I don’t like to admit that I did zero research on vaccines when my son was born. It isn’t like me to just take information and not research it on my own. But when our insurance sent a six-page pamphlet home with us after Darius was born, I barely even read it. I already believed in vaccines. Already bought into the notion of vaccinating for the public good. So Darius was vaccinated on the regular, American Academy of Pediatrics schedule. No questions asked.
It's hard to admit that I did more research on which play structure to buy than I did on vaccines. I had assumed that the information out there was all propaganda for the no-vax group – as group that gets the benefit of vaccines since the majority of Americans still vaccinate. In fact, some states have made it illegal for parents to not vaccinate their children.
When I heard of Dr. Sear’s The Vaccine Book, I figured it was his solution to be pro-vax in the no-vax movement. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Sear’s book makes no little judgement on whether or not to vaccinate (although he does has an alternate schedule available to those who do not want to follow the AAP regime).
Each chapter in the book covers 1 of 12 standard vaccines. The vaccines are explained in easy to read, “been up all night with a newborn and lost my capacity to comprehend any information” format that anyone can get. Dr. Spears ends each chapter with "The way I see it" summarizing key factors, yet he does not send a message that parents must do it one way or another. He covers special vaccines for travel and combination vaccines that reduce the number of shots given.
The most fascinating part of the book for me was the chapter for parents who decide to delay or decline vaccinations and one called "What Should I Do Now?" He offers Dr. Bob's Alternative Vaccine Schedule near the end of the book. Honestly, had I even known that there was an alternate at the time of my son's vaccinations, I would have follwed it. Getting five shots in one office visit was excessive to me, even if it was for the greater good.
Even though we are done with vaccines until kindergarten, I still felt more informed about them than ever before. Instead of feeling guilty about blindly vaccinating, I felt empowered to make better decisions moving forward. If we ever have more children, this book will be re-read again (and again).
