Sorry to post again, but this is really interesting: https://www.nvic.org/Diseases/mmr.htm

ESPECIALLY this paragraph:

In the national outbreak of measles during the late 1980's and early 1990's, it also became apparent that children who had been vaccinated before 15 months of age were also at risk for vaccine failure, especially if their mothers had recovered naturally from measles disease as children. An MMR vaccine manufacturer states "Infants who are less than 15 months of age may fail to respond to the measles component of the vaccine due to presence in the circulation of residual measles antibody of maternal origin, the younger the infant, the lower the likelihood of seroconversion." The manufacturer goes on to advise that infants vaccinated at less than 12 months of age will have to be revaccinated after 15 months of age even though "there is some evidence to suggest that infants immunized at less than one year of age may not develop sustained antibody levels when later immunized."

Thanks for posting all this information, ladies. It's so helpful.
I am still figuring out our plan of attack for Jack's one year check up on Friday. I have decided to delay the MMR shot.

Kristi - how did it go at your appt on Friday? Did you decide to delay the MMR? What was your ped's take on it all?

Hi there! Thanks for asking. It went really well. My pedi doesn't give the MMR shot at 12 months. So he didn't get that. I haven't decided yet if Jack will indeed get it at 15 months or if I will delay it.
I did wind up getting all of Jack's shots - after being assured that none of them had thimerosal in them. My pedi was wonderful. We talked a lot about my concerns and I felt comfortable with my decision.

I am glad to hear that Dr. Bennuri does not give the mmr shot at 12 months. Now I don't have to worry about delaying it! I am aslo glad to hear that the appointment went so well; although I already knew I liked Dr. Bennuri, it is always reassuring to hear good things.

This caught my eye and made me think about this string.

The New York Times reports:
A new legal drama making its debut this month on ABC is stepping into a subject that is the source of heated debate among some parents — the relationship between autism and childhood vaccines.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/arts/television/23sto...ink&exprod=permalink

I just had a school wide meeting today with some Autism experts telling teachers the signs and how to deal with certain behaviors, etc. The thing I thought was the most interesting is that they are standing by the idea that no one knows the cause of Autism but the one expert guy said to us as his own personal theory that it's not the vaccinations we are giving our kids, but rather how many at the same time (meaning too many at once). He says to space them out and not do the 5 and 6 at once like they prefer to do now at the 1 year and 2 year mark. FYI - this coming from a guy that has worked with these kids for over 20 years.

There is a theory that some children are predisposed to have a more difficult time detoxifying from multiple vaccinations at one time (sometimes called a "bolus effect"). Research does not support this theory yet, though some experts do recommend separating vaccinations just in case, and until more research can completed. Just out of curiosity, who was the expert you heard this week at your school?

Hmmmmmmm Vladimir (something) I can find out. He worked with the school districts in Florida for 12 years pushing extra help and diagnosis for these kids and now he works in Georgia between two agencies - Autism clinics that take the severe and side teach them life and coaping skills and the public schools. He is based out of Atlanta working with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. He was giving us all kinds of "personal theories" during his short and sweet presentation. That was just one of them.

One side note - he told us a story of a family that vaccinated their 2 year old and just days after the vaccinations the child started banging his head against the wall and withdrew almost completely with his verbal communication an shut down. He said that there was another family that had the same thing happen to one of their twins. Again, around the age of 2, perfectly normal before, and just one of the twins reacted the same way as above and it never affected the other. Identical twins - developing normally - age of 2 they both get the same vaccinations - one gets autism and the other is spared. He said that there is a biological difference that either triggers or doesn't. Still he said that research shows no correlation between austim and vaccinations for sure.

Stories, stories and stories are all over talking about how children seemed to turn a corner just after their vaccinations. Also - it used to be 1 in 10,000 had autism and now 1 in 300 in the public schools. Take that for what it's worth because maybe they weren't diagnosed back then. This is a hard topic to be sure on!

Thanks for the info.

By the way....I do separate Ben's vaccinations. We have to pay a fee for an extra doctor's visit. But, it was a choice I made when he was a newborn so I don't mind. The downside to that choice is you have to put your lo through an extra shot experience. :-(

The vaccine schedule (including the total number of vaccines given children before the age of 6 and the total number given at one visit) has changed dramatically in the past 20-25 years. Parents who follow the schedule without giving it a second thought and who assume since they came out all right that their children will too, likely do not know of the differences in today's routine vaccinations from those when we were all children. For some, it might be startling. There is no question it is quite an assault on the immune system. The debate lies in whether there are negative consequences from it, and so far, while no studies formally link vaccines and autism, none definitively rules it out either.
Here are some interesting numbers for comparison...
http://www.909shot.com/4507NVIC11x17HIRES.pdf

Thanks, LawMommy. That's great information.

Kenneth Bock is an M.D. in N.Y. who has done a considerable amount of research and writing on toxins, their effects on children, and their relationship to allergies, asthma, ADHD, and autism. I would recommend those who want more information on the topic check out some of his work. He also suggests spreading out the vaccinations...especially those which contain the live viruses (such as the MMR).

Also, grndhogmom, the 1 in 300 rate you mentioned in the public schools is actually low, comparatively speaking. The most recent epidemiologic studies through the CDC revealed that 1 in 150 children are on the spectrum. That number rises to 1 in 94 for boys (there is a 4:1 boy:girl ratio).

In public schools, the numbers tend to be a bit lower, and can typically be attributed to lack of diagnostic protocal practiced in certain regions and by families in lower socioeconomic levels. This means that many children whose parents do not have the resources, education, or information about childhood disorders are not identified until well into their elementary years. This compromises their language, academic, and social outcomes, as we know that early intervention in the first 3-5 years of life is crucial (according to the National Research Council and other sources).

I am interested in how other moms' pediatricians responded to questions and concerns about vaccinations.

Since so many of us use Tuscaloosa Pediatrics, I thought I'd give you the update from my talk with Dr. Vaughn at Amelia's 12 month check up last month.

She was scheduled to receive a boatload of vaccines that visit, including the MMR. I told Dr. Vaughn I was interested in spacing as best I could and eliminating any that were not required.

She was totally cool with that. She crossed off any hep shots that were "optional", and we delayed the MMR for now (she said if I don't do it at the 15 month I might run into questions from daycare, so that is my next battle. I really would rather wait until 18 months).

So, at least she is very open to anything. She didn't question my decision at all. Of course, I'm sure she already had a note in my chart about my views since I don't do flu shots or the rotovirus vaccine for my children.

I was also shocked to learn, when calling to make my older daughter's 4 year old check up for the spring, that she is supposed to receive 4 vaccines, including an MMR booster.

I checked the state requirements which say these are supposed to be given between the age of 4 and 6. I called Tusc peds and asked if they require I give my daughter these shots at her 4 year appt, and they said no. So, unless daycare is going to give me a major hassle, I'm going to put these off until closer to kindegarten.

The latest research on the MMR shot and autism:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23001150/