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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not give my children the swine flu vaccine?

652 replies

wintersnow · 17/12/2010 16:15

I decided not to last year as I wanted to wait and see how safe it was but am reconsidering this year after several people have died. Did you give it to your children and what were your reasons to give/not give it?

OP posts:
claig · 20/12/2010 20:53

I can't find your link. Can you link it again? Then I will be able to make my point. How many cases a year of polio are there worldwide? What would it cost to prevent them by vaccination? I would like to know what is stopping it happening? What is the cost?

ArthurPewty · 20/12/2010 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bubbleymummy · 20/12/2010 20:54

Stata, tetanus isn't a communicable disease so I'm not sure how Leonie's children are supposed to benefit from herd immunity. Did you know you're more likely to get struck by lightening than die from tetanus? The rusty nail thing is a bit misleading as well. You don't get tetanus from rust....This is the type of thing that worries me when people say they have made 'informed decisions' about vaccinating. I suppose you also think that polio = paralysis and mumps causes sterility as well?

ArthurPewty · 20/12/2010 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StataLover · 20/12/2010 20:55

Leonie

You're quite aggressive in your tone.

claig · 20/12/2010 20:55

I thought you would think that. Do you really have an open mind or is anyone who questions the safety of vaccines irresponsible? Were the nurses and doctors and frontline staff irresponsible because they chose not to take the vaccine?

bubbleymummy · 20/12/2010 20:57

Lightning not lightening! Sorry :)

StataLover · 20/12/2010 20:59

No, I'm aware that rust doesn't cause tetanus. And rabid dogs a bit of a cliche as well. I stand guilty for using cliches though Blush

The tetanus example was the balance of risk not herd immunity. Same for rabies which isn't spread by humans.

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/12/2010 20:59

Informing the public.
I knew that giving my sons the DTaP vaccine meant there was a very small risk of
a) Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness
b) Permanent brain damage
in 1/million does....

BUT I still immunised as getting diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis is much much riskier than getting the vaccine.

StataLover · 20/12/2010 21:02

There's a difference between looking at vaccine safety and spreading misinformation.

I wasn't sure about giving the HepB vaccine. I wouldn't consider it a risk for my childrn at the moment. But I gave it in the end because I felt that the risks were very low and, while I hope my chidlren don't end up in a high risk populatin for hep B, who knows what life will bring and I'd rather they were protected.

And my girls will certainly be getting the HPV vaccine when they are older. I'm delighted it's available for them.

claig · 20/12/2010 21:06

are you a medical professional tryingtobemarypoppins2?

Why do you think that so many doctors and nurses refused the swine flu vaccine, against the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and after the WHO had declared it a pandemic? Do you think they were uninformed?

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/12/2010 21:06

bubbleymummy I understand what your saying about tetanus but then you would have to consider single vaccinations as surly you would want to vaccinate against diphtheria?

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/12/2010 21:07

No I don't. Many felt it was an over reaction. Many equally felt it was much needed.
Married to a GP.....does that count?

claig · 20/12/2010 21:08

Who is spreading misinformation? Is the Daily Mail article misinformation? Is the BBC polio vaccine non-Hodgkins lymphoma article misinformation? Can't you see that Leonie, electra, bubbleymummy are well-informed?

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/12/2010 21:10

Sorry claig was that a question to me?

claig · 20/12/2010 21:10

'Many felt it was an over reaction.'
Did some of them also feel that the swine flu vaccine was unsafe?

claig · 20/12/2010 21:11

No it was to StataLover

StataLover · 20/12/2010 21:11

claig
'Can't you see that Leonie, electra, bubbleymummy are well-informed?'

No I really can't!!! What are their qualifications other than an ability to use the internet? Can't you see that the WHO are pretty well informed???

I'm sorry Claig. I do think you're really well meaning but I think you've been spun a story here.

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/12/2010 21:12

I don't know....can't aak them all!

bubbleymummy · 20/12/2010 21:13

Well that's the thing tryingtobe - you have to consider the risk of them catching the disease in the first place and then the risk of them having a serious case. If you vaccinate, you are adding an unknown risk of vaccination to the equation as well...and no I'm not relying on herd immunity for protection! :) see earlier discussion with stata about that.

ReindeerBollocks · 20/12/2010 21:14

My DC had it after very careful consideration last year (as has DH - I'm the only one who hasn't).

It's a personal choice, and based on the risks/benefits for the individual.

StataLover · 20/12/2010 21:15

But the risk of catching the disease is reduced by herd immunity. It's not perfect, I've never denied that, but you're certainly benefiting from it if your children haven't been sick with measles, mumps and others. Are you trying to say herd immunity doesn't exist Confused

elephantine · 20/12/2010 21:17

Infants get vaccinated at 8 weeks because that is roughly when maternal IgG levels start to fall for diphtheria etc. Too soon and the maternal igG prevents an effective immune response in baby, much later and baby remains unprotected for longer. Any decent immunology/ paediatric textbook will tell you that.

Also the emedicine article states that SIDS babies are more likely to have died of toxigenic bacteria, flu, or RSV. This cannot be in any way linked to the injection of a virion ( I assume that's what was meant) as:
A) babies of this age are not getting live attenuated vaccines
B) there is no vaccine for staph aureus, e Coli, c diff (yet) or RSV.
The article actually means that babies are more prone to catching these pathogens at that age and die as a result of that. nothing to do with vaccinations whatsoever.

claig · 20/12/2010 21:20

'I don't know....can't aak them all!'

no need to ask them all, that's why I mentioned some. All you have to do is read the papers, many of them say it there.

StataLover, you asked me whether I had an open mind and if I could change my mind and I said yes. Do you have an open mind? Can't you see how much Leonie knows and how much she has looked into it. It's obvious.

The WHO are well-informed but so are others who disagree with some of the things they say. I quoted the Guardian's Dr. Crippen, who said he along with many other doctors would not be taking the swine flu vaccine. I quoted Paul Flynn MP who questioned the WHO's decision to declare a pandemic. there are many well informed people who don't agree with everything the WHO says. The newspapers questioned the pandemic alarm over swone flu after the predictions and fears of the Chief Medical officer did not materialise.

tryingtobemarypoppins2 · 20/12/2010 21:21

Super post elephantine after a horrible month with a nasty RSV infection in my 1 month old, I would love a vaccine for RSV!