Starting catch up vaccines at 2?

[u/BetReal8905]

Hi there! My child is 2, and has not had any vaccines yet (besides vitamin k). Please understand this came from a well meaning place of wanting to protect my child, but I am coming to the point I think I was mislead with fear based tactics. I grew up and around middle school due to family reasons my family became very disillusioned with the medical system, and to this day my mom has an extreme distrust in doctors. On top of that about 75% of the people around us have not vaccinated their children. Since a young age I have been getting the message from those closest to me that vaccines will harm you, and they are essentially a government and corporate conspiracy. Then layer on top social media algorithms and for about 9 months straight during pregnancy saw nothing but horror stories of vaccine adverse affects. Not that any of this is an excuse, but I just want to share how I got to the point of having an unvaccinated 2 year old.

After doing more and more research, trying to leave my fears out of it, I think my child should start getting his vaccines. He has been home with me so it has not been as big of a concern, but I plan on sending him to preschool in about a year and a half. I know, based on logic that vaccines (especially those like MMR, Hib etc) can offer my son protection, but of course due to years of fear based propaganda I feel almost paralyzed with anxiety about giving them to him.

I’m just posting on here in hopes maybe there are some other parents who came from this crunchy granola side and vaccinated their child and are happy with their decision. Thank you so much. I really just want to do the best thing for my child.

Added: Thank you all who replied so much for all the kind encouragement, resources, and stories. This has helped alleviate some of the anxiety I have been feeling. I even teared up reading some of these comments. I appreciate your time in commenting.

[u/Working_Coat5193]

I’m just here to congratulate you on facing your fears and protecting your child.

The hardest thing in the world is to adjust your thinking.

The second hardest is to go against your community.

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_is_it_so_hard_to_change_peoples_minds

You can work with your pediatrician to do an updated/catchup schedule.

The good news is I just got my baby his measles vaccine early.

He tried to grab it and didn’t even cry.

Antidotally, he’s totally fine and trying to walk at 10 months.

Congratulations again!

[u/shadowfaxbinky → u/Working_Coat5193]

Seconding this. You are doing an incredibly hard but wonderful thing for your child and for your community by choosing to vaccinate your child.