There are many vaccines to research before you make the decision to get them for yourself or your children. Truly, you don't really think about vaccines and the benefits and potential risks associated with receiving vaccines until you have you own children, and have to make more mindful decisions about another person's health. I believe some things are meant to be questioned and understood from your own research and knowledge, including decisions about your heath - I am not a medical professional and am not giving medical advice - but the best option is to always to talk to a doctor that you trust and respect! After loads of research and a lot of discussion with my own pediatrician, here are 7 vaccines to research that I feel are most important for your health and for the health of your kids!

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1. Flu Vaccine

One of the vaccines to research is the flu vaccine, because it's one of the only vaccines that still contain mercury (thimerosal). Many pharmaceutical companies administer multiple dose vaccines that contain high levels of mercury (thimerosal) and formaldehyde, which can possibly cause a reaction in otherwise healthy individuals. However, there are flu shots that contain only one dose and do not have thimerosal. If you do decide to get the flu shot, especially if you or others around you would be at serious risk if you came down with the flu, then go with the single dose vaccine that contains no thimerosal.

2. Gardasil

The Gardasil vaccine, used to prevent HPV and thus decrease the chances of cervical cancer, came out in 2006 targeted to girls between the ages of 9-26 who were or could be sexually active. Close to 90% of all HPV cases resolve on their own, which is something to think about when deciding upon the Gardasil vaccine. Gardasil does contain many toxins and has been attributed to causing unconsciousness, seizures and death in very rare and extreme cases. Here's my own personal Gardisil story: I received this vaccine in 2007 after consulting my then doctor. My current doctor and I believe it to be the cause of my polycystic ovaries - a condition seen almost exclusively in pre-diabetic/diabetic obese women (I am tall and thin). The choice is a personal one and because Gardasil is a newer vaccine, it does take time for the "bugs" to be worked out, so to speak. On a positive note, let's consider the fact that we have a vaccine that can prevent cancer!

3. MMR

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) is the vaccine the CDC recommends children be given at 12 months of age. MMR contains 3 live virus strains along with higher levels of aluminum, a known neurotoxin. The problem with administering the MMR vaccine before the age of 3 is the increased risk of altering brain development with aluminum and other neurotoxins. A possible alternative, one that I have chosen for my own son, is to wait until your child is older to administer the vaccine - unless there is a local outbreak - and DO NOT agree to receive a booster while pregnant. Pregnancy is the MOST vital and vulnerable stages of human development and heavy metals, such as aluminum and mercury, could alter brain development and lead to developmental delays. It's also a wise choice to limit your intake of certain fish (while pregnant) that have been exposed to higher levels of mercury. Again, this is a personal decision, one you must discuss at length with your own trusted doctor before you make a decision.

4. Hepatitis B

Considering that mothers-to-be are now tested for Hep B before baby is born, I do not understand why babies receive the Hep B vaccine at birth, regardless of whether or not mama is affected. Why pump loads of aluminum and other toxins into a newborn baby's body when it's not needed? That's potentially putting your baby at risk for neurological issues and developmental delays later on. In my opinion, if the mother does not have Hepatitis B, it's best to wait on administering this vaccine when a child's immune system and cognitive abilities are properly developed. Just my two cents, supported by lengthy discussions with my pediatrician.

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5. DTAP

DTAP is a vaccine that protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (whooping cough). Diptheria is respiratory disease that can cause severe breathing problems, heart failure and death. Tetanus is another scary disease that attacks the nervous system with uncontrollable muscle contractions that can lead to death if left untreated. And pertussis is a respiratory infection that's primarily associated with infants and can be severe and deadly. DTAP is an extremely important vaccine that protects against these life-threatening diseases, and typically it's administered at 2 months of age with several boosters. If you are pregnant, it may be best to wait to receive a booster until after delivery; this is something to discuss with your own ob/gyn. Again, neurological damage can occur in a developing fetus when they are exposed to toxic levels of aluminum and other materials.

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6. Varicella Vaccine

Varicella is the chickenpox disease that is extremely common in children (unless of course you received the vaccine like I did) and rarely produces complications. It is unknown but probable that the vaccine can prevent shingles, the adult version of chickenpox, later in life, but would require a booster. Shingles is much more painful and ideally avoided if possible, but again, it's generally not a high risk for healthy adults. It's also good to know that the effectiveness of the Varicella vaccine is extremely high and has very low risk of complications. The CDC recommends this vaccine at one year, but another safe alternative would be to push it out till age 3 or before school admissions.

7. HIB

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is the vaccine that prevents meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottis (a severe sore throat), and blood infections. These diseases are caused by haemophilus influenzae type b bacterium and can be quite life threatening. Particularly meningitis and pneumonia which are dangerous illnesses to gamble with, especially with young children. This is one of those vaccines that would be vital to say yes to. Generally, children are vaccinated at 2 months of age with the HIB vaccine.

