Thought I would start this for those of us that are vaccinating so everyone can read "both sides of the Fence" and make the best choice for their child.

This article is on my companies Intranet page:

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This observance provides the opportunity to remind the community of the importance of immunization. Make sure that your family and friends are up-to-date on their immunizations.

In August, parents are enrolling children in school, older students are entering college and adults and the health care community are preparing for the upcoming flu season. This makes August a particularly good time to focus community attention on the value of immunization.

Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that once routinely killed or harmed tens of thousands of infants, children and adults.

The viruses and bacteria that cause vaccine-preventable diseases and death still exist and can infect people who are not protected by vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases have a costly impact, resulting in doctors' visits, hospitalizations and premature deaths. Sick children can also cause parents to lose time from work.

Maintaining high immunization rates protects the entire community by interrupting the transmission of disease-causing bacteria or viruses. This reduces the risk that unimmunized people will be exposed to disease-causing agents. This type of protection is known as community or herd immunity, and embodies the concept that protecting the majority with safe, effective vaccines also protects those who cannot be immunized for medical reasons.

Source: National Partnership for Immunization (www.partnersforimmunization.org)

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Thanks Cassie that was a good idea. With this we can help each other if there are any questions and things like that.

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Cassie that is great that you created this for those moms that do vaccinate!

Please make sure everyone that this STAYS A SUPPORT THREAD... No debating, or these threads will be deleted!

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Yes ma'am!! That's my plan just to post articles and stuff like that NO OPINIONS! LOL!

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Thank you Tammy!!!!!!

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and Im not picking on anyone, and this goes for the other thread too!!

Thanks Cassie

Robin

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I thought this was a pretty good link to know what we should be looking for if our children were to get any of these diseases.

Full Article http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/002026.htm on http://medlineplus.gov/

Rubella
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...pages/1315.htm

Measles
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...pages/2943.htm

Just some other stuff on the site

SCHEDULE

The first shot is recommended when the child is 12- to 15-months-old
A second MMR is recommended before entering school at 4-6 years (but can be given at any time thereafter). Some states require a second MMR at kindergarten entry.
Adults 18 years or older who were born after 1956 should also receive MMR if they are uncertain of their immunization status or if they have only had one MMR prior to school entry.

Adults born during or prior to 1956 are presumed to be immune. Many people within that age group had the actual diseases during childhood.

BENEFITS

One MMR will protect most individuals from contracting measles, mumps, or rubella throughout their lives. The second MMR is recommended to cover those individuals who may not have received adequate protection from the first MMR.

Measles is a virus which causes a rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever in most people, but can also lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death in some cases.

Mumps virus causes fever, headache, and swollen glands, but can also lead to deafness, meningitis, swollen testicles or ovaries, and death in some cases.

Rubella, also known as the German Measles, is generally a mild disease, but can cause serious birth defects in the child of a woman who becomes infected while pregnant.

RISKS

Most people who receive the MMR will have no associated problems. Others may have minor problems, such as soreness and redness at the injection site or fevers. Serious problems associated with receiving the MMR are rare.

Potential mild to moderate adverse effects include:

Fever (1 in 6 children)
Rash (1 in 20)
Swollen glands (rare)
Seizure (1 in 3,000)
Joint pain/stiffness (1 in 4, usually young women)
Low platelet count/bleeding (1 in 30,000)
Severe adverse effects may include:

Allergic reaction (less than 1 per million)
Long-term seizure, brain damage, or deafness (so rare that the association with the vaccine is questionable)
Despite considerable publicity, there is no evidence linking MMR vaccination with the development of autism. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website (www.cdc.gov/nip) provides further information.

The potential benefits from receiving the MMR vaccine far outweigh the potential adverse effects. Measles, mumps, and rubella are all very serious illnesses and each may have complications resulting in lifetime disabilities or even death.

The incidence of such complications, related to having the actual diseases, is far greater than the potential of developing serious, or even moderate, adverse effects due to the MMR vaccine.

WHEN TO DELAY OR NOT GIVE THE VACCINE

If the child is ill, with something more serious than just a cold, immunization may be delayed. Health care providers need to be informed of any problems that may have occurred with the first MMR injection prior to receiving the second MMR.

MMR should not be given to individuals with:

An allergy to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin serious enough to require medical treatment
A weakened immune system due to certain cancers, HIV, steroid drugs, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other immunosuppressant drugs
Who are pregnant or possibly may become pregnant within the next 28 days
People who have received transfusions or other blood products (including gamma globulin) or who have had low platelet counts should discuss the proper timing of MMR vaccine with their health care provider.

SYMPTOMS AFTER THE SHOT

Watch for and be familiar with how to care for a fever, joint pain and stiffness, minor gland swelling and tenderness, or minor redness and soreness at the injection site. If a rash develops without other symptoms, no treatment is necessary, and it should go away within several days.

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF:

You are uncertain if the MMR should be given, withheld, or delayed for a specific individual
You have moderate or serious symptoms after an MMR injection
Other symptoms, not commonly associated with possible side effects of the MMR, develop
You have any questions or concerns related to MMR immunizations

Update Date: 5/1/2007

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Wow the measels looks like it would be so painful. I don't remember ever really seeing a picture of it.

Lela had her MMR done when she turned 15 months. She goes back to the doctors at 18 months.

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I wasn't sure what it looked like either. I do know that my cousin had the mumps when he was younger and it traveled to his testicals and he was "sterile". He did how ever manage to have a son and they said it was a 'miracle'. They tried for 11 years after that with no success and then he recently had sugery...not sure what kind then they did invetro and his wife is now pregnant again.

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Hi girls! I do plan to vaccinate Katie, and I think she will have her first round at the end of September when we have her 2 month appt.

One of the neat things I did was sign up for the Texas vaccination database, so all Katie's shot records are kept digitally by the state, so in case I lose her paper shot records (which I probably will ).

Does any one else have a program like this?

Mere - I've never heard of that...where did you find out about it. Can you log in and get her updated records when ever you need them?

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Mere- We don't have anything like that, but it does sound neat. Very helpful!

I am vaccinating Charlie too. I will say that I may not do all of them. I did not do Rototeq bc he isn't going to daycare and I am on the fence about Chickenpox.. still deciding on that one.

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here is a pretty good site...it even has a photo gallery!!!

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/vacc...tail.cfv?id=23

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I'm not positive yet on how the system works. It was something they offered me while I was still in the hospital. I think I will get all the details on it after her first shots are entered into the system. I'll keep you updated on it though.

Mere, they asked me about that in the hospital too but I haven't heard anything about it since then

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Hmmmm....I'll ask her pedi when she gets the first round. Maybe I can get more info on it then.

Cassie~ Thanks for starting this thread! We need support too!!

Tammy~ We will be good, we promise

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