Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

So, after the well visit (DS is 8 3/4 months old)....it is routine to go into the Dr.'s office and discuss progress and introducing new foods, brushing teeth, etc.

Well, he told me DS's next visit will be around is first birthday (which is in April), for vaccines. I asked which ones. He said the MMR and Chicken Pox. I said to him that I am going to skip over both of those until DS is a bit older. He wasn't happy to hear that! He wasn't concerned to much with my decision regarding the Chicken Pox.....but pretty much told me if I don't give DS the MMR, I will be discharged. He had reasonable explanations, but I am so upset at the open, semi heated discussion about this topic.

I will give the MMR to my son...possibly at age 3. I felt bullied by the Dr. and I really love them at the office. Oh, I can go on and on about how upset I am...but I really just have one question:

Is it typical for pediatricians to give the MMR vaccine at 1 year? I always thought it was around 18 months. Oh and to top it off, he said "its just ONE shot". Don't they have it in a series??

TIA

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

My DS got the MMR at 15 months. He still hasn't had the Chicken Pox shot. I think he was supposed to get both at the 15 month visit, but they were out of the Chicken pox one so I didn't have to ask if we could get it at 18 months. Then at the 18 month visit, he was sick, so they didn't give it to him. At his 2 year visit, he had another cold, so he didn't get it.

I have to admit that I am happy with the way it worked out, since I didn't really want to give him both at the same time. I do believe in vaccines, especially since my DS is in daycare. However, if your DC is home with you, I don't think I would be happy with a ped that wasn't willing to be somewhat flexible with spacing them out.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

my dd got the mmr at 15 months, only because she was sick at her 12 month appointment

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Thank you for your reply. DS is not in Day Care and probably won't ever have to be. I am not against vaccines in general, but why so early and why not space it out? This is my concern.

Well, I am not going to ruin the holidays over this.....but when the time comes, in April, I am going to try to "hold it off".....I am predicting he will be sick

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Is he an older dr? I think they tend to follow the old rules.

My ped. gives the MMR at 18 mo. That being said, DS will be 3 in April and still has not gotten it. I plan on giving it to him after the holidays most likely. I wanted to wait until he was almost 3. Just my own reasoning.

You will hear different opinions, but my ped. does not make the decision on what is best for my child, I do!!! If you are not comfortable I would find a new dr. For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

I thiink my PED does it at the 12 month mark -
Not sure about daycare on LI, but at my back up daycare in the city, he's required to have the shot at 12 mnoths (at least that's what the city mandated form states)

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pinkandblue

my dd got the mmr at 15 months, only because she was sick at her 12 month appointment

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

DD was supposed to get the MMR, Chicken Pox and one other vaccine at 12 months. We gave her the MMR (in one shot) at 12 months, came back at 13 months to give the chicken pox, and then at 14 months for the 3rd vaccine so she was all caught up by her 15 month appt.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

I've always put off vaccines based on if they were sick so we were always behind. As long as I was open with the doctor & said I was willing to vaccinate, I haven't had a problem.

I think some pediatricians are taking a stronger stance on vaccines lately because there has been such a huge movement against them & it's obviously something they believe strongly in.

I do think it helps to have a ped that is more understanding about your concerns.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

My oed gives it at 12 months as well. Thet also get heated when I've mentioned altering the schedule in any way. Last week I had to tell them no to the MMR because DD was getting over a wicked upper respiratory thing and I just didn't want to give her a live vaccine on top of it. She'll be getting it this week though.

My pediatrician will not alter the CDC schedule by much and will discharge patients who refuse to follow the schedule. I knew this when I signed on with them though.

There are peds out there who will allow you to tweak the schedule though. I will tell you though, many daycares and nursery schools won't allow children who don't follow the CDC schedule.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

My ped gives the shot at 15 months, but 12 months used to be the norm. She got it at 19 months because she was sick at her 15 month visit and had a cold at her 18 month visit.

Not all parts of the MMR are available separately anymore so you really do have to give it all at once.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

My PED gives at 12 months. He was getting flu shot, hep A, HiB and blood taken. I refused the MMR and chicken pox. my doc was not happy and was adamant about me bring back DS the following week for those 2 shots. He will not be getting the MMR until he is 2 and that's the decision I have made. It's so hard to stand your ground with some of these docs. I belong to a practice and will be seeing a different doc from now on. she is more lenient w/ the shots.

my DS will never be in daycare so that is not a concern for me

Message edited 12/22/2009 11:18:24 AM.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pig22seal

Posted by pinkandblue

my dd got the mmr at 15 months, only because she was sick at her 12 month appointment

Hmmmm....so 12 months is typical?!!! Did she only have 1?

