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AIBU?

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Original poster

Measles Outbreak?

1003 replies

MoaningLisa · 27/05/2011 13:56

I am sure you have all heard on the news that there has been an outbreak of measles.

Papers, Schools, Hv, Drs are saying if you or your child haven't had the vaccine(s) now would be a good time to get it done.

I cant help but think though that the parents who haven't and wont get their child vaccinated are putting their children at risk.

Aibu to think that its just bloody selfish and very daring to play with their own childs life?

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 30/05/2011 20:41

I have just read your post on whooping cough-that was my understanding-you got it mildly-it didn't mean it hadnt worked.

perfectstorm · 30/05/2011 20:42

silverfrog, you know the answer to that question. Quite apart from anything else, the link I provided spells it out in glorious technicolour. Not sure what you get out of pretend innocence - if you think the theory is bollocks why not just come out and say so honestly?

Tbh it's pointless anyone arguing about this on MN, anyway. Nobody ever has their mind made up by these threads - it's just pointless sound and fury, as two entrenched positions meet. Vaccination and breastfeeding are the black holes, effectively.

Riven, glad to see you back, and hope things are well.

bubbleymummy · 30/05/2011 20:47

Exotic, can you prove that you wouldn't have got it mildly anyway or are you just happy to give the vaccine the benefit of the doubt despite its ineffectiveness being known?

MurphyWasAnOptimist · 30/05/2011 20:49

There may be people reading who are sitting on the fence haven't yet fallen down the rabbit hole of conspiracy-mongering, outlandish claims and faffing about dangers that don't exist (ignoring the very real ones that do) - you're providing a counterbalance to that influence!

exoticfruits · 30/05/2011 20:50

You know perfectly well I can't prove it-what is the point of asking. I 100% believe it and really am signing out.

bubbleymummy · 30/05/2011 20:59

So you're just giving it the benefit of the doubt then. Fair enough, whatever helps you sleep. Btw, parents did want their children to catch measles and 'get it out of the way'. Why do you think there were measles parties.

bigfatcath · 30/05/2011 21:58

aww thanks for compliments exotic.

My point silverfrog is that children have autism due to insult to the brain and that due to medical advances these children are surving more than they used to.

There are also congenital medical issues which aren't apparent at birth which can cause regression.

Bubbley, I really can't believe that you think contracting measles in any way a good idea!!!

exoticfruits · 30/05/2011 22:09

I wasn't going to comment again-but I really can't let that go. People didn't have measles parties- it wasn't like chicken pox -there was no guarantee you would get a mild case -DCs often went blind or had other complications. They didn't throw diptheria parties, polio parties or whooping cough parties either.
People wanted boys to get mumps early and they wanted girls to get rubella early-they didn't want measles!
I think it is unfortunatel that people won't see the seriousness until we get an epidemic and then they will be queuing for vaccine.
You either are not old enough bubbley, or your mother didn't have experience of measles.

bigfatcath · 30/05/2011 22:15

Well said exotic!

pooka · 30/05/2011 22:24

Agree with exotic. Chicken pox parties, yes. Measles parties - no way. Measles has never, as far as I am aware and from talking to my mother (whose brother died) been seen on the same level of seriousness as chicken pox.

exoticfruits · 30/05/2011 22:29

Good-I was trying to think back and think was it just me! I had measles aged 6yrs-noone wanted me to get it and other parents certainly didn't want it! My mother knew someone who went blind. I still remember it, the only childhood illness that I was seriously ill in bed with-but luckily no side effects. My mother sent me round to the neighbours to get chicken pox-that was entirely different.

bruffin · 30/05/2011 22:50

Latootle claimed she had measles parties because there was no measles vaccine when they were young. I am going to be 50 next year and was in the measles catch up programme. I remember queuing for the injection at junior school only to be told at the very last minute that it was against medical advice for me to have it ,my sister was still having febrile convulsions past the age of 6. I did go on to have measles and was really unwell, so that makes Latootle older than my mother and she was 74 yesterday

We also came across my dhs medical card and realised that he had measles in the january after starting school then went onto having mumps in feb, he also had chicken pox the next september so all basically in his first year of schooling.

bruffin · 30/05/2011 22:51

sorry that was supposed to say when latootles children were young.

bubbleymummy · 30/05/2011 23:28

Exotic and pooka they were popular in the 1950s. Have a google if you don't believe me.

