What Dads Should Know About Immunizations

DADDY CLAY: This week we only have one question for you. Are you going to be brave?

DADDY BRAD: Are you a big boy?

DADDY CLAY: You’re barely gonna feel it.

DADDY BRAD: It’ll be over quick.

DADDY CLAY: Welcome back to DadLabs.

DADDY BRAD: This week we’re talking about shots.

DADDY CLAY: This weeks episode is sponsored by Baby Bjorn and their new bouncy seat, The Babysitter Balance. Play. Rest. Sleep. Babysitter balance.

DADDY BRAD: Immunizations is another one of these areas where there is a lot of controversy, a lot of difference of opinion, some anxiety in the parenting community.

DADDY CLAY: When deciding what course to take immunizing your child, one thing you have to do is consult your pediatrician. Which is exactly what we did. We got the scoop from our favorite pediatrician and author of Baby 411, Dr. Ari Brown.

ARI BROWN: Your immune system is your body’s defense against germs and vaccines give your body basically smart bombs with memory so you can recognize that germ without ever being exposed to it and when you see that germ coming your body knows how to fight it off.

Parents have more questions about vaccines these days. You hear it everywhere on the news or on the internet and in play groups. What parents need to know at the end of the day is pediatricians treat our patients like our own kids. I vaccinated my kids. 99% of parents are still choosing to vaccinate.

Vaccines are like any medication an there are certain side effects like kids may run a fever for a day or two because they are mounting an immune response. Sometimes they get redness at the injection site or even a little lump under the skin. Are there some severe effects? Yes there are. Patients might have an allergic response. Kids with egg allergies cannot get the flu vaccine because there is egg in that vaccine. For the most part if we ask the right questions before vaccinating we can avoid those side effects.

DADDY BRAD: So the standard course of immunizations endorsed by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics calls for ten immunizations in the first year of life. For a detailed schedule and for more information you can visit AAP dot org.

DADDY CLAY: There are those that really want an alternative. They’ll balance the reported side effects of the vaccines against the diseases themselves, factor in lifestyle and make a decision. We’re much more comfortable with the alternative vaccination schedule offered by Dr Sears of ask Doctor Sears dot com. He suggests spreading out and slightly delaying some vaccines. The idea is you give baby more time to recover, maybe decrease side effects, but the end result is a fully vaccinated baby.

DADDY BRAD: That’s all for us this week. If you have any thoughts on vaccination schedules, the choices you made and why, please join the community at dadlabs dot com and join the discussion.

DADDY CLAY: See you next week, here in the Lab.

DADDY BRAD: Nice lab coat.