Here we go...Vaccines!

I would like to start off by saying that I am not intending to start a debate about vaccines. The things I say here are my personal beliefs and I would appreciate people not trying to change my mind. I have done my reasearch and made an informed decision.

My 4-year-old daughter has been vaccinated according to the AAP's schedule. When she was born, I didn't know anything about vaccine injury. In school (when my daughter was 3 and I was pregnant with my son), I wrote a lengthy research paper about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Second only to physical harm, these diseases are one of the worst things that could happen to my children. They absolutely terrify me. My daughter is no longer in the age-range to be effected by these disorders (that I know of). She will continue to be vaccinated according to the AAP's schedule to an extent. Now that I have a son who is more suceptable to these disorders simply because he is male, I want to take every precaution I can.

I know there has not been a proven link between Autism and vaccines. It is my personal belief that there is some sort of connection. I don't know what that connection is. At the same time, I feel it is important to vaccinate my children to not only protect them from some diseases but to also participate in keeping other diseases out of our culture.

I am currently reading The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears. It's a great book containing both facts and his opinions of each vaccine. He lists reasons why people choose to vaccinate and why they choose not to. It was very enlightening to be able to read both sides. My husband and I have decided to put our son on a selective, alternative vaccine schedule. My son has received the AAP's schedule vaccines at birth (Hep B) and two months (DTaP, IPV, HIB, Hep B, PCV and Rotavirus). We will not be vaccinating him against Hep A, Varicella (Chicken Pox) or Hep B (what vaccines he has left). We may do Hep A and B later in life. I am up in the air on the MMR. I am leaning toward not having him vaccinated until after he's 2 years old.

I'm really worried about the decision I'm making (I would be worried no matter what decision I had made). I also haven't talked to his doctor yet (we're scheduled to meet with him next week to discuss this topic). Myself, my husband, daughter, parents, sister, grandmother and best friend all see this doctor and we have for the last 22 years so I'm very comfortable with him. I worry about his thoughts about vaccinations because he does tend to be old-school in his views. I'm also not sure that he's open to alternative vaccination. If he's not and he refuses to work with us on it, I'm worried about having to find a new doctor for my kids.

Does anyone who has chosen this option for their child(ren) have any advice or suggestions? I have a friend who delayed her daughter's vaccines but didn't have a particular reason for doing it so she's not able to discuss this with me. My husband thinks it's a good idea to delay and selectively vaccinate but doesn't care to make an informed decision about it. He wants me to figure up the schedule with the doctor. He's definitely supportive but researching isn't really his thing.

I've really been agonizing over this for the past few weeks.

Edited to add: My son is NOT in daycare but my daughter is. My grandmother watches my son in her home.

I first want to say I know it is a very personal decision and you should be praised for doing extra research and making informed choices.

That being said, there was a Measles outbreak in my city of Milwaukee last year.  Many people don't realize that Measels is what made Helen Keller deaf and blind- it is a very serious disease and it is very contagious.  If you (or anyone else) choose not to vaccinate your child- make sure you're aware of the risks.  Diseases like Measles are STILL AROUND and your child can catch them.

I have discussed this with my doctor at length- and I know many people disagree, but there is NO correlation between autism and vaccination schedules, and it has been studied a lot.

My doctor seems to think we should look into a link between plastics and autism.  I am leaning more toward researching pesticide use. 

Good for you though for even looking into it- and stick to your own informed reasoning.  They're YOUR kids!  :)