Question for people who do not vaccinate (or partially)

[skimomma]

This is not a vaccine debate thread. We are comfortable with our decisions and I am not looking to discuss them here.

 

My 9 yo dd has had no vaccinations by our choice. Now that she is past the age of 8, she is now "eligible" to have the isolated tetanus shot. This is the only vaccine we have considered. We are outdoors people with lots of camping, biking, and hiking. In addition, our large yard is on top of what seems to be some sort of landfill from 100 years ago. We are always digging up old springs, glass, cans, etc...... Despite my warnings, dd does run barefoot in the yard. On two occasions she has cut herself badly when we were remote from a hospital. In one case, getting to one was impossible, so we had to treat the injury ourselves. I expect this type of thing could happen again.

 

I have discussed this with dd's doctor, who is supportive of our vaccine decisions. She has advised us that this is the one vaccine she would really like to see dd have because of our lifestyle. It is a "low risk" vaccine in my eyes so I am not opposed to it on principle alone. However, the risk of tetanus, even with our lifestyle, is pretty low too. I understand that a tetanus injection (tetanus immune globulin) can be given soon after an injury even if someone has not had the vaccine. However, our doctor says that this injection is not necessarily on hand at smaller clinics and hospitals......like the ones we are likely to be near when adventuring. She says they often expire from little need and therefore might not be routinely in stock.

 

Can others who do not routinely vaccinate weigh in on their opinions on tetanus specifically?

[forevergrace]

We have not given our daughter tetanus injection and we live in the desert and are out-

doors most of the time. However, I can't really give you valid info. on this

injection with the exception of finding out what is in it, and what is it mixed with.

I wish I had of known all that I know now, or when we stopped vaccinating. DD had several years of

vaccinations before I became educated. As for the tetanus I would look into what else is in the

shot; mercury, formaldehyde, etc. I'm not sure what is in it, however I do know that those beauties

are in others. I always worry if I'm doing the right thing, you do have valid reason w/your

love of outdoors. Good luck in your decision! Let me know what you find out!

 

Our own science reality w/vaccines.

Our new dog has had no vaccinations, w/the exception of state required rabbies shot.

I can tell you there is a difference from him and our others (who have all be regularly vaccinated) from his weight, bone structure, to many other things. He is totally healthier.

Several of our dogs have had short lives, due to bone disease, cancer, and loss of

eye site. One made it to eight-years of age, but sadly two died by five. A friend told me long

ago to take a look at the life expectancy of our animals today compared to 25 years ago. When

I did, and I realized our (family, friends) dogs use to lived 12-15 years when I was growing up,

and we were not vaccinating from the moment they were born. Not to mention they didn't have cancer,

and a host of other health problems, maybe you would hear about one remote story.

[justamouse]

Tetanus is the ONE shot I give my kids when they need. Isolated. And yes, I agree with her, is it harder to receive as an isolated shot in small areas.

 

I had to let my youngest daughter get a DTap? At the ER after a nasty fall and some stitches. They didn't have tetanus alone, and they weren't letting me leave without.

 

Since then she's developed a cough that Will Not Stop. Dry hacking and barky, every day. Never goes away. She's now going to be tested for...asthma.

 

So. I'd get the shot.

[Harriet Vane]

We do partial vaccination in our family.

 

I discussed the tetanus vaccine at length with our family dr. He has been a good friend as well as our doctor--our families go Christmas caroling each year and other such. He is very, very respectful of our choices, and has always been willing to discuss vaccines in an intellectually honest way. He was clear with me that the tetanus vaccine is much safer than the TIG. In terms of picking which option is more benign, the vaccine is by far the better substance to put in the body.

 

My family does a lot of camping as well--including wilderness camping where there is no access to help, so I understand the lifestyle.

 

I have chosen to both get the tetanus vaccine myself, and to give it to my children. Out of all the available vaccines, this is the one I am most comfortable with. Tetanus is such a frightening disease, with such a high percentage of negative outcomes, and the vaccine itself if so stable, that this is one I would recommend that you get.

[JenC3]

I was told you cannot get the shot after the injury, the hospital would hook the child up to an IV instead. I have also gone back and forth about this one. We'll see what summer brings.

[Alyeska]

Both my kids were vaccinated as toddlers and so they had their Dtap. We do not plan on getting them the tetanus booster, and the only potential vaccines in the future would be for meningitis.

 

From what I have read, the risk of tetanus is greatest with puncture wounds that don't bleed. So I lecture my children to make injuries bleed...the blood is a natural cleansing agent and pushes out bacteria and debris. They get scraped up on fencing wire etc...all the time.

 

We don't walk around barefoot. : ) There are too many thorns and such around here.

 

I am almost always opposed to vaccines. Even so, if my dd was doing what your dd was doing, I would have her get the tetanus shot.

[skimomma]

Thanks for the replies so far! I really appreciate it. Dd's doctor did give me the insert at our last visit so I have the ingredient list. While no vaccine is truly "safe" in my mind, this one is not so bad.

 

I do not want to be at the mercy of some small clinic that we have no relationship with during an emergency. I would much rather feel "covered." All other "vaccine-preventable" diseases allow for time to get to a doctor we could have real conversation with if we ever had to face an issue. And then there is the possibility of dd going to camp or traveling with another family. Again, a deep wound would need immediate attention and is more likely to involve doctors and caregivers that do not know/understand our position.

 

As I am sure is obvious, we are leaning towards getting the vaccine. We probably will. If there are other considerations not discussed so far, I am all ears. I do have to say that it will be very difficult to actually do. Having not done any vaccines, my kid could be that one in a million that reacts and how I would feel! Sometimes I wish I never did any research......

[Parrothead]

I was told you cannot get the shot after the injury, the hospital would hook the child up to an IV instead. I have also gone back and forth about this one. We'll see what summer brings.

 

Well I'm living proof that the shot is given after the injury. Three times in my life I've had tetanus shot after deep puncture wounds.

 

 

The tetanus shot is the only one dd gets. I couldn't get it isolated here in the great nowhere. Tetanus is one of those things I'd rather not take the chance with so I allowed it.

[Supertechmom]

I've also been told that you can get tetanus from wasp stings. Now that may be bull but every time I show up in the ER from a sting and they get me stable, tetanus is the next major discussion. And they do check to see just exactly how long it has been since the last one. So there must be some concern if multiple different hospitals have taken the time to find out my tetanus status from other places and doctors. I've just never really doubled checked that to see if it is legit or just hyper medical staff. It is one that we do get so I've never questioned it unless I have recently had one.

[Elizabeth in MN]

As with many who selectively vaccinate I get shots for what people in my family have had. One of my great-great grandmothers died from Lock Jaw and from the stories past down it sounds horrible. My dd was a taste-test-and-get-into-everything toddler, so she did get the DTaP. I've stuck with the boosters for it too. The mortality rate is so high that I just don't want to risk it.

[Excelsior! Academy]

I also got the shot after a puncture wound. We are anti-vax, but we would get the tetanus if we were in a lifestyle that put us at risk. I wouldn't hesitate on that one.

[Izzy]

The only vaccine my kids get is DTaP starting at age 2. My boys are constantly outside and rarely wear shoes so it makes me feel better to know they have it. I'd go ahead with the Tetanus vax but that's just me. :)