First off, I'd like to say this is not meant to be a debate post. It is meant to be a post about what I think and feel about vaccines and what I choose to do with my own children. I hope not to alienate anyone with my views and opinions and am very open to hearing thoughts different than my own.
As a pediatrician I will recommend standard vaccine practices according to the most updated guidelines. As a mom I give my boys all of the recommended vaccines at the recommend times without spacing, witholding or delaying. I also reserve the right to change my mind (or not) at any time.
Some of the Science: What I like and What I don't
Vaccines work by prompting a baby's body to make antibodies to dangerous bacteria and viruses. These antibodies then prevent the bacteria and viruses from replicating and making the baby sick. From the moment a child is born their immune system is exposed to trillions of insults from "immunological components" from bacteria. These components are what cause the baby's immune system to perk up and develop antibodies so that the baby doesn't get sick. These same components are no different than what a child is exposed to when given a vaccine. Compared to the number of immunological components encountered in a single day to the number of components in vaccines, vaccines are a much lighter load. Babies are exposed to trillions of bacteria with thousands of immunological components on each of them at birth and are then exposed to billions more just by breathing and becoming colonized with bacteria. There are only 150 immunological components given in the course of the roughly 14 different vaccines that a child receives in their early years. Although children receive more vaccines now than any other time in history, the number of immunological components has actually substantially decreased over time (from greater than 3000 down to 150.)
All of this sounds great in theory - and most of the time works really well. However they are manufactured "drugs" and come with risks. There are slight amounts of antibiotics in some of our vaccines. There used to be thimerosal in a lot of our vaccines - now only found in the influenza shot. Some of the vaccines are developed through use of "fetal tissue" (an old fetal fibroblast cell line from a long time ago), but that does not mean "fetal tissue" is actually in the vaccines. The current research shows that vaccines are usually quite safe with side effect profiles similar to other manufactured drugs - fever, swelling and redness at injection site, malaise, etc. There are other not as benign side effects that, although very rare, are absolutely horrible - seizures, neurological impairment, death. A lot of these issues have become the basis for the anti-vaccine movement. Deciding what is an acceptable risk and what is not is extremely difficult, and many parents choose not to vaccinate until there is more research and more "proof" that vaccines are 100% safe. I don't think we will ever get to that point.
Why do I choose to vaccinate? Why is it such a difficult decision?
I believe in the science behind vaccines. For me it is hard not to believe in all of the lives that have been spared, paralysis prevented and illnesses averted by immunizations. That does not mean that I think it is a perfect system. However I believe the benefits far outweigh the risks, and I choose to vaccinate my own children with the full knowledge of the science behind immunizations and the possibility of vaccine-induced injuries. I, also, am aware that a I will have patients and friends who choose not to vaccinate their children for one reason or another. I do not agree with it, but I can certainly understand why parents are so concerned and confused about what to do. It is so hard to get a clear, unbiased view of anything vaccine related. Virtually everything we read as parents and as pediatricians is so slanted pro-vaccine or against that is hard to pick out what is real, factual information and what is not without getting swayed by all of the opinions out there. Add that supposedly "factual information" to the many pro/against messages from family, friends, moms groups, etc., parents have a really hard time. Its also really difficult to "google" information on vaccines and get the true facts. Moms hear from other moms in their playgroups that a particular vaccine caused autism in Johnny and a febrile seizure in Sarah. They get scared. They choose not to vaccinate. I can see why even if I don't necessarily agree with it.
I choose to vaccinate both of my boys. I have deemed that the benefit my children receive from the vaccines far outweighs the risk. I have done my research, and I'm as comfortable with my decision as I can be. That doesn't mean that I'm not scared that something I am doing to my boys may later harm them.
I do not know if there will ever not be a "vaccine debate." I do know that with whatever we choose to do for our children, we must do our research and come to an understanding that all things we do carry a risk. Is the risk of vaccines acceptable for you and your family? Will you love your child any less if they have autism? Are you prepared to have your child die from a vaccine-preventable illness? We as parents, and more importantly our children, will have to live with whatever decision we make.
