To think that parents who don't vaccinate their children are despicable

[LaBelleSauvage]

Just that. And I think they ought to be sanctioned in some way similar to in Australia. Children shouldn't suffer because of parents' stupidity

*throwing

without the required vaccinations.

Can one assume that the 'required vaccinations' are those of which you personally approve?

What a disgusting racist comment.
What?!

You said you are anti vax
You have claimed you don't benefit from herd immunity

I can only assume you're like that off grid family in the news on and off who claimed they cured scarlet fever with herbs (example mentioned up thread)

Are you going to suggest comparisons to new age spiritualist pseudo medical claims is racist just like you've claimed people disagreeing with your anti vac stance is racist?

Oh so you think it's acceptable to say that travellers have a magic crystal ball and the like? What is this, the 1800s?

Pinkyyy, this has nothing to do with your ethnicity.

You say I don't rely on it. Why do you all assume that anyone who isn't vaccinated sits back and thinks that they're fine because everyone else is protecting them.

What I'm getting from your posts is that you haven't thought about this much at all. Your approach seems to be 'Dad looked into this - he thought vaccinations weren't a good thing - I'd get some grief from him if I did get the kids vaccinated - so I'll just do what he did for me. I'm fine. Nobody dies from these diseases nowadays anyway'.

If I'm right, you haven't thought at all about:

• your mum's family came to a different conclusion - why didn't you follow that tradition? Why didn't she manage to persuade your dad to get you immunised?

• the reason there are very few cases of those diseases nowadays is because most of us get our children immunised which stops those diseases spreading

• some people can't get immunised but would suffer really badly if they did get ill, so your kids getting ill (or you) could do really serious damage if they came in contact with one of these vulnerable people

• OK, the chances of getting one of these illnesses is low, but they can be catastrophic, and even when they aren't, they're very unpleasant - why take that risk for your children? Yes, there is a small risk to your children from getting immunised, but it's a lot smaller than the risk of not getting immunised.

I too agree @Pinkyyy you made your views before saying you were a traveller. (It helped as that put more of a context to your views in cultural terms,) but poster you were getting flak way before mentioning anything about being a traveller so disingenuous to suggest it's now discriminatory.

(And I'm not a PP complaining about you! )

I don't think anyone has said that vaccinations are 100% risk free but the risks are minimal. I know someone who's child had an allergic reaction to a vaccine. They're still pro-vaccination because they understand the benefits but they do what they can to minimise the risk to their child. This means their child has her vaccinations in hospital where she can be monitored or has a modified version .

What is this, the 1800s

You do know the research into vaccinations had started by the 1800s....

Oh so I was asked if my family was educated before you learned of out ethnic background? No, I wasn't.

Oh so you think it's acceptable to say that travellers have a magic crystal ball and the like? What is this, the 1800s?

Don't play the race card. You are embarrassing yourself.

I will continually be skeptical of ANYONE who chooses not to vaccinate, is an anti-vaxxers and claims they do not benefit from herd immunity (because obviously they either have some inherent specialness where nasty germs don't get them or they special new age shit which keeps them safe).
Then add into that
stating you don't give a damn about how you could be risking the lives of people with immune issues.

The whole thread shows people's views to views like yours. Background has nothing to do with it.

My friend urmed and arrhed over vaccinating her PFB. She kept telling me her homeopathic Dr with decades of experience in alterntive medicine strongly advised against vaccinations for xyz reason. I told my friend to ask the Dr if she had vaccinated her kids [Dr has kids all aged 10 and under]. We can all guess the answer can't we? This "Dr" is a disgrace.

You know what I'm actually going to leave this post now. Congratulations you have all done well to maintain your 'herd' mentality and have processed to use that herd to trample anyone with an opposing opinion.

No pinkyyy that question was asked because you said family traditions and values influenced your decisions. Again, nothing to do with ethnicity.

Proceeded

I'm not pretending to be a victim and you should stop expecting the entire population of Britain to make their life choices because of your condition and calling them names if they choose not to.

