Anti-vaxxers are neglecting their children?

[sallycinnamonn]

Having a conversation with a friend about this whole anti-vaxxers malarkey.

She made an interesting point saying when a parent chooses not to vaccinate their child, it should be seen as neglect, as they are failing to protect them and their wellbeing and are putting them at risk of disease/death. It should be considered neglect just as it would be if the parent was putting them at risk of disease/death through placing them in a inadequate, unsafe environment etc.

I don't agree with anti-vaxxers but have never thought about it this way before. What are your opinions on it being considered as neglect? I'm interested to see what others have to say about her opinion.

People are ridiculous. Publically flogged. Ffs.
People should just get on with their own lives and let others get on with theirs. If your child is vaccinated they are most likely protected from these diseases. The anti vaxers are not making a decision to damage their child. They do not deserve jail or death for making their decision. They are simply making a decision for what they think is best for their child. I couldn't care less what other people do re vaccinating their child. It's none of my business.

Thank you 57 varieties. I hold complete trust in the nhs and U.K. government to make these decisions for me. However, who knows who will be running the country in 5 years and what they’ll decide out children must have? We must retain bodily autonomy and educate, not dictate. We’re not china, thank god

FFS dogsbollock, you're being ridiculous. What you are suggesting is absurd and I hope will never happen.

The problem with live and let live is that anti-vaxers are putting other people at risk. Claims that they have done lots of research are pathetic. In terms of robust, empirical peer reviewed studies the evidence about the risk/benefit trade off is clear. Reading anecdotal rubbish is not doing research.

I agree Armadillo, but I know first hand someone who has been brain damaged from a vaccine - I still vaccinated my children as I knew the risk to be low of that happening but someone else who is terrified and saw the effects, I can see how their anecdotal evidence would sway them against. We need to stop villifying anti vaxxers as devil worshipers who are killing babies. Education is the key.

@Armadillostoes If you could link to even one double blind placebo controlled study comparing the immune status of vaccinated people to unvaccinated people I would love to see it.

I must say, I am relieved to see that there are limits among anti choice people on this thread. Public floggings? Foster care for non compliant children? Thank goodness a couple of people have called these comments out.

Measles among populations with access to good nutrition etc are unlikely to die or suffer from complications. Vitamin A has been proven an effective treatment for measles.

Not vaccinating is not neglect. Parents who make that choice do it because they care just as parents who vaccinate do it because they care.