Customer Reviews
Informative read 
2008-08-09
I found this book to be very informative in regards to diseases and the history of vaccines.
Amazing book! 
2008-06-15
I think that Wendy Lydall has a wonderful, inviting way of writing, which would walk any new parent through this contentious issue. She seems to combine the rigour of a researcher with the wisdom of a mother, who has lived out the issues discussed on the book. This book is as much about Wendy's journey as it is about vaccination. I totally recommend this book to anyone who has ever doubted the claims of Western, modern medicine.
Well Written and Easy To Read 2008-06-12
I highly recommend this book to any parent who is seeking information about vaccination. I found Raising a Vaccine Free Child to be well researched, well written and easy to read. It is exactly the book I needed when my first child came along. Wendy Lydall provides a scientifically referenced case against vaccination as well as providing helpful information about infectious diseases. Not only has this book given me a great insight into the scientific, social and financial history of vaccination, but it has given me confidence in my decision not to vaccinate.
Poorly written 
2008-03-21
I was also very disappointed in the poor writing/editing. There is some good scientific information in this book but it's very poorly organized. Most of the book talks about the harmful effects of vaccinations and not about "raising a vaccine free child" as the title suggests. The author gives no credentials or BIO. She only covers a few of the vaccine preventable diseases. She is obviously extremely anti vaccination so this would not be a suitable book for someone who is still undecided or coming from the mainstream.
GREAT BOOK 2007-12-17
If you are questioning vaccines this is a wonderful book. The author does not think vaccines are the worst thing ever- some books out there are SO overboard. She is very insightfull and the book is refrenced. Her daughter had whooping cough and the author explains what she went through. It tells you what to do if your child gets one of these illnesses. It is a wonderful book. I loved it.
Best book on vaccination 2007-12-13
This book provides parents with a comprehensive, scientifically-based guide to the facts, myths, problems and solutions associated with raising a vaccine free child. It helps them protect their children both from the wiles of the vaccine industry and from harmful germs. With 467 references, there are no trendy anti-vaccination myths in this book. Readers will learn that immunization is not the reason for the absence of some infectious diseases, that insidious, long-term side effects are very common, and that there is a media blackout on the topics of vaccine side effects and vaccine failures. Understanding the difference between childhood illnesses and the other infectious diseases is the key to understanding immunisation. This book advises parents on how to bring children safely through childhood illnesses like measles and whooping cough, and discusses medical and non-medical prevention and treatment of the non-childhood infectious diseases. The myth that herd immunity exists paves the way for the persecution of non-compliant health-conscious families. The information in this book empowers parents of vaccine free children to withstand the accusation that they are spoiling herd immunity. A look at the early documents regarding vaccination reveals that it is an unscientific procedure that is based on falsehood, cruelty and supposition.
Tetanus? 
2007-11-23
What happens when you child contracts tetanus?
"The natural reservoir of C. tetani is soil, where it is a ubiquitous resident..." (Madigan & Martinko. Pg. 904)
"Treatment of acute symptomatic tetanus involves administration of antibiotics, usually penicillin, to stop growth and toxin production by C. tetani; administration of antitoxin to prevent binding of newly released toxin to cells, and supportive therapy such as sedation, muscle relaxants, and mechanical respiration to control the effects of paralysis. Treatment at this level cannot provide a reversal of symptoms, since toxin that is already bound to tissues cannot be neutralized. Even with antitoxin, antibiotics, and supportive therapy, tetanus patients have SIGNIFICANT MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY." (Madigan & Martinko. Pg. 904)
"To cause tetanus, spores must be deposited deep in tissues, where oxygen is unavailable. This occurs in deep cuts and puncture wounds. Stepping on a rusty nail has a reputation for leading to tetanus, but it is tetanus endospores, not rust, that cause the disease--a shiny new nail can be just as dangerous if spores are present." (Black. Pg. 732)
So what are you going to do once your kid cuts themselves outdoors and tetanus is a grim possibility? Give them herbs and orange juice? Your child will die more than likely. Better keep them in a bubble!
SOURCES:
Black, Jacquelyn G. Microbiology: Principles and Explorations. 6th ed. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005.
Madigan, Michael T., and John M. Martinko. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 11th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.
A must have... 2007-10-10
This is a must have book for those raising or planning on raising (or even wanting to know about raising!) a vaccine free child.
I learned a great deal about all of the VPDs (vaccine preventable diseases) and how to properly treat them - something most people aren't aware of anymore!
This is well laid out, researched, and cited. I highly recommend it!
Ignorant , dangerous ideas 2007-09-21
Who is Wendy Lydall anyway? The so-called expertise in this loopy book appears to have come from People magazine. You can bet that Ms. Lydall was vaccinated as a child. Why in the world would she want her children (and yours) to remain susceptible to some of the most awful and crippling diseases that can today be easily prevented.
She makes whooping cough sound like a bad case of the flu. She doesn't tell you that it has a 1% death rate with seizures and brain damage in 5%.
She says that vaccines have not caused the decline in incidence of pertussis, diptheria, polio, smallpox, yellow fever, tetanus, tuberculosis, hepatitis,hemophilus, meningitis, influenza, measles, mumps, rabies, rubella, typhoid and chickenpox. She says the declines in incidence were caused by some natural "cycle". She gives no evidence for this extraordinary claim, but expects you to swallow it.
She berates "callous irresponsible medical officials", but overlooks the fact that medical people are responsible for producing the huge improvements in public health over the last century.
This book would be funny if it wasn't so dangerous.
Awesome Book! 2007-01-11
Lydall's book provides tons of great information on vaccinations from the history to homeopathic cures for childhood diseases. She tells of her experiences with childhood diseases and the effects of vaccinations.
I would also like to add that I have done a little research beyond this book and for those that are interested in natural health for their children check out Sharon Broer's book "Train Up Your Children In the Way They Should Eat." Breastmilk all the way! If you for whatever reason can't breastfeed she gives you a great homemade formula! Also check into cod liver oil - they use to give it to children all the time to help protect them from childhood diseases. My grandparents never had a vaccine, but took cod liver oil as children and they never had a childhood disease! My husband and I take cod liver oil and I now give it to our 6-month-old daughter.
If it was made by God it's good. If it was made by man check the label and check it twice.
God bless you!
