Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To vaccinate newborn or not

714 replies

confusedaboutclothes · 10/01/2024 10:37

I know this is a very sensitive subject, but i’m asking please for FACTS only - I don’t want answers like ‘because the NHS recommends you to vaccinate your baby etc’

Id like to point out i’m not ‘anti vax’ as such, but covid really opened my eyes to researching vaccines etc i’ve done my own research on whether i should be vaccinating my newborn but it’s hard to find unbiased facts.

What I don’t like, is the pressure that is put on us to do as we’re told with our babies. I don’t like the constant reminders, the phone calls and the pressure to vaccinate - it all feels like a box ticking exercise not because the NHS are actually worried about my baby.

Please be kind, I really am confused about this and would love some different perspectives

OP posts:
Thread gallery
27
emmetgirl · 10/01/2024 11:17

@Whataretheodds

This.
Thank you for pointing this out 👏👏

greensleevez · 10/01/2024 11:18

covid really opened my eyes to researching vaccines etc i’ve done my own research on whether i should be vaccinating my newborn but it’s hard to find unbiased facts.

Blimey! Where to start with this. But the first reply nailed it.

Paw2024 · 10/01/2024 11:18

confusedaboutclothes · 10/01/2024 10:56

It’s definitely not about wanting to vaccinate my baby at all, because of course i want the very very best for them. Like i said it was more covid opening my eyes a little bit more and wanting to know what it is we are putting in our bodies - I was just curious as to why ‘anti vaxers’ feel so strongly if that makes sense

But if your child gets something like measles and ends up in hospital, you're not going to be worrying about what's in their body are you? You're going to be begging for the drugs/medication to save their life

Evilcold · 10/01/2024 11:18

confusedaboutclothes · 10/01/2024 11:13

There’s a lady who has commented saying she was severely injured by the covid vaccine and it’s things like that that stick in my mind.

Things like ‘it’s a money making exercise’ it just worries me so much and i don’t know why these negative things stick in my head so much over the positive ones!

Show quote history

Op, I was severely injured by the Covid vaccine. I said in the next sentence my DC still get all the scheduled vaccines for the childhood diseases that can be extremely harmful or deadly.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 10/01/2024 11:18

There’s a lady who has commented saying she was severely injured by the covid vaccine and it’s things like that that stick in my mind

yes there were bad side effects from the covid vaccines but they were new - the childhood illness vaccines are well established

Pratchettt · 10/01/2024 11:18

Donmeistersleepmachine · 10/01/2024 11:09

I would suggest looking elsewhere other than Mumsnet if you are truly on the fence and want different opinions other than an echo chamber telling you to do it. I would also suggest not considering them all the same and looking at the individual risk factors, rate of serious illness and death, complications, etc of each vaccine and each disease or illness they deal with.

You do NOT have to give your baby any, you do NOT have to give you child every single one, you do NOT need to succumb to pressure if you have real concerns that are validated with research, you SHOULDNT blindly not give any because it feels like a box ticking excersize. After hours days weeks months and to be honest near on years of reading studies, dissecting them and finding evidence both for and against depending on the individual vaccines (which are not all created equal) the only reasonable thing to do is completely inform yourself of all aspects of them if you are concerned at all. if you choose not to, there are risks, if you choose to, there are risks. You can also look into applying a different vaccine schedule if you don't feel happy about the high number of vaccines given at one point. As will be the case every time a new vaccine is added, there are many more given at once today and before the age of 1/3 then ever in history. I can already see the pitchforks and foaming at the mouth I'm going to receive for saying this but do your research and if you are intelligent you should be able to come to your own conclusion without asking for input from Mumsnet or any other online forum full of people you don't know who have entirely different lives to you and thoughts and ideals. I mean no malice in this but if you really aren't sure either way or don't think you have the ability to research you are better off getting them for your baby and that's coming from somebody who isn't giving them to her own baby at the pace at which the NHS recommends. You would likely always "what if" if anything did happen. The pharmaceutical field is as much a social paradigm as any other scientific field and you are allowed to question things. Who did the study, who was it commissioned by, what agencies profit from it, for both sides of the argument.

