Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you decided not to vaccinate your children

593 replies

Mintpepper · 27/06/2017 11:42

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.

OP posts:
HearTheThunderRoar · 27/06/2017 13:05

My DD had the meingoicoccal B vaccine over a decade ago as a child but according to the GP that would have worn out a number of years ago. (DD was at risk of meningitis when she was very ill recently). So, I can see now vaccines are not full proof.

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 27/06/2017 13:06

AndTakeYourHorse why on earth shouldn't it be in AIBU?
Because shes not asking if she is being U and she doesn't one an argument and nobody is supposed to give an actual opinion. So, rather obviously, its not for aIBU.

GrumpyOldBag · 27/06/2017 13:06

Even if you choose not to vaccinate your children in infancy in a country like the UK where the majority of kids are vaccinated & offering herd immunity, bear in mind that they will be at much higher risk if they travel to some other countries where large numbers of people do not get vaccinated, e.g. on holiday, gap year etc.

Original poster
Mintpepper · 27/06/2017 13:07

Has it occurred to any of you that are very furious at someone asking for experiences that someone might make a possibly ill-informed decision not to vaccinate because they're too scared to admit they're not sure? Because even by asking a question they'll be shouted at and called stupid? So they quietly go ahead and don't vaccinate and don't tell anyone?

OP posts:
Peckwater · 27/06/2017 13:07

I want to hear both sides as well as do my own research before I make decision, simple as that

But what were you actually expecting -- a slew of responses from people who believe the MMR gave their child autism on the very day they had it? Or parents who didn't vaccinate and are going to come on to tell you they lost five children to measles?

Original poster
Mintpepper · 27/06/2017 13:07

People should be allowed to ask questions without fear

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 27/06/2017 13:07

vaccine damage does occur

Yes, it does but it is extremely rare. To put some figures on it, over 14 million vaccinations are administered to children under the age of 6 each year. On average there are around 93 claims for vaccine damage compensation each year (some of which may relate to adults or older children - I can't find any figures for that) of which 3 are successful.

TheSeaTheSkyTheSeaTheSkyyyyyy · 27/06/2017 13:09

OP, during your on-the-fence research, have you found any compelling reason NOT to vaccinate your child?

Peckwater · 27/06/2017 13:09

Has it occurred to any of you that are very furious at someone asking for experiences that someone might make a possibly ill-informed decision not to vaccinate because they're too scared to admit they're not sure? Because even by asking a question they'll be shouted at and called stupid? So they quietly go ahead and don't vaccinate and don't tell anyone?

In what way will asking for anecdotes on an internet forum where, frankly, anyone can pretend anything and you have no way of verifying the truth of anything claimed, help you to make a decision?

BasketOfDeplorables · 27/06/2017 13:10

The problem goes beyond vaccination, although it is the worst example as it can kill others. But someone I met the other day was saying they don't use suncream because of the 'chemicals' so use raw coconut oil... I mean, go ahead, why not butter.

Fleshy · 27/06/2017 13:10

Sift away, love. Hmm

LuchiMangsho · 27/06/2017 13:10

I am curious as to what kind of 'research' you are doing. A Pub Med search and peer reviewed papers I hope??
DH works in a lab as a scientist helping to make vaccines (malaria). He's also a doctor. He has no time for those who think this is some pharma conspiracy. Vaccines are v v v low down on the priority list of pharma companies. They don't make much money from them. And Uni labs doing vaccine research are not always well funded. So it isn't some billion pound industry waiting to poison your child. It's researchers and scientists scrounging together grants to treat diseases that kill millions.
Yes of course people have adverse reactions to vaccine. You can have an adverse reaction to penicillin.

Original poster
Mintpepper · 27/06/2017 13:10

If you're confident in your decision then great, you shouldn't be threatened by someone asking for general experiences nor should you get annoyed at someone doing their own research. Because if you're right then the experiences and research will back you up, so what's to fear from examining it?

OP posts:
NachoAddict · 27/06/2017 13:12

I work with a woman who didn't vaccinate because it causes Autism.