As other people have implied, there is a social contract here and an anti-vaxxer is the equivalent of a well-off tax dodger who nonetheless feels entitled to health and welfare costs if they come unstuck. The "life choices" and freedoms we enjoy cannot exist without corresponding responsibilities. (I wish the press would understand that and all.)

Typical anti-vaxx stance 🙄 they always revert to type and try and turn the herd immunity concept into a bad thing.

@trancepants - great post and succinctly makes the case for vaccinations. Anyone who doesn't think about the wider community is a bit of an arsehole really.

However all this made me think about the chicken pox vaccination. I'm 100% pro vaccination but I didn't vaccinate either of mine against it. A friend accused me of be anti-vax, not listening to Doctors or paying heed to scientific fact. I pointed her to the NHS website which explains why they do not offer it in the general schedule. They consider it to be a harmless illness for most children and the site explains the concern Doctors have that if the majority of children do not get it in childhood and develop lifelong natural immunity there could be serious consequences when they reach adulthood (for them and the adult population at large since it is a much more serious illness when you are older). So in this case I was following UK medical advice but still stood accused of being irresponsible. Friend is from the US btw where it is standard to vaccinate against it and she does not understand the relaxed attitude to it here.

Both of mine caught it and were absolutely fine but of course some children do develop complications. However my main concern was honestly for my own children. I don't personally know a single child who suffered any complications and so I preferred for mine to get it when they were young as they are healthy, I was fairly sure they'd be fine and I'd rather not worry about them getting it later in life. I know a lot of anti vaxxers feel the same about Measles ('take some homeopathic remedies and it will be fine') but my point is maybe I'm just as selfish as they are in a sense..

My children are mixed race, their dad is Sierra Leonian and it really pees me off when pp belatedly mention & then claim discrimination when it obviously wasn't a factor on an internet site that no one knew before you actually said! It isn't a toptrumps shield you can bring out last minute. Stand by your views or don't. Immunisation views are complex.

BlaaBlaaBlaa
Oh you don't understand herd immunity.
It just isn't a thing at all. Nobody benefits from it at all, especially not anti vaxxers. It's just not a thing.
Any of you pointing out how shitty it is to not vaccinate whilst saying you don't care about people with medical issues are just mean nasty pro vaccine types who can't handle the truth.

Ah, yes, not wanting to kill people through negligence. I'm such a member of the herd for following that idea.

Ain't that the truth Maisy 😂

The thing is. The word has changed, massively.

Relying on the fact that your dad made a decision, because HIS dad made the same decision just won’t work as well any more.

It might have worked for hundreds of years but there are too many decisions unique to modern society.

Infact ‚‘my dad didnt do it so I won’t‘ isn’t a decision, it’s just avoiding making one.

@Eastie77. To me you've thought about it researched and came to your decision. I have the view that your decision misses the bigger picture but that's my individual view. Pp get up in arms about it and I understand that. I'd ask you tell me your views and that your DC aren't vaccinated before you take away my choice and let your DC come to my house without informing me

(I meant to say, I won't argue with you in your views. No point )

Parents who have kids who die or have serious reactions are treated like mad liars when they point out the risk of vaccines - and yet, until the point when vaccines harmed their children, these parents were PRO-vaccine! This point often seems to be missed when people are hurling insults at anti-vax folk

Oh so very true! The thing is, on a thread like this, you point it out an everyone says 'oh, a genuine medical reason is different'. Well it is, but by that point, you may have already read 5 pages about how anyone who doesn't fully vaccinate is unintelligent/ill-informed/disgusting/should have their children removed/etc and it stings. This thread has gone one better with comments about removal of CB/higher taxes unless signed off by a doctor - there are a lot of doctors who refuse to admit that is the result of vaccination and would refuse to sign the paperwork. How many times should a decent parent be willing to play russian roulette with their child's life because the holy grail of vaccination cannot be challenged or criticised?

There isn't an issue with all doctors, but there is a significant number who refuse to discuss adverse reactions - I don't understand their issue.