Book Review: The Vaccine Book

This will be my shortest book review ever.

Come on, don't be that excited!

The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, by Robert W. Sears, M.D.,m F.A.A.P, is the most comprehensive and understandable vaccine book out there. Okay, I confess, I haven't read them all if any...but I can't see how any book could beat this one!

Dr. Sears walks through EVERY vaccine our children receive in their pediatric life-time, and lists out not only each vaccine maker and label, BUT EVERY INGREDIENT. I'm not joking. This book is truly comprehensive in every sense of the term.

He talks about the vaccine side-effects, the frequency of your child actually getting those side-effects, the likelihood of getting that particular illness if your child isn't vaccinated, the dangers in getting the illness (discusses minor to fatal outcomes (if any)), treatment for those who get the disease, why some parents choose not to get the vaccine. and what to consider when traveling. Yeah, as I said, COMPREHENSIVE! There are five chapters at the end of the book that discuss the following topics: "Combination Vaccines, Vaccines for Travel, and Vaccines for Other Special Situations", "Vaccine Safety Research", "Vaccine Side Effects", "Vaccine Ingredients [which talks about why it's in the vaccine and the risks involved with some ingredients]", and "Myths and Questions about Vaccines". Do I need to say it again? Okay, I will...C-O-M-P-R-E-H-E-N-S-I-V-E!!

Ultimately, Dr. Sears leaves you, the reader, with the choice of whether or not to get a certain vaccine--this is a nice change from regular pediatricians who leave you feeling without a choice; however, he does not leave you high and dry in making that choice. Every chapter that discusses a vaccine ends with a section called, "The Way I See It". I found this section to be VERY HELPFUL. It's nice to have a doctor's opinion, whether or not I agree with it--although, I did find myself agreeing with him in nearly every circumstance (I'm a theologian, not a vaccine specialist or a pediatric doctor...at some point, I have to defer to those who know more...whether I like it or not...).

But here is the truly awesome thing about this book: it doesn't end with just a whopping load-full of information that you are left to decipher and figure out...helplessly. The book ends with the chapter: "What Should You Do Now?" Hey, what? Really? You are going to lend me a hand in figuring out what I should do with my child(ren)? Nuh-uh! In this chapter you find the ever helpful ALTERNATE VACCINE SCHEDULE! Yes, I'm yelling. This alternate schedule is awesome and I'm yelling to express my love for it. I haven't used the schedule yet, but I plan to when Baby Jack is born. I can't wait to, once again, swim upstream in the mainstream of Doctors! Oh, boy...and I proclaim that I really don't like conflict. HA HA HA HA!

He even takes the time to address those parents who delay or decline vaccinations. And, he respects them. Yeah, it's true, he's really a doctor. I know, a foreign concept!

Dr. Sears truly addresses every aspect of Vaccines and Vaccinating/Not Vaccinating/Delaying Vaccinating. No stone is left unturned; and, if by chance he couldn't turn it over, he admits it and tells you to check his website (www.TheVaccineBook.com) for updates. He is humble (he admits he doesn't know everything) and loves what he does (he loves children and respects you as the parent). To top it off, as if this book were not awesome enough, Dr. Sears peppers this book with a lot of humor. Who knew vaccines could be fodder for laughter!

I laughed, I learned, and I am all the more better for it. A truly great read (well written) and a must have for all parents currently undergoing the vaccination down-pour of their child's early life!

I highly recommend this book.