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I also apologize for my "defensive" ways! However, I'm not exactly sure where you live, but where I am, 8 vaccines is perfectly normal. Its not 8 needles, only 3. Since a little baby can contract these viruses so easily, it is at their best interest to get them all. (If you so choose to do so) They also do require a booster shot. Some in a couple of months, or in a few years. I'm not concerned about my kids getting c_mulative toxicity. (Which they can get by even only one vaccine) I'm concerned about my kids getting an incurable illness like Meningitis. And if my child needs 3 needles to help eliminate the risk of 8 diseases, then I'm all for it. I know there are minimal risks of getting my children vaccinated. I know my child could have went into anaphalactic seizures, because of possible allergies. I also know that I take that risk whenever my child puts something in its mouth. Be it food or drink. But there are major risks if I dont. I do what is best for my children and family, with the advice of my kids pediatrician. I'm not even terribly concerned about what the ingredients in the vaccinations are. I trust my doctor and health nurses, to keep me informed and up to date on potential risks, and new developments. Thankyou, I am a great mother. Its not that I'm doing the best with the "information that I have". I do the best with my own beliefs and trust that I put into my kids doctor, who I know have my childrens best interests at heart. However, I thank you for your advice and concern. I am not interested in including myself in an ongoing debate about whether its right or wrong to vaccinate my children. I do whats right for my family, as anybody else would do for theirs.

C, this list you gave is WAY outdated, yet very popular among anti-vaccine activists. I'm all for safe medicine but I'm at a loss as to why you would post an outdated list then accuse someone that they have "infected" their child. First it's rude, but most importantly it's bogus and turns people off. The vaccines we use today have improved dramatically in the past 4 years or so as we gained new knowledge and technology improved.

have said why... several times. Here it is again. My reason for not having my child vaccinated is that, as the parent, I do not believe it to be in the best interest of my child.

I understand that, but what i meant is WHY is it not in the best interest of your child?

~ and N..... you both have opposing yet both valid views. I don't think this vaccination debate has any clear answers as for it to be a no-brainer. We choose to vaccinate our daughter as the lesser of two evils and not because it's a clear cut answer. There are risks in both choices, and the parent has to decide which is right for their kid. A civil discussion can help the other side look at information they may have previously missed. No reason to be so polarized about it; in my humble opinion, we have to continue the vaccination program since with the globalization previoulsy erradicated diseases can easily pop up again and cause permanent damage to kids. By the same measure we have to monitor the drug companies to ensure a safe vaccine supply and keep them improving both the effectiveness and safety.

here is my story in a nutshell. I do not feel that my way is the only right way at all, so I don't want bashing. This is all just my opinions and beliefs from my research. I first heard about the dangers of vaccines and did TONS of research. It actually consumed me for a while. Anyway, for a little while, I thought I wasn't going to vaccinate at all. I was extreme for sure. After a while, I decided to stay in the middle. With my daughter, we vaccinated very slowly. She only got 1 shot at a time and I just went in for extra visits. My son is 9 weeks and hasn't had a shot yet (he will at 4 mos). I feel really good about this and my dr. is in total agreement with me. Abby doesn't have the Hep B or Varicella. I'm going to try to avoid these all together, but may have to do it right before school. That's all :)

I am not trying to be rude, or force my opinion on others, i am simply trying to gain some perspective. I know there are many valid reasons for not vaccinating, like allergy and religion to name a few. As a parent i have chosen to vaccinate my children, but am still trying to understand the reasons the other parents wouldn't. The response from ~ just leaves things too open ended for me.. there are a dozen reasons WHY, but none were given. I'm sorry if i sound intrusive, but i am just trying to understand. Until a few months ago, vaccination was never a question in my mind. Of course i asked a million questions, as every parent would, and still felt it was necessary. After a close friend decided against them, i did more research, and asked more questions, and felt her reasoning (she just didn't want to give her baby needles) was completely irrational. I completely understand those who do not wish to give their child(ren) the HepB or flu or chickenpox vaccines, but i am still wondering why others will not allow the standard vaccines (measels, mumps, rubella, tetnus, diptheria ect..) when some of the diseases pose a major risk as they are still very common (like tetnus and mumps).

N, good point. In fact we can all benefit from some information we may have previouly overlooked or even from some new insight. Yes I agree that some of the reasons for not vaccinating maybe well... unreasonable :-)

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The research (among other things) I have done has led me to my conclusion.

Go to the vaccinate or not post and read Chelsey's story. Makes you realize that your child can be at risk if you don't vaccinate. Imagine if your baby died of pertussis or meningitis becuase you didn't vaccinate-how would you feel?

Not my story - Lucy's, is what I think you mean. Her baby died from a communicable disease. I realize that her daughter was a few weeks shy of her first immunizations, but there are many others out there that are of age, and their parents haven't taken them for their vaccinations. Lucy's story is proof that a deadly disease can happen to anyones child. Lucy's whole ordeal saddens me beyond words.....

Realize any child immunized or not is at risk no matter which the parent decides to do.

I will vaccinate my baby with all the vaccines he needs.I like the "better play it safe than soory" expression.My best friend lost her little girl (my godchild) when she was 3.5 years old,and the loss of a child is the most horrific,terrible experience there is.Thishappened in 2001 and she is still not over it.The little one died of menangitis type b, i know menangitis has several forms and i am not sure against which type you can vaccinate;BBK you know a lot about drugs etc maybe you have an answer?Anyways,everybody has there own opinion,and i respect that,but i know i have been vaccinated for all you can imagine,we used to move alot b/c of my parents job,i've lived in Indonesia,Aruba,Colombia,Venezuela,Holland and have visited several other countries.Now every country has there own vaccines that you don't have here in the US like tuberculosis,it is not a common desease here but it is still active in other countries,bottom point,i have never had any problems with being vaccinated and i am sure i had more than the average person.

Shelly, that's as horrible as it gets. I can't even imagine it. You can read about Meningitis and the different types at the CDC website: http://snipurl.com/cysb the last piece refers to the vaccines that are available. The Hib is the vaccine is the one your baby will have. Merck makes a Hep B and Hib combo vaccine that is both thimerosal and mercury free. You can ask the nurse about the types they administer (docs usually don't have a clue).

Thank you BBK,i will go to that website right now,PS my friend had been trying to get pregnant 2 months before the little one got sick,and she did 3 trys of invitro fertilisation,i had a dream that we would be pregnant together,and 4 days before i went to be induced she found out she was pregnant,latest news is she is having TWINS, i am sooooo happy for her.