curlygirly: I do not campaign against vaccination. search my posts. aside form threads such as these - where the nitty gritty is gone into - I defy you to find a post where I have said that no-one shoudl vaccinate.
I often say that vaccination is safe for the majority, and that, aside form some indicators which are presently thought, in some areas of the scientific community, to indicate susceptibility to complications, it should be fine.
I advise people to read as much as they can, on both sides of the argument, and come to a conclusion which suits them and their family.
becuase i cannot, in all conscience, say "it will be fine. everythign will be o". becaus ei know that is not always the case.
I do not, however, ever say "nobody should do it, and you are a fool of you do" the same courtesy is not often extended to me, I notice. I am regularly called, delusional, selfish, arrogant, mental, a nutjob - you name it.
I do not need pity, or even sympathy. my dd1 is happy, and we are currently ahead in most fights, and she is therefore settled and learning well at school. yes, many things are not as I woudl have predicted, but then, that's life, isn't it?
but I do not like being denied, or, more to the point, my dd being denied on threads such as these.
I do not like her being dismissed as "one of those things" - she is a person, who had a hwole life ahead of her - a life which should now be full of playdates (urgh! hate that word 
), exciting school times, adventure and freedom. instead, it is a daily battle, she has many problems, and will probably never live independently. she is a delight, nonetheless, but it is hard.
I do not accpet that this kind of collateral dmage is acceptable - and I am afraid that everyone who says simply "oh, just vaccinate, it is safe" is showong that they do.
why are the studies not bieng done? the proper, comprehensive studies? (wel, they are, but not mainstream thanks to the press, and look at the uphill struggle!). why is there no proper research being carried out by the government, into any of the issue raised? why the cover-up and smear campaign?
why do people not know event he simplest of facts about these vaccines? (and often they don't)?
so please, do not lump me in with anti-vaxxers. if I was an anti-vaxxer, my dd1 would not be permanently disabled.
and whilst I do understand what you are saying re: penicillin, the situations are not really comparable. because i am not advocating that every child shoudl be force fed penicillin for little reason (in some cases and opinions), and the follow up checks not administered,or worse - if adverse symptoms are noted - ignored and dismissed.
what if your ds had reacted, and the doctor, instead of acknowledging this, and reacting accordingly had said "oh no. it can't be a reaction to the drugs. it just can't be. probably somethign else entirely. yes yes, it's ok. don't worry. but it's not the drugs" and advocating watching and waiting while your ds got iller and iller? because that would eb a comparable situaiton - you try reporting a reaction to a jab. no one is interested (although you can yellow card it yourself - but most don't tell you that either 
). they wait a while, and then say "hmm, yes. see what you mean. but it couldn't possibly be the jab (whichever jab)" - without actually investigating.