Can you please give a comprehensive list of where OP can conduct this research? Because Google is not a safe place to do so and you don’t seem to think the NHS is right, So where can someone find unbiased research into vaccines?

CatMadam · 10/01/2024 11:19

Vaccines, including the Covid vaccine, save lives. You do not want your baby to get meningitis, or any of the other diseases they could be protected from if they get the appropriate vaccines. Please vaccinate your child. I am not trying to be nasty, but the vast majority of anti-vax ‘research’ consists of very calculated lies which are designed to frighten and confuse people who do just want the best for their children. I understand why people fall for these sort of lies, but it’s so important to see them for what they are- just that, lies.

CouCouCachou · 10/01/2024 11:19

I think it’s clear that you really love your baby and her well-being is your first priority.

A lot of antivaxxers capitalise on that by talking about things like maternal instinct, ‘putting things in our children’s bodies’, the rights of parents v the machinery of the state etcetera. It’s deliberately emotive and designed to make you fearful.

But the science is clear - over and over again, independent and peer reviewed studies have shown vaccinations to be a safe and effective way of preventing horrific illness. The best, most nurturing and most loving thing you can do as a mother is give your baby that protection.

Original poster
confusedaboutclothes · 10/01/2024 11:19

Just to point out that all the people being rude about me doing my own research are being rude for the sake of it.

I have been completely honest by stating my own research was VERY limited. I am not a scientist or doctor so really all I can rely on is the internet - that certainly doesn’t make me stupid.

YES of course i pick out the negative information because that’s just
the way my mind works and EXACTLY why ive
come on here.

Thank you to all the kind posters, your replies are really helpful.

OP posts:
Blarn · 10/01/2024 11:19

A lot of childhood vaccines have been around for decades and millions of people have had them. Smallpoxhas been eradicated worldwide thanks to vaccines and Polio is nearly there. We can protect children against Meningitis now. These are horrible illnesses that can kill or leave lifelong disabilities. You do feel sad when you see you baby crying when the needle goes in! But I always thought about how bad I'd feel if they were in hospital because I hadn't got them vaccinated.

Pratchettt · 10/01/2024 11:19

Evilcold · 10/01/2024 11:18

Op, I was severely injured by the Covid vaccine. I said in the next sentence my DC still get all the scheduled vaccines for the childhood diseases that can be extremely harmful or deadly.

Edited
Show quote history

May I ask, respectfully, what happened?

Sa11yCinnamon · 10/01/2024 11:19

It's staggeringly arrogant to think that your own research googling is going to be more accurate than the work of thousands of highly qualified scientists.

CagneyAndLazy · 10/01/2024 11:20

"I've done my own research..."

Yes. Yes, of course you have...

What I don’t like, is the pressure that is put on us to do as we’re told with our babies.

But babies are not dolls that we can choose to do whatever we like with, just because we produced them. I read time and again on here things like "trust your 'gut', hun" and "mother's instinct..." but the fact we give birth doesn't suddenly imbue us with vast knowledge of what's best for our child.

Society wants to protect babies from disease and harm, even if some parents don't. Hence the campaigns to encourage people to to do the right thing.

blackpanth · 10/01/2024 11:20

Definitely get the vaccines

Pratchettt · 10/01/2024 11:21

confusedaboutclothes · 10/01/2024 11:19

Just to point out that all the people being rude about me doing my own research are being rude for the sake of it.

I have been completely honest by stating my own research was VERY limited. I am not a scientist or doctor so really all I can rely on is the internet - that certainly doesn’t make me stupid.

YES of course i pick out the negative information because that’s just
the way my mind works and EXACTLY why ive
come on here.

Thank you to all the kind posters, your replies are really helpful.

I actually think you’ve handled this thread really well. You’ve been honest about your research and the origin of your concerns and haven’t risen to any of the unpleasant responses.

I am a huge supporter of vaccinations but I’m also a huge supporter of there being no stupid questions. You came here and asked and have listened and responded respectfully. Anyone being a dick to you is just that, a dick.

justteanbiscuits · 10/01/2024 11:21

Evilcold · 10/01/2024 11:03

I was severely injured by the Covid vaccine (MRNA). DC still have all their regular childhood vaccines.