The choice to vaccinate - whether fully, partially or not at all - is extremely controversial and people need to realize that it's a personal choice that most people make for what they feel is the best option for themselves and their family! The best thing anyone can do is be informed and educated and to not follow blindly any recommendations without first having your own insight, and several talks with your own doctor. Was this list of vaccines helpful? Would any of you ladies care to share any personal experiences you've had with vaccines?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

I am appalled that you are distributing false information to people who may take your post very seriously. The flu vaccine isn't for the little cold or flu everyone gets that has the sniffles and a fever, it's for the serious life threatening one. Before doctors made a flu shot, several cities were almost completely wiped out, such as the 1918 flu pandemic that killed an estimated 100 million people. Furthermore, the gardasil shot isn't exclusively for girls, and it's not only if they're at risk of becoming sexually active. They were trying to give immunity for the virus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer. It's true that about 90% of cases resolve on their own, but HPV and cervical cancer is one of the biggest killers for women. So that does not mean that "there is little to no need for this drug to be administered." HPV can also cause other cancers, such as throat, anal, and vaginal. Overall, the death rates for almost every other type of cancer has declined, while HPV has started to skyrocket due to people saying that the HPV shot is unnecessary, becuase it is an "STD shot", which it is not in the slightest. According to an article on Cosmopolitan, "Deadly meningococcal bacteria can be spread through kissing, but no one objects to the meningitis vaccine on the grounds that it will suddenly inspire teenagers to start making out. Yet this is exactly what happened to HPV — it got a brand of prosex, not anticancer." And, with every shot, there are side effects. The side effects of HPV are no worse than anything else, my arm was slightly sore and swollen for a couple days, and went away. I would much rather have that than cervical cancer, chemotherapy, and a hysterectomy. The MMR vaccine is vital to children, most of the things you put on her schools require if you wznt your child to get an education. Same with Hepatitis B, it prevents liver cancer and failure, and you can get it even if you're parents don't as a young child. Simply by residing somewhere that might have been exposed can give you it. It's possible to get it just from saliva, or mucus. DTAP is even more important, Pertussis has made a rapid comeback in recent years and has started to become a major concern for newborns and infants. Currently it kills 300,000 every year and infects almost 50 million people. It's often more deadly to newborns and infants, who don't have the immune system strength to fight it off. Varicella also prevent s a disease which can cause damage to the brain, eyes, body, skin, and can even cause neurological disorders. This disease can be fatal, contrary to popular belief that you just get itchy but you'll be fine in a week. Lastly, HIB is extremely important. You can get miningitis simply from touching the same place that somebody else did who possibly sneezed, by kissing them, or by being in the room with them in severe cases. This disease will causes swelling of the brain, and is fatal. Pneumonia and epiglottis is just as serious, and is not "just a severe sore throat". Next time you post an article, please do your research. I am very agitated that you were allowed to post this, vaccines are important, and contrary to popular belief have no direct link to Autism, Autism was around before vaccines and children have contracted it who never got vaccines. Please do your research. Diseases that were gone thirty years ago have now come back and some have developed resistance to vaccines because of the people choosing not to vaccinate their children. Please do your research, because you are putting yourself, your child, and possibly somebody else's child's life at risk.

Internet researchers giving medical advice is one of the largest threats to public safety. If you want real information the is tested and proven speak with professionals in the field. I don't understand how anyone can think they can do a few hours of research and be qualified to publish medical advise.

Wow, great information. It's crazy to think how little we are told about the bad reactions to some immunizations. They won't even allow children in school unless you give them certain ones. Thank you for this very educational information. One thing I can say that I have done for myself and my children is that when they develop a new vaccine I always wait before deciding to get it or not because it seems a lot of times they experience so many problems in the beginning when they are making adjustments, it's scary.

I would like to say that Hepatitis B is NOT an STD. It is spread through contact with contaminated blood. So.... Needles, hospitals, dental offices, assisting injured people on the sidewalk, stopping a kids bloody nose, you name it! All you need is an opening like a cat scratch or hangnail. And yes, you very well can get it from sex with an infected person too. I got it from working in a dental office in the early 1980's, before we all wore gloves and masks and glasses. I know this because when I called my patient for a post op check up, he was in the hospital with Hep B liver failure. I never got sick, but I am a carrier. I am so glad that my husband and 4 lovely children were able to be vaccinated! BUT, what if I hadn't made that post op call? What if I had never known that I was a carrier? That's the very reason why it is recommended that we vaccinate at birth! To stop the chain of events!

Sorry - but the research used to support your mmr statement is anecdotal at best!...very poorly researched piece

Oh and I know a kid who was born with HepB who was whoring around and not telling girls, had it not been for their vaccinations, they would have probably caught it. Sooooo yeah.

Write a commenI'm truly sorry many of you are offended by my article. That was not my intention but to shed some light on the possible risks associated with vaccines. Vaccine injury IS a real thing, regardless of what's covered up by pharmaceutical companies who sponsor biased-based research. High risks are not that common, however they still exist and it's important to know and understand that. Like I said in the introduction, I am NOT against vaccines but am in favor of a slower vaccine schedule as my son's pediatrician recommends. MMR and the flu vaccine (multi-dose) have mercury which is a known neurotoxin. Giving a child under the age of two a vaccine that contains large amounts of neurotoxins does pose a risk for developmental problems such as autism. Not everyone is effected the same way, but why risk such a thing when you can easily wait till a child is 3 years old and more developed? This information is not coming from me (am a college grad with a bachelors of science) but from my son's MD who has seen enormous benefits and rates in his own practice regarding slowing down the CDC vaccine schedule. His name is Dr Paul Thomas of portland Oregon if anyone is interested. Anyway, please don't take offense! I love all my readers and appreciate your passion :)