Complaint update
@PHE_UK tweeted me back:
"we understand your point & will review the content of the materials"
"Just to reassure you, this is not about blame - evidence suggests it?s usually mothers who make the decision to vaccinate"
I questioned where this evidence is. They said:
"have a look at this attitudinal survey pages 11 & 12 bit.ly/12xcVZv"
I think the main bits of this 3 year old survey they are referring to is:
"Among couples, mothers were typically better informed than fathers
about health matters concerning their children. Mothers generally
spent more time with children than fathers, they took more direct
responsibility for children?s health, and were often more knowledgeable
about immunisation. Many fathers, especially C2Ds, tended to leave
much of the parenting of their children to mothers."
"It also seemed that C2D single mothers tended to be better informed
about health issues than couples in the same social grade. This
stemmed from a sense that the responsibility was entirely theirs; they
felt they owed it to their child to ensure that they make informed
decisions."
However, this is quantitative survey, so not exactly a large consensus. And I still don't feel from the above 2 statements it was fair or appropriate to use the term mothers rather than parents.
I also think by using the term mothers they are enforcing the idea that it is the woman's responsibility when ideally it would involve both parents if they are active in the child's life.
The CEO of Public Health England read my email on Sun night, I am still awaiting a response. Should anyone else wish to contact him his email (which I found on the internet) is [email protected]