Vaccinations. Talk about a hot topic. I’m writing this post today because I truly would like to know what you think about vaccinations, if you chose to vaccinate your children and what helped you decide whatever you chose.
My story is that my husband and I struggled a lot with this decision. We struggled with the pros and cons before my first child was born and even now once our second was born. Ultimately, we decided to vaccinate our first born on the advice of the doctors, family members and after much research from our end. That isn’t to say that we don’t still second guess ourselves – I would even venture to say that we have more doubts about our decision now than we did before! After our second child was born, we decided with much thought and the support of our doctor that we were going to wait to vaccinate her. She is now 6 months old and we still have not started vaccinations for her. Thank God that both of our girls are happy and healthy. Choosing to vaccinate and now choosing to wait were not easy decisions by any means for us. There is always new research coming out, new studies, new stories – good and bad from parents that have had experiences of their own. It’s amazing how much you are really bombarded with on this topic! And it’s so hard to discern what is truth and what isn’t. My husband and I spent a few sleepless nights and many heated discussions on how to approach this matter!
But what prompted this query today was actually a story that a friend of mine posted on Facebook of all things about this incredible family that lost their son to an allergic reaction from the Hep B shot not long after he was born. The little fighter survived 47 days before the good Lord took him back into His arms. This family has been given the strength to use their story to help educate other parents on some of the dangers of this particular vaccine and to also help their cause of making safer vaccines. They specifically note on their website that they are not against vaccinations – they simply want to help make them safer for everyone.
I have to tell you that thinking about all of this information has been a constant source of anxiety and gut wrenching feelings on my part. I know that ultimately everything is in God’s hands but that doesn’t stop a parent from wanting to make the best/right decisions for their kids! All in all, I have spent countless numbers of hours researching this debate and I still don’t know how I completely feel on the matter! To help you check out both sides of the fight just in case you or someone you know is trying to find some answers, I’ve included some links below.
Click here to check out Ian’s incredible and heartbreaking story (I will tell you know that the parents did a photograph diary of his condition for medical purposes and that they have posted some of the pictures on this site. They are not easy to look at, so I am warning you now but I still feel their story and their mission are extremely important so I hope this doesn’t deter too many people from checking it out.)
Click here to check out an excerpt from Dr. Sear’s book on vaccinations and making your decision.
Click here to check out the book “Deadly Choices – How the Anti Vaccination movement threatens us all” by Paul Offit M.D.
If you have additional resources that you recommend, please let me know! I’d love to check them out myself!
Be safe!