Every parent makes their own choices based upon science, medicine, religion, or even theology or ideology. But, when does the safety of other children come into play?

I talk a lot on my sites (Discussing Autism and My Two Boys) about how vaccines affect the public, the safety of vaccines, the medical aspects of vaccines, and our family policies<!--more-->.

But, with a measles outbreak in San Diego one has to consider that perhaps not giving children the fundamental vaccines is actually harming children more than giving them the vaccines is.

The current measles outbreak in San Diego was sparked by an unvaccinated 7 year old child who acquired the disease in Switzerland, and so far has infected two infants too young to be vaccinated. The infants both acquired the highly-contagious disease by being at the Children's Clinic in La Jolla at the same time as the virus-shedding 7-year-old. One infant (the 10 month old) is hospitalized. The other infant traveled to Hawaii on February 9 with its parents (exposing hundreds of people on the airplane) before being diagnosed and quarantined in Hawaii.

Measles is highly contagious through respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth. A child who is diagnosed with measles should be monitored for high fevers and in some cases, measles can actually lead to other infections such as bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), myocarditis, and encephalitis. Children with lower immune systems can also be susceptible to ear infections and bacterial infections. There are actually reasons for childhood diseases such as measles, chicken pox, and mumps...they provide a challenge to the immune system.

The immune system needs to be developed properly and needs these challenges to do so so I understand why parents opt not to vaccinate their children; they want immune systems to develop, they don't want toxins in their bodies, they don't want to unnecessarily stress young bodies.

However, societal norms (and the CDC, of course) dictate that we vaccinate our children with 36 vaccines; that is 32 vaccines before they turn two. In fact, according to CDC, a baby can get 7 vaccines at two months, 6 vaccines at 4 months, and can "safely" get 8 vaccines at their six month well-baby visit. Seven Vaccines injected into a 13 pound, two month old infant are equivalent to 70 doses in a 130 pound adult.

So, a parent has two options, right? Vaccinate and run the toxic risks or not vaccinate and run the risks of infection?

Wrong.

A parent actually has several options (but your pediatrician may not tell you this or agree to this).Generation Rescue has developed several plans for parents that are feasible with today's CDC guidelines and recommendations (note: recommendations.

Immunizations are NOT required by law but are recommended.)

Option One: Turn Back the Clock: This takes us back to 1983 when some of us were getting vaccinated. Option Two: Listen to Dr. Miller who tells us to avoid all vaccines that include thimerosal (flu vaccines), avoid live virus vaccines (MMR, Chickenpox, polio), and after the age of two all vaccines should be given one at a time so that the immune system can recover (and don't start until two).

Option Three: Go with the Danish Vaccination Schedule.And, ALWAYS take precautions.

1. Consider delaying vaccines until your child is 18-24 months old.

2. Do not vaccinate if your child is taking antibiotics or ill.

3. Consider no more than one vaccine per doctor’s visit.

4. If you plan to get the MMR vaccine, ask your doctor to give it in three separate vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella.

5. Consider giving high doses of Vitamin C (3,000-5,000 mg per day) on the day before, of, and after vaccination.

6. With the measles vaccine (MMR), consider high doses of Vitamin A (5,000 IU or more) on the day before, of, and after vaccination.

7. If your child experiences any developmental delays, stop vaccinating until you learn more.

8. If your child has an adverse reaction to a vaccine, stop vaccinating until you learn more.

9. Always ask to see the vaccine insert, and never accept a vaccine that uses the preservative Thimerosal (mercury). For a complete list of vaccines with Thimerosal, see the FDA’s website here.

Note: most flu shots today still contain Thimerosal.