Child Vaccination Part 4: Schedules

Initially posted on Mighty Munchkin Maintenance.

Occasionally the more I research a topic the more indecisive I become, continuing to read and reread the same materials absolutely certain that with persistence everything will become clear. But alas, every now and then I’m forced to admit defeat. The answers that I crave (the kind that will yield peace of mind) don’t always exist. The whirlwind topic of vaccines is particularly frustrating. For one, there’s no real deterministic scientific evidence to support either side of the great debate, but the potential consequences each side boast are compelling. The CDC and AAP send the not so subtle message: without vaccinations your precious little baby may contract awful illnesses. While the “other side” makes the point: too many vaccinations too fast may directly contribute to the rise in autism and other disorders. This type of conundrum is one that I could do without. But here we are…forced to wade through the information as best as possible. And finally make whatever decision is best for our families.

As I look across the abyss that is the child vaccine debate, I see no end. The controversy will probably rage on for decades. In the end, all we can do is arm ourselves with knowledge and then go with our gut. Before I realized that there was a debate, little Kaylee had received all her vaccines according to the CDC schedule with no ill reactions, with the exception of a slight fever from the flu shot. Kaylee is scheduled to receive both the MMR and chicken pox vaccines at her one year physical. We’ll be delaying both for now. We also intend to separate the MMR into three (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines. We haven’t quite decided if she’ll receive the chicken pox vaccine (right now we’re leaning towards not). This schedule works for our family, but of course, every family is different. Only you’ll be able to decide what’s best for you and yours.

If you’re interested in a much more conservative vaccine schedule, one can be found here (PDF). Yet another alternate vaccine schedule is discussed in “The Vaccine Book” by Dr. Sears. Dr. Sears’ schedule spreads the vaccines, but all are still completed by the two-year mark. His schedule suggests avoiding multiple shots at your baby’s wellness checkups.

You might be after more information. “The Vaccine Book” by Dr. Sears is simply stated, discusses the standard vaccines, what diseases they protect against, how common those diseases are, and the risks involved with each vaccine. His tone is decidedly pro vaccine, but he tries to be neutral (and the presented information is still useful). The book has done well by me. There are a number of other Vaccine Books as well, but I haven’t actually read any of them. If you’ve read a stellar vaccine book, please leave a comment letting us all know about it!

That’s it! No more vaccine posts! Who knows what I’ll write about next!