Vaccination Requirements
To kick off my vaccination research, first let’s look up the AAP’s recommendations, as that seems to be the golden standard here. After much searching on the AAP’s immunization site (woo, “vaccines are good!” overdose there) I found this easy-to-read recommended schedule for newborns through 6 years, as of 2007. That’s a lot of vaccines.
* Hep B
* Rotavirus
* Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
* Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
* Pneumococcal (PCV?)
* Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)
* Influenza
* Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
* Varicella
* Hep A
* Meningococcal
At this point, other than the Varicella, I’m not passing judgement on what is/isn’t needed as I simply don’t know enough about the rest. Pretty sure the DTP and MMR are pretty darn useful, though. Just sayin’.
Now let’s look up what the rules are for MA, shall we? Our kid will be going to public school as of 5 years old (but I’m not really intending for the kid to go to preschool… we shall see on that one).
From the Mass Department of Public Health MA Laws Regarding Vaccinations. Let’s summarize for Kindergarten entry:
* DTP/DTaP (
* Polio (IPV) (3 or 4 doses, depending on age of kid)
* MMR (2 doses, 1 month apart)
* HepB (3 doses)
* Varicella (1 dose)
Mass has only medical and religious excemptions, no philosophical excemption. The only one I’m pissed about is the Varicella. However, it states that a kid doesn’t have to get that vaccine if they have “laboratory evidence of immunity” or “a statement signed by a physician that the student has a history of chickenpox disease.” Ie, if my kid gets the chickenpox before entering kindergarten they don’t have to get the vaccine. Hmmm, I see a chickenpox party in my future. (Thank goodness I’m immune… I’ve actually never had it.)
Now the part about preschool is different.
“No student, as defined in 105 CMR 220.400, shall attend a preschool program without a certificate of immunization documenting that the child has been successfully immunized in accordance with current Department of Public Health (DPH) recommended schedules against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, varicella and other communicable diseases as specified from time to time by the Department …”
So it includes some that aren’t included for Kindergarten… namely the Hib vaccine. Interesting. I wonder why. Ahhh, found the answer: “Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, also called Hib disease, is an illness that can cause a potentially fatal brain infection in young children.” Guess once you’re 5 years old it’s no longer an issue.
(A – B) leaves us with vaccines that the AAP recommends but are not required for kindergarten (at this point in time, at least… light knows they’ll change it soon enough). Namely:
* Rotavirus
* Pneumococcal (PCV?)
* Influenza
* Hep A
* Meningococcal
So those are the ones I’ll focus on in my research. Now of course I want to know about the others as well – I want to know what I’m putting in my child, what I’m protecting them from – but these are the ones I’ll need to make choices about.
There are several things that concern me about vaccinations, especially the schedule laid out for small children.
First, I’m concerned about what may be in the vaccine besides the dead/live virus. Mercury is a hot topic, but there are others: aluminum, formaldehyde and monosodium glutamate (MSG) to name a few (from this handout). Here’s a page from the CDC stating that as of 1999 the mercury was removed from vaccines excepting some flu vaccines. And yet this site – which is linked to by that CDC website!! – lists multiple vaccinations which still have mercury content, including the DT, Tetanus booster, and one of the Meningococcal vaccines. Many many others had “trace amounts” that “should be considered equivalent to thimerosal-free.” Is this not bothersome?
Second, I’m concerned about the amount of vaccines given in a short period of time. Look at the schedule – that’s a lot of antibodies to be shaking up at one time!
Third is not just a concern of over-vaccinating in general, but vaccinating with things that are unnecessary, like the Varicella and Influenza (I am not getting my Influenza vaccination while pregnant, as “recommended”). I also see that they’re now saying that girls aged 11-12 need to get the HPV vaccine!! (Now that one’s pissed me off ever since they started advertising it.) I really think the whole vaccination thing is getting out of hand, and yes, a nasty, pessimistic side of me wonders how much those drug companies have to do with it.
And lastly, some sites for me to read regarding vaccines:
Massachusetts Citizens for Vaccination Choice
Vaccine Awakening (Blog)
AAP Immunization Support
Okay, enough research for one night.
Two thoughts. :) I’m going to try to just stick to facts and not toss in any of my opinions, because this really is one of those things everyone needs to decide for themselves.
