Having recently investigated the options open to us in the UK for childhood immunisation, I would like to share some of the information I found useful with others.
The issue of vaccination is a deeply personal one that must be decided upon by the family as a whole. It can be the source of a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty, especially when you are in the early stages of parenthood.
If you are unsure about the vaccination schedule available for your child, there are a number of things you can do:
1. Take your time deciding on what is best for you. The vaccination schedule starts at 8 weeks, mostly as this is a convenient point to ensure 'patient compliance' whilst you are still within the system. If you decide to delay vaccination for a few weeks whilst you check out the facts it is not the end of the world. Some parents choose to delay vaccinating until 6 months, 1 year etc or not to vaccinate at all. Every family's circumstances are individual.
2. Inform yourself. Do some reading from a wide range of sources. Unfortunately the literature available from the NHS does not give a balanced argument or detailed explaination of the science behind the policy but can be found at
www.immunisation.nhs.uk. You may find that the more research you do yourself, the more vague and wooly the reasoning behind the policy.
Alternative sources of information may also give a biased argument and it is difficult to find balanced information.
Try reading the following books:
Aviva-Romm, J. (2001) "Vaccinations - A Thoughtful Parent's Guide" Healing Arts Press, Vermont, US.
Lydall, W. (2005) "Raising A Vaccine Free Child" AuthorHouse, Bloomington, US.
Consult www.informedparent.co.uk
this is an excellent resource which I have found invaluable in collating information on vaccine. There are also a number of books for sale on the website that are excellent.
Have a look at the Health Protection Agency's Website
www.hpa.org.uk where all notifications of infectious diseases are recorded. This information shows the numbers of cases in different areas in the UK and is helpful in assessing risk. Infectious diseases such as polio and diphtheria were in serious natural decline at the time of the introduction of vaccines due to better sanitation, medical treatment and nutrition. Vaccination actually caused more cases of infection than occur ed naturally in the population and went a long way to destroying generations of naturally built up immunity.
Dr Peter Mansfield at Good Healthkeeping is available for consultations and advice. He also offers single vaccines for MMR. His website is
www.goodhealthkeeping.co.uk and his number is 0845 6443485.
The Mother Magazine is an excellent UK based publication which offers advice and well referenced articles about natural parenting
www.themothermagazine.co.uk3. Breastfeed your children. The best way to bolster immunity and ensure the perfect nutrition for your children is breastmilk. Feeding for a minimum of two years gives the immune system a chance to develop and mature. Your child receives conferred immunity through your milk which amazingly changes each day to provide the right nutrition and protection for your child.
Don't let aggressive advertising campaigns and negativity about your ability to nourish your child adequately affect you. Breastfeeding only for the first 6months - 1 year is an excellent start for baby and helps form a fantastic bond between mother and baby. It is hard going sometimes, it does hurt a bit when teeth are coming through but there is support out there for you and you'll be so pleased you did it! Herbal medicine can provide excellent support for conditions such as mastitis or for the emotional difficulties that sometimes affect breastfeeding. I am always happy to talk to mothers about feeding their babies/toddlers and will help where I can.
4. Use your common sense! Ensure your child's diet is full of organic, nutritious foods. Limit sugar which has been shown to deplete immunity temporarily after consumption. A balanced diet full of whole foods, exercise, plenty of fresh water and a limited exposure to pollutants is the best protection you can get. Supplement your diets with immune boosting herbs during stressful periods or when exposed to others who are ill. Echinacea, rosehip syrup, elderflower infusions, Astragalus and Reishi mushrooms all help with non-specific immunity which helps to fight off disease. Vitamin C and zinc are vital to us and larger doses of these can help the body resist infection. Eat Oranges!!
Think carefully about daycare options for tiny babies, their immune systems are not designed to be exposed to so many different challenges, especially not before 6months old.
Make life as stress-free as possible, stress also depletes immunity as our resources are diverted elsewhere.
Ensure adequate periods of convalescence after illness, rest when you need to. Old-fashioned nursing techniques of fever management, quiet restful convalescence and good food make much more sense than Calpol, Lemsips, Antibiotics and Microwave meals.
4. Finally... don't be pressured into anything. The media and it would seem most of the population, take great delight in scaring each other. Don't be surprised if well meaning but ill-informed family members or friends attack your investigations into vaccination. This is a seriously emotive topic. Newspaper reports about deaths from measles often leave out crucial facts such as prior terminal illness, poor nutritional status or other such contributory factors.
GPs, Health Visitors and Consultants are on the whole horrified that you would even consider not vaccinating.
It is a tough journey to take! Vaccination alone has not been proved effective in solely reducing disease incidence and the long-term effects of this massive experiment will not be known for some years. Since the 1940's however, and the introduction of mass vaccination campaigns in the UK there has been a substantial rise in autism, ADHD, allergies, cancers, autoimmune disease and general ill health. Could it reasonably be argued that vaccination has not got anything to do with this? It's all very much a grey area. Also evaluate the risks of having a serious side effect from the vaccine and the risk of serious damage from an illness. Unfortunately this can happen with some individuals in either category and is an area where information and statistics can be very reassuring.
I am not an expert on vaccination but I feel the real facts should be accessible to all. I have written this post primarily as a mother to give support to others who feel a little lost in making this decision. I hope it has been helpful as a starting place for you.
Labels: alternative vaccination, single vaccines, vaccination, vaccination risks
