After reading this book all parents will understand 1) what vaccines are required for your children, and when; 2) what the different vaccines are made of; 3) the efficacy of the vaccines (and for how long they remain effective); 4) the range and rates of reactions to the vaccines; 5) your options related to the timing of the vaccines; 6) precautions that you can take on behalf of your children (including commercially available vaccine alternatives free of controversial additives); 7) an alternative vaccine schedule that Dr. Cave developed based on her experience (that really helped me a lot). Finally, if you choose to be a 'conscientious objector', the author provides information on how to prevent your child being jabbed without your consent.

In addition, all of Dr. Cave's research is referenced at the end of each paragraph should you wish to do additional research (I personally found that this was unnecessary however!). I am very relieved to have found this book prior to my daughter's first vaccination - I now feel completely educated on the (sometimes very emotional) topic of vaccinations. Whether you ultimately elect to have your child vaccinated to the extent that is recommended by health departments is up to you - but with this book you will be armed to the gills with the information you need to be confident about making those important decisions. This book is definitely a keeper. Once again, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!


a must read BEFORE your child gets vaccinated...invaluable!   September 30, 2001
 131 out of 144 found this review helpful

This book encourages parents "...to be equal partners with doctors in deciding which vaccines their children should get and when they should get them." The way this book achieves this goal is by offering important medical information in easy to understand terms. "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You..." provides detailed info on the various vaccines currently required/suggested by state and federal governments; reviewing indepth the history of the diseases and related vaccines, ingredients used to make and preserve the vaccines, background studies and recent research available on a variety of the vaccines and also a risk/benefit analysis per vaccination. What this book offers (that your doctor's office may not) is a look at both sides of the vaccination issue and gives YOU a well-rounded resource package so you can best decide when/what vaccines to give your child. Factors that can influence your decision include any known allergies, reactions to previous vaccinations, family history of autoimmune diseases and more. Also a help to parents is a list of precautions parents can take when their children get vaccinated and also a recommended schedule (that differs from the government's) for childhood vaccinations. This alternative vaccination timeline allows you to operate within the guidelines of the government mandate that all children receive a certain number of shots prior to entering school, but attempts to spread out the vaccinations for minimum exposure to risk and negative side effects. Did you know many vaccines used today include ingredients such as mercury, formaldehyde, ethylene glycol (a main ingredient in antifreeze) and more? Would you consume those poisons? Of course not, but vaccine manufacturers (and the CDC and FDA) seem to think it's okay for our kids to receive these poisons ad nauseam. Fortunately, each of today's required vaccinations come with a mercury-free alternative, but many doctors are still using those with mercury and you must request the safer alternative. Research and vaccination injury reporting systems indicate possible and/or obvious links to multiple adverse effects including irreparable diseases and death, but many doctors, educators and government institutions refuse to consider those possibilities, as it may endanger the successful mass-vaccination programs currently employed in this country. Included in this book is a discussion of the possible exemptions available to parents, which may include religious, medical or philosophical, depending upon the state in which you live. If you're not willing to trust this author's approach, there's a list of multiple resources at the end of the book allowing you to do your own research and form your own further educated opinion.


Finally! A comprehensive plan to tackle vaccination concerns   January 10, 2002
 35 out of 38 found this review helpful

Dr. Stephanie Cave does an outstanding job explaining the ins and outs of the vaccine controversy. As a new parent, I never realized the importance of researching the effects of vaccines until my child suffered a reaction. Every new parent should study this book. The choice to vaccinate your child should be a personal one and should be made only when the parent has thoroughly educated themselves on the subject. Dr. Cave makes that process easier with simple explanations for a complicated medical issue. She also provides a proactive plan for a safer vaccination protocol to guide parents on the best way possible to protect their children from both the diseases the vaccines may prevent and the side effects they may cause. This information has been needed for a long time! Thanks Dr. Cave.


Informative but slightly manipulative   August 21, 2003
 30 out of 38 found this review helpful

I read "What Your Doctor May Not Tell..." in a flurry of anxiety in the weeks leading up to the first scheduled vaccination.

The book is meticulously researched and well organized. Each vaccine has its own chapter that details the disease and the history of the particular vaccine. In addition, each chapter has a summary of existing research on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. There are also moving vignettes that describe childrens' adverse reactions to vaccines and speculation on the connection of chronic syndromes such as autism to a particular vaccine. Finally, the author provides her opinions and insights regarding the usefulness and safety of each vaccine.

What makes this book somewhat problematic is that real dangers (older versions of vaccines and rare adverse reactions to vaccines) are mixed in with speculative dangers. The author connects the upsetting stories of autism-revealed with speculation on the dangers of vaccines. The combination is powerful and scary -- but not actually informative. In the end, I felt manipulated both by the book and by our pediatrician's description of the symptoms of whooping cough.

Its hard to make decisions about your child's well being. This book helps you become informed regarding vaccines and the diseases they (hopefully) prevent. Unfortunately, you may have to work a bit harder than necessary to separate fact from speculation.