to think it's not terribly helpful to keep referring to parents who haven't MMR'd as "whack jobs"...

[MsGillis]

..or morons, or unfit parents, or up there with people who drink and drive?

I appreciate that people have very strong feelings around the subject, but I think that we need to understand that there are a significant number of parents who didn't/haven't vaccinated, not because they are crystal waving nutjobs, but because they are actually scared shitless and paralysed into indecision?

Surely there are ways and means to communicate information, and arrogantly shouting about how one person is right and anyone who disagrees is all kinds of nobhead is not going to be conducive in opening up reasonable dialogue?

Is your wife against all vaccines or is she specifically concerned about MMR?

shouldkeep

I don't know. It must be hard. I just would be very upset by the irrationality of it. Measles is such an unpleasant disease

Also, someone who doesn't talk to you for 2 days is a bit ....

^ that was to shouldkeep

Ahh shit, ShouldKeepquiet, no practical advice for you, but it sounds like you could get some good help and advice on the relationships board. Without undermining how important vaccination is, it sounds like part of a bigger issue in your relationship.

It sounds as if your kids might be old enough to make an informed choice also. I explained to my then three year old DSs, that the MMR would hurt their arm, but it would stop them getting some diseases that could hurt them and make them feel awful. I didn't have to drag them into the nurses room both times.

@Shouldkeepquiet I think I'd probably get it done anyway, divorce is a fairly minor pain vs what measles can do. Actually, do you think she grasps what measles can do, I find a lot of non vaxxers have minimal grasp of what these diseases can do.

I am not particularly anti-vaccination. I am anti not considering individual circumstances however.

I want to hear more about this mercury lake that the government needs to get rid of so they are sneaking it into vaccines. Is it because they stopped putting it in thermometers?

Shouldkeepquiet, if it went to court, the court would rule in favour of your children getting vaccinated.

The mercury lake is such a weird idea...wtf?

Well if you're so sensible, littlemog perhaps you wouldn't need to make personal attacks to convince people of your view.

Jimjams isn't anti-vaccination either. The fact you think that just shows how you are incapable of seeing that sometimes there are grey areas.

And I don't need anyone to 'support' me thanks.

Yes i did think about trying to explain to the kids about the options and getting them to have an input but i know it will just drag them into this battle and my wife will be angry i got them involved.
She is against all vaccines - thinks healthy children will get over diseases and only those with surpressed immune systems will be very ill.
Her whole family is like it - think doctors are in league with drug companibig es ect and all mainstream medicine is corrupted by big business ect. There is probably something to some of that but she is way past being balanced in looking at the evidence.
Look i shouldn't be stealing someone's post so i'll just hope measles doesn't come around here soon while i think what to do.

NHS site: No, the MMR vaccine has never contained thiomersal - a preservative containing mercury that is used in some vaccines.

Meanwhile: Mercury in the form of one of its common ores, cinnabar, is used in various traditional medicines, especially in traditional Chinese medicine. Review of its safety has found cinnabar can lead to significant mercury intoxication when heated, consumed in overdose or taken long term, and can have adverse effects at therapeutic doses, though this is typically reversible at therapeutic doses. Although this form of mercury appears less toxic than others, its use in traditional Chinese medicine has not yet been justified as the therapeutic basis for the use of cinnabar is not clear.[44]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28element%29#Applications

crashdoll - for most people vaccination is safe but for a few people the effects are devastating. Perhaps if you had experienced that yourself you might have a bit more empathy with parents who are when all said and done trying to protect their children.

^^ This! When you've watched your child go from perfectly healthy to fighting for their life as a direct result of a vaccine (allergic reaction in DD's case), you think very carefully about your next steps.

shouldkeepquiet - could you make an appt with the GP with your wife? Her arguments are irrational and illogical. And dangerous and selfish.

This outbreak is a direct result of people believing superstitious nonsense. FWIW my DN had singles. He has autism. I think he probably had autism before but it's one of those things that doesn't really become hugely apparent until pre-school/school

Mercury has been removed fron the DTP now. It was a preservative - cheaper basically. But it is no longer an issue in vaccination programmes for children. And has never been in the MMR.

It may still be in some flu vaccines though iirc...

Kiri - there is no chance she would go. She is now seeing an homeopath who has sent her links to an article showing how vaccinated children are 5X more likely to get this and that. She is not going to listen to me or any doctor when she has her mum / sister and these others confirming what she wants to hear.

I am intrigued to know what your personal, special, medically valid circumstances are for being anti-vacc Lottie, you didn't say.....

I've never come across the mercury lake idea before. The idea of fluoride stock piles yes, but not mercury. (I have no views on fluoride- so don't ask me for any. I think poundland colgate is cheaper than flouride-free kingfisher, so I buy colgate.)

Oh no, not Homeopaths! Hunt them down and kill them for the greater good...

I am not anti-vacc...

Does being pro-vaccination mean that you have to accept everything the government expects us to do with no question? Or that everybody should be vaccinated no matter what.