My sister and I both had measles, as did my mother, my father, all their siblings, all their friends. My mum remembers there being measles parties. At 30, I wouldn't consider myself old but perhaps you are all much younger than me.

bubbleymummy · 30/05/2011 23:39

Bruffin, the single measles vaccine wasn't brought in until 1968 so you don't have to be 74 to have not got the vaccine in childhood. My dad is 60 and he didn't have it, neither did my mum (she's 56). Your math is a bit off.

bubbleymummy · 30/05/2011 23:41

Just saw your correction.

bubbleymummy · 31/05/2011 00:13

Figures from hpa website here showing that mmr uptake has never been above 95% in the UK

sausagerolemodel · 31/05/2011 00:42

Fair enough, whatever helps you sleep.

Right back atcha. The maths is simple. Hmm

bubbleymummy · 31/05/2011 07:01

Yep, as shown earlier, the risk of actually contracting measles in the UK and dying from it is much less than the risk of a life threatening reaction from the vaccine. 1 in 10,000,000 vs 1 in 100,000 iirc.

exoticfruits · 31/05/2011 07:16

Much, much older than you bubbley, and we did not have measles parties.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 31/05/2011 07:18

Lord no measles parties where I grew up - in the early 70s. Absolutely not.

Mum's friend's dd almost died of whopping cough so w weren't keen on whooping cough parties either Confused

Mumps ones I remember though, for boys.

pooka · 31/05/2011 07:19

Bubbleymummy - the very first stats I found said that the risk of death from measles were 1:8000.

Risks of all other complications i.e meningitis/fits & convulsions and so on were significantly higher from the disease rather than the vaccination.

But I think that you're factoring into the equation the fact that measles is no longer a common disease. Thanks to vaccination programme .Though it is becoming more common as vaccination rates fall.

bigfatcath · 31/05/2011 07:28

Well I'm not sure where your figure comes from but if the vaccine wasn't available then the disease would be more widespread in the community. Therefore the risk of dying from the disease would be higher.

I haven't got the time (or inclination) for a comprehensive study but according to wikipedia in the USA between 1987 and 2000 the death rate was three measles attributable deaths per thousand or 0.3%.

I'm bowing out now as I think in my mind it's beyond doubt that measles , polio, diptheria etc are horrible diseases . Yes many people had it and were fine or never contracted it ( hundred of years ago not everyone contracted the bubonic plague but I don't fancy a dose!!!). But many died or were scarred by them or even just felt ill for days/weeks.... why would you let your child suffer?????

I also think studies have not shown any link between the MMR and the alleged rise in autism. I have suggested reasons for the rise.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist and the worldwide conspiracy that would have to take place in order that serious studies by respected clinicians were hidden in every country just to line 'Big Pharma's" coffers is plainly nonsense.

It was a plasuible theory theory that MMR and other vaccines caused autism but it's not true.

It's something else. But some people are unable to accept that they are mistaken.

However we are never going to agree. I'm just glad that my DCs have had all of their vaccines so don't have to worry about them contracting measles. I also hope that unvaccinated children don't suffer any long term damage from their parent's unscientific choice.

Bows out and hides thread

bubbleymummy · 31/05/2011 07:28

Pooka, yes, the other poster factored in the risk of actually catching the disease in the UK. Not having the vaccine does not guarantee you will catch measles, having the vaccine guarantees that you areexposed to its potential side effects. See above link to hpa website that shows we have never had herd immunity to measles in the Uk and my previous link to the hpa website showing how the risk of death from measles had dropped considerably prior to the vaccine. Even though there were more cases, the disease was no longer as deadly. The vaccine hasn't changed that.

bubbleymummy · 31/05/2011 07:32

Bye bfc. Btw, my opinion on the mmr has nothing to do with an autism risk and nothing to do with AW.

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