Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Shot Update

Zander - on schedule. Loved the bowling alley treat.

Stacia - It seems I may have confused some about the shots we refuse...we refuse the social shots. There is simply no need for our children to have them. If the Air Force felt we needed them, we'd discuss it further. We've inquired about what is needed for Japan - no worries there. We would never knowingly put our children at risk. The shots themselves, however, are a risk for Stacia.

Here's a bit more info so y'all don't think I'm simply a needle hating mother (which I am). LOL Our base has a walk in immunization clinic. You don't see a doc before hand. Stacia had a reacation to her 6 month shots. She had the fever, swelling etc...that is NORMAL and not a reaction...she also had a rash and hives...which I'm told is not normal. Our peditrician knew that we were concerned about the suspected autism connection to shots. After the 6 month shots she was concerned about the reaction and suggested we hold off on shots until Stacia was "older". We thought 2 - 3. Today the Sgt., who is well known for being great at her job, looked it all up and said we could wait longer if we'd like. SHE would have been more at ease if we waited until Stacia was 4....but Stacia was there and ready....and we felt it would be o.k.

We've been told that you don't have a say on shot schedules and combon shots in the Air Force. Not true. I wanted Mike there as so many had told me they would NOT split up the shots. Imagine my surprise when they INSISTED it would be safer to split up the combo DTAP shot into three shots....they also advised that she only get ONE shot at a time...so that if she has another reaction we'll know which one it is and she'll not get it again. The concern is that the swelling could spread to air passages...and I guess the concern (which we didn't know about until today) is that her next reaction will be stronger than the first one. We know which ones she had at 6 months....it was the Dtap and some other one I can't pronounce, but she didn't get it this time.

She had one shot. We waited for 20 minutes. I'm watching her. She doesn't have a rash, swelling or hives...so I think she is fine. I think it would have hit earlier if she was going to have a reaction. It's not been 8 hours.

She will have another shot in a month. It will take a long time for her to be caught up....but all feel this is the safest way to immunize her and be sure that she doesn't have a serious reaction. Long story short - yes - not having immunizations can keep you from some overseas clearnaces....but it isn't that she isn't having any....we have good reasons for her being behind schedule. She's never had an MMR and won't before Japan...BUT her records clearly state that she not be given combo shots and that she get one at a time....they also state why. She's already cleared for Japan. We've been told that this is not a problem as they have immunization clinics at all the bases in Japan.

I feel sad for her having to do them one shot every month....but I am MUCH more at peace with her getting one shot, rather than 5, at a time.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

15 comments:

Kris said...

We are doing the same thing for Rebekah for similar reasons. Her 2 month shots were awful, she was inconsolable, and my husband was deployed. Not a fun night. Then at her 4 month shots she reacted much the same AND the very rude people at the clinic pretty much told me to get over myself, THEY were the experts and gave her 5 shots, 2 of which she did not need. Our doc backed us up on this. So I told them to have a nice day we would not be back any time soon. We are now doing 1 shot at a time. Yes they can split up the super combo shots, they cannot force shots upon you. The only thing the AF does not offer is split shots, such as just Pertussis instead of DTaP. Way to go Mom for standing your ground.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Hmmm....we'll have to watch. She SAID that Stacia would be given the Dtap shot in seperate components. Maybe they have to special order it that way? We go back in a month for another one.

Renee said...

DeEtta,
How wonderful that God placed just the right people in your path at the clinics today....

Debbie said...

We had decided on the delayed tract also for Gabe. I should speak to our ped about the seperated thing. His asthma was not under control and we felt that adding more things to his system just wasn't a good idea. We are slowly catching up now and he will be 10! I guess we delayed for quite a bit.

It sounds like you had a great experience with helpful people and that Stacia will get her shots in a reasonable way.

Jen said...

That's great, DeEtta that they are working with you and actually encouraging you to do it safely!

Anonymous said...

HI: praying for you all and the needle business. What a brave little gal Stacia is.

love/prayers Mom T

Herding Grasshoppers said...

De'Etta,

What did you mean by "the social shots"?

Just curious,

Julie

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

LOL Julie....OK - but promise you'll still love me? LOL

We elect not to do the shots that protect from diseases which are totally life style related. At this point it means that we turned down the shot they want to give 11 year old girls....we also don't do all the Hep shots...can't remember which one but when they say "they need this if they are in large groups of children" we tell them, "We don't need that one."

Linda said...

That's awesome that they were SO helpful, DeEtta. I could not find anyone around here who would split up the MMR for Carys. She had all her shots on schedule through 9 months, when I decided I simply wanted to slow things down and do one shot at a time. She was (and still is battling) eczema which is an allergy thing, so I thought it'd be best. Well, no such luck on splitting up the combo shots but I am just slowing them down. I'm so "middle of the road" on the vaccination issue. LOL! Like a lot of other things, I guess. :) I don't mind it, but sometimes it's hard to find anyone else who's middle of the road.

Wild Homeschool Family said...

Glad the littles shots went well. One more thing crossed off you list!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Linda - I'm your middle of the road chum! LOL

Linda said...

Yes, you are. I thank God for the internet, despite all its pitfalls and potential for problems; it has allowed me a much wider range of friendships than I could find in my rural county.

Jen said...

I am with you on that middle of the road thing! Unfortunately, my kids got the majority of their shots before I realized you could split them up (theoretically). But, we are with you on the no "social" shots. Basically, anything new, we don't do!

Cynthia said...

Just wanted to 2nd what Linda said about internet friends. I get a much more diverse group of friends from which to glean knowledge for making important decisions.

Herding Grasshoppers said...

Ahhh, thanks for the explanation.

That's what I was guessing, but then I wondered if there was something new I should know about!

Julie