To think my friend is mad for refusing to vaccinate?

[FannyTheFlamingo]

I'll admit, I'm a bit ignorant on this subject. My DD is nearly 1 and she's been vaccinated. It wasn't something I gave too much thought to, I just did it because I thought it was for the best.

My friend has done her research and says that she doesn't want to risk her son getting brain damage from a vaccine. She says if he catches something and dies, she could forgive herself, but she couldn't if something happened as a result of a vaccination. Is she mad?

I'm hoping MN users have differing views and are much better informed than I am. I don't want to convince her to change her mind, but would like to offer her some pro vaccination advice.

Or do I just keep my beak out?

And what about all the adults walking around unvaccinated, we only had a couple of jabs, now they have some ridiculous amount, have you all gone and got the vaccines so you’re not putting all the kids at risk?

Hand washing in hospitals is irrelevant. Most kids catch stuff at school or when out and about.

You're talking bollocks.

Measles has been eradicated in the uk by the way.

Thanks to vaccination

No mention of the fact that the diseases mostly died out when hygiene in hospitals and hand washing came about. It was very soon after this that most vaccines were developed

Really? You don't think it has anything to do with the fact that we vaccinate against them? Measles was still around in the 50s and 60s and was a dangerous illness. Mumps could cause sterility in boys. Those diseases were very common until vaccines were introduced and that was long after hygiene and hand washing came about.

I assume you understand that "eradicated" in this case means a country has reduced the number of cases of a disease to a low enough level to stop it spreading through the general population for at least three years. There were still over 500 cases of measles in the UK last year. I wouldn't be taking the chance of my child being one of those 500.

@nineinchnails fuck right off with that bollocks

Measles has not been eradicated:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/measles-confirmed-cases/confirmed-cases-of-measles-mumps-and-rubella-in-england-and-wales-2012-to-2013

I also have a family member again senior in a major pharmaceutical company who chose not to vaccinate his children 40 years ago.

If he is on the science side, he probably has an excellent understanding of herd immunity and selfishly decided to ride on the coattails of every other child's vaccination. and his little apples didn't fall far from the self centered tree.

My vaccinated child got whooping cough. It was hard enough in an 11 year old. Can't imagine an infant going through that.

Also, measles has not been eradicated at all and nor has whooping cough.

FruitCider that's awful.

If he catches something and dies because she didn't vaccinate she could forgive herself?

Yep, she's batshit.

I dont understand this at all

Also, I have a colleague who wasn't vaccinated against anything as a child

As an adult she decided against having any vaccines - but now has panic attacks whenever she hears that someone has flu or shingles etc

I think she will have children but if her own panics haven't changed her mind, I don't know what to say. She commutes an hour on the Tube as well. Tbh if it were a friend I would probably try to persuade them.

My brother is immuno-compromised. It's herd immunity that keeps him safe.

To everyone who does the right thing - thanks.

I love having an excuse to post this again

If he is on the science side, he probably has an excellent understanding of herd immunity and selfishly decided to ride on the coattails of every other child's vaccination. and his little apples didn't fall far from the self centered tree

I suspect the same.

Nineinchnails as for unvaccinated adults, we are talking about childhood diseases. Generally, they spread among children who have lower immunity and pass germs on easily. Because there is now herd immunity, it means that adults are unlikely to pick up e.g. whooping cough (although they can). However, if people stop vaccinating kids, the diseases will start spreading.

Also, remember that many unvacinated adults will be immune because they had the disease as children. My mum had chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough and scarlet fever as a child. Many of her peers did too (born in the 1950s).

Here you go

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41399850

What about meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella etc Nine ?

Wasn't there a recent outbreak of measles in South Wales?

Eradicated my arse.

Sloppy interpretation above........eliminated is not eradicated. Fewer than 100 cases in the first 6 months of this year 500+ in England last year. Great progress has been made,it is just a shame Dr Wakefield stopped this position being reached years ago.
I really hope that we remember why the numbers have dropped, and don't start thinking that it's safe not to vaccinate again😕

Nothing to do with 95% take up of the vaccine then ?

If someone doesn't vaccinate their children just think of it like this- they'd rather their kids be dead than autistic. Simple.

Measles

I love that nineinchnails is giving it the antivaxer line then links to an article backing up the pro vaccination argument.

Measles has been eradicated in the uk by the way.

Isn't it lucky that none of the immigrants to our country come from areas of the world where these diseases still exist?