My 11yo suffered a severe reaction following her 15 months immunizations. She was diagnosed with vaccine induced encephalopathy, epilepsy and PDD-NOS and treated as a vaccine injured child by her neurologists. In November of 2008, she had been ill for a few weeks. After a later night with severe coughing and difficulty breathing, I needed to take her in to be seen by her pediatrician. When I called to schedule, I was told he was booked but that a colleague at another location could see her. I was hesitant because of her history, but accepted because I knew she needed treatment. When the doctor came in the room, he did a brief evaluation then asked me if she had her flu shot. I was exhausted from a night with no sleep and responded "I'm sorry, we don't do vaccines." I was too tired to go through the whole story with another doctor who would look for every possible reason to argue. But my statement enraged him. He proceeded to inform me that he was sick of parents like me who did not know what they were talking about. I asked him to please treat her current state and that we would rely on her treating physician for vaccine recommendations. But he wouldn't give up. He told me that I was a bad mother and not only was I endangering my child's life, but I was endangering the lives of every child we crossed paths with. After storming out of the office, without receiving the care we needed (it turned out that she had to be seen in urgent care), I completely fell apart. After vomiting in the parking lot, I called my husband who met me at home. This event forever changed my trust in doctors. We were fortunate to find another doctor who doesn't bully us, but still puts some pressure to vaccinate. I have come to accept that the only way to avoid it is to not take my children to the doctor. It is sad that it has come down to that.

I am a 39 year old teacher going back to school for my Master's degree and the University is requiring an MMR shot and a Tetnus Diptheria shot. I am undergoing fertility treatment and have refused and they will not let me register for my next class even though it is an off campus class.

After conducting 2 years of research, my husband and I have decided to delay our son's vaccines indefinately. After discussing (I use the term 'discussing' loosely; it wasn't much of a discussion) our decision with our pediatritian, we were mailed a certified letter dismissing us from his practice...and the bill. This makes me happy. I do not wish to spend my precious time or my hard-earned money in the office of a "professional" who can not or will not respect our decisions as parents.

I have three beautiful and very healthy children. My husband is a chiropractor and because his research and schooling, we decided not to vaccinate. We have been shunned by doctors and private schools. I have been called a "bad mother" by a doctor. I had a doctor refuse to even enter the room that I was in- I had to deal with the nurse only. My daughter was registered in preschool and the day before it was to begin, I received a phone call at work, that she could not attend due to her immunization status and the director refused to speak to me directly. She had all of her supplies, school clothes etc...how heartbreaking to tell her that she could not go to school. To make matters worse, the school reported us to Human Services as if we were child abusers. That case was dropped after I called Barbara Mularkey from Illinois Vaccine Coalition. She threatened to take them to court. What a woman!!! We have had no problems with public schools; however. We follow the guidelines that the state sets. We don't have a pediatrician as we could never find one to accept us. We rely on a small town doctor and the immediate care clinic. One downfall but my advice that I have always given to the growing number of parents that are re-thinking the whole vaccine thing is to - stay strong- don't give up on what you believe in, your child's health is more important than ANY rule or regulation- don't give in to the masses- and last but not least, get informed!!!

I received a notice from my daughters pediatrician that she was dismissed from service due to non compliance. When I called they informed me that because she was behind on her vaccines, they considered the tardiness a refusal to have her vaccinated. I never refused any vaccines nor do I have a problem with them. In fact she has received several vaccines 1 from that office in particular. They never sent me any prior notice or reminder before the dismissal and informed me that I needed to make my child's vaccines my first priority in life.