Some Alternative Ways
   The fundamental yogic stance on disease prevention of all kinds is that - through a healthy diet, a healthy lifestyle, and avoiding contact with sick and unhealthy people - each person should be developing their own antibodies to whatever pathogens may be lurking in the environment at a rate which is not instrumental in producing harmful side effects or subtly damaging the body's own immune system defences. Interfering with this natural process by the introduction of artificial quantities of artificial substances into a tiny baby's bloodstream, would seem most likely to disturb the very mechanisms at the most crucial time which can best protect us against invasion for the whole of our life. This approach includes: full breastfeeding until as late as possible, not introducing solids too early, lots of physical contact in the early weeks and months of baby's life (particularly skin to skin); clean food and water once your baby is on solids, meaning hygienic and free of chemicals; easily digestible foods (a sick or over loaded digestive system reduces immunity); reducing stress for your child both around the home and socially; providing lots of love and cuddles for a sense of well being.

   If, after considering the arguments here and from other alternative literature, you have doubts about vaccination but still wish to vaccinate your child, you do not in fact have to stick to the recommended schedule of shots. You have the right to tailor your child's shots when and how you wish. However, you may find this a hard road to take, as many doctors will tell you - "That is not possible because the vaccines are only made in mixtures" or "I can't get them in individual doses". Neither one of these statements is true and since you are requesting vaccination (to some degree) they are obliged to assist towards that. To achieve a compromise outcome, firstly do your homework about the risks and side effects of each vaccine; decide which ones you are most concerned about; decide how often you want your child suffering from those effects and simply make up your own schedule, or play it by ear as your child grows. If this is your path, my most strong recommenda-tion is to delay all shots until after the first year whilst adopting the alternative strategies of strengthening your child's natural immunity to disease as described above.

"There's Nothing to Be Too Worried About -
It's Within Acceptable Limits"

     In 1988, without much forethought, I took my first son Jack for his first vaccination, DTP, at the recommended age of 8 weeks. I remember feeling a bit anxious about the whole thing but was not given any information about its risks or side effects before the shot was adminis-tered. In a casual kind of way I enquired if there were any side effects I should know about, and in an equally casually way the doctor told me - "Nothing to be too worried about".
   I held Jack on my knee and the needle was given into his upper thigh. Immediately he began to scream. He continued screaming in the minutes afterwards as the doctor was finishing the consultation and I remember being ushered out the door with a screaming babe in arms, very shocked and upset. After breastfeeding him in the waiting room he eventually settled and we made our way home.
     About 8 pm that same night Jack awoke screaming in a high-pitched manner like I had never heard before. When I picked him up he was feverish, sweating, gagging and tensing with clenched fists and staring eyes. I could barely think straight for the noise. I rang the local children's hospital describing his symptoms and telling them he had had his first vaccination that day, and was given the advice to give him "Baby Panadol" (paracetamol). Since I didn't have any in the house at the time, having never needed it, and since my partner was at work with the car, it wasn't until 11 pm that I was able to alleviate my baby's suffering.