We’re asked a lot about our stance on vaccinating babies and although we know full-well how controversial the subject can be, we feel compelled to share our experiences, our beliefs based on the research we’ve done, and why we suggest you vaccinate your baby fully and on the normal (non-alternative) schedule. So we at PPB are proud to join our friend Amanda Peet in asking you to please protect your family and ours by not hesitating to vaccinate your baby and encouraging your friends to do the same.

Amanda Peet

Amanda Peet, United Nations Foundation Global Advocate and Actress

We’ve compiled the top 5 reasons why we believe you should consider fully vaccinating your practically perfect baby:

#1: Despite the hullabaloo, vaccines ARE proven to be safe.

“A lot of parents feel like they’re not being smart enough – that they’re drinking the Big Pharma Kool-Aid – if they go along with the recommendations of governmental and medical agencies, but to suggest that the [Centers] for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the American Academy of Pediatrics – among others – are all in a massive conspiracy to downplay or hide the dangers of vaccines is a colossal and bewildering leap.” – Amanda Peet

As a new parent, it’s completely and understandably hard to trust anyone when it comes to the health and safety of your precious baby. But when you put science next to conjecture — the choice for us becomes very clear. We’ve made the decision to place our trust in organizations like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and we think you should too:

“Vaccines are held to the highest standard of safety. The United States currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. Years of testing are required by law before a vaccine can be licensed. Once in use, vaccines are continually monitored for safety and effectiveness.”  – Centers for Disease Control

Reason #2: Immunizing your baby will NOT cause Autism.

We totally get that as a parent it is 100% terrifying to think that you could give your child autism by doing what you think is the best thing for them. What a horrifying and frightful thought! Of course it doesn’t help that despite overwhelming support for vaccinations among health professionals, some influential skeptics continue to voice concerns about a connection between vaccinations and autism. That really fuels the fear-fire in all of us! What we think you need to know is that study after study and test after test suggest otherwise.

“Multiple studies have been completed which investigated the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in relation to autism. Researchers have also studied thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, to see if it had any relation to autism. The results of studies are very clear; the data show no relationship between vaccines and autism.” – Autism Science Foundation

#3: Vaccinating on the recommended schedule is the safest choice.

“Parents who seek a “compromise” to the vaccine schedule may have heard of Dr. Bob Sears’s The Vaccine Book. In the book, Dr. Sears has created an “optional” vaccine schedule for parents to customize their child’s recommended vaccine schedule with an “alternative” vaccine schedule. There is no medical benefit in spreading out vaccines. The alternative or delayed vaccine schedule will not decrease adverse reactions. In fact, research shows that delaying the measles vaccine until after a child is 15 months old may raise his or her seizure risk. Immunize for Good

Before my son was born, a handful of friends brought up the idea of an alternative vaccine schedule and why they chose to follow it for their babies. For my husband and me, the most convincing part of the rationale we kept hearing for delaying the vaccines was the idea that babies have fragile little bodies and consequently can’t “handle” all of the recommended shots at once, so if we were going to immunize our baby, spreading the shots out on an extended schedule would be easier on him. We were sold when we heard the term “fragile little bodies!” So our son got his vaccinations according to Dr. Robert Sears’s Alternative Vaccination Schedule. 

When I look back now, I’m really disappointed that we didn’t research it at all on our own — we just got a copy of his alternative schedule, gave it to our pediatrician, and followed it.  I now see how irresponsible that was on our part as parents because it turns out Sears’ alternative and selective vaccination schedules aren’t reviewed or approved by the CDC or any other public health group.  After doing my own research on the vaccine schedules, I’m horrified that we may have jeopardized my son’s health by putting it in the hands of only one doctor’s theory — when I believe we should have put it in the hands of the many, many pediatricians and scientists (and centers and studies) whose research, knowledge, and recommendations are far-far more trusted. I feel now that it was a naive, lazy, and foolish decision we made then (about something as important as our son’s health!) and we made it based on fear, not facts. But my hope in sharing this with you is that you will do the research you need to come to a well-informed decision regarding the timing of the vaccines your baby receives.

#4: We need to protect our sacred herd immunity.

“I believe parents have the right to know what the PBE (Personal Belief Exemptions) rates are at their kids’ schools, just as they have a right to know whether their kids’ schools are built in compliance with fire safety codes.” – Amanda Peet

The more babies that are vaccinated in your community, the safer your baby will be. Of course, that goes for humans of all ages but we particularly care about the risk to babies who aren’t old enough to be immunized:

“Because so many parents are opting out of vaccinations or altering the schedule in the community where I live, my newborn could be exposed to these deadly diseases before he’s able to be vaccinated. -Amanda Peet

We ask that you keep these graphs from the the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in your mind, when you think about how impactful vaccinating your baby is to your community:

Illustration of Community Immunity (also known as “herd” immunity)

Credit: NIAID

#5: Infectious diseases are only rare now because our parents (and grandparents!) got us all vaccinated.

“Of course these diseases are rare. Vaccines made them so, and kids who are vaccinated are actually protecting those who are not.” – Amanda Peet

Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed (or severely disabled) people just a few generations ago. Our grandparents witnessed first-hand the devastation that these diseases wrought. So it makes sense that they didn’t hesitate to vaccinate when they were able.

“Smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States.” – vaccines.gov

If we vaccinate our babies now, vaccinate them completely, and on time, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future. And that’s what I trust we all really want.

XO, PPB

Read and watch more on the studies, research, and stories that convinced us that vaccinating fully and on time is the very best option:

Amanda Peet and Jo Frost Team Up with Walgreens: Video

Get a Shot. Give a Shot. According to U.N. Foundation statistics, a child dies every 20 seconds from a vaccine-preventable disease across the globe. For the second consecutive year, the donor-based foundation to support U.N. causes and the Walgreens pharmacy chain have teamed up for the “Shot@Life” campaign, which will provide 6 million vaccines to children in developing countries. For every vaccine administered at its pharmacies, Walgreens pledges to donate one to a child in need.

CDC

FDA 

Every Child By Two

The History of Vaccines 

AAP Parent Resources on Autism

Sound Advice

The Problem with Dr. Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule

 

 

 

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