. :)
I too have had the same concerns. I bought the Vaccine Book by Bob Sears and decided that I would read up on every shot and the different brands that are available for each. I did this so that I wouldn't have any regrets about my decisions. I love the fact that the book is only informative and not opinionated. I feel that the only difference in how we received our shots, when we were younger, is that we didn't receive so many grouped together at one time. So I am one of the crazy moms who goes in every month instead of every other month to get Quinn vaccinated.I have also gone to the health department to get a specific brand of a shot, just because I strongly felt that the brand my doctor offered didn't have the ingredients of my choice- again I'm one of those crazy moms:). Don't get me wrong, I am 100% pro vaccination and she will get all of her shots just a little more spread out (only by months not years).
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what the other mom's have said- do what you feel is best for you and your family. I am, and I feel so good about it:)
I had no idea this was such a big controversy until someone commented on your Facebook status about not doing it. So then I looked up stuff on the internet and it kind of freaked me out. I'm glad I read this. It has helped me feel better about immunizing my children. You are such a good example of turning to Heavenly Father for help with decisions like this. I really admire you for that. :)
ReplyDeleteI am definitely FOR immunizations! You are such a cute mom Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI also am FOR immunizations! Curtis is getting so big!
ReplyDeleteWe are for it. I kind of was nervous as well because I heard of some scary reactions and I have a cousin who was allergic to the polio vaccination and ended up paralyzed or something. At least that's what I've been told... anyways, I felt really nervous but then me and Adam talked about it and we just felt like we should. In one of my classes too, they quoted a doctor who said that parents these days question immunizations because we weren't there to see the horrible effects of smallpox and stuff since we have the medical abilities to not let it happen again. Or something like that.... I agree with everyone else that said don't let anyone make you feel bad for your decision. Its yours not theirs.
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