Green Vacinations?

The idea of Green Vaccinations has been popping up in the news lately and there is an increased awareness of potential risk factors and possible links to vaccination complications. One factor may be that in 1983, the CDC vaccination schedule from birth to six years totaled 18 vaccines. Today, it’s 50 - that is a big jump! View the complete vaccine schedule for 2009 here: http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/2009-schedule.htm.

This issue has caught my attention and here are a few things to consider when preparing to immunize your child:

*Discuss with your doctor which vaccines are necessary for your child. We are all different and one size doesn't fit all.
*Avoid immunizing when your child is sick or recently recovered from an illness.
*Consider boosting your child's immune system before, during and after the immunization by providing a healthy balanced diet, eliminating or reducing sugar and increasing natural whole food supplements.
*Do not give your child a vaccine containing thimerosal. Insist on thimerosal-free vaccines. Those on the CDC routine immunization schedule should be thimerosal-free. Those not on the routine schedule, including the flu shot, typically contain thimerosal. If you give the flu shot, a thimerosal-free version may need to be special-ordered by your pediatrician.
*Always ask for and review the vaccine’s package insert. Read the section on ingredients so you know what is in the vaccine and ask your doctor any questions. Check for the following potentially harmful ingredients, which are called adjuvants: aluminum, antibiotics, and formaldehyde. Additionally, if your child is allergic to monosodium glutamate (MSG) or eggs, let your doctor know, and check the package insert for these ingredients. Note that all flu vaccines and the MMR vaccine contain egg protein.
*Some recommend one vaccine per visit. This may require multiple office visits, but giving one at a time (such as one vaccine per month) reduces any complications from the interaction of multiple vaccines. It will also help you identify which vaccine caused a problem if there are any adverse reactions.

To find natural health care professionals and resources in your area, visit http://www.integrativepeds.org/