AIBU?
To think Andrew Wakefield has blood on his hands for causing so much distrust over the MMR?
chicaguapa · 06/04/2013 19:38
That's it really. He's caused so much damage with his stupid little study. It was years ago, he was struck off, the study was discredited, but people still don't get the MMR because of it. 
quietbatperson · 06/04/2013 19:45
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macdoodle · 06/04/2013 19:49
YABU! For years and years, the medical community have been trying to undo the damage and correctly inform people of the risks of not vaccinating. And now its come back to bite them on the bum, they are yet again looking for someone to blame
Time the great British public took responsibility for its own foolish actions.
EllieArroway · 06/04/2013 19:52
Do you actually know what reasons parents have for not vaccinating?
Well, given that on every single MMR thread I have ever seen on here, 90% of non-vaccinating parents cite their concern about autism as the reason.
The other 10% have legitimate concerns about previous bad reactions and so on.
So it's not rubbish, as it happens.
chickensaladagain · 06/04/2013 19:55
one of my dds has had the mmr, the other not
dd2 2 has an autoimmune disorder as her consultant advised against MMR, so she relies on herd immunity
so many people, when the find out she hasn't had the MMR (like when she had rubella) are shocked and lecture me about the importance of getting it done -err I know that, that's why dd1 has had it
fortunately I don't live close to the outbreak but I will be speaking her doctors again to find out if they still advise not to have it
Andrew Wakefield obviously had his own agenda but I can't believe the long term damage he has done
ravenAK · 06/04/2013 19:57
YANBU.
But also sort of agree with macdoodle re: the public's foolish actions.
If I were one of the parents currently trying to get emergency vax, after refusing it when it was routinely offered, I think I'd feel a bit sheepish now.
But, well, people act in what they perceive to be their children's best interests at the time. Can't really blame them for being misinformed.
kim147 · 06/04/2013 20:01
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EndoplasmicReticulum · 06/04/2013 20:03
Was an interesting article about Wakefield and others and what he is up to now in the Guardian today.
www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/06/what-happened-man-mmr-panic
kim147 · 06/04/2013 20:04
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gazzalw · 06/04/2013 20:05
I think the problem is that many middle-class parents think they know better than the 'powers that be' about such things. And I say this as the husband of one of those 'challenging authority in a I know better' way types! However we have professionally informed family members so got our two vaccinated as per guidelines. And our two are blond(e) which apparently made them more 'at risk' 
. Apparently the higher up the social class register you go the greater the non-compliance on MMR. Seem to recall in our very middle-class ante-natal group that only one other couple apart from us had their DC vaccinated with the MMR...
EllieArroway · 06/04/2013 20:05
He did his studies, like everybody who is a parent we can read the studies and make our own decision
It's not really that simple. For a start, his study was flat out fraudulent (that's why he was struck off) and it's not reasonable for the average person to make any decision based on a scientific study. Most of us don't understand science or risk well enough to make a reasoned and informed decision. We need our doctors to explain it - they tried, an awful lot of people didn't listen.
Kim's link explains it perfectly.
marriedinwhiteagain · 06/04/2013 20:06
No I don't blame Andrew Wakefield. He conducted one study - the NHSs had a lot more studies and entirely failed to convey the results in an honest and intellectual manner to those who needed to hear more than this is what the leaflet says. The leaflet ran to an A4 folded tryptich. It was not comprehensive and those quoting its mantra were unablel to have a full and frank discussison about what lay behind it. "Do it because the leaflet says so" was not, in my opinion good enough.
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