Sending my kids to alternate childcare because provider won't have vaccine

[Mummyandthree]

My kids are currently having to isolate because their childminder and partner have tested positive for covid. In chatting childminder has said she won't be having the vaccine because she believes it does more harm than good.

My parents are mega annoyed with this (older grandparents) and they've made their thoughts known, I also don't actually need to use her services anymore but as she is an old friend I have been doing because I felt bad removing them altogether.

Just not sure if I'm being an idiot over it? I mean does it matter if she doesn't get vaccinated? It's her choice. But as she comes into contact with loads of different kids and doesn't know if any of these kids family members are vulnerable isn't that wrong? Surely she has a duty of care to the kids and their families.

I'm not by any means anti vaccine - my kids have had all of theirs - but MN is shockingly biased re: the covid vaccine. Many scientists have agreed that, depending on your age and any underlying health conditions, the vaccine might pose a higher risk to you in terms of serious complications than covid. If she's in her 30s or under, then she's made a well- balanced decision imo. I'm not saying YABU to no longer send your kids, as of course you're not. I'm saying this in respnse to the PP who said she has poor risk assessment skills. I think it's far poorer to do no research!

Will you be asking the new childminder and future teachers if they've had the vaccine? Doctors and nurses if you go into hospital? Where do you draw the line in insisting on knowing people's vaccine status

I would find her stance annoying. Her job is largely to care for vulnerable children to facilitate their parents going to work. Not having the vaccine would seem to compromise that contract.

The vast majority of children at childminders aren’t remotely vulnerable though. If she were caring for CEV children that would be a completely different kettle of fish.

And if the parents are vulnerable or children are in regular contact with older grandparents then that’s for the parents to take into account.

do wonder though whether you would have made this decision if she’d not had mmr for example. Or polio vaccine

Gosh yes. I would judge not having MMR vaccine even more than covid-19 vaccine. Anyone too thick to be able to understand that the Wakefield study was completely discredited many years ago and who can't critique research themselves to make an informed decision would not be bright enough for me to want them to care for my children.

@SleepingStandingUp

Will you be asking the new childminder and future teachers if they've had the vaccine? Doctors and nurses if you go into hospital? Where do you draw the line in insisting on knowing people's vaccine status

I would think that OP would be asking any future childminder about vaccines as she is considering moving away from one for that reason??

@yikesanotherbooboo

I would find her stance annoying. Her job is largely to care for vulnerable children to facilitate their parents going to work. Not having the vaccine would seem to compromise that contract.

But nowhere has op said her children are medically vulnerable.

Depending on age, she's not even been eligible until recently and op was presumably using her then, the risk was the same as it will be now.

I would think that OP would be asking any future childminder about vaccines as she is considering moving away from one for that reason?? Well it might be time to start the home schooling now if she thinks she can avoid the unvaccinated forever

She, of course, has the complete right to decide what she is going to do.

And so you you.

I think a setting with unvaccinated staff is riskier than with vaccinated (some risk remains, but lower)

I would always choose the safer option.

I wouldn't want someone so dim looking after my children.

So now you know she's tested positive and will be immune

Have you informed the CDC that a COVID infection gives you lasting immunity?

The fact that she tells people she's not having the vaccine means she's banging her drum.
I wouldn't want my child anywhere near her.

@ItsAboutTimeForANameChange

We're not having a measles mumps rubella or polio pandemic at the moment though, are we?!

Plus children ARE vaccinated with these to the extent of herd immunity

@hawkehurstgang

I'm not by any means anti vaccine - my kids have had all of theirs - but MN is shockingly biased re: the covid vaccine. Many scientists have agreed that, depending on your age and any underlying health conditions, the vaccine might pose a higher risk to you in terms of serious complications than covid. If she's in her 30s or under, then she's made a well- balanced decision imo. I'm not saying YABU to no longer send your kids, as of course you're not. I'm saying this in respnse to the PP who said she has poor risk assessment skills. I think it's far poorer to do no research!

"many" scientists? Really? Do you have links?

