Anti-vaxxers are neglecting their children?

[sallycinnamonn]

Having a conversation with a friend about this whole anti-vaxxers malarkey.

She made an interesting point saying when a parent chooses not to vaccinate their child, it should be seen as neglect, as they are failing to protect them and their wellbeing and are putting them at risk of disease/death. It should be considered neglect just as it would be if the parent was putting them at risk of disease/death through placing them in a inadequate, unsafe environment etc.

I don't agree with anti-vaxxers but have never thought about it this way before. What are your opinions on it being considered as neglect? I'm interested to see what others have to say about her opinion.

[MmmBlowholes]

I agree. It is neglect.

[RainbowAlicorn]

I agree with you. It should he classed as neglect.

[RainbowAlicorn]

It should be, even.

[NailsNeedDoing]

It would be utterly ridiculous to consider it neglect when a child is well loved, fed, cared for, and educated just because a parent has chosen to risk an illness rather than vaccine damage.

There are risks to most things in life that we choose to do, you can't consider them all neglect.

[AllBellsNoWhistles]

It's neglectful.
It's high time the goverment made it a legal requirement.
Diseases that caused death, disfigurement and disability had literally been eradicated. Now it's returning due to anti vaxxers.
When you see a child that has a lifetime of blindness or deafness due to contacting measles or similar because the parents refused to vaccinate, it's heartbreaking.
To subject a child to such a life changing disability in order to follow your own beliefs should be made a criminal offence.

Sorry if that sounds like a rant, but it's something that is very close to my heart.

[LittleAndOften]

It's more like neglect for humanity. A self-centred approach that pays no heed to the vulnerabilities of other children, the elderly, immuno-compromised or just unlucky members of the population who are susceptible because of the actions of anti-vaxxers. It's mind-blowing selfish to rely on the collective immunity of those who have bothered to vaccinate.

[RippleEffects]

Don't vaccines work on herd protection - by the vast majority taking them the disease has little chance to take hold and therefore those who opt out/ can't vacinate/ vaccines don't work for are protected.

By so many people opting out the herd protection is lost and the vulnerable are exposed to diseases that were previously near eradicated. Thasnt that why we've lost our measels free status as a country. I had the measles vaccine and a nasty bout if measles - I remember the hulucinations too clearly (i was 4, it was the 70's so a long time ago) it's not fun.

The effect on society is beyond neglect on one child.

But to charge individuals with neglet is also rather a strong arm tactic. Most people I've spoken to who are antivaxers are scared of the potential tiny risks associated with vaccines. Missinformation has done so much damage. I think we may need some hard cutting government information shorts like back in the 70's to remind of the horrors of the diseases that people don't feel the need to vacinate against. Its not a choice of no vaccine so no risk vs tiny risk. Its very nasty disease risk vs tiny risk.

[HulksPurplePanties]

It's piss poor parenting certainly. As would be feeding your child an all junk food diet, or letting them watch tv 24/7, or stay up too late. Piss poor parenting, but sadly, not in the realm of real neglect or abuse.

[WhatNoNotYouAgain]

It's piss poor parenting certainly. As would be feeding your child an all junk food diet, or letting them watch tv 24/7, or stay up too late. Piss poor parenting, but sadly, not in the realm of real neglect or abuse

Given that it can result in the death of not only that child but other children too, I don't agree it's the same as the other things you mention.

[TeacherDeMFL]

Y e s

[PaddyF0dder]

I agree. Vaccine refusal should trigger a child protection enquiry. I’m completely serious.

[HulksPurplePanties]

Given that it can result in the death of not only that child but other children too, I don't agree it's the same as the other things you mention.

Another reason it can't simply be watered down to neglect. This is a massive societal issue. Charging the individual parents with neglect is the wrong answer, it will just fan the flames.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

It’s neglect- the parent is leaving their child exposed to life threatening/ altering illnesses

[Mooey89]

I think it can certainly point to a wider picture if There are other neglectfil factors present.

Sadly often it’s a decision made with best of intentions - it’s just a misjudged one.

The consequences are severe and it’s so very selfish.

[Dozydog]

I have a disabled child and have previously had disability social services on my case because they mistakenly thought I wasn't giving my child a medication ( not for anything life threatening or going to cause long term problems if they didn't have it). I think it is an interesting double standard.

[Andromeida59]

Of course it should be considered neglect in the same way a child not wearing a seatbelt would be. Both are preventative measures to protect the child and those around them.

[darkriver19886]

I agree. It's not just risking their child its risking other children as well.

[HulksPurplePanties]

Of course it should be considered neglect in the same way a child not wearing a seatbelt would be. Both are preventative measures to protect the child and those around them.

That's an interesting, and perhaps apt comparison. The push to make kids use seatbelts is over 40 years old, and when it started parents were certainly not automatically charged with neglect for not using them, rather, awareness campaigns were used. Once we, as a society, could honestly say there is no way people don't know its safer to buckle their kids in could we classify it as neglect.

The same has to go for vaccines. Right now these idiots parents honestly think they are doing the right thing for their kids.

[MolyHolyGuacamole]

@NailsNeedDoing

It would be utterly ridiculous to consider it neglect when a child is well loved, fed, cared for, and educated just because a parent has chosen to risk an illness rather than vaccine damage.

If a child is all of the above, but the parents choose to not put their child in a car seat, as they didn't grow up with them and 'turned out fine', is that not neglect?

You can take good care of your child and still put them at risk because of your stupid choices.

[trixiebelden77]

If you think the risk of ‘vaccine damage’ is greater than the risk of death or serious morbidity from a vaccine preventable illness than you are very stupid indeed, and have certainly not bothered to familiarise yourself with reputable evidence.

No matter how much love you feel, prioritising your own right to be ignorant over your child’s wellbeing is certainly negligent.

[mummymeister]

all the publicity programmes arent going to work in persuading anti vaxxers. neither is stigmatising them by saying that this is neglect. the only thing that works is exclusion. other countries and their stances have proven this beyond doubt. if your child isnt vaccinated then they cant take up their school place, nursery place or anything else. One persons human right to not have their child vaccinated is not more important than other peoples to protect their child from these diseases particularly those who are immunocompromised. I would bring this in as law asap before we start seeing the outcome of a measles outbreak.

[JenniR29]

It’s neglect.

I will say that social media has a lot to answer for though, you only need to go on one of the well known anti-vaxx groups to see what kind of scaremongering and propaganda they are peddling.

They are preying on any parents worst fears and if you don’t have the education to know it’s lies and pseudoscience then I can see how people can be taken in.

[MolyHolyGuacamole]

@Dozydog very good point!

[TidyDancer]

It is definitely neglect and clearly terrible parenting but I agree that the way to deal with it is not investigating it as such, but rather exclusion from school etc. I'm not a fan of strong arm tactics normally but this is too important not to deal with in that way.