Should My Child Be Vaccinated?

With the swine flu vaccine hitting the health facilities in the United States, the issues of the merits of vaccinations is coming once again to the discussion table.

Ask any kid and they will say a resounding, "NO!" to the question of if they should get vaccines. Parents, on the other hand, feel torn between what is right and what is wrong in getting vaccines.

Not to put fear into your mind as a parent, but vaccines can be the wrong decision for some children. I have known many kids who have had adverse reactions to vaccines. Some have been severe to losing complete body control for life to some milder hospitalizations for seizures and allergic reactions.

Add to that a concern about the rise of autism in children being associated with some vaccines, it is enough to send a parent from the doctor's office screaming worse than their child.

A startling statistic is that in 1983, the CDC vaccination schedule from birth to six years totaled 18 vaccines. Now it is 50.

What is the answer? Do I vaccinate my child or not? Here are some guidelines to help you make the right decision.

Quiz Your Doctor
As a parent sometimes we begin to believe society that doctors know best. Unfortunately, it just is not true. Discuss and question your doctor about the vaccines and if they are necessary or really are a need for your child. He may be just going by procedure and will like the reminder that not all kids are created the same. It may force him to better know the needs of your child. Do not just believe what a government sets as guidelines. Know what is best for your child.

Know the ingredients
Vaccines are made at times with some toxic ingredients that can be harmful for your child. As a parent, take responsibility to know what is going inside your child's body. If the vaccine contains, thimerosal, do not give to your child. Flu shots and swine flu shots contain thimerosal. Thimerosal has been thought to be the link to autism. Vaccines on the CDC routine immunization schedule should not have it, but the flu vaccines tend to have it. As a parent, you can special order a thimerosal-free version of the vaccines.
If your child is allergic to MSG or eggs, check the package insert for those ingredients.  All flu vaccines and the MMR vaccine contain egg protein.

Know when to get a vaccine
Do not get your child's vaccines while they are ill or if they are just coming out of an illness. Also, only get one vaccine at a time. It will allow you to know which vaccine causes the reaction and reduce the vaccines having an adverse reaction to one another.

Ultimately, it is your decision. Vaccines have been known to keep children very healthy during their school years. Just research and do what is best in your eyes for your children. You are the parent and should be the one making the decision, not the school or government.