Recently, my family visited our new pediatrician for the first time. Due to our move this year, we needed to find a new doctor – and our children didn’t have any major health issues since their well visits last year.
After asking plenty of moms within an hour’s radius, one physician’s name kept being recommended. When Little Sister had a nasty cough that wouldn’t go away earlier this fall, I made an appointment and drove forty-five minutes to our new pediatrician.
The office staff thought we were crazy for driving so far. The pediatrician questioned the distance. But by the end of our visit, I was totally and completely thrilled with our new choice. Like most pediatricians, the man was fantastic with our children. But most importantly – and the sole reason we’ll continue to make the long trip – is that his stance on vaccines is one my husband and I agree with.
When I showed him Big Brother’s and Little Sister’s alternative vaccine schedule and shot records, he didn’t bat an eye. He was relieved that they were vaccinated – and he thought they were completely on track.
As a concerned mother, I could feel the weight lift from my shoulders when I heard his encouraging words. Our decisions hadn’t been nutty. Our children were fine. And most importantly, we wouldn’t be pressured to give oodles of vaccines all at once in the future. We could space things out while complying with the recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Revisiting research
Long-time Accidentally Green readers may remember my family’s vaccine journey. For those who don’t, here are eleven posts chronicling what we’ve experienced, along with extensive research I’ve done along the way:
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Funny, yesterday my little boy got his first shot (only Hep B & Rota) at 2 months. it was not so much a vaccination decision… more like he was born at home and life just happened and i haven’t gotten to his regular check-ups yet… and I thought i should check on Accidentally Green if you have any vaccine posts… and here you are presenting it so nicely just for me ;-)
Perfect timing!
I look forward to perusing all the resources you listed! I’m in WV (on the border, so I get ALLLLL the OH political ads as well…..). I feel like my head is about to explode regarding vaccines! Our local elections are so important to getting our archaic laws changed. Over the past year, we have completely stopped vaccinating until we research further. Technically, we are committing a misdemeanor by not 100% vaxing on schedule. Our children are not welcome in any public or private school. Should we need a medical exemption, it would be denied most likely. Our DHHR was just granted the power (as an APPOINTED rather than ELECTED) to make laws regarding medical procedures required for school entry. Kids have been escorted by police off of school grounds for not being in compliance with the new rules (while in complete compliance with state law). Parents are threatened with calls to CPS for medical neglect. It’s CRAZY here. We’ve lost control over the medical care of our children. Even those with allergies to vaccinations are required (quite often) to receive the shots since the DHHR decides what children become “sick enough to warrant an exemption and endanger the rest of the population.” Gah!
Sorry for that rant! Again, thank you for your list of resources!
Audra! What an awful situation! I had heard about WV vaccination laws a couple years ago, but didn’t know how strict officials were. Is there anyway you can move out of the state? (I know … not the easiest solution at all, but the calls to CPS for “medical neglect” sound outrageous.)
Hi Hilary
Love all of this info you collected! I’m new over here and can’t wait to check out more from your blog. I’d love it if you shared these tips with my readers and my Mommy Solutions & Mommy Resources linky. Stop in if you have a chance!
http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2012/11/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-69/
Thanks, Crystal