People have been severely injured by the Covid vaccines (my injury diagnosed in hospital and accepted officially, I met many others in a similar situation). There needs to be a distinction between those with Covid vaccine injuries and the antivaxxers who are doing a lot of harm as they discourage all vaccines. The health authorities have not helped the situation by not being transparent about the scale of Covid vaccine injuries and helping those impacted. Unfortunately this has led to distrust of all vaccines.

Sorry to derail. How did you get confirmation it was vaccine related. I was told "it's hard to know, it might have happened with or without vaccine".

twnety · 10/01/2024 11:21

tomatoontoast · 10/01/2024 10:57

Thank god your kids were protected by other parents who had the sense to vaccinate. They don't know how lucky they are. It's a shame their own parent couldn't do the same.

Show quote history

Yup - I vaccinated my child also born around the hoo-hah around mmr

"Andrew Wakefield" - total utter murdering wanker - had a financial stake in the outcome, did his "research" on 12 kids at a birthday party (without permission!) and should be burned at the stake

Denimdenimdenim · 10/01/2024 11:21

I have a family member who didn't vaccinate her son (in Australia).

He became very unwell with diphtheria about a year ago, he was only a young toddler at the time. She was absolutely beside herself. Shortly after she had him vaccinated fully.

Please vaccinate, the pros outweigh the cons.

KnickerlessParsons · 10/01/2024 11:21

There’s a lady who has commented saying she was severely injured by the covid vaccine and it’s things like that that stick in my mind.

She could have been even more injured by actual Covid though, or even died.

She may have been injured, but she's alive.

Greebosmum · 10/01/2024 11:21

Speaking as an oldie, my cousin had polio in the last big outbreak before the vaccine was introduced. She spent months in the isolation hospital, no visitors. She has never been able to walk since. She has had a fulfilling life due to the work and support from my Uncle and Aunt. She was one of the 'lucky' ones.

I have a Smallpox scar on my arm. My children didn't have the smallpox jab because it was irradicated by the vaccine.

I had the TB innoculation. My children didn't because it is no longer a problem in this country.

I worked with an older lady who had diptheria as a child. Weeks and weeks of pain and isolation.

Is that enough evidence for you?

twnety · 10/01/2024 11:22

confusedaboutclothes · 10/01/2024 11:19

Just to point out that all the people being rude about me doing my own research are being rude for the sake of it.

I have been completely honest by stating my own research was VERY limited. I am not a scientist or doctor so really all I can rely on is the internet - that certainly doesn’t make me stupid.

YES of course i pick out the negative information because that’s just
the way my mind works and EXACTLY why ive
come on here.

Thank you to all the kind posters, your replies are really helpful.

So what 'research' have you done that is more qualified than the people who do this for a living?

enchantedsquirrelwood · 10/01/2024 11:22

I am a huge supporter of vaccinations but I’m also a huge supporter of there being no stupid questions. You came here and asked and have listened and responded respectfully. Anyone being a dick to you is just that, a dick

Indeed this. If my child is vaccinated I don't really care what other people decide to do. Their child, their choice, their mistakes to make.

egowise · 10/01/2024 11:22

If you want your child to potentially die unnecessarily, then don't vaccinate.

stillmissmyboy · 10/01/2024 11:22

I vaccinated BUT I did not have multiple injections each visit.

I spaced them all out individually.

Nurse was super supportive and GP said I was sensible. SO there you go.

TBH I decided against the MMR completely as a baby as I felt it was far too much going in in one go.

Kids are now 9 and they've just had the first MMR> Both were poorly after it so I knew I'd made the right decision. I'm waiting 2 months before I go back for the booster. Obviously can both talk now so both kids told me it actuallY BURNS as it goes in and feels bloody painful.

A baby can't tell you that. And it's exactly the SAME AMOUNT OF MMR in a needle that goes into a small baby and/or a young teen or adult.

Someone please explain that to me? Makes no sense. You wouldn't take the same amount of Calpol as a baby and a 9 year old.

OP - you do you. Personally I would vaccinate, but do it at your pace.

Swipe left for the next trending thread