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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
This book has really made the decisions about when & whether & how to vaccinate much clearer to me. Sears is clear and trustworthy. He's obviously in favor of vaccinating, but he understands the concerns parents have, while debunking the concerns that are not valid. This book is well-laid out and easy to read only about the vaccines that are relevant at your child's current age. I've talked to a few different doctors about vaccinating, and they have ranged from a naturopath who is very conservative about drugs & vax to a hardcore MD, and they all respect Dr Sears' work. So whenever a doctor asks me what I'm doing with regard to vaccinations if I tell them I'm reading the Sears book they recognize that I'm doing my homework and don't try to pressure me.
I know I said I was done stressing myself out with pregnancy and baby books. But there are two topics I really am in need of additional information about. One of these is vaccines. I started this book and tore through it. Maybe I'm just a huge nerd, but I found it very interesting, dare I say fascinating at times.
It's an easy read. Extremely well organized, to the point, and fact driven. This is not a drawn out, emotionally charged narrative of why vaccines are either good or bad. It reads more like a text book, but I say that appreciatively! I wanted facts and as unbiased an expert opinion as possible on the topic; I think this book gives you that.
Now, if you're super anti-vaccine you may find this to be a pro-vaccine book. However if you're a vaccine lover, you may find this to be an anti-vaccine book. It depends on your mindset entering into the book. I went into it not against vaccines, but knowing that I wasn't sold on the CDC or AAP full vaccine schedule either. I'd call myself middle of the road, and I thought this book was as well.
It has helped me come up with our own unique vaccine schedule. I did a little more digging online, but the majority of what I felt I needed was contained within this one resource. I might just buy it.
There were a few things I disagree with the author about; those were the things I did further research on. So between the doctor author, the nurse (myself) and some more "crunchy" friends and online resources I feel armed to fight the vaccine battle. We're still going to do the majority of typical vaccines, but on a delayed schedule. There are a few we're going to skip because I feel they're unnecessary or too new at this point. Unfortunately vaccines are part of modern medicine which is money driven instead of best practice driven often times. You must be a smart consumer!
One last point; maybe it's because I've got a medical background, but there are some funny moments in the book. He throws in snarky comments, mostly self-derogatory, and makes you laugh. He also does give you his basic thoughts in a short paragraph vaccine by vaccine. Obviously there is bias there, but I found it helpful. He also points out several times in different places why there might be bias and conflict of interest entering into the "expert opinions" out there. I appreciated that.
OK, enough. Bottom line I really liked the book, found it quite helpful and would recommend it highly!
It's an easy read. Extremely well organized, to the point, and fact driven. This is not a drawn out, emotionally charged narrative of why vaccines are either good or bad. It reads more like a text book, but I say that appreciatively! I wanted facts and as unbiased an expert opinion as possible on the topic; I think this book gives you that.
Now, if you're super anti-vaccine you may find this to be a pro-vaccine book. However if you're a vaccine lover, you may find this to be an anti-vaccine book. It depends on your mindset entering into the book. I went into it not against vaccines, but knowing that I wasn't sold on the CDC or AAP full vaccine schedule either. I'd call myself middle of the road, and I thought this book was as well.
It has helped me come up with our own unique vaccine schedule. I did a little more digging online, but the majority of what I felt I needed was contained within this one resource. I might just buy it.
There were a few things I disagree with the author about; those were the things I did further research on. So between the doctor author, the nurse (myself) and some more "crunchy" friends and online resources I feel armed to fight the vaccine battle. We're still going to do the majority of typical vaccines, but on a delayed schedule. There are a few we're going to skip because I feel they're unnecessary or too new at this point. Unfortunately vaccines are part of modern medicine which is money driven instead of best practice driven often times. You must be a smart consumer!
One last point; maybe it's because I've got a medical background, but there are some funny moments in the book. He throws in snarky comments, mostly self-derogatory, and makes you laugh. He also does give you his basic thoughts in a short paragraph vaccine by vaccine. Obviously there is bias there, but I found it helpful. He also points out several times in different places why there might be bias and conflict of interest entering into the "expert opinions" out there. I appreciated that.
OK, enough. Bottom line I really liked the book, found it quite helpful and would recommend it highly!
A wealth of information...helped me decide what's best for my boy!
this book was suggested to me in a round about way from my hypnobabies group. maybe everyone already knows this but i was pretty shocked when i saw the list of vaccines that a kid gets even before they are 2 months.
i considered delaying vaccination but EVERY medical professional i have in some way come in contact with is opposed to this idea. so, in the end, i will do what the CDC suggests and pump the Unborn with all sorts of antivirals.
one additional note: this book was super easy to read and well organized. it didn't push you in one direction or another but was rather informative.
i considered delaying vaccination but EVERY medical professional i have in some way come in contact with is opposed to this idea. so, in the end, i will do what the CDC suggests and pump the Unborn with all sorts of antivirals.
one additional note: this book was super easy to read and well organized. it didn't push you in one direction or another but was rather informative.
Great read for any new parent wrestling with the vaccine questions. I appreciated the different vaccine schedules and breakdowns of what is actually in each vaccine.
Must-have for every parent, BEFORE the baby comes. Full of balanced information and advice from an excellent doctor- who admits his bias for vaccinating, but lays out every detail honestly (and scientifically), so parents can make their own informed decision.
My second favorite book on the subject of vaccines and a great introduction for a first look at the subject. Easy to read, well organized, great content. Still somewhat pro-vaccination but does a great job of presenting information to make a personalized decision regarding each vaccination and the history of each disease.
I really appreciated the clear way in which this book with written and how it lays out the facts without pushing the author's viewpoint too much. Having read some other books that were clearly anti-vaccine, I appreciate how the author did not use any personal stories of how kids have/have not been damaged by vaccines. Definitely a good one if you're interested in the vaccine debate- from either side.
informative
medium-paced
Sears does an amazing job of being unbiased about a volatile topic. Though he makes his own stance clear, he understands and legitimizes the concerns of the other side. And he's transparent about the fact that research on both sides of the debate has been scientifically inadequate.
He lists both the dangers (and their likelihoods) of each disease as well as the side effects (and their likelihoods) of its vaccine, allowing readers to decide for themselves wether a particular disease or its vaccine is more problematic.
My biggest problem is that Chapters 13-19, which inform the reader about the general important considerations, comes AFTER the chapters about the specific vaccines. A general understanding would be more useful BEFORE reading about specific details.
Also, the chapter on controversial vaccine ingredients seems unfinished. Sears gives the uses, toxicities and dose limits for the first few ingredients, but doesn't do so for all - some ingredients are only addressed in a single sentence - leaving the reader to wonder what has been left out (and why).
Overall, this is a great book for anyone on either side of the debate. Its information is thorough and well structured for the most part, and Sear's criticisms of the current vaccine safety research is particularly of interest.
He lists both the dangers (and their likelihoods) of each disease as well as the side effects (and their likelihoods) of its vaccine, allowing readers to decide for themselves wether a particular disease or its vaccine is more problematic.
My biggest problem is that Chapters 13-19, which inform the reader about the general important considerations, comes AFTER the chapters about the specific vaccines. A general understanding would be more useful BEFORE reading about specific details.
Also, the chapter on controversial vaccine ingredients seems unfinished. Sears gives the uses, toxicities and dose limits for the first few ingredients, but doesn't do so for all - some ingredients are only addressed in a single sentence - leaving the reader to wonder what has been left out (and why).
Overall, this is a great book for anyone on either side of the debate. Its information is thorough and well structured for the most part, and Sear's criticisms of the current vaccine safety research is particularly of interest.