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Immigrants/refugees from areas of high HBV endemicity (Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Amazon Basin, Eastern Europe, Middle East) as well as children born in the United States to persons from these areas. Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. Household contacts and s_x partners of people with chronic HBV infection. People who have had a recent s_xually transmitted disease. People with more than one s_x partner in six months. Men who have s_x with men. Users of illicit injectable drugs and their s_x partners. Health care workers and public safety workers who have contact with blood Adopted children from countries where HBV is endemic. Hemodialysis patients. Recipients of certain blood products. Clients and staff of inst_tutions for the developmentally disabled Inmates in long-term correctional facilities. Certain international travelers. If you or your baby fits one of these you should get the vaccine, if not opt out.

All I know is a friend of the family has Hep B and had a liver transplant several years back. Now he needs another one and has been waiting for over two years. I would never want my son to go though what he has. Do your research.

I won't be getting the Chicken Pox vaccine for my children, because it tends to wear off when you are most vulnerable or when becoming infected would be most devistating, that is teenage yrs and adulthood. It's best to get it the old fashioned way. I wouldn't do flu vaccines either. These are the ones I would absolutely not do. My best advice to you is to research each recommended vaccine and decide which are best for your situation and family. Good Luck to you.

Influenza is utterly useless. The true test came in 2003-04 when there was a real influenza outbreak. The vaccine was a flop, and even a study by the CDC in which it surveyed health care workers in Colorado, found the vaccine: “was not effective or had very low effectiveness against influenza-like illness.” YET, the CDC puts a positive spin on the study saying it still helps influenza A and B..... however that is a tiny percentage of influenza out there. There is only ONE STUDY to support influenza infant vaccination, and that group was not properly controlled. Most studies are on the way now, and I personally do not want to volunteer my kid to be a lab rat especially since I personally know people who got severe flu-like symptoms after having the vaccine! Yes, the vaccine does not contain the live virus, but it appears to be experimental. All the other vaccines, including hep B should be taken in my opinion.

Hi BBK, thats kind of what all vaccinations are. "volunteer(ing) my kid to be a lab rat(s)" Each of us has to decide which experiment to subject them to.

~ actually there are some solid double-blind studies that establish certain vaccines' effectiveness. I don't think it's black and white, and frankly hardly anything in life is. On the other hand we cannot take the government's and doctors advice without any scrutiny..... I mean Vioxx was approved by the FDA at some point and doctors prescribed it! That said, I have seen "crack science" on both sides of this vaccination issue and frankly there are no easy answers; I don't think any parent is an "idiot" for questioning vaccine safety and effectiveness, on the other hand, it's irresponsible to deny your child vaccinations based on some anecdotal evidence. Most importantly though we would all benefit from constructive comments that are not extreme. We all want the best for our children and that should be a motive for cooperation and not compet_tion

Gabriels immunizations today included.. Diptheria, Teta__s, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio, Meningococcal, Prevnar and Haemophilius Influenza Type B. (Wow!) Just to let you know, H. Influenza Type B isn't for the flu. It is the vaccine for bacterial meningitis., which can cause severe infections in small children, including pneumonia, epiglott_tis (swelling of the windpipe), blood infections, and infections of the joints, bones, body tissue, or outer covering of the heart. HIB doesn't cause the flu, or help to protect against it. I am glad that both of my kids are vaccinated. I feel safer knowing that their chances of contracting any communicable diseases are non existent. My daughter has had her chicken pox shot, and when Gabriel is old enough, he will be getting it too! I dont feel that my children are lab rats, I feel that they are well protected.

Hailey has her Hep B shot, and once again, Gabriel will get it too when its time.

I'm mostly worried about Thimerosol and avoiding any vaccines that have that in it. Does anyone know how to ensure it's not in any of the vaccines my baby gets?

Angela, as far as I know Thimerosal has gone away about 5 years ago and it's strange that it keeps coming back. The SmithKleine vaccine contains a preservative with contains a trace amount of mercury which maybe the reason you're getting cautioned. The Merck Hep B vaccine which BTW includes the Haemophilus influenzae type b that Chelsey mentioned (combination vaccine) is also Thimerosal free. Measles mumps rubella, varicella, inactivated polio, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have never contained thimerosal.

Immunization does not make chances of contracting the disease/virus non existant. It does, however, lessen the likelihood of infection should your child be exposed.

And that is exactly why I get my children vaccinated! Chances of them contracting a disease are sooooo slim. Sorry, should have said, "almost" non existent. I knew that...what was I thinking?

the vaccine will lessen chances of getting rubella? That's an understatement.. between 1963 and 1964 there were 12 MILLION cases of rubella in the US alone.. In 2004 there were less than 1000. I would also like to add that previous history of contracting rubella does not ensure future immunity (and yes, i am aware that the vaccine does not either) but i much rather have my child contract rubella only once rather than twice..

1000 cases nationally? So the likelihood of being exposed at all is also pretty slim.

That may be true as well but I much rather get my child vaccinated then play the "it wont happen to my child" game.

You are playing that game anyway when you get your child vaccinated. Who is to say your child won't be the "1 in a million" case that does have an adverse reaction to vaccines?