Should i my baby be vaccinated for the non-required vaccinations?

Yes: Some vaccine are not required for school entry, but that doesn't mean they aren't important. The diseases these vaccine prevent can be harmful, even fatal. In my state, illinois, the meningitis vaccine for older children (11 years and up) is not required. But meningitis, though rare, is a horrible disease with severe consequences, including death. Get all the vaccines your doctor recommends.

No: Depends on what you mean by "required" and how you weigh risks and benefits. For example, hepatitis A vaccine is not required by many US states for school entry, but would be a good idea to consider if traveling to a country where hepatitis A is common. Would I recommend it for all children in the US? No.

Yes: The answer to this question really depends! if your baby will be attending daycare and has bad reflux for example-- you should strongly consider the rotavirus vaccine. However, if your child will be at home with you- no church/gym nursery, no older siblings/cousins, etc- you may opt to defer that vaccine. This question is best discussed with your doctor who can provide the best guidance~.

Yes: Requirements are unimportant. Your baby's health and safety is preeminent! vaccines are safe and effectve. Experts spend a great deal of time studying vaccines for effectiveness and safety. Their recommendations, once made shoud be the guide to which vaccines you should have.

Yes: Only vaccinate against the illnesses you don't want your child to die from. Put another way, all vaccine preventable illnesses are potentially fatal, why wouldn't you want your child kept safe?

Yes: I'm a huge fan of vaccines - the best public health initiative of the 20th century. Any vaccine offered to your baby has been rigorously tested - specifically for the health of infants. If you have any questions, i would recommend immunizationinfo.Org for specific non-biased (i.e. Non-vaccine company-funded) information. Or, talk to your provider.

Yes: "non-required" vaccines are sometimes for protection from lower-severity illnesses, compared to the severe illnesses of epidemic proportions that the "required" vaccines act against. Chicken pox vaccine changed from non-required to required in recent years. Hepatitis a, pneumococcal, and rotavirus vaccines are non-required but are good vaccines. They protect against several serious infections.

Yes: Vaccinations protect your baby from disease.

Yes: There are many vaccines that will help your baby very much even if they aren't "required'. Hepatitis a and rotavirus are good examples, highly recommended but usually not required. There are circumstances that increase the importance of the recommended vaccines, such as travel outside the us, daycare environments and certain illnesses. Have an open discussion with your doctor about any concerns.