Anti-vaccination friends around newborn

[Originalusernameunavailable]

Hello, NC for this.

I am going to start by stressing this is not a thread for opinions on whether to vaccinate children or not. That’s an individual decision for everyone.

I do vaccinate my children because I believe the pros outweigh the risks.

My newborn obviously isn’t old enough for any jabs yet.

The subject came up with a friend as to whether I would allow our friends who are anti-vaccinations to be visiting my newborn in my own home due to risks of them being carriers of any of the ailments the vaccinations cover.

I can honestly say it’s not something I had considered before. My thoughts are my baby could come into contact with lots of people who have various illnesses, germs etc.

However, I was wondering if I’m being too laid back or whether my friends are just being neurotic in terms of the visiting/contact?

As I’ve said, please don’t make this into a slanging match about pro/anti vaccinations, please take the question as it is -

Is it unreasonable to think unvaccinated visitors are putting a newborn at extra risk?

Unreasonable - don’t be ridiculous!
Reasonable - don’t risk it!

The measles vaccinations are recorded as beginning in 1963, with an improved version available in 1968. I was born then and I had the vaccine (along with smallpox and others).

I recall as an adult talking with my mum, who actually had kept a small card recording my vaccines. Not sure where this is now, dad might have chucked after mum died.

I was given MMR when pregnant for the first time. Test showed my measles immunity was still fine, but Rubella immunity had reduced.

I would get tested if my DC have their own DC, and get whatever vaccination is needed.

Someone I know had their newborn die because an unvaccinated child next door gave them their illness (cant remember whether measles, mumps or whooping cough). Ironically the other twin survived because they were in NICU at the time.

Don't risk it.

I wouldn't let any of them within an inch of my newborn. When my youngest was born a friend popped by with her son who had a temperature and a really snotty cold, they weren't allowed in either. Possibly too protective I know but she'd only just arrived and why would I want her to fight a cold/temp when it was 'possible' to avoid it.

The risk of SSPE (little-known and devastating late complication of measles that basically strikes healthy, developing children down up to ten years after the original infection and causes them to gradually lose all their abilities and die) is much, much higher among those who caught measles under the age of one.

Again, I know someone whose daughter died of this. Years of devastation for the entire family who saw saw their beautiful, lively and intelligent daughter and sister disappear and die.

Don't let them visit! I had mumps when I was 15 and it was absolutely awful. I didn't have my MMR as mum was just neglectful and didn't take me for it. I cannot imagine how awful these preventable diseases would be for a defenceless newborn and as others have said can cause lifelong disabilities never mind death.

I don't even want too many visitors at all for the first few weeks just to try and prevent my newborn getting a cold.

The UK has recently lost its measles free status

Hi All,

I am carrying out research into vaccination, and social influence for individuals to vaccinate or not to vaccinate children/themselves. As well as trust in medical advice.
This is the link if anyone has time to complete would be much appreciated!!

durham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/diss

Nope.
I try not to socialise with anti-Vaxxers anyway. While I respect their right to make a choice, they need to respect my right to think they are idiots. I don’t want to associate with idiots.

Antivaxxers’ kids don’t get in my house til my kids are fully vaccinated.

But tbh, I doubt I’d be friends with them in the first place for this to even be an issue.

im a little confused on what that means

I agree completely with @MonstranceClock

I think anti-vaxxers often need a child or close family member to come to harm before they see sense. The biggest anti-vaxxers I know (rejected vaccinations based on dubious religious principles) all started to allow vaccinations when close family children started getting disabled due to Polio / Measles injuries.

@MulticolourTinselOnTheTreeTinsel why were you given the MMR vaccine while pregnant? That's surely dangerous is it not? A neighbour of ours got measles aged 4 and developed Encephalitis. She was brain damaged and still has the mental ability of a four year old today. This was before vaccination came in for MMR. I would be very pro vaccines myself. Measles is still a huge killer in the under developed world.

Your newborn will have some immunity from you particularly if they are breast fed. It really wouldn’t bother me particularly if they are well.

The baby was "newborn" in early December 2019.

Why do people keep adding to old threads?

Your anti-vac friends won't be visiting you now, even pro-vac ones won't. When lockdown is over I presume you will be having your baby vaccinated, if you're not having that done anyway, so she will be protected from any of the relevant illnesses others might be carrying - that is the point of vaccination.

When you start taking child out in public or to Playgroup’s you are likely to meet many unvaccinated people
Some by choice some due to immune or allergy reasons
You are not going to be able to police it fully

I unfortunately also have anti vaxxer friends but I keep my children’s up to date and my newborn still has the immunity from me initially

That being said - I’d you are worried then don’t have them to visit.
But don’t go and take baby out into the world until it’s vaccinated as that would just be the same if not more of a risk than one fiend coming round to visit

Nope I wouldn't let them near!

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The baby was "newborn" in early December 2019