I hate being on the defensive when it comes to vaccinations.

ATTENTION: I am an unintelligent, misinformed, alarmest, extremist, freakish delayed vaccinator who does so for no good reason, relying on 'herd immunity' to keep my kids healthy, harming the greater of mankind to whom it is my responsibility to vaccinate my kids so THEIR kids do not get sick, oh, and I'm a moron hole too.

Alright. And in REAL life...

I think I'm fairly intelligent and well informed. Of course i have no college degree. i'm certainly no physician and have not even a doctorate (all of which would, according to most of the world, make me far more capable of making decision than I am.)

I'm not an alarmist, extremist, or freakish in my reasons for revising vaccinations and omitting some.

I'm not relying on herd immunity to keep my kids healthy. I'm well aware that all immunizations they do not get puts them at specific risk for getting those diseases.

Just as I do not rely on other peoples vaccinations keeping my kids safe...I find it bizarre to hear that it's my responsibility to vaccinate my children in order to keep OTHER people safe. No. It's not. Vaccinations are generally no more than 95% effective. I'd certainly keep my children away from others, and inform those who they have to or will be around if my children had any diseases I was aware of which could infect others (much like I do with colds. which most people are not considerate enough to do)

And I'm definitely not a moron hole.

I'm also not doing this because of Liam's autism. I'm not doing this because it's a fad. I'm not doing this because jenny mccarthy said so or the internet said so or because vaccination companies are out to get us!

I'm doing it because it makes sense to me.

The current vaccination schedule is ridiculous to me. I've been told by numerous doctors that one of the many reasons it is how it is? Is because people are too fucking stupid and unreliable (okay, they didn't say too fucking stupid) to get their kids in often to get vaccinations so they do as many as possible at once.

It just seems irresponsible. You're asking a human body to take all these foreign items and process them through. Many vaccinations have multiple strains of certain diseases contained within. So your child may only get 5 'shots' but really be getting 9 or more vaccinations at once!

In those vaccinations is a whole host of additives and crap. The mercury argument just a small one which thankfully has been won for the most part. What about the rest of the additives and metals in there which your body has to process out? I'm not a big fan of loads of artificial chemicals in my body, or my children's. Let alone at one time.

Then lets go onto the idea that if your child has an allergic reaction? WHICH of those 9 different strains of items are the culprit? How are you to know?

Throwing approximately 30 separate injections into your child before age two? Is insane. As they are in the most rapid growth and development of their lives you are throwing in tons of things for their bodies to try to process and figure out. It doesn't make logical sense to me. You would not give your child 5 different natural health supplements at one time why oh why is it suggested you do that with vaccinations?

I get so frustrated that the majority of people who hear we are doing an alternative vaccination schedule assume I am uneducated. Or an alarmist because Liam is autistic. Or that I'm trying to avoid autism in Lily. Or that I'm following a fad. Or am over reacting. Or that I think poorly of them for vaccinating their children on the current schedule! NONE of that is true! I believe parents must do what is best for their children. Be it NO vaccinations or 10 at one. Even if I'm not comfortable with so many at a time because it's not logical for ME as long as a parent is doing what is best for THEIR child? Who cares!

And why on earth it is considered appropriate to throw such assumptions around as those in the beginning of my rant? Because non and selective and alternative schedule vaccinating parents are the minority? It's not appropriate to make assumptions and negative statements towards other types of minorities? Why here?

I find often it's that people just do think I'm stupid. They think they are smarter or know more. That they have strange assumptions about me. Or don't want to question the current system. Believing fully in following those they trust for their children's health rather than researching their own (I was much like that with Liam. I do wish I'd had more resources to do otherwise now but then? It was absolutely the best idea for our family!) I find usually they are uneducated themselves on why people do alternatives or no vaccinations. I find they have arguments that just aren't fair (ie the concept that these diseases are no longer a problem because most people immunize therefore it's everyone's responsibility to continue immunizing). They often believe that those who do not immunize are relying on other people to keep their kids healthy (not at all. I've yet to meet someone who doesn't immunize or delays immunization who uses the concept that the disease is not very common anymore therefore that's why they aren't vaccinating.)

I don't know. To set assumptions straight?

My children get MOST immunizations.

My Liam was fully immunized up until he was 15 months old.

I did not change my mind because of autism or his diagnosis and I do not believe they are what caused his autism.

Lily was on a traditional immunization schedule up until 6 months with the exception of no rotavirus, flu, or hep b vaccinations due to being a low risk group.

Lily will get no more than one vaccination at a time from here on out. No mutli vaccination in a single injection situations either. (IE the MMR? Will not be a single shot series but in 3 separate series of shots) Liam as well when the time comes.

My children will wait no less than 1 month between vaccinations but perhaps no less than 3 months between them.

I will not consider the flu vaccine unless our situation changes GREATLY and they are a high risk of death group (IE immune suppressed, serious other illness, etc)

I will not consider the chicken pox vaccination until they are teenagers if they do not contract the disease until then as prior to that age the chicken pox is a very low risk disease but as you age can be more dangerous.

I will not consider hepatitis vaccinations until they are higher risk groups.

I will have my children tested for immunity before giving them booster shots as often they aren't needed at the times they are recommended.

The reasons I choose to do it this way? Simply?

I do not believe in putting large amounts of foreign matter in my children (yes, this includes overly processed foods. Something I am working very hard on)

I do not believe that certain vaccinations are worth the risk for my family.

I believe some vaccinations are way too new to know the long term effects and the benefits do not outweigh the risks at this time.

I do believe that it's my duty to make the right choices for my family.

I do not believe people who follow the current vaccination schedule are any less wise than me; care less for their children; or are less informed than I am. This may be the case occasionally but generally speaking those who follow the current vaccination schedule do so because they believe it is best for them. And anyone who does what is best for their child gets thumbs up for me.

I'm just so tired of defending my opinion. So tired of getting random "OH LOOK! There's a measles outbreak! What do you think about THAT huh?" behaviors in a way that suggests it's MY fault there is such a thing going on! I'm so tired of having to fight doctors to get things changed for our family. I'm tired of defending the idea that I'm not an ignorant buffoon.

I wish I were given more credit. I wish people realize that those who choose these options do not do so lightly. Most of us probably know far more about vaccinations than those who fully vaccinate on a traditional schedule (my favorite? That people do not realize vaccinations are not 100%! I admit to not knowing that myself until I had children but I found that out immediately as I researched vaccinations in general.)

I'm done being wordy.

I'm changing my poll in a bit. Revote for your top choice. I swear I have another to add on there though so who knows.

Happy freaking Monday. I promise to post pics later instead of this pissy rampage.

~M