Disclaimer (covering my ass): I know this is a HOT topic! I know I am not a pediatrician! My goal with this post is just to provide a summary of Dr. Sears’ Alternative Vaccine Schedule for anyone interested in taking a look.

There’s a lot of info out there these days on getting our kids vaccinated. Should we or shouldn’t we? I’m sure you’ve heard Jenny McCarthy’s story, and now Amanda Peet is taking the opposite side. It’s like West Side Story. Unfortunately, this throwdown involves actresses none of us really care about anymore (although, I do admit I rather enjoyed Singled Out).

If you choose to follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Recommended Vaccination Schedule, your head will be reeling at the sheer number of vaccinations. Hello, let me introduce you to my baby the pincushion.

Anyway, while I was pregnant, I found Dr. Sears’ The Vaccine Book (check it out on my book carousel) a great resource. I also read a few other vaccine books, but found them too daunting, having way too much medical history, or were just too preachy.

I like Dr. Sears’ book because it remains mostly objective as he covers each vaccine and illness. He includes the different brands of vaccines and their ghastly ingredients (did someone order monkey kidney cells a la cow serum?). At the end of each section, he does offer a pseudo recommendation, “How I See It,” for any readers still needing a little nudge one way or the other.

“Dr. Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule” creates a timeframe that will get your child fully vaccinated, but in a way that “minimizes theoretical risks of vaccines.” In his words, “it’s the best of both worlds of disease prevention and safe vaccination.” I like that in this schedule, your baby gets no more than two vaccines at one time. It also suggests only one aluminum-containing vaccine at a time.

Dr. Bob’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule

2 mos. – DTaP, Rotavirus
3 mos. – Pc, HIB
4 mos. – DTaP, Rotavirus
5 mos. – Pc, HIB
6 mos. – DTaP, Rotavirus
7 mos. – Pc, HIB
9 mos. – Polio, Flu (2 doses)
12 mos. – Mumps, Polio
15 mos. – Pc, HIB
18 mos. – DTaP, Chickenpox
21 mos. – Flu
2 yrs. – Rubella, Polio
2 yrs., 6 mos. – Hep B, Hep A
3 yrs. – Hep B, Measles, Flu
3 yrs., 6 mos. – Hep B, Hep A
4 yrs. – DTaP, Polio, Flu
5 yrs. – MMR, Flu
6 yrs. – Chickenpox
12 yrs. – Tdap, HPV
12 yrs., 2 mos. – HPV
13 yrs. – HPV, Meningococcal

For details about this schedule, see pg. 236-237 in his book. He also offers a Selective Vaccine Schedule for parents looking to get only “the most critical” vaccines.

Whatever your decision and wherever your allegiance may lie, there is tons of research out there for both sides. Trust me, your head will explode.

One things for sure, the pharmaceuticals always win… don’t they?

Related Reading:
Dr. Robert Sears’ Vaccine Book

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