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

There are CHILDREN who are immunocompromised who can't have the vaccinations

Yes indeed. Which is why it’s important they are protected by herd immunity.

Think on

Indeed....

Bless you Ollivander84 ❤️ I can't even imagine how awful it is. X

Today it's styes in her right eye.

Mouth ulcers.

Throat infection.

Tomorrow it might be an ear infection.

Or whatever.

But the blanket "parents who don't vaccinate are despicable" of the op and others? Appalling. Absolutely appalling.

She has a PID that is comorbid with other conditions she has. She will always be and has always been immune deficient. I am NOT a despicable parent because I didn't get her vaccinated and I wish judgemental people like the OP of this thread would just think about WHY I might not have vaccinated her and had to walk in my shoes for just a day, not so much now but when she was 18 months. When she was 3. When she was in hospital for 7 days two years ago hooked up to all sorts with an infection that nearly killed her (and couldn't be vaccinated against) but that a normal child would have just shrugged off.

It does not make me despicable to have done what the doctors advised. And how DARE anyone like the OP of this thread suggest she be excluded because of it.

Appalling attitude.

For about the millionth time...
... not vaccinating for medical reasons is different from being an anti vaxxers.

Rince and repeat.

But that isn't what the OP said, is it?

Rinse and repeat.

But that isn't what the OP said, is it?

Rinse and repeat.

It’s obvious what she meant. And as you’re someone with a child who relies on others vaccinating I can’t really see what your issue is.

Innocentconglomeration - there's not much advantage to pointing this out (although I often do anyway), we're supposed to be able to instinctively know who thinks medical reasons are acceptable and who doesn't (and lets face it, some people don't think anaphylaxis, for example, is a good enough reason).

exactly. who is going to decide if my reasons are "good enough"? Who gets to decide that? Would a GP be "good enough" or would it have to be a specialist? And if so, would a general paeds doc be enough or would it need to be the specialist pead from the regional centre?

And why do I have to give my child's personal medical information to anyone anyway? I hate this notion that as soon as your child has a condition, you become bound to explain all. No. She is entitled to confidentiality and a simple "I chose not to vaccinate" is all the info you'd get from me. I am not bound to tell anyone her personal medical information.

Kissing if that's what she meant, then that's what she should have said.

I think that it is entirely clear. Anyone with a medical reason for not being vaccinated is fine and relies on herd immunity. No one expects them to be vaccinated.

Those who decide that they don't want to but have no medical reason why their child can't be vaccinated - they are selfish and are putting others at risk.

Weetabixandshreddies - you said:

I think that it is entirely clear. Anyone with a medical reason for not being vaccinated is fine and relies on herd immunity. No one expects them to be vaccinated.

I really wish it was that clear, but when doctors cannot agree on what constitutes a 'medical reason', there's not likely to be a consensus anywhere else in society.

I've spoken to one specialist who has said no way should my DD have certain vaccines and any that she must have, need to be given in hospital with adrenaline, intubation kit and a crash cart on standby. I've spoken to another specialist who thinks my DD's reaction and subsequent cardiac arrest was just an unfortunate coincidence (nothing to do with the vax), she should receive all normal vaccinations and I'm being unreasonably protective.

Whether I'm being 'despicable' by the adjudication of this thread, depends which specialist's word you accept!

I guess then you err on the side of caution and if you choose to vaccinate do it in hospital with the medical care on hand.

It's very difficult but I think your case is a fairly unique scenario. The people that we are talking about are the ones who just do not want them.

Are you not concerned that the more people who choose not to vaccinate the greater the risk that your child catches something?

In my bit of the US you need to vaccinate to attend school, public or private. You can get an exemption certificate on medical grounds and I think religious ones.

Why should I have to disclose my reasons for not vaccinating to anyone?

Where I live you wouldn't have to disclose, you just wouldn't be able to place other DC at risk in a school setting without doing so. It would be your choice what you did.

But why is it ok to put other children at risk in a school setting if my reasons are "approved"? The reason makes no difference to the vac status.

But why is it ok to put other children at risk in a school setting if my reasons are "approved"? The reason makes no difference to the vac status

Because children who cannot get vaccinated are in a minority. If your child is surrounded by other children who are immunised then in benefits them.

You wouldn’t have to disclose to any of her classmates. There’s no need for them to know.

I think because there are the DC who need herd immunity from others but can't be vaccinated themselves, these are few in number and clearly in a different situation.
The religious thing I don't get but is part of the American constitution.
Anyway, very few DC fall into these categories so almost all DC are vaccinated. You have to be pretty commited to home educate for this reason.

Are you not concerned that the more people who choose not to vaccinate the greater the risk that your child catches something?

Up to a point, but I also try not to judge - a lot of don't want to explain their reasons so just say (when pushed) that they've chosen not to vaccinate. You will always get those people who have seemingly illogical reasons, or just completely distrust the medical profession/big phama/etc...there's not much you can so about them!

Up to a point, but I also try not to judge

Being concerned for your child's health isn't judging though is it?

I think the really scary part of measles is that the disease can cause brain infection in a random part of the brain. That means the consequences are like pressing a "random play" button. Anything can happen: part paralysis, full paralysis, deafness, blindness, losing the ability to smell or to sing or to talk or the ability to fell empathy. Or several of the above mentioned.

Oh and the picture of the iron lungs isn't staged. It just shows the iron lungs in store after one of the epidemics. Which anyone could have guessed, but when you have decided that people who are pro-vaccinations are all manipulative liars, then of course you'll make up lies about the truths that they tell you.

But why is it ok to put other children at risk in a school setting if my reasons are "approved"? The reason makes no difference to the vac status.

Because the government has a compelling interest in minimizing the number of exemptions granted. The more exemptions, the less herd immunity. Also, a child with a medical exemption could be harmed by vaccination. The child of a person with a philosophical objection would not be harmed by vaccination.

In my bit of the US you need to vaccinate to attend school, public or private. You can get an exemption certificate on medical grounds and I think religious ones.

There are three states that have eliminated the religious exemption. All three did so after experiencing rampant outbreaks of infectious disease due to low vaccination rates, in large part due to people who falsely claimed the religious exemption.

Most universities require proof of vaccination status as well.

www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/16/nearly-all-states-allow-religious-exemptions-for-vaccinations/

If medically you can you should and the NHS should cover the chicken pox vaccine and probably others too. I believe one reason they don’t is as they can’t guarantee full coverage and want to protect anti vaxers. I don’t think that’s an adequate argument.

Being concerned for your child's health isn't judging though is it?

No, but describing another parent as despicable/disgusting/unfit/etc, particularly when you may not know the whole story, certainly is judging.

I note how many people seem to have totally overlooked that OP espouses the Australian model, which gives medical exemptions (though of course tricky if you have differing medical opinions -presumably you’d collar the one whose view you prefer and get them to sign asap - differences of opinion affect so few DC that it wouldn’t make any real difference).

Coming from a country with s different schedule doesn’t disbar you from schools/child benefit either, provided you have seen a doctor who will certify that your DC is on an approved catch up programme

Conscience is no longer a permissible grounds for exemption. Even for JWs who reject all medicine (and are so few in number they don’t really affect the herd either).

I am old enough to have predated measles vax- it was just rolling out when I caught the wild disease many years ago, until the 1970s or so, there would be epidemics every few years and children would die. I don’t remember any deaths, but I have friends around my age with impairments definitely caused by the disease.

I now have a very wonky immune system, and can never have a live vaccine again, i’ve had every dead one going though, even when i’m out of the age group.

And yes, I hope for good herd immunity. Because no-one regally knows how well I would cope with exposure to pathogens