New Nanny with unvaccinated own child

[FrenchMagpie]

Has anyone been in this situation?

Our lovely new nanny starts soon - initial impressions are great and I'm really pleased to have found her. However, I've just found out that she doesn't believe in vaccination and her own child (13 months) is not vaccinated against anything. Also, she herself did not have whooping cough/Flu vaccination in her pregnancy.

I am expecting DC3 in the summer and I'm not sure how I feel about my nanny being in close contact with my newborn.

I feel very confused. It is, of course, her choice not to vaccinate her child. But am I putting my children at risk?

Is this common? Do you ask if your potential employees are vaccinated? And any nannies, are you vaccinated and how do you feel about this?

Thanks for any input

Re the whooping cough jab, bear in mind that many adults won't have had it, as it wasn't in the vaccination schedule until the late 70s, and even then it was a controversial vaccine and so many otherwise fully vaccinated children weren't given it (and like me, got whooping cough instead - bad call!). So she's likely not the only unvaccinated adult who'll have close contact with your newborn.

Hmm. I might tell you I had an unvaccinated child but definitely not who. I just can't.

It's the same with everything though, adopted children, divorced families, those receiving benefits to pay me, not just a vaccinated vs unvaccinated issue.

nick thanks :) that's fine if I knew you had an un vaccinated child I wouldn't need to know who, just not to leave my child there.

Obviously confidentiality is terribly inportant. I'm trying to go into the health care profession so understand.

Yes of course, I completely understand both sides of it. Incidentally what will you do when it comes to schooling?

ok, thats interesting NickNacks. Thanks for the honest reply.

I have just spoken with a nurse at my GP practice and she suggested asking her for her vaccination status - i.e. to check what she has been vaccinated against or exposed to in her childhood. Any other nannies had this type of question asked? Is it something that agencies etc ask?

But then what? Would it be acceptable to ask her to be vaccinated against anything thats not covered like Whatsthematterwith me above? I"m not sure about that...

If you are getting the vaccination while pregnant, and her child isn't having contact with yours, I wouldn't worry.

I have no idea. It terrifies me. Shes not immune suppressed, just has a very weak immune system from when see had meningitis. Thankfully I don't know any anti vaxxers so haven't stumbled across that hurdle yet as she's only a toddler.

I think asking for her vaccination status or asking her to be vaccinated against anything is overstepping your role as an employer tbh.

You can ensure your children are vaccinated, but you can't control the rest of the world.

I actually agree with you LittleNelle.

But then I think of how I will feel when my new tiny baby is here. And how I should be doing everything in my power to protect him. I'm worried I'll feel uncomfortable about our (very lovely) nanny having close contact with him.

I wonder if I am being a little irrational - I have terrible pregnancy anxiety after a difficult journey to have my children. I just feel very conflicted....

Surely you'll be at home looking after your newborn at first?

You also have no idea whether the children on the GP, midwives, HV, nursery nurses etc have been vaccinated either.

french that's not the current advice.

www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1035.aspx?CategoryID=62&SubCategoryID=63

I took both ofmine swimming before their jabs / out in groups. Especially the second one who just came along!

If she's not bringing her child to work with her, I don't see the problem especially if she's been vaccinated herself. I worked as a nanny for 20+ years and my parents didn't get me vaccinated. It never occurred to me to mention that to any employers though. I did have most childhood illnesses though. My own children are vaccinated.

If she's a great nanny then I'd try and relax about it. You can't guarantee every person in the vicinity of your child will be vaccinated. Good Nannies are like gold dust. Don't let your anxiety spoil things before she's started.

I wouldn't want someone with such poor judgement looking after my kid.

I would reconsider her as a nanny if nothing has been signed (immuno-compromised here as I said above).

I wouldn't say it was poor judgement maybe she has very good reason not to vaccinate. I don't think the majority of anti vaxxers follow that path without looking in to it deeply.

I can see why you're concerned. But you've no way of knowing who is vaccinated and who isn't so any playmate visitor might not be vaccinated and you wouldn't know. If she isn't bringing her child to work then I would just accept it but would voice your concerns to your GP, midwife or Health Visitor.

As a nanny I have never been asked about what vaccinations I have had. I am not even sure myself what I have had... think there is a bit of paper from the 1970's somewhere which lists things but not sure I could lay my hands on it quickly. I had a 'well man' check-up a year or so ago and no mention was made at that about immunisation record.

You say your nanny starts soon, so does that mean you have officially offered her the job?

If you offered me a job and then removed it because I'd chosen not to vaccinate my child I'd sue you for unlawful dismissal.

I'd tread very very carefully here.

If I offered you a job and then removed it after finding out you were an anti-vaxxer, I'd defend myself against your lawsuit on the grounds that you were an absolute ninny and not fit to look after a houseplant.

A job offer isn't the same as having a job is it? And you can't have an unlawful dismissal case unless you've worked there for two years or been a victim of discrimination - and no this would not constitute as discrimination as it isn't a protected class.

I agree archery, not that it would get that far

It's such an emotional time when you are pg - I am a terrible worrier at the best of times but pg makes me even worse.

Your older child could easily be mixing at groups with mine (never had flu jab and has only had measles single not mmr but otherwise we've had everything). I didn't have wc or flu jab in my last pg and I think 40% pg women don't iirc so you probably share waiting rooms with unvaccinated pg mums.

You wouldn't know my/my kids vax status if you knew me and given the take up of the mmr jab it's likely you know one or two un vax kids. I'm not a nanny btw but I never tell people my vax decisions because I know it would alter how they saw me.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is you probably are already exposed to some unvax people, but I can see entirely why this would worry you.

I found this comment hilarious but this is too straightforward. TBH, I like your point LittleNelle

I would be wary. Why doesn't she went to vaccinate

Obv everyone has their views but personally anyone who doesn't is insane

You are quite in your rights to want to have someone who is having close prolonged care for your newborn child to be vaccinated

My sister is vaccinated against measles but has a 'thing' where she does not develop immunity to them. As a tot she reinfected herself with measles 3 consecutive times and would be a far greater risk to you than any unvaccinated child as she is considered a 'carrier'.
If a child has been vaccinated this should mean they are immune, as my sister should be.
There is a major concern amongst more and more people about the ethics behind pharmaceutical agencies who let's face it, make more money from illness control than from cures and this is why not one medical professional will guarantee safety or effectiveness... which is a sad place to be.
If you feel your child minder would be a risk to your child, you have to do what's right for you and choose someone else.
But keep in mind that generally a lot of time is spent on researching the risks of not vaccinating a child and that weight is solely on the shoulders of the parent (although medical professionals will put vaccination damage on your shoulders too as it would be you who consents to the vaccinations, you just don't know that yet. And that is one my other sister has personal experience of now having 3 vaccine damaged children.)
On both sides, you have to make the choice knowing you are responsible for any harm that happens... and that's the same with choosing the nanny, or feeding the child grapes. The fact "professionals" appear to take the responsibility means it makes our decisions look easier.
I think it was baxter who knowingly shipped HIV infected blood treatment for heamophiliacs to Europe after infecting people in the usa... and pfizer who make all the major brands of cholesterol drugs, which have a major side effect of impotence, but who also make viagra, the number 1 erectile disfunction drug.
It's absolutely no different to Epson putting chips into cartridges so only official ones work... its about keeping the custom.
Everything has to be looked at individually... especially in this day and age.
If it makes you anxious, it's not for you... anxiety is bad for baby, feeding and general health.