The first is that religious exemptions are often used to pass philosophical exemptions regardless of how religiously founded they are. I don’t know the exact research on how that works, something about religious exemptions being described as a strong moral objection or something. Twinkle on JM could tell you more, but I know she is always telling people that they can use the religious exemption.
On Rotavirus, I don’t think it’s required for Kindergarten because it IS a disease that really just preys on little babies. Anyone can catch it, but for older kids and adults, the body’s immune system fights it off fairly easily, and it’s just a simple stomach flu. It’s only in kids under 2 that it leads to hospitalization, severe dehydration, etc. It’s also the only one on the list that is an oral vaccine rather than a shot, and thus I’d assume the easiest to skip/delay if desired since it isn’t premixed with anything.
Oh, and on the less info/more opinion side, I’m not getting the flu shot either. I’d rather let my body keep its own immunity up, thanks :p
Oy… Vaccines have me in a tizzy, too. I haven’t looked up requirement by Quebec law for students, but that worries me alot. I have a cousin who lives in California who wasn’t vaccinated and was home schooled- I’m not about to go that route.
I have to say what worries me most about the vaccines is not the vaccination element iself, but the ingredients that make up the vaccine serum. Also: vaccinating against diseases that don’t exist anymore (ie: polio) really gets my goat.
About the flu vaccine- I am strongly against it for me, as I don’t get the flu. When I am sick in the winter it is never “flu”-related (mostly sinus and head cold), so to me there seems to be no point to vaccinate against something that I don’t have risk of getting.
Just another thing to think about…
I had some major concerns with the vaccines as well. I just did my own research, ignored everyone elses advice, and went with what I was comfortable with.
On another note- for the varicella vaccine. One of the huge benefits is that it helps protect against Shingles (which is the Zoster part of Varicella Zoster viurs- the lab I used to work in was next to a VZV lab). And Shingles can be extrememly painful. Plus, adults who contract chicken pox are at so much more risk of complications than children.
I don’t believe we vaccinated against rotavirus. And of course, there was an ourbreak at our day care center, and our daughter ende dup with it. NOT pleasant at all. Thankfully she fought it off pretty well and we kept pushing lots of fluids. Nasty, nasty virus.
Ok – I am totally one of the opinion ppl – and I went with all of the vacinations – and I am glad I did. Evie has caught some pretty nasty stuff so far – including RSV and there is nothing worse or scary than a sick baby. You never really understand how much fear you can have – how much love – until you little one is sick. And my feelings are that if they are preventable, then why not? They get enough of the other crap – seriously. And don’t rule out preschool – there are some GREAT benefits to it. Ok – so that was totally my 2 cents worth. =)
This is such a hot topic. For me personally, we decided that we would go along with the scheduled vacinations, only if our daughter didn’t have major reactions. If in fact she showed us some reason that her body wasn’t handling them well, we would space them out. In our case, she has been fine. No reactions, not even a fever. She was only sore a bit for the first few days.
Like every other parent, I was totally afraid, and realized that I just had to go with my gut. My mother had polio as a child, and the pain she went through with the symptoms returning in her 40’s before she suddenly died (unrelated reason) was reason enough to make sure to protect my child. It is because we give them these shots that many of those terrible things no longer seem to be a threat… but I wonder if they would if we all chose to stop?
In the end, I don’t have all the answers, I just have to go with the advice I am given and my overall feelings. Its hard, but thats life as a mom. :)
The way I see it, vaccines are no worse for your kid than taking certain meds while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. I personally vaccinate but I wouldn’t dream of taking medication while I’m pregnant or breastfeeding that almost every reliable source thinks is dangerous. This is not a judgment call about anyone who does it, it’s just how I feel. You have to do what you’re comfortable with. We all do. The mom whose judgmental about her kids eating candy is the same one who lets her kids play outside unsupervised. We all do what we think is best with the information we have.
My brother has brain damage from the old DTP vaccine. He has severe cerebral palsy and is lucky to be alive. After that, my parents refused to vaccinate any of us. We’ve been using a religious exemption.
