To wonder why on earth you would not vaccinate your DCs?

[olimpia]

I hear from another thread that some people choose not to vaccinate their DCs at all and I'm genuinely interested to hear why because I can't think of a single reason not to. I can perhaps understand opting out of the MMR if someone believes the bad press (not that I do) but all the other vaccinations? Why, oh why?
(not a troll! Just relatively new to MN)

I was told that the reason mumps is showing up as a regular thing among university students is because they are congregating around the time the mumps part of mmr has worn off.

I know my mum feels that I reacted badly to at least one vaccine, she thinks polio.

Because people are still allowed to make their own choices on what is best for their children, believe it or not

"Autism was around long before the MMR. The MMR is not in any way responsible for the onset of Autism"

The second conclusion does not logically follow the first, we simply do not know. the fact is we do not KNOW what causes autism and given the US courts are paying out on some cases it means there may be a link. Hence the debate is ongoing.

Whether that link is mercury content, overload of the immune system, or auto immune issues (all of which have been connected with autism) or none of the above remains to be seen.

All I can say is that that, with the knowledge there is a genetic component to autism may make me think twice about vaccinating.

I have a chromosome abnormality which, at 6 months, caused my GOSH paediatrician to say no vaccines until further notice. I'll be 26 this year. (Yes, we have chased it up but the truth is they don't know what will happen)

allmouthnotrousers of course we all want to do what's best for our children but how's potentially catching a serious disease better? Unless they can't have the vaccine for medical reasons.

I did say in OP that I understand people not giving MMR so that was not the point of my question

{getting herself in a twist} Incidentally I don't believe DS' autism specifically has anything to do with his being vaccinated, but I don't know whether in the position I am now I would vaccination further children, i would certainly do a lot more research first.

If I had no autism in my family I wouldn't think twice about vaccinating

In some cases I'd rather take the risk of a disease than the trigger of a neurological disorder. Many of the diseases are mild unless your child has an underlying issue. Herd immunity can make sense for those vaccinated children, but there is a balance to be made considering them and the collateral damage in those who react badly to the jabs.

It is a bit unfortunate that when they are adults they will either have to choose to have them all done or have certain jobs closed to them.

Why is that unfortunate exotic?

I really don't understand that argument, exotic.

if dd2, when she grows up, wants to become a doctor (or any other profession which requires her to be vaccinated) then she can trot along and get her jabs, can't she?

not really seeing it as that unfortunate, tbh.

because it may not be specifically the MMR that is the problem. it may be the mercury content or immune system overload (of course more likely with multiple vaccinations at the same time), we simply do not know

Because autism is a very serious condition that alters not just the child's live but everyone around them.

I can understand many reasons for not vaccinating. I have chosen to vaccinate my DCs, we had no medical reason not to.

What I do not understand though, is the parents who chose not to vaccinate and then, once DC has been in contact with measles (for example, as this is my experience) panic and rush to get the vaccine which is offered by the HPA. It makes me wonder if they didn't trust their initial decision, or the reality of an illness like measles simply changes their minds about vaccinations?

I guess those parents don't vaccinate and just hope that their child will not be exposed.
when they are they decide that they'd rather have the vaccine

would the vaccine work if you'd already been exposed to it though?

olimpia there are risks associated with all vaccines. Hence the government runs a vaccine damage compensation scheme. www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Disabledpeople/DG_10018714

However, it is generally accepted that the benefits of vaccination outweight the risks.

Some people don't accept this and feel that the risks outweigh the benefits. Therefore they don't vaccinate. This may be down to their individual circumstances/experiences or because they feel vaccine damage is not adequately reported and/or acknowleged.

You know there is a vaccination section on here?

Snoozy - i would guess that in those situations the risk to benefit ratio swings rapidly in favour of vaccinating. That doesn't make the initial decision wrong just that the odds of catching the disease have changed.

You have to have the measles vaccine within 72 hours of exposure. It may not prevent measles developing, but can limit the severity.

My experience is limited, but the parents I have met with non-vaccinated children who have been exposed to measles have expressed regret at not vaccinating. But like I say, that experience is limited and I don't come across the parents who are not accepting the vaccine iyswim.

hmm interesting.

mine are not vaccinated, and no, i wouldn't go and get them vaccinated just because they'd been exposed I don't think...

was planning on getting single jabs once they were older, but the mumps is no longer available is it?

It's all about weighing up the benefits and risks. I read studies on PubMed before taking any serious decisions re vaccinations for any of us.

I was convinced to have the flu vaccine when pregnant against my better judgement and the whole thing was a complete shambles as I was given the wrong one. (It contained thiomersal despite me asking specifically more than once if they were sure that this was the one recommended for pregnant women).

Because of my past experience I am now even more careful and worried about vaccinations.

Ds has had everything bar mmr as I haven't had enough time to decide. Dh will obviously be involved in the discussion too, but he won't spend hours researching like me.

The benefit of vaccination outweigh the risks for some children, the majority yes, but not all

Mumps hasn't been available for ages singly.
I find that a bit odd

"There's a thing called 'herd immunity' whereby people rely on other children being vaccinated to protect their children from catching diseases as they won't be spread around so easily. Or something like that."

My understanding of herd immunity is that there will always be some people who cannot be vaccinated for something, either because they are still too young or because they have some existing condition which rules the vaccination out. However, these vulnerable members of "the herd" are protected because nearly everyone else they come in to contact with has been immunised so the chance that they will be exposed to the illness is minimized.

Hence, there is the argument that if you choose not to have your child vaccinated then you are not only making that decision for your child but you could potentially be increasing the risk to others who do not have a choice.

me too

i also find it odd that for a long time you could get single jabs on the NHS.
if they still offered that they'd have a much higher uptake of vaccinations (IMO)

the problem with that is that the vaccinations given do not offer life-long immunity.

so when you are at an age when the disease is going to be worse for you you are more likely to get it.
and it also means there is no herd immunity because vast swathes of the population are no longer immune, but think they are!

there have been many measles outbreaks in universities etc among vaccinated students...

Herd immunity.
Allergies.
Family history.
Animal rights.
Concern about the amount of vaccines given in a relatively short space of time.
Concern that some vaccines are relatively new and the long term effects are as yet unknown.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" belief.
Knowledge that vaccines in the past have caused undeniable damage.

Those are just a few I can think of, off the top of my head.