Her 4 year old is currently going through the diagnosis process for autism, despite not vaccinating.

All of mine are vaccinated and have never had any of the things they were vaccinated against. they were all a bit grumpy the day of the vaccine but made a swift recovery and none of them are Autistic.

taratill · 27/06/2017 13:12

Mintpepper are you really going to base a decision this important on a few personal experiences without considering the bigger picture which you keep asking people not to mention.

How strange.

If someone asked an opinion on vaccinations I don't think that anyone would call them stupid or shout at them for asking the question at all.

The frustration here stems from the fact that you appear to be basing a decision on the anecdotes of a few and do not seem to want to consider the bigger picture.

Strange.

Original poster
Mintpepper · 27/06/2017 13:13

Wow I wonder what would have happened if I'd actually said I was against vaccinations?

OP posts:
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 27/06/2017 13:14

My Mother regrets not vaccinating me despite following medical advice.

I caught Rubella. Didn't have it particularly badly myself but I was spending a lot of time with our next door neighbour as she was tutoring me in her native language. She announced her much wanted pregnancy the day before (before 12 weeks) I discovered I had rubella (symptoms worsened over night).

I spent hours in the library researching the effect of rubella on fetuses, decided I was on par with Myra Hindley and self harmed for the first time. As it turned out, the baby was fine but she might not have been.

I vaccinate.

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 27/06/2017 13:14

nor should you get annoyed at someone doing their own research

you're not doing research , you're shit stirring asking randomers online.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 27/06/2017 13:14

I don't think your GP would shout at you and call you stupid, Mintpepper. Unless you are a trained scientist/medic, do you really think you are in a better position to evaluate the research than NICE and the medical profession? I know I'm not which is why I relied on their advice, just as I had to when my daugher had pneumonia and a few years later a perforated appendix. I didn't ask them to hold on in those cases while I went off to try to work out if their proposed treatment was on the right lines. OK, those were emergencies, but it baffles me why the public is so willing to question the expertise of doctors. They don't spend five years at medical school and 8+ years in post-qualification specialist training for fun.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 27/06/2017 13:16

Dinosaur Flowers that made me feel incredibly sad, what a heavy weight to carry on such young shoulders xx

Mulledwine1 · 27/06/2017 13:18

My ds was not vaccinated (MMR) until he was 6 (he had the earlier vaccinations when he was a small baby).

He and my DH who did not have mumps as a child had the same symptoms when ds was about 2. DS was told he had mumps, DH was told he had an infection. So it's possible that DS had mumps. I don't regret the delay in getting him vaccinated. He did react quite badly to the vaccination (enough to need time off school) and I was relieved he was 6 and able to communicate with me. I would have been terrified if he'd reacted like that when he was only 15 months old.

Original poster
Mintpepper · 27/06/2017 13:19

In general I'm much more inclined to listen to people's opinions when they're well-researched and calmly expressed. People who get angry and insulting I tend to just tune out

OP posts:
Fortybingowings · 27/06/2017 13:20

Mine are fully vaccinated and I paid for them to have meningitis B too. They got chickenpox before I had chance to get the vaccine done.
No regrets and no doubts.
DOI - medical professional

Ummmmgogo · 27/06/2017 13:20

I would consider that not vaccinating and not telling anyone than not vaccinating and persuading others not to vaccinate.

but then, yes, I prefer to know which children aren't vaccinated so I can avoid them and so I don't come across this scary about it in real life.

unfortunately you are legally entitled to play with your child's life, but please stay away from those with compressed immune systems.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/06/2017 13:21

Wow, really interesting to hear about adult vaccinations and experiences of those that have had illnesses such as whooping cough. As someone with fairly bad asthma who has been hospitalised more than once after just a regular cold, I would absolutely dread catching something like whooping cough. It never occurred to me to get revacinnated, I'm going to look in to it now, so thanks for bringing it up. DH has recently booked in for a pneumonia jab as he has had it twice and is high risk.