Dr.Deborah Mitchell, in her book entitled; Collins Children’s Pill Guide offers information on immunization to parents.
Experts and parents are beginning to question whether giving children several vaccinations at the same time, a practice called multiple dosing, is safe.
The MMR ( measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination, is an example of multiple dosing.
Doctors seem to use multiple dosing when there is some catching up to do on immunizations.
The Center for Disease Control insists that multiple dosing is safe. But many experts feel that it is not. Some experts feel that this multiple dosing should be stopped because it may have adverse effects that none of the individual vaccines do. When you give too many together, you will not know which vaccine is the problem if there is an adverse reaction.
As a parent, if you are concerned about multiple dosing, talk to your doctor about considering other options. He or she can administer the MMR vaccine at different times. You can also stay close to the recommendation vaccine schedule as possible, not allowing your child to be given those catch up shots.
Other problems: Thimerosal/Mercury Dilemma
We all know that vaccines are not without potential risks, of which can be very serious. Part of the serious risks may be related to the presence of Thimerosal/mercury in childhood vaccines.
It is known that children who have been exposed to mercury early in life can have neurological symptoms that may appear as subtle learning difficulties such as speech impairment, muscle weakness, incoordination and behavioral problems.
Some experts believe that injecting mercury into the bodies of infants and children whose nervous systems are not fully developed can be a contributing factor in such disorders as autism, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation, obsessive-compulsive disorder, seizure disorders and other psychiatric-neurological and /or behavioral problems.
How do you know if the vaccine that your child is receiving contains mercury?
Ask your doctor, or a better idea is to ask for a thimerosal-free vaccine.
The Benefits and Risks of Vaccinations
If you want to become an informed consumer, there are many citizen-based groups and resources on children’s health and wellness.
To take some steps toward preventing your child from having reactions to vaccines, here are some guidelines:
Your child may have a reaction to a vaccination if:
1. He or she reacted to a vaccine in the past
2. Has a sibling or other family member who has reacted to a vaccine
3. Was born prematurely or with a low birth weight
4. Has a person family history of an immune system disorder, neurological disorder, convulsions, allergies, asthma, eczema, or allergies to cow’s milk
5. Is experiencing an illness, including a cold, ear infection, diarrhea or flu, or is recovering from an illness within 1 month before the immunization.
6. Has ever experienced brain trauma or irritation such as meningitis or head trauma during delivery.
Resources
Coalition for SafeMinds
Sensible Action for Ending Mercury Induced Neurological disorders
You can also see a list of Thimerosal contents in US licensed vaccines provided by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: www.vaccinesafety.edu/thi-table.htm
Taken in part from: Mitchell, D. ( 2007) Collins Children’s Pill Guide. New York, NY. Harper-Collins