Help re vaccinations

[charlie01]

My DS is due for his MMR next week and I really don't know what to do. I have researched the MMR until it's coming out of my ears but I still don't know what to do.

There is a strong history of autism in my family (brother and uncle in immediate family alone) and my brother has always suffered with bowel problems. My mum is certain that his autism is not connected to the MMR however I think she is very concerned about the prospect of her grandson being given it.

I must say overall, my gut instinct is to go with the MMR, I have a doctorate in research and my scientific brain(!) says it is the right thing to do. However it's so different when it's actually your son and I know and have read about so many people who are absolutely convinced that the MMR is what started their DD/DSs autistic traits.

I feel like I am in a lose lose situation, if I dont vaccinate him I run the risk of him catching measles which as everyone knows could be fatal however if I do vaccinate he could suffer the side effects (namely autism)

I just dont know what to do. I don't know what I want anyone to say either, I'm not really sure why I've typed all this! How does anyone ever make a decision?

I don't think so- although SIL did react badly to pertussis so who knows.

BTW unvaccinated ds2 had a big exposure to whooping cough when he was 4 months old- I was pretty worried- but hee didn't get it.

There is also a new strain of whooping cough around which has evolved because of vaccination and isn't protected against by pertussis (read that in New Scientist btw not quack weekly ) I don't know what the ratio of new strain to old strain is- don't know whether anyone has looked- but could be worth seeing if they have as that would give more idea of how useful the pertussis jab is. It isn't that effective (75% seems to be the most quoted figure).

Ruty, I must say that I think most people who have a problem with vaccinations have more of a problem with the MMR than the lot they have when they are babies. Of most of my friends, I think we are in the minority of ones that opted for the MMR - this was largely because my sister was pregnant and it was discovered she was not immune to rubella and I could not have lived with myself if my kids had picked it up and given it to her (and still today I hear of many boys who are given the single vaccines and they miss the rubella out as they think it's not important!).

I know a few people who have had an issue with the baby vaccinations. If you are really worried, might it be worth waiting a little longer till you feel your baby is bigger/stronger? I have no clue about the auto-immune thing and even if you research it, I'm not sure much has been done in that specific area with the new vaccine (you'll find more on the MMR stuff I'm sure).

If you do go ahead with it there are a few things you can do to minimise a reaction. Don't get vaccinated if your baby has a cold or temperature and give them the tiny dose of calpol straight away to minimise any chance of temperature. Good luck with whatever you do.

Regarding the MMR be aware that Japan has banned it. We dont hear about this in the news but they do not permit usage of the MMR vaccine. There is a reasoning here.

The best thing you can do for your child is follow the adage "first do no harm". Measles can kill rarely. So can a flu which turns into pneumonia (in babies). IN my opinion, jabs are replacing one scary issue with another. If you feed your kids right, let them get lots of exercise and fresh air, and boost their immune system naturally, they will fight off these common ailments. Since when did measles become this huge problem anyway. When I grew up I had measles twice. Ok, i was poorly but it was no worse than a bad flu. Vaccinations against measles is like using an AK47 against Bambi. My suggestion to you is not to vaccinate. At the end of the day, its your child and you must make your own decision. The risks of vaccinations are not researched ( on purpose) and as I have said in a previous thread, the whole theory behind it does not comply with scientific sense. If your child develops an illness, dont you think it far better he uses his own immune system which is not compromised, to fight it??

The whole vaccine thing is a crock, and is a multi billion dollar industry and we lead our kids like lambs to the slaughter, many unquestioningly. It makes me so so very sad but mostly it makes me angry. Parents who support the use of vaccines more often than not use emotional blackmail as the basis for their argument. They do not use hard scientific fact because in the main there IS no scientific fact to back up vaccine use. It does not exist. Your GP knows this too. Ask him next time. Ask him if he vaccinated his own kids. I am sure many GPs do not vaccinate their own children cause they know the risks outweigh any possible benefits. Autism and auto immune diseases are becoming more and more prevalent in western society. It must be coming from somewhere. Give your child the chance he deserves to preserve and build his own immune system. Remember, a child does not fully develop his immune system till he is three. It is complete madness to vaccinate 8 week old babies. This argument is one sided because it can only be one sided. There is no argument for vaccinations except that which is based on emotional misinformation. Remember to ask yourselves why the drug companies are so rich. Also remember that doctors get kickbacks from the drug companies for every MMR jab they inject. Bet you all didnt know this one! Its true, ask your doc.

I think it's oe of the hardest
decisions of parenthood.
And a very personal decision, weighing up for yourself and not being co-herced either into or against a decision.
I say gut instinct and maybe a history into your own particular fsmily health may be key factors.

DH is GP and would not consider not vaccinating our children. And when he gets back at 9 pm tonight he will certainly not read New Scientist. Well, I should give him credit, he did read about stroked yesterday evening (more common problem in terms of number of patients he sees). Have 4 more doctors in the family, who all vaccinated their children.
But I like reading Jimjams commments about vaccinations, usually make good sense.

I found mine through my Health Visitor!
But maybe if you look on the homeopath website you may find one in your area?
Also got a kit from helios homeopathic remedies bases in tumbridge wells. For first aid purposes.

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Although when you really talk to GP's\HV's you find that many aren't quite a sold on vaccinations as people would have them believe. And this site has done some good. One GP changed all his baby jabs to thimerosil free way before the govt took that line- because of information he'd got from here. Maybe his decision prevented a child developing autism/ADHD/whatever- we'll never know.

My GP has been supportive of our decision.

Actually, I think most of the stuff my DH knows about MMR is what I have read on MN and told him...
The whole vaccination stuff is done by HV in his surgery.
Also agree about the "two different brains"; scientific brain and mums brain. Was thinking about autism when dd had her vaccination...

again thanks for info and advice

As far as I am aware doctors don't get paid for every MMR jab they give - they are supposed to try and hit a certain target but many are not achieving that - mainly because we've all been too scared by the reports in the press.

As far as I am aware Japan stopped giving the MMR because they used a particular version of the MMR which caused many problems - this was withdrawn and is now no longer used. It caused so many problems in Japan that people lost confidence and stopped vaccinating their children. As a result they had a huge measles epidemic and many deaths and long term problems. Because of this they now offer vaccines singly.

None of the politics here are important though - the important thing is that we get the right information on both sides of the argument and use the facts to make an informed decision - rather than a decision based upon the rantings of the Daily Mail.

Mandy

BTW - for those of you opting for single vaccines. How problematic is it to get the mumps one? Just wondered as in my area parents say it's a real problem.

Mandy

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or the sunday times. I emailed brian deer from his website (email me - it's that easy- as he said) and asked him why he was suggesting that andy wakefield was filing a patent application for a measles vaccine to rival the MMR when from the patent application it was clear he was filing for a product which could potentially help autistic children with bowel disease.

he didn't reply.

Oh yes - that was a real witch-hunt wasn't it JJ? Made dreadful viewing.

Mandy