The Parents' Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations: From Newborns to Teens, Practical Medical and Natural Ways to Protect Your Child

by Lauren Feder

As a physician trained in both standard and holistic medicine–and as a parent herself–Lauren Feder, M.D., presents the facts about vaccinations.

If you have chosen to vaccinate your children, she offers both practical medical and natural remedies to avoid possible side effects.

If you have chosen not to vaccinate your children, she offers natural medicines to strengthen your child’s immune system, along with tips on how to deal with legal exemptions, school requirements, and medical insurances.

If you’re just not sure what to do, she offers a balanced and easy-to-understand discussion of the issues, explaining the truth about the effectiveness of vaccinations, side effects, and much more.

With information on the latest available vaccinations for teens (including the meningococcal and HPV vaccinations), as well as new schedules for childhood vaccinations, The Parents’ Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations is a comprehensive and reassuring guide to help you make the right decision for your child.

Genres: Parenting, Health, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful book on the controversial subject of vaccines. The author is a medical doctor who specializes in holistic medicine and I believe she wrote with a balanced view on the subject. The pros and cons were given, as well as the possible complications with both the vaccine and the complications of contracting the disease/illness. Definitely a helpful resource for parents!

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

The late Lauren Feder was a "holistic" doctor and homeopath who misspent her career spreading misinformation about vaccination while minimizing the danger of vaccine-preventable disease, including in this book (which also contains bogus fearmongering about water fluoridation and amalgam fillings).

This gem still appears on the Feder practice website: "New: We now have a section in our Homeopathy Department for high dilution/ high vibration Special Orders for difficult to treat organisms that plague humanity and difficult to diagnose and treat metals. For example: We love our Mold Mix - patients who sample it for free in our office are amazed at how their sinuses open and drain within 2-5 minutes!"

Yes, dilute a drug until it's nothing more than water (homeopathy), vibrate it and hey presto, magic cure!

More here on Feder's pseudoscientific pronouncements in regards to whooping cough:

sciencebasedmedicine dot org/mothering-peddling-health-misinformation-and-misinformed-consent/

This is not someone whose advice you'd want to take on protecting your children from serious diseases.

[Amanda Palmeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. what insight and information! explained simply and clearly in a short book. Thank I came across this!

[Penny Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

[Kenneth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contains little more than the FDA vaccine package inserts and repeated advertisements to buy the author’s other book.

[Rochelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was overall informative, but I definitely wouldn't say it was wholly unbiased.
Couple of issues I had with the book:
Citing Wakefield, whose data was found to be falsified in regards to vaccines causing autism is irresponsible and not confidence-inspiring for the rest of the book's information. I did not check to compare the book's publication date with the date of the truth being revealed (Wakefield was found guilty by the General Medical Council of serious professional misconduct in May 2010) but it leaves doubt to the rest of the claims.

Citing information that the old formulation of DTP caused problems that the new formulation (DTaP) doesn't have seems to try and discredit the vaccination, or confuse the reader. Yes, it's fair to mention that vaccines have been linked to problems in the past but not done in a way to attempt to confuse readers with the current vaccination. I think this type of information should be presented in a different section, rather than in a current vaccine section.

I cannot stand when I read articles or books stating that it's safest to split up the MMR shot yet nobody ever tells you how to go about doing this!!

I agree that the author wasn't entirely impartial. However, I was convinced to give my child the HIB shot after reading this book (DS#1 did not get that vax); she maybe didn't come straight out and say get this vaccination, but she did say that many patients in her practice do opt to get it.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book in the hopes of learning more about the other side of the vaccination debate, given the recent outbreak of measles. The author is a doctor, so I assumed she would provide thorough scientific explanations and at the very minimum answer the questions listed on the back of the book's cover (example: "do vaccines really cause autism?"). She fails to do so - much of the writing is fluff.

[Jennifer Roff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Feder offers fair descriptions of common childhood vaccines. This book includes information about the diseases, treatments, vaccine options, arguments for and against each vaccine, and side effects of each vaccine. This book was just what I was looking for - an informative collection of vaccine facts, without bias, so we could make our own decisions.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great introduction to the issue of childhood vaccinations. The author is a holistic pediatrician who chose not to vaccinate her children. It's a quick read with concrete recommendations for parents on either side of the question. However, the title says it all; it is, indeed, a concise guide. Reading it is like tipping your toe in the topic. I found it to be a great starting point.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Feder is a physician trained in both standard and holistic medicine. She gives both pro and anti-vaccination viewpoints. She also discusses the role of Government, Pharmaceutical Companies and Insurance. She offers an easy to understand discussion on the pros and anti vaccinations, side effects and possible remedies. A must for all parents.

[Quin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little tract is skinny so a lot of things needed to be left out, light real discussion and citations. If you are certain that you don't want any vaccinations for your child, read this one and stop. Otherwise make it a part of your reasearch, call it a bookend.

[Adam Shaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like a balanced view that just presented the facts, but I could be biased. It was informative and helpful. I feel like we'll be able to make wise decisions about vaccinating as we interact with JJ's pediatrician.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

useful. somewhat non-biased presentation of pros & cons of vaccines by a homeopathic pediatrician. Good charts on the risks and benefits for each vaccine and the risks with the associated disease/condition

[Jenny Matzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative and non-biased about giving parents the facts on common childhood diseases and vaccinations. It was very helpful about helping my husband and I decide what route to take for childhood vaccinations for our twin girls.

[Charissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a good guide for a person who is concerned about vaccine safety. It even had some information that the very thorough The Vaccine Book by Robert Sears didn't have.