About Our Delayed Vaccination Schedule
I want to start out by saying, these opinions are my own! We chose to go on a delayed schedule because it worked better for my son and our family. If you chose to vaccinate your child on NO delay, or NOT vaccinate at all that is simply your choice. You do YOU, and we will do US :) I almost didn't write this post because of the controversy surrounding the scary topic of "vaccination" but decided to write it anyway! If you are interested in our schedule read on!
We plan to travel with our kids, and by travel we hope to see the world with them and teach them about different cultures outside of our own. With that being said, I will always want to vaccinate my children as a precaution for the unknown. When my son Scott was due for his first "shots" they came at us with 6 different vaccines to give him at his 2 month appointment. I felt like 6 at one time was just too many, and asked very quickly to go on a delayed schedule. Our pediatrician had NO problem with that, and told me three other families right before us did the same delay. Apparently they see it all the time, and gladly accommodated our wishes.
A Regular Vaccination Schedule in 2018 With NO Delay
2 & 4 Months: Pediarix (One shot with 3 different vaccines present: Dtap, Hep B, and Polio), HIB, Prevnar, and Rota.
6 Months: Pediarix, Prevnar, Rota, Flu (with recommended booster)
9 Months: NONE
12 Months: MMR, Hep A, Prevnar
15 Months: Varicella, DTap, HIB
18 Months: HEP A
Our Delayed Schedule
2 Months: Pediarix, and Rota
...... 3 weeks later we added the HIB and Prevnar
4 Months: Same as 2 months with a few weeks in between.
6 Months: We will split up these vaccines as our pediatrician sees fit. If the Flu is still strong, we will do Flu first. If Whooping cough is still present in the area of town we live, then so be it. This really will vary. The schedule will be split up: Pediarix, Prevnar, Rota, Flu (with recommended booster).
9 Months: YAY. No shots.
..... the rest will vary just like the 6 months.
About the Vaccines
Pediarix: "PEDIARIX is a vaccine indicated for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus, and poliomyelitis. PEDIARIX is approved for use as a three-dose series in. infants born of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative mothers." [1] Pertussis is also known as WHOOPING COUGH.
Rota: "Rotavirus causes acute gastroenteritis, which can lead to severe diarrhea and vomiting, among infants and children worldwide. There are two rotavirus vaccines currently licensed for vaccinating infants in the United States: RotaTeq® (RV5) is given in 3 doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months." [2]
HIB: "HIB immunization: This immunization is designed to prevent diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), a bacteria responsible for a range of serious "invasive" diseases including meningitis with potential brain damage and epiglottitis with airway obstruction." [3]
Prevnar: "The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or Prevnar 13®) protects against the 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause most of the severe illness in children and adults. The vaccine can also help prevent some ear infections." [4]
MMR: "The MMR vaccine is an immunization vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella. It is a mixture of live attenuated viruses of the three diseases, administered via injection." [5]
HEP A: "Hepatitis A vaccine (Havrix, Vaqta) is used to preventhepatitis A, a type of liver disease that is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). ... The vaccine works by stimulating the body to produce antibodies, which are proteins that will fight and kill the virus and preventhepatitis A infection." [6]
Varicella: The chicken pox vaccine
Dtap: "DPT refers to a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus." [7]
I am the parent of my child, which gives me the voice and the wisdom to know what will be best for him. My husband and I feel good about this schedule, and feel good to know he will be vaccinated against the nasty nasty things that could potentially cause a lot of harm if not protected against. He just will have to visit the nurse a few more times than others, which I am perfectly okay with! Do you have comments, questions, or an opinion? I would love to hear it. New voices are always welcomed as there is not 1 way to do something! Comment below.
xoxo
Lauren Nicole
Resources
1. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM241874.pdf
2. https://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/rotavirus/index.html
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3753
4. https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/prevention.html
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMR_vaccine
6. https://www.medicinenet.com/hepatitis_a_vaccine-injection/article.htm
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DPT_vaccine
