posted
My youngest child is starting kindergarten next week, and at her physical last week I did not allow her to have her shots. These included the "chicken pox" shot, the flu shot, and the MMR.
I do not want my kids to have unnecessary vaccines, and my other kids have not had any for almost two years. I didn't know anything about Lyme or immunizations before, and went right along with everything the doctor ordered before.
So now, school is one week away, and supposedly if I don't get her the vaccine, she won't be allowed to go to school. Is this true?
Do i take the chance and let her get it, or do I insist on skipping it and figure out a way to get her into school? Is this a "safer" shot than some others? What would YOU do??
Posts: 114 | From NY | Registered: Jul 2011
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posted
You do not mention whether or not the child has lyme disease. Assuming that she does, I personally would opt out of the vaccines. You should be able to sign a paper at the school opting out. I am not a Dr., however have read too many stories of vaccines either making lyme worse, or activating dormant lyme. Would not do it if it were me.
Posts: 366 | From Louisville KY. | Registered: Nov 2003
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tricia386
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29623
posted
NO VACCINES. This is how my whole mess started!!!
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
I believe you can opt out on "religious reasons." Maybe you could let her get the MMR and skip the rest. I would be very hesitant to do more than one shot at a time.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
I had my kids do the vaccines. We don't do any unnecessary i.e. flu shot and the upcoming one for HPV.
It is really dependent on the present health of the child and whether you think there is any lingering infection a vaccine could trigger.
There is so much inconclusive information out there and such a hush hush too, so it's so hard to figure out.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
There are ways to opt out! You just have to figure which ones work in your state. They are personal/philosophical, religious and medical. Personal or philosophical is easiest but may not be available in all states. Medical might be easy for you if you can get your Lyme doc to sign off on it. Religious can work too, especially if you are pro-life because some of those vaccines you mentioned are cultured in aborted fetal tissue. You may need a minister to sign off on it. Mercola.com used to have a great article on how to opt out of vaccines. It's probably still on the his website. There are ways.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
Is your child going to a public school? If so they are absolutely covered under law that they can attend school without vaccines in every state. Some states have better rules than others and you can have a philosophical exemption, otherwise like jlp38 said you have the religious or medical exemptions. Good luck getting a medical exemption unless your LLMD is on board.
We are in IL and we only have Religious and Medical.
We go to a private school and they do not have to abide by the law concerning vaccines, but we actually got a call from our school complimenting us on our religious vaccine exemption letter. PM me if you would like me to forward a copy.
Stand your ground, there is nothing they can do if it is a public school. Make sure you have the law printed and ready if needed too, I believe ours is quoted in our letter.
Posts: 76 | From IL | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
I think NY is a tough state so be prepared and don't let them bully you.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
It's true, up to date MMR and DTaP vaccines are generally required for school. There are exceptions but these are usually for children that cannot have the vaccines such as those with severe immune deficiency diseases and allergies. Some states also allow religious exceptions.
You asked for opinions, if it was my child, I would get the vaccines unless she had a severe immune deficiency disease or history of anaphylaxis.
I would also want to make sure that my child's classmates and playmates got the vaccines too. I would want to do everything I could to protect my child. The vaccines are made to protect, not to cause harm.
We are lucky that vaccines are so readily available here in the US. I wish that were true in the rest of the world. It's sad that there are children suffering and dying from preventable diseases.
If you don't think that these diseases are a serious threat, talk with your grandparents (or someone of that age). They will remember the horrors of Diptheria, Pertussis, Polio. . . Many lost siblings because of these diseases (this is sadly true for my family).
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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bcb1200
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25745
posted
I think vaccines are absolutely required. Are there risks..sure. But the risks of not vaccinating are worse. The key to vaccination is a) don't do more than one at a time and b)don't do them if your kid is sick.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3134 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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posted
They are absolutely not required. We can debate whether they are good or not. Everyone has their own opinion on that (which is as it should be). But there are exemptions available.
Posts: 707 | From Colorado | Registered: Jul 2010
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tick battler
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 21113
posted
I have chosen to stop vaccinating my 3 young children, who are all have been infected with lyme/etc. In PA, you can opt out for medical or religious reasons. You can easily find out the laws for NY by doing a google search.
People say not to vaccinate when they are sick...well, lyme is a pretty serious disease. The immune system is already weakened, so in my opinion, vaccinating when infected is not a good idea.
If you do chose to do the MMR, I would INSIST on getting it separated so you do it in 3 different shots over a long period of time. This is what I was doing with my daughter when she was under 2 years of age...I started with the measles part with her and the next day she lost her coordination and couldn't walk straight. Fortunately that went away but it frightened me so much that it was the last vaccine I ever gave my children.
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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[ 09-01-2011, 04:00 AM: Message edited by: Paul Mall ]
Posts: 925 | From Connecticut | Registered: Aug 2010
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
MMR are 3 vaccines in one shot. It is one of the worst.
I wouldn't vaccinate my kids for MMR.
I did to my daughter and regret it until today.
If I could rewind the time machine, I would never do a stupid non-necessary vaccination like mumps, measles vaccination.
The only one I could think of if rubella for girls. But even, I would think twice and only vaccinate at adult age.
Lyme is also an immunologic disease. Not all people who are infected get sick like us. Why mess up more with the immune system?
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
THanks everyone. I brought this up with my LLMD yesterday while there for my two most symptomatic kids. She said NO VACCINES. She told me to bring in my daughter and she will check her titers.
She also said if that doesn't work, that I should go the "religious" route.
I am still reading info but basically I am not going to let her get this vaccine (or any other, except for all the ones she has already had).
It's amazing how different the opinions are on vaccines...and how convincing both arguments are. I am personally not taking a chance on having her lyme disseminate or something else horrible like that...
Thanks all! CB
Posts: 114 | From NY | Registered: Jul 2011
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