Anti vax step mum

[vacci]

Nc
Really p'eed off. Received a message from step mum, we hsve minimal contact, has never met dc etc.
Step mum says
^Hi Hope you are well.
In the past I have mentioned that it is important to do your research before you vaccinate. It is a subject I have avoided with you as you were not and probably are not receptive to. But still I feel I should try as there are many parents of vaccine injured children who say they wish they had done their research. Vaccines can and do injure children. The more personal stories I hear the more I am convinced that you may have been injured too and that some of your issues go back to vaccines you most likely had as a child. Please for your sake and for dc's sake do more research. ^
I have responded asking for clarity on which issues she is referring to (I hope not autism)
I am yet to receive a response.

I just wondered how everyone responds to family members/ friends who overstep the mark when it comes to things like vaccines?

Any articles or great arguments for vaccines are welcome.

I don’t think this warrants a response at all. If she wants to have a child and not vaccinate them, that’s her choice but it’s nothing to do with yours. If I responded at all to this insanity, it would be to tell her to piss off.

Don't respond.

And it has to do with her what exactly?
It's your child and your decision. Do what you think is right, not what others think.

I'd send her links to articles about children injured by preventable illnesses. Or there's stories about women in developing countries who travel for days to take their kids to vaccine clinics. They always get me.

Ultimately though, you won't change her mind and it's hilariously rude that she's calling you vaccine damaged

Is this your step mum or the step mum of your own kids? If the former, just ignore. If the latter, if be having a word with both her and the kids' dad in case she poisoning his mind with her nonsense!

Shed get a two word reply from me. One of them would be off.

Just ignore her. Clearly batshit.

I would respond "I am well thanks, thanks to the vaccinations I had as a child"

Tell her to Google "2019 Samoa measles outbreak". If that isn't enough, nothing will be.

So this is your step mother telling you you’re ‘ vaccine damaged’ and to do your research before vaccinating your children?
Fuck off springs to mind.

That is batshit! Even if she is an anti vaxer, her views were not asked for, not relevant and she was incredibly rude.
Ive never had anyone overstep the mark like that, so I have no real advice except to avoid and ignore as much as possible.

If you’ve got a DC with autism, I imagine that is what she’s wanging on about. We have a child with autism and Its surprising to me how many people ask did we vaccinate/seem to think that’s why. I put it down to ignorance. However your step mum sounds very rude, basically calling you closed minded & vaccine damaged & she’d have got a two word answer from me too.

@PirateWeasel Sorry she is my step mum. Quite a backstory but moved out at 15/16 haven't seen her or 'd'f since.
Thanks for the article suggestions.
I agree, nothing at all to do with her. But this isn't the first time she's mentioned it.
I have a feeling she mentioned it as dc was premature and often ill and recently had meningitis which resulted in being in hospital, so 'd'f probably told her which is why she's come up with the vaccine nonsense again.
I just want to write something informative.

@autumnboys I'm the one with autism and various other chronic illnesses which I suspect she's referring to.
Sorry to hear you have to hear that too. The worst thing is, it would take only a minute of research to know that the autism links are rubbish. I can listen to other arguments but that one is a non-starter

Ignore her.

If you feel that you must reply, send something along the lines of:

I have done my research and am confident in my decision to vaccinate my children. Please do not mention this to me again. It is not up for discussion.

Whilst I am a "vaccination causes adults" person I do admire how determined and passionate anti-vaxxers are.
You could just meet her with your own research but remember that you don't have to explain your parenting choices to her.

Huggybear16 has the adult grown up answer, but knowing me I'd probably end up telling her how incredibly rude she is. And she is incredibly stupid to believe all that shite!

“Thank you for your concern.”

Then blank the crazy sod.

My son nearly died at 13 months old as his birth mother chose not to have him vaccinated after his first set of baby vaccines. As a result he has missing toes which has an impact on how he walks and could cause severe foot problems in old age. It has also caused him to be hearing impaired. He got off very very lightly, he could have lost limbs, suffered brain damage or died.

I’m sure your step mum would be happy to travel to areas with for example ebola and not have the ebola vaccine?

Your never going to change her mind. I am a biomedical scientist and have spent long periods of time reading scientific articles to disprove the same crack pot theories my mother comes out with.
The problem with science is you cant prove a negative so while the autism link has been thoroughly debunked some others have not been to the same level. Another issue is the tiniest chance of an adverse effect which vaccines carry is something that antvaxxers jump on. They dont realise any minuscule chance of an adverse reaction is significantly lower then potential complications of a disease.
If this is a person you have minimal contact with I would ignore it. Or simply reply with I will do what's in the best interest of my child and then vaccinate your child.

Do you think any of your chronic illnesses could have been triggered by a vaccination?

DD has ME and there are lots of children with ME whose parents are convinced it was triggered by a vaccination, mainly HPV. I'm pro vaccination, DD has had all hers and I don't believe for a second her ME was caused by any of them.

But I do think in some fewer cases it can be the last straw for a body that's already struggling. I know a very intelligent lady who is 100% convinced her ME was triggered by her flu jab for that reason. And for teen girls I can see how a stressed body going through many hormonal changes and a genetic predisposition could be triggered.

But if your step-mum is talking about your autism, she's batshit. And ignore her.

I have an uncle who's similar, always on about some pseudo science bullshit or other. I don't think there;s any way of actually getting through to people like this. The more sensible evidence you provide the more they take it as proof of some huge conspiracy or cover up.

Just thank her kindly for the information and completely ignore it.

ignore as a stupid waste of oxygen. Or reply asking how she thinks it can be that there is now no smallpox.

love 'vaccination causes adults' !!! Bet she's vaccinated, the selfish stupid woman.

some of your issues go back to vaccines you most likely had as a child

Sounds to me OP like the only ongoing issue you have is having a total tw*t for a stepmother.

If you feel you have to respond and want to keep the peace, tell her thank for her input and you will take it on board. You don't need to tell her whether you vaccinate, it should never come up.

However, I for one will be very disappointed with you if you take that option!

Tell her to jog on and continue bringing up your children as you have so far, happy, healthy and alive

I’d ignore her.