Parents sound off on childhood vaccine divide

We choose not to vaccinate our children. Childhood diseases are not getting better, they are just changing. Vaccinations may happen to lower the original diseases, but they have opened up a whole new world of childhood diseases. We choose to keep our children safe and clean. If they happen to get sick then we know the Doctors are very capable of helping them through their sickness. We are certain there are risks with vaccinations and we are not willing to put our children through that. It is wrong for a government or any other group of people to tell us what is best for our children. This is not neglect or abuse. We are sincerely interested in the health and well being of our children. We are not ignorant or illiterate. That is why we have done the research ourselves and have come to the decision to keep our children safe from the unknown effects of vaccines.
— Anonymous, Iowa

My son has not been vaccinated for several years. He had convulsions and quit breathing after every vaccination and now suffers minor learning diabilities. It scares me, because I certainly dont want to lose him to measles, or hepatitus... or the vaccine.
— Bonnie Kennedy, Show Low, Ariz.

I had all of my children (3) vaccinated and would do it again without hesitation. I never had a second thought. Selfishness and carelessness of a minority could cause an epidemic. We are fortunate enough to have access to these lifesaving vaccines. I can't imagine that people want to go back to a time where parents have to fear losing their children to these illnesses.
— Diana, Alexandria, Va.

I am not vaccinating my daughter. There is no proven risk to a vaccine but yet there is no definitive evidence stating there isn't either. And, why is there a vaccine injury fund in the US? And there are thousands of parents who say that their children changed after certain shots. Kids need to get sick in order to build an immune system. For us as parents to try and prevent all these illnesses that are part of growing up is ridiculous. Plus, a lot of these shots are only temporary which leaves openings for our children to get the illness as adults which in most cases is a much worse illness, like measles, mumps and chickenpox. The risk of any child getting polio or diptheria is almost non-existent in the US. I would rather take the risk of mumps and have a few weeks of a sick child, than to risk permanent damage to my childs brain from a vaccine. For all those parents who don't know what to do, ask your Dr for the list of risks and side effects associated with vaccines. They usually "forget" to give us that.
— TK, Michigan

My husband didn't want our son to get most immunizations, not because of the health scares, but because he's a strict vegetarian who won't use any animal parts even to save someone's life. The research I did showed that many companies still use animal fluids for vaccines, so I went along with the decision to preserve family harmony. Still, I had and have grave misgivings. We used a religious exemption to let her attend school. I'd love to find out about vaccines that don't kill animals.
— Anonymous

We did vaccinate our daughter after doing research and asking our Pediatrician about it. He put our fears to rest by explaining the problems of the preservative in the 90's and discussed the current research available. Let's remember-these diseases were present in the US as recently as a generation ago.
— Adam Hoglund, Portland, Ore.

My child is 2 months old and I have 3 others all vaccinated, but my last son was fine until the mmr where things changed, he is now has autism, which I know was caused by the vaccination, so now my infant son will not get vaccinated until he is fully developed, so I will vaccinate him, but not all at once.
— Cyndee Acosta, West Covina, Calif.

I stopped vaccinating my boys when my youngest was diagnosed with autism. At that point, my eyes were open to the dangers that parents are not told by their doctors. Now, after researching the topic, I've allowed my children to continue their vaccinations on a schedule that I feel better fits their immune systems. There's been such a rise in the number of vaccines our children receive (many times multiple vaccines are given at one time), and at an age where their immune systems are very immature. I'm not convinced that there isn't a subgroup of kids, like Hannah Poling, who's immune systems just can't handle these shots on the schedule that dr.s and pharmaceutical companies want.
— Sharon Drewry, Springboro, Ohio

I allowed my daughter's doctor to give my daughter the first vaccination. Later that day, my mom, a nurse, noticed that my daughter (6 weeks old) was having petit mal seizures. When I questioned the doctor, he said to continue with the next round of vaccinations, but to see a neurologist. We immediately went to the neurologist, who did a million tests, and found nothing to explain the seizures. We continued with the second vaccination and the seizures continued. We continued with appts with the neurologist, still nothing. I then decided to stop the vaccinations. It didn't take long before the seizures stopped. My daughter is now 5 1/2 years old and has no vaccinations, and no side affects of the seizures. I am forever thankful that my mother was able to see the signs and I did not cause severe damage by going against my gut and continuing the shots. My daughter is now entering kindergarten, and I was able to get a clearence from the NYC Board of Education. Please research before you start vaccinating your child.
— Alison, New York City

Our daughter, now 2, has NOT been vaccinated for ANYTHING. After doing MUCH research, my wife and I found that the risks associated with vaccines WAY outweigh the chance of her coming in contact and contracting something she hasn't been vaccinated for. Also, much of the recommended vaccines are for things that aren't likely to cause SERIOUS illness/death i.e. measles, chicken pox or hepatisis (which I highly doubt she'll come in contact with since she's only 2) etc. It's been our practice to help our daughter maintain a healthy immune system through diet, exercise, no medications what-so-ever (letting her body learn to fight off things itself)and regular visits to our family's chiropractor. And in doing such, she's the healthiest child we know having rarely been sick & never seriously ill in any way. We plan to continue our efforts to raise a child that is free from toxins & other immune compromising substances including vaccines.
— Deidra and Chrissy Pannell, Coppell, Texas

We have chosen not to vaccinate our 3 children. They are healthy, happy, intelligent kids. They have never been seriously ill. Incidentally, I contracted perussis 2 yrs ago even though I had been vaccinated, none of the kids contracted it. We are advocates of healthy living and see our chiropractor religously. The issue of thimerosol used as a preservative and the fact that a close relative had a severe reaction to a tetnus booster swayed our decision.
— John Thompson, Wilton, N.D.

Our third son received the DPT shot at 5 months of age and reacted to it. Very next day he had 14 seizures and today he is 46 and severely retarded. Drs. in Boston & Philadelphia both believe it was result of the shot. Older brothers had theirs with no problems, so naturally the youngest had his as it was required to attend school. Oh how we wished we had known what could happen!!!! Think about it before you have your children have those shots.
— Anonymous, Skowhegan, Maine

I absolutely vaccinated my son against diseases that I myself am safe from getting. How can you possibly look your child in the face and tell them "I'm protected from things that could kill me, but I won't let you do that."
— Alicia, Houston

MORE FROM KIDS AND PARENTING

Kids and parenting Section Front

Sex infections still rising, especially in teens   FDA weighs updated kids’ pneumococcal shot   Conjoined twin girls separated in surgery Newsweek: Why grandma may play favorites It’s a boy? Disappointment plagues some moms Air pollution takes a toll on young lungs Lack of exercise not to blame for teen obesity? UN: 200 million kids have stunted growth Stroller company announces major safety recall Sports tied to some bad behaviors in teens Kids and parenting Section Front   Add Kids and parenting headlines to your news reader: