Vaccine Nazi

I've never been what I call a "Vaccine Nazi". The mother who vowed to not get her kids vaccinated because of the dangers of them, and then preached it on everyone else. I've never had a reason to investigate vaccines further than my pediatrician's recommendation. Yes, I know my child's health is a good reason, but they've always been healthy children. MAYBE had a mild fever once from a vaccine. I always would think the risks are so small and I wouldn't rather my child have Polio, or Measles, or some of the other diseases.

Now that Hailey has had Guillain Barre, there are certain vaccines that she shouldn't get though. According to the CDC website, the vaccines that say "You shouldn't get this vaccine if...." and then in that list says "You have ever had a history of Guillain Barre Syndrome" that I have found are: The Flu Vaccine (probably the most well known), The Meningitis Vaccine, and the Tdap (which has a bunch of different names - I knew it as Dtap. This is a combination vaccine and I want to do more research to see which of the illnesses it covers is related to the GBS).

The reason I initiated this research now is because yesterday Hailey had a follow up appointment with her pediatrician for her GBS and they also did her 4 year old check up. I asked when I made the appointment if there were any shots at a 4 year old appointment, the receptionist told me no, so when the nurse told me, "It looks like she is due for her Prevnar vaccine today" I was thrown a little off guard. 1) I didn't prepare Hailey for a shot at this appointment and 2) definitly didn't think they would even consider doing any vaccine so soon after her hospitalization.

I trust her pediatrician. He diagnosed her GBS immediately. He called our house while we were at the hospital and spoke with my Mother In Law for updates. He called the hospital for updates. We called him a couple of times from the hospital for advice and second opinions. I questioned the Prevnar vaccine she was due for and the timing of giving it to her and he assured me that it's a dead virus so we didn't need to worry about it with the GBS. He also said her case of GBS seems to be a very freaky thing. Hers wasn't caused by a previous vaccine, but by a virus she had a few weeks before (or the cold she was almost 2 weeks into when she stated showing signs). It was a vaccine she had already gotten before. She had no side effects from before, so she shouldn't this time. So I gave the permission to give her the booster.

All evening Hailey complained that her arm was sore. I figure she tensed up, that always makes it hurt more. This morning and afternoon, if you touched her arm, she said "Ow!" and said her arm was still sore. Tonight at the store I noticed a splotchy looking mark at the injection site. My first thought was to call the pediatrician, however, after going to the CDC website, this seems to be a normal reaction for this vaccine so I gave her a dose of tylenol for the soreness. Tried getting her to put ice on it while watching TV but she wouldn't.

I kick myself for not sticking with my gut that its too soon for any vaccines. Her immune system is probably still healing from the GBS. Maybe it is a normal reaction, but right now I am super paranoid about anything making her sick again and this little side effect just has my nerves going even more than before.

If you have any information about vaccines and GBS I'd love to hear it! I was concentrating on getting Hailey healed, and now that she is, I am trying to educate myself further about everything.