Please read this link on vaccines

Memo if your child still gets the disease the probablility of the child having complications from the disease is reduced.

Dylan had the prevenar etc before it was issues by the government and it was really expensive and many parents just couldn't afford it. He went to school and he never got very sick so one can only hope that it helped him.

I did breastfeed him though which our paed said definately protected him so breastfeeding is really great for the immune system.

I think we all have great gut instincts and need to follow them too.

I have a great paed whom I trust. I honestly do so I am comfortable in doing what he advises and all he does is advise. I make the choise based on the info he gives and based on what I have read.

I have just changed GP's as I don't trust my previous one after a couple of what I think were not ideal methods of diagnosing me which resulted in her just giving meds without making sure of the diagnosis first. The end result was me not taking the meds as my gut instinct said she was wrong. The problem with this is that if it was something serious and I didn't trust her and didn't take the meds it may have been serious. My new gp sent me for a simple test to see if there was a problem before giving any drugs at all. This to me is ideal.

The point I am trying to make is that it is really important to find caregivers that we do trust and have faith in them because while the internet is a great source of information, the person reading the info (me) isn't a specialist.

Guys, btw, wanted to ask... If you do get the vaccine, your child can still get measles etc... So are the just better off having had the vacs or is it just unlucky...

I guess I just have alot more faith in the moomies and I'm very suspicious of the 'system'. So I like to find out how all you guys are viewing it, to help me make a choice.
Thanks guys!
I personally dont have a pead for Jude and when watching shows like 'great expectations' I always end up feeling quite annoyed with what their guest peads have to say...
lol, I'm a little weird when it comes to docs though. Ofcourse its awesome if you do find someone who's opinion you do trust!

With regards to vaccinations, I follow the advice of my paed, she is an expert in her field for a reason and I trust that any advice that she gives comes from a sound place.

If it is a controversial vaccine, like MMR, I do read up a bit more to establish more info and then clarify any questions with her.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but simply not giving a vaccine because it is not on the SA schedule, doesn't sit well with me... But at the end of the day we all make the decisions we feel are best for our babies!

I posted to memo on facebook about this so she knows what I think. I wont be getting the MMR becuse its not on the governemt schedule and if the South African Government doesnt think tis essential then neither do I:) I will/have gotten all the "official" scheduled ones.

Just a point on the Wakefield study though:-

www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpsci...st-flawed-now-f.html

The point about pushing vaccines is true though for example the flu vaccine is pushed on a lot of people - recent studies in Europe have shown it to made no difference to time off work in helthy individuals for flu like illnesses:) So bottom line is if you are healthy I'd risk the flu:) Its all down to risk/benefit.

Also just a point - yes mumps can cause sterility, but only if very high feveres are reached and there are very effective ways of controlling fevers, so one shoudlnt get to the point anyway. Horse riding/bike riding/tight underwear/ hot baths can also cause sterility in men!

I am also struggling with the decision and there are loads of articles for and against. I just dont like it to be forced down my throat and the reality is we are not given a balanced unbiased view by the medical profession or the drug companies for whom vax is their bread and butter.

Here is a site listing the ingredients of some vaccines

www.informedchoice.info/cocktail.html

I am Muslim and I have a problem with all the vaccines being of some porcine or aborted human fetal tissue.

Here is an interesting breakdown by a Jewish blogger:

lifeinlavender.xanga.com/650755050/are-vaccines-kosher/

Would be interested in hearing all side of this debate

Hope we fin peace in the decisions we make either way