Anti vaccinations

[LL3]

So following on from a previous post. I’ve found myself in a group of anti-vaxxers basically and I really like them as people but I really dislike their views on vaccinations. It’s difficult as I didn’t know this before I became friends and now im not sure what to do…

Stop being so judgemental and focus on being friends?
I don’t agree with all of my friends views on everything but I don’t judge them for it

I don't judge people for liking Love Island.

I do judge them for endangering their own and other people's children because they're anti science idiots.

But they don’t vaccinate their kids which puts my kid at risk? What would you do would you still hang out?

Bit different to just not agreeing on some thing

Which vaccines? I’d maybe be more concerned if you lived in an area where measles is spreading and they weren’t vaccinated for that, for example. You can look up where outbreaks have been. But if you value the friendships in other ways, I’d appraise the actual risk to your child - likely very low - and be interested in why people think differently to me rather than deride them.

All of the one year vaccines. And I live in an area where measles vaccinations are at a low and there has been an outbreak very recently. Plus I don’t deride - I find no interest in mocking etcetera I genuinely believe that people that don’t vaccinate their kids are stupid full stop. But these people aren’t idiots that’s the scary thing. They’re smart people with morals and consideration for others. It’s actually mind boggling.

Nah I wouldn’t be friends with them. I became friends with a couple of ladies who had kids a similar ages to mine. Once I knew they were unvaccinated, I stopped being friends with them.

I am friends with a school mum who is totally anti-vax. She asked about vaccinations once and I said I fully agree with vaccines, she said she doesn’t - hasn’t come up in conversation again. I do think she is quite the idiot for playing with her childrens’ lives but there is nothing I can do about that and we have a good connection so there is no point making things awkward.

Understand that for sure. I guess my problem is I haven’t had all of my kids yet (hopefully) and I have a wide range of family and friends with kids at all ages. When there was the outbreak in my area my kid wasn’t one yet so wasn’t vaccinated. So I took her out of all classes etc incase. You don’t mess about with things like measles. It sounds like yoir children are older and fully vaccinated?

I get what OP means.
Keep your own kids fully vaccinated.
Get whatever boosters are available for yourself and other adults in your family.
Avoid socializing with unvaccinated if they seem ill, coughing sneezing as it could be allergies, common cold, or worse
until it passes.
Just keep it light. Oh, is it a cough? Can we re-schedule, please. Have got lots on the go and trying to avoid getting ill.
I don't understand wariness for vaccination programs, but I'm not going to fight with someone over it unless I'm directly impacted. I also think if anti-vaxxers can be assertive in their opinions, I can, too.

They have NO consideration for others. Safeguard your children, do not let them mix plus drop them from your friend group completely. Vaccination works when at least 85/90% of the population are covered. They are putting all children at risk for no real reason at all. They are very ignorant and stupid.

See I don’t see how it can be mind boggling if you have asked them their reasons, and listened. There would be nothing to be boggled by as if they are smart they will have a clear rationale by which they made their decision, it’s just that you disagree, which is of course fine. You felt it was proportionate to take your child out of all classes due to the perceived risk of measles. These friends would likely disagree with you and perceive the potential side effects of those vaccines to present risk, or the reduced social contact to present other risks, and weighed it up. Guessing here.

I vaccinated my kids (bar covid) and am not anti vax, but I’m really interested in hearing about the risks and benefits of both positions. I think all this kinda ‘mind boggled’ chat and other examples on this thread, is deriding people and makes discussions on this difficult, which I find hard to understand.

Why did you vaccinate your kids?

Oh I judge! I'm old enough to remember measles, mumps, polio etc, these people are idiots. I have a natural immunity to small pox because I was conceived when my Ddad was a telephone fitter and had a jab so he could work in a small pox isolation hospital. I know a couple of women in wheelchairs because they went swimming in the local pool in the late 50s.

Don't get your children immunised? I judge, I judge, I judge!

I don’t think I could be friends with people whose values were so different from my own

especially when their behaviour puts others in danger

I wouldn't want to be friends with blithering idiots, but it takes all sorts.

My children are vaccinated, so they’re protected. My best friends children aren’t. We don’t judge each others choices and are together 2-3 times a week and don’t worry about this topic. If the children all got ill, I know mine have their vaccinations up to date - and truth be told they could get ill at nursery /school /soft play anyway. It’s not something that needs to be an issue, in my opinion.

What about all the vulnerable kids that aren’t vaccinated that your best friends kids come into contact with?

I understand the dilemma

Am I the blithering idiot? I get it

It’s not a decision I agree with, and I’d be wondering if they’d fallen down some online conspiracy theory rabbit holes, so I’d be a bit wary about them coming out with some other weird theories.

But as long as my kids were fully vaccinated, I’d be ok socialising with them. Although I’d probably try to stay away from the subject of vaccines.

I know one family where none of the younger kids are vaccinated because the parents believe that their eldest DC’s disability is a result of a vaccine, and while I’m sceptical about whether they’re right about this, the parents are otherwise very sensible down to earth people.

I couldn’t be friends with people that were so selfish and idiotic

can you clarify which vulnerable unvaccinated children you’re referring to?

i work in education and all medically/socially/sen vulnerable children are fully vaccinated if that is their parents preference.. if not; they’re not.

Why are they anti-vax?

My husband's aunt and uncle think they cause autism. As the mother of two autistic children, I avoid them. Also, they are stupid.

All the babies under one. All the kids with health difficulties that prevent them from being vaccinated of which o know 16 that couldn’t be vaccinated just im one borough. In the outbreak near to where I live it was just general kids of any ages - I don’t understand your push back for details here? The fact is that unless a certain percentage is met all kids are vulnerable in the long run should be enough.

Unless I’m missing your point?

It was a genuine question to clarify before responding fully..

however, vaccinations start during pregnancy and throughout the first year - so babies are vaccinated, to an extent.

the exemption would be children of weaker immune systems I suppose, in which I would very much hope anti-vax parents would be mindful of.

you seem very defensive, like you just want to be told your opinion is correct and that’s fine but it’s not black and white unfortunately and we live in a time in which we all have free will , and can educate ourselves either which way.

note I expressed my children are vaccinated , I’m very pro-vaccine - I just don’t blindly judge those that aren’t, because I don’t understand their choices as I don’t chose to educate myself that way.