First things first.

Create a risk assessment to compare your options.

This is a tough subject. Regardless of who tells you what you should do, what their title is, what your credentials are—you have the freedom and capacity to use the resources at your fingertips to review facts and data in order to make an informed decision. Assess the risks of each option and weigh the possible outcomes of each choice. There will be risks with any decision, which risk are you most comfortable with?

I’m not here to tell you what decision to make, this isn't medical advice. I do, however, know how overwhelming the loads and loads of conflicting information can be when you’re just trying to find the right answer. It’s hard to find! And unless someone gives you a head start, it’s nearly impossible to know where to look.

This is just a starting point with slight direction. I hope it helps, happy studying!

01

THE RECOMMENDED CDC SCHEDULE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets the U.S. adult and childhood immunization schedules based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The CDC schedule is a recommendation, not law, and each state decides whether or not to adopt that schedule as requirement for students to go to school. Review the schedule to see which vaccines your child will be getting and when they will be getting them.

02

WHAT IS IN A VACCINE?

Cross referencing the schedule, review the Vaccine Excipient Summary linked below. This will show the different manufacturers for each vaccine and what ingredients they contain. If you don't know what the ingredient is, start looking into it. Something to note: injecting something is very different than ingesting something. Bypassing our body’s first line of defense, the digestive tract, can have an entirely different outcome. Here’s a few questions to ask and answer when you’re going through these:

• How much of this substance can be injected safely?

• When this substance is injected, where does it go? Aluminum is a good place to start on this one.

• Are the amounts of these ingredients adjusted for weight of the child?

• Do they get excreted or do they accumulate in the body?

• Is this a neurotoxin?

• Is this a carcinogen?

03

PACKAGE INSERTS

Each vaccine package comes with an insert. It is NOT the Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) that the healthcare professional is required to give you before administering. The inserts are longer. A lot longer. Read them! Focus on post marketing experience, adverse effects, contraindications, and section 13.1.