So if you've read a few other blog entries, you've probably come to the conclusion that I like to question a lot of things throughout my pregnancy, which will carry into raising my babe. This deep rooted questioning comes from both my personality and also my training as a nurse practitioner. I want to look at all the options, I want to look at the source and the evidence. It's troubling to me that less educated people, or people without a healthcare background don't understand their options, don't know the questions to ask, don't speak up, and their health care provider doesn't help them weigh their options. We all have options! Don't get me started on the birthing process in the US, I will save that for a rainy day.
Vaccines... I am still struggling with the issue of being forced by my employer to get the flu vaccine this year or be terminated (or lie about an egg allergy)... so now I'm onto bigger and better things, like the vaccine schedule the CDC has come up with for ALL to use on their babes-infancy through adolescence.
I don't like cookie cutter methods for a lot of things, especially when it comes to vaccines. Some people are prostitutes living with their child in a brothel, or immigrants coming with their children to the US, their vaccine schedules should probably be a wee different from lets say, a stay at home suburban moms, for example, however we lump everyone together and make people follow the same schedule, otherwise there are consequences: no day care if you don't vaccinate per CDC, and some pediatric practice's will remove you from their practice if you don't follow their schedule. Big brother anyone? However, I want to clear things up before people get in a huff.... I am not AGAINST vaccines, I am not the granola mom who home schools the un-vaccinated kids with polio who preys the diseases go away, no, I just believe in alternative vaccine schedules and looking at our options, and here's why:
The first vaccine a newborn is given once they pop out of your vagina is the Hep B vaccine, a vaccine to prevent a liver infection caused by bodily fluids or sharing of drug needles (ie: sexually transmitted disease), or maternal-fetal transmission (Mayo Clinic). I don't have Hep. B, and don't believe my infant would be at risk in the first few months of life of getting the disease, so why is that the first thing we're planning on doing when she comes into this world? If mom has Hep B, baby should get vaccinated against Hep B... there's a difference. Some people believe mom's should get tested for Hep B prior to delivery, but could still contract the disease before delivery- again, lets use our best patient-specific judgement to look at each case. This was similar to when my midwife wanted to test me again for syphilis in the third trimester although I was negative in the first trimester. Let me tell you, I haven't been sluttin around during pregnancy, and you know what? If I ended up with the STD because my husband was puttin his ween in various places getting himself some syphilis, well then syphilis is the least of my concern, because now I'm in jail for murder and probably getting other diseases anyways, so no, I will not be tested again, that test ain't free!
Some people have created their own alternative vaccine schedule, and some follow Dr. Sear's AVS. Let's look at the first 6 months of your child's life in regards to the regular CDC recommended schedule. Within the first 6 months of life, there are 6 different vaccines given: HepB, Rotavirus, DTaP, Hib, PCV, IPV. At the 2 month visit, the little peanut gets the first dose of all 6 (unless Hep B was given at birth, then only 5).CDC vaccine schedule
Let's look at an alternative vaccine schedule like Dr. Sear's to see how it can be spread out for the first 6 months to compare to above.
2 mo DTaP, Rotavirus
3 mo PCV, Hib
4 mo DTaP, Rotavirus
5 mo PCV, Hib
6 mo DTaP, Rotavirus
So with the alternative vaccine schedule, by 6 months your child is started with the first doses of the required vaccines that the CDC recommends by 2 months, with the exception of Hepatitis B vaccine (start at 3 years unless someone in close contact is Hep B +) and IPV (Inactivated poliovirus vaccine- the IPV would come at 9 months, so you're still vaccinating against it,)possibly giving your infant some time to develop an immune system and recover from each vaccine.
With childhood (infant) vaccines, we should take a few things into consideration. First, where does the child live? Rural, urban, suburban, international? Is that child possibly interacting with family members who carry certain diseases like hepatitis? Is the mother a carrier of anything? And if the picture is sketchy, less go with protecting the child as best we can and vaccinate! But if you can get a clear picture of the patient and family/lifestyle, lets look at alternatives.
Also, we should be questioning and understanding why we give certain vaccines and what they are for. The Hepatitis B vaccine doesn't seem natural to give every baby that's born who has no risk factors (family situation, mom's carrier status). Let's look at the other early vaccines:
DTaP- (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis). Diphtheria is an infection of the throat that can cause breathing difficulties and pertussis(also known as whooping cough) is a respiratory illness that can be severe in infants and children, and more mild like an upper respiratory infection in adults- it's the reason they are recommending pregnant moms and adults who work with infants to receive a booster of TdaP to prevent passing on pertussis to infants (it has been found out recently that the immunization you get as a child does not create life long immunity like was once thought, so that's why a booster is recommended for adults). Since the illness that can be prevented with the DTaP vaccine can be severe in infants, it makes sense to get this vaccine (2 months for alternative or CDC schedule).
Rotavirus- this is a common virus in children that causes vomiting, diarrhea and possible dehydration. Outbreaks can be seen in childcare settings. Although the virus can be mild to severe, dehydration for an infant can go from bad to worse very quickly. This vaccine is especially important if you have your infant in a childcare setting. (2 months for both schedules).
Here's where the separation starts between the CDC and Dr. Sear's alternative vaccine schedule
PCV- (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine). This vaccine prevents pneumonia and meningitis, which is spread by person to person contact. The alternative schedule is at 3 months versus 2 months, so still given relatively early, but just a smidge spread out from the other vaccines.
Hib- (Haemophilus influenzae type B). This vaccine also protects against pneumonia and meningitis similar to PCV. Again given at 3 (alternative) vs 2 months (CDC).
This is just a brief introduction of the comparison between two vaccine schedules that will keep children vaccinated, however some alternative schedules allow parents to feel better about how much vaccine and preservatives they are giving their children. Some providers have found that if they offer an AVS, some parents are more likely to vaccinate vs. not vaccinate at all. Although there have not been many studies on alternate vaccine schedules, there are still many illnesses such as autism, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and many other autoimmune disorders that we still don't know why they occur, some people blame vaccines, some think there are other causes. Most likely there is a combination of factors including genetics and environmental factors.
Ask questions, take every situation into perspective. Our kids and families are not cookie cutter, the vaccines and treatment they receive shouldn't be either.
Some other interesting reading on alternative vaccine schedules is from Dr. Mercola.
Are there parent's reading this that have utilized an alternative vaccine schedule or developed their own?
