Hudson Valley Parent

HVP October 2016

Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/735276

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 17 of 39

18 Hudson Valley Parent n October 2016 By KAREN MASERJIAN SHAN L ike with her three other children, Tracy Daly of the Town of Beekman had her fourth child, Robbie, vaccinat- ed according to the rec- ommended schedule. But her son, who is 5 and has Down syn- drome, soon fell behind on his immunizations because of delays from the multiple surgeries for cataracts, tonsillitis, adenoid removal and other conditions. "One year, he ended up with nine surgeries," says Daly, who is execu- tive director of the Down Syndrome Association of the Hudson Valley, a volunteer organization established by a group of parents in the 1980s to increase community awareness of Down syndrome. "It was hard to stay on schedule. You don't want to vaccinate two weeks before or after surgery." Then her son's behavior changed after he got a Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination. "He was ornery, sluggish, not 'with it' for a good three months," she adds. Because of Robbie's reaction, Daly decided against further immu- nizations for him. Daly said the Down Syndrome Association of the Hudson Valley follows the vaccination guide- lines of National Down Syndrome Society, which recommends that children with special needs follow Vaccines for children with special needs

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Hudson Valley Parent - HVP October 2016