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

ds got the mmr at 12 months.... we are not giving him chicken pox just yet because no one in my family has had it including myself so i would rather wait and have both this baby and ds done together....

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pinkandblue

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

I do not think it is ridiculous. while yes, I do think that you as the parent should decide how and when to vaccinate, doctors are allowed to release patients who do not vaccinate "for the greater good", it protects the children too sick or too young to be vaccinated, and I think that is beneficial for me and my children. It is really a matter of finding the right doctor for you and your child

as per the letter in every room at my doctor's office, not vaccinating your child on schedule may affect the "parent, patient, doctor relationship",....that is their way of saying, vaccinate on time or find another doctor

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pinkandblue

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

I do not think it is ridiculous. while yes, I do think that you as the parent should decide how and when to vaccinate, doctors are allowed to release patients who do not vaccinate "for the greater good", it protects the children too sick or too young to be vaccinated, and I think that is beneficial for me and my children. It is really a matter of finding the right doctor for you and your child

as per the letter in every room at my doctor's office, not vaccinating your child on schedule may affect the "parent, patient, doctor relationship",....that is their way of saying, vaccinate on time or find another doctor

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

My DS got it at 15 months, but that aws his 12 month appointment....

Posted by pinkandblue

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

I do not think it is ridiculous. while yes, I do think that you as the parent should decide how and when to vaccinate, doctors are allowed to release patients who do not vaccinate "for the greater good", it protects the children too sick or too young to be vaccinated, and I think that is beneficial for me and my children. It is really a matter of finding the right doctor for you and your child

as per the letter in every room at my doctor's office, not vaccinating your child on schedule may affect the "parent, patient, doctor relationship",....that is their way of saying, vaccinate on time or find another doctor

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pinkandblue

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

I do not think it is ridiculous. while yes, I do think that you as the parent should decide how and when to vaccinate, doctors are allowed to release patients who do not vaccinate "for the greater good", it protects the children too sick or too young to be vaccinated, and I think that is beneficial for me and my children. It is really a matter of finding the right doctor for you and your child

as per the letter in every room at my doctor's office, not vaccinating your child on schedule may affect the "parent, patient, doctor relationship",....that is their way of saying, vaccinate on time or find another doctor

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by jellybean1420

Is he an older dr? I think they tend to follow the old rules.

My ped. gives the MMR at 18 mo. That being said, DS will be 3 in April and still has not gotten it. I plan on giving it to him after the holidays most likely. I wanted to wait until he was almost 3. Just my own reasoning.

You will hear different opinions, but my ped. does not make the decision on what is best for my child, I do!!! If you are not comfortable I would find a new dr. For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pinkandblue

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

I do not think it is ridiculous. while yes, I do think that you as the parent should decide how and when to vaccinate, doctors are allowed to release patients who do not vaccinate "for the greater good", it protects the children too sick or too young to be vaccinated, and I think that is beneficial for me and my children. It is really a matter of finding the right doctor for you and your child

as per the letter in every room at my doctor's office, not vaccinating your child on schedule may affect the "parent, patient, doctor relationship",....that is their way of saying, vaccinate on time or find another doctor

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by DRMom

Posted by pinkandblue

Posted by jellybean1420


For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

I do not think it is ridiculous. while yes, I do think that you as the parent should decide how and when to vaccinate, doctors are allowed to release patients who do not vaccinate "for the greater good", it protects the children too sick or too young to be vaccinated, and I think that is beneficial for me and my children. It is really a matter of finding the right doctor for you and your child

as per the letter in every room at my doctor's office, not vaccinating your child on schedule may affect the "parent, patient, doctor relationship",....that is their way of saying, vaccinate on time or find another doctor

I agree. The solution is to find another Dr and make sure you are well educated regarding vaccines and the risks AND benefits associated with delaying vaccinations. Good luck

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Re: Just left PED and soooo UPSET!

Posted by pig22seal

Posted by jellybean1420

Is he an older dr? I think they tend to follow the old rules.

My ped. gives the MMR at 18 mo. That being said, DS will be 3 in April and still has not gotten it. I plan on giving it to him after the holidays most likely. I wanted to wait until he was almost 3. Just my own reasoning.

You will hear different opinions, but my ped. does not make the decision on what is best for my child, I do!!! If you are not comfortable I would find a new dr. For him to force you to leave the practice because you dont want to give your son the MMR is ridiculous in my opinion an infuriates me As a parent, YOU make the decisions for your child.

Well, this is what I told him...."I" wasn't comfortable with giving it to him so early. He said "I will not have children walking around my office not having the MMR vaccine. These are serious illnesses when a young child has them." And this is why I am upset. I feel like I have "no control" over a decision that I feel is serious!