"Partly because she poses a higher risk to your children by not being jabbed, partly because she has shown that she has poor risk assessment and concern for others which would make me concerned about other aspects of her care."
@Zarene
I'm not having it. My risk assessment is fine thanks. Current stats show my risk of death from covid vaccine stands at 1 in 50,000. Current risk of dying of covid for my age and health profile 1 in over 100,000 and I have to catch it first.

And @ememem84 I have told literally no one I haven't had the vaccine. Just quietly keeping my eye on the numbers before the decision to take it stacks up. No one I know who has taken it has read the data so why would I bother getting into it, will just be told I'm a selfish idiot despite making endless sacrifices for the last 18 months and homeschooling my own children for a total of five months (so far...).

It is absolutely her choice. But, her choice is irresponsible, particularly when she works in an environment which requires close contact with other people. I would 100% take my kids out. Not just because she's an unnecessary covid risk to them but I also question the decision making capabilities of someone who refuses the vaccination. What other irresponsible, selfish decisions is she making that could impact on your children?

It is clear the virus is running rife through this country and it will continue to do so unless people like her have a rethink. I hope that people, companies and governments across the world take a stand against this and seek to ensure that those of us who have had the vaccine and, more importantly, those that want it but can't have it, are protected. So, don't feel guilty about taking your kids out of her care, see it as your civic duty - if your kids are protected from her, then everyone your kids meet with are protected too.

I do understand I can't avoid the unvaccinated, however I also need to take into account how my parents feel because they do the lions share of the childcare. Regardless of whether I agree with their stance or not.

This is not the first thing I disagree with the childminder on and this is largely because has strong opinions on doctors/opticians/dentists and thinks are all wrong and everything is a bloody conspiracy anyway. myself and another friend who is a doctor over in australia have had WhatsApp conversations with her regarding this and some of her views and we explain the science but she doesn't believe any of it. She has said the only way she would have it if it affects her business... which it may do.

At the end of the day I have no need for a childminder and haven't for a while so I'll be removing them at the end of the school term.

Thanks all

Current stats show my risk of death from covid vaccine stands at 1 in 50,000

1 in 50,000 people are dying after having the vaccine? Is this correct?

@User24689

"Partly because she poses a higher risk to your children by not being jabbed, partly because she has shown that she has poor risk assessment and concern for others which would make me concerned about other aspects of her care." *@Zarene* I'm not having it. My risk assessment is fine thanks. Current stats show my risk of death from covid vaccine stands at 1 in 50,000. Current risk of dying of covid for my age and health profile 1 in over 100,000 and I have to catch it first.

And @ememem84 I have told literally no one I haven't had the vaccine. Just quietly keeping my eye on the numbers before the decision to take it stacks up. No one I know who has taken it has read the data so why would I bother getting into it, will just be told I'm a selfish idiot despite making endless sacrifices for the last 18 months and homeschooling my own children for a total of five months (so far...).

Do you not see why people think you are selfish? The reason you have stated that you're not having it is because YOU are at low risk. You have the vaccine to protect others, not just yourself. That is the selfish part.

Citation very much needed on that risk of death stat User. And clarification very much needed on “the Covid vaccine”.

It is accepted by the JCVI that (depending on the state of the epidemic) the AZ vaccine may create a higher risk of death than the virus in young adults. But I haven’t seen any similar reputable claim for Pfizer/Moderna, which is what the under 40s would be offered.

So the childminder said "she won't be having the vaccine because she believes it does more harm than good."

She sounds an idiot and does she share these odd incorrect comments with any of the children she looks after? (Depending on age of children imagine being around someone like that). Fortunately, history and research shows us educated people that she is incorrect in her 'view'.

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

So now you know she's tested positive and will be immune

Have you informed the CDC that a COVID infection gives you lasting immunity?

Why on earth would I do that? Especially as this is now well established.

Take the kids away from her care and tell her why.

It's her (foolish) choice not to have the vaccine, it's your choice whether you want your children in the care of an unvaccinated person.

I think it's crazy to pay her to look after your kids when you don't need her too just because she's an old friend - forget the vaccine bit! She can get new kids to childmind.