To ask if you decided not to vaccinate your children

[Mintpepper]

Do you regret it? Did they catch any of the diseases that they could have been vaccinated for and what was the outcome?

And anyone who did get their children vaccinated - did they catch any of the diseases anyway? And do you regret vaccinating for any reason?

This isn't intended to start a debate for or against vaccination generally as that's been done many times, I'm more just interested in your personal experiences if you'd be willing to share them. Thank you.

Clalopolly barring unvaccinated children from state education is one of the most common forms of 'compulsion'. Compulsory vaccination tends to take the form of some kind of coercion or fine in countries where it is used - I don't think anywhere in the world physically pins you down and injects you!

If you are excluding unvaccinated children from school for the safety of other children then why does the reason for them being unvaccinated make a difference? Do you think only the 'unreasonable' unvaccinated harbour the diseases?

It's all about choice, though. Isn't it?

As I have said already, it is not for the safety of vaccinated children, it is to protect those who are more vulnerable who may also be in or visit the school (drop off time, etc).

Ok. And why would the unvaccinated for a 'valid' reason be any less of a risk to those vulnerable people?

It absolutely is NOT neglect.

It IS neglect to deny a child medical access and protection

Choosing not vaccinate a child is not denying a child access to medical care, or keeping a child safe. Many people chose not to vaccinate to protect their child(ren).

Those who are unvaccinated for a legitimate reason, agreed by a gp, are protected by the herd. And should not be excluded from school.
Those who persist in refusing for no good reason can make their own education arrangements.

"It's all about choice, though. Isn't it?"

That's what I have been saying the whole afternoon. It's about choice and ensuring that we get those choices to the most "at risk" members of our society. And also the fact that those people are less likely to make informed decisions when they are being accused for being akin to drink drivers, and child neglect etc., because they are less likely to seek out information from appropriate sources, less likely to engage / be more fearful of engaging with health care providers, etc.

PS. I am not anti-vaccine. I am seriously anti Compulsory Vaccination programmes. I am pro people having a choice, and I am pro people delaying vaccinations if that means they have more confidence in making the choice to vaccinate (or not) their child.

"Those who persist in refusing for no good reason can make their own education arrangements."

BUT it's not the kid making the choice. It's the parents - and as so many people on here have demonstrated in their posts, the children don't always support the choices the parents make in later life. Why set up a child to have a detrimental effect for the rest of their lives because the parents have concerns about vaccinations?

You aren't punishing the parents, you are punishing the child.

You know I was being sarcastic about "choice " right? No one has the right to make the choice for another person- undermining herd immunity puts vulnerable people at risk.
There is no herd immunity in my area.

If children end up disadvantaged because of their parents' poor choices it is primarily the parents' fault.
This is not the case where the parents can't help making poor decisions due to their own personal disadvantage, e.g.: addiction, poverty

Those who persist in refusing for no good reason can make their own education arrangements

Ah yes, punish an unknowing small child for their parents' decision. Excellent.

Clalpolly - the disease doesn't care if the child is unvaccinated for a legitimate reason or not.

How do you define a 'legitimate reason' anyway? Doctors may think differently. If a child has a bad reaction some doctors may suggest proceeding with caution with other children in the family while others would say to go ahead on schedule regardless. One doctor may tell you not to have the MMR because of your condition while another may say that it could cause a flare up. Which one would you listen to knowing what you could risk?

"There is no herd immunity in my area."

Really? For none of the vaccinations or just the MMR vaccination?

Poverty, does not equal poor decision making (Hell you lot really have it in for the poorer members within our society, don't you).

"it is primarily the parents' fault."

No it's the fault of a would be CVP that the BMA and the WHO and others have spoken out about to say is not the way forward.

The more people who are vaccinated the more likely there is herd immunity. Once herd immunity is established and maintained, there is no need for emergency punitive steps.
If it drops back down, school admission should take vaccine status into consideration again.

There is no herd immunity for MMR in my area.

We do not need CVP to reach herd immunity levels - we are above those levels in almost all areas of the UK currently.

Again, this is backed up by leading health research organisations like the BMA and WHO.

Clalpolly

You yourself are not vaccinated currently, even though you could be.

You claimed the MS Trust told you this - yet, the information on their site (and the research papers linked) say very differently... Perhaps go and get yourself vaccinated so you are doing your part for herd immunity before slamming others. Again.

Already said I'm going to get vaccinated if the advice has changed. And that I will check with my ms nurse.

Herd immunity can fall pretty quickly for some diseases - outbreaks of measles in low take up areas do happen. I do feel nervous, just in case my child gets a reaction. But I do it partly because my child might survive some of the diseases but a more vulnerable one might not. And one of my children has autism, there was no link in my mind.

Clalpolly

Until you are vaccinated you are being super hypocritical slamming others for the choices. And TBH, I find it super difficult to put any weight on what you are saying knowing that you haven't even managed to research and keep up to date with your own vaccinations / health.

It seems odd you would pass judgement on others before thoroughly checking out information relating to yourself.

I had my kids vaccinated against chicken pox (plus all the others). Absolutely the best thing ever. I saw how miserable all their classmates were when they went down, including some hospitalizations.

Nice, petals. I receive advice from specialists who say don't. I rely on herd immunity. MN tells me I can. I say I will check and do it if ok. But I am not allowed to express my views about the importance of protecting herd immunity for the sake of the vulnerable.
If, as you claim, I can safely have MMR now, great. Doesn't change my point about the need to protect those with vulnerable immune systems.

my dd had her baby vaccines but now can not have live vaccines. dd never had MMR and is autistic. if dd could have had them i would have got them done. they not only protect your child but those that cant have them too.