As an adult, I simply write a letter stating that due to personal beliefs I am not vaccinated and I understand the consequences. I get that notarized and submit it instead of the vaccination forms. My brother and sisters do the same thing.
I will not be vaccinating my own children.
Kel – Thanks for the info on the Rotavirus! Makes sense. Which means we probably won’t need it, seeing how the kid won’t be in daycare or anything. And yeah, I know religious exemption *can* be used… I’m just oogy about doing that unless I really really feel it’s necessary.
Ms. C – I don’t get the flu either. (Hubby gets the flu shot every year. He gets the “flu” – or a reaction to the shot that’s pretty much the flu.)
Shelby – I think that’s what all of us have to do… just educate ourselves, make a decision, and ignore the rest. Also, about how adults have a much greater reaction to chicken pox… this is actually part of the reason I’m iffy on the vaccine. The vaccine isn’t really proven to last a lifetime, from what I’ve read, so a kid vaccinated for chicken pox has MORE likelihood of getting chicken pox in adulthood than if the kid got chicken pox as a child. Plus, if it turns out the kid never gets the pox, they can still get the vaccine when they’re an adult to protect them.
Jen – I read about Evie’s shit she went through…. and unfortunately I think that’s part of being around a lot of other kids daily. :( If my kid was to be in daycare I’d alter what I did…. and if I do decide to put my kid in preschool I’d have to re-think the vaccine choices. But I’m more or less going on the assumption the kid will be home with me most of the time, so at a much lower risk.
Jay – Apparently it is a big hot topic!! Who knew. :) And I agree about the big vaccines… like hubby said, there’s a reason certain diseases aren’t around anymore. I’ll just have to weigh the danger of a certain vaccine with the danger of a vaccine reaction. For things like Polio I will absolutely vaccinate.
Chris – Just to clarify, I think you mean taking anti-depressants? If so, I just wanted to point out that there is actually no evidence that it’s dangerous… SSRIs are Class C because of a lack of studies, however, my old OB (who I really liked) pointed out that the studies that HAVE been done are actually showing no risk to the fetus. Since a mother’s depression IS a risk to the fetus, most sites/sources state that SSRIs should be used if the benefit (treating severe depression) outweighs the possible risks (which are probably very small). Vaccines on the other hand…. vaccines have a KNOWN risk to them (risk of side-effect)… and if you don’t vaccinate you aren’t guaranteed to get the disease. So it’s a small risk vs. a small risk, and you (as a parent) have to decide which one is bigger.
Jenn – That’s terrible. :( I can totally understand you not wanting to vaccinate given that family history. I didn’t know your brother had such a horrible reaction.
I really don’t want to be rude to you, but you need to do better research. There are numerous studies that indicate that children exposed to breastmilk of mothers taking SSRIs experience issues with gaining weight, sleep issues and worse.
And what I’m saying here is this: As parents, we often take the information that suits us and use it. Same with vaccines, same with other issues. It’s just the way it is.
Just as an FYI, it was the polio part that got my brother. He basically caught polio from the vaccine. It was a very rare form that attacks the brain stem, in additional to the regular nerve damage it would cause. He stopped breathing because of the nerve damage as well. He now has a partially paralyzed diaphragm, as well as other muscles in his trunk. (He has never been able to shrug his shoulders.)
According to the doctors, my brother is the only recorded survivor of brain stem polio.
Read “A Shot in the Dark” as part of your research. My parents were one of the families interviewed for that book, though I don’t they were one of the cases studies included.
Chris – I should have been clearer, was talking about being pregnant, not breastfeeding. I am aware that some SSRIs get passed through breastmilk.
well, all i know is with my next kid, i am delaying until their own body is making an immune response. Babies dont even make antibodies that we all have to other blood groups until at least 6 months of age, I dont understand why they get hep B at birth when there is no risk of infection, blood borne or sexually transmitted until much later. expecting the body to make antibodies due to a foreign substance being introduced at day one, before it even is in the natural state of making any antibodies is screwing with the immune system in a way i am uncomfortable with.
that being said, dominic was vaxed on sched yet has not had the 2 1/2 year or chicken pox vax yet. I do not want to do the chicken pox vax and hope to find a way to expose him naturally, and soon.
not giving advice or suggesting you do the same, just sayin :)