Anti vaccination

[Angelina88]

Are there any parents here that have chosen to not vaccinate their children? I've given birth to my first child and after making extensive research I'm sitting on a fence. Any opinions on this subject would be very helpful x

And ..... the OP won't be back after she realises how stupid she is.

And ..... the OP won't be back after she realises how stupid she is.

Or OP won't be back because of the hostility on this thread, meaning she won't explain her fears and receive relevant information that might have changed her mind. Meanwhile, you can bet your bottom dollar the antivax community will be welcoming her with open arms and reassuring her that she's absolutely doing the right thing by not vaccinating.

I know this is an emotive subject and I know it's really frustrating to read antivax sentiments. But immediately calling someone stupid and irresponsible, and saying they shouldn't have kids, is so unhelpful. OP is misguided if she thinks she shouldn't vaccinate, but she's still a parent who thinks she's doing the best for her kid. Acknowledgement of that and some sensible responses is going to go a lot further than abuse and judgment.

All this thread will achieve is sending OP right into the arms of antivaxxers when she was actually open to responses and might have been convinced to vaccinate.

Of course, here's an opinion: don't be a total clown. Vaccinate your children for their sake and everyone else's.

OP is not stupid!

She's a brand new mother who has come across quite sophisticated Russian troll deliberate misinformation online. It is designed to take people in, and all sorts of people fall for well-crafted trolling - it's not the sole preserve of the stupidly gullible.

OP - if you are still here, try to ignore the hostility, the cumulative effects of the entirely well-meant 'don't be so silly' an feel like an absolute onslaught if you are in the receiving end of the. They are however right. Vaccination is important and very, very safe

Wow! I'm really saddened by all those negative and hurtful words from other parents. If i was a neglectful parent I would've asked for your opinions! I'm a first time mother that only wants the best for my child! I love her more than my life and that's why I asked. I really regret asking.

Go and get proper information from a reputable source. Make an appointment to speak to an appropriate nurse at your GP surgery.

Not everything you read online is true. The plural of anecdote is not data.

Surely you’ll want the measles vaccination now we’re no longer a measles-free country. You wouldn’t leave your child open to getting measles would you??

IMO vaccinations should be mandatory for admission to school. It’s pretty neglectful to leave your child susceptible to avoidable diseases.

@Angelina88 don't feel bad for asking. It's never wrong to want more information.

What are your worries? If you can specify your fears, we might be able to provide information or resources on them.

My son nearly died at 13 months old as his birth parents chose not to vaccinate him.

If you truly had done extensive research then you would know that unless there is a specific medical reasons then vaccinating your child is absolutely in their best interest.

Don't be fooled by the professional, medical looking websites. They're designed that way in purpose bit are funded by anti vaxx groups who are yet to find one bit of credible research which proves vaccinations are dangerous.

My friend/colleague is a professor in immunology. I trust her opinion and advice and she says vaccinate!

@Angelina88 it's really hard to see the wood for the trees when you're trying to do the best thing for your child.

But on this, extensive research has been done both in this country and abroad and vaccines are very safe. Children can and do die from measles and meningitis so the risks of not vaccinating is very high.

Hey OP,
There is nothing wrong with ensuring that the decisions you make are right for you and your child.

But there is no scientific reason whatsoever not to vaccinate your child.

If you have a bit of time, check out the Last Week Tonight episode on vaccinations on YouTube. John Oliver talks about the people behind the vaccination scare stories and how they have manipulated people like you who just want what is best for your child.

And talk to your GP. They have no agenda other than the health and wellbeing of your child. They can answer your questions and help you feel comfortable with vaccination which is the only way to ensure your child and community are protected from deadly and life changing diseases.

OP I empathise, it can be a scary thought, but vaccination is so important. Please do it.

What research have you done OP!
I'm surprised it got through an ethics committee
Or do you mean you used Google?
Link to some proper research that indicates vaccinations are not safe and there can be a discussion

The issue is lack of trust. All debate is shut down. So if you query anything about vaccines you are labelled a lunatic.

We need healthy debate. Vaccines are not entirely risk free. Some seem more necessary than others.

I have major doubts about aspects of the flu vaccine and HPV vaccines. My children are otherwise vaccinated. I have been unable to have a sensible discussion with anyone on the issue except one GP who quietly agreed the flu vaccine in pregnancy was untested (at the time)

I generally struggle to trust some of the studies undertaken. Many are poorly designed or use shoddy data or are badly reported.

I would trust the “official” like more if this wasn’t the case

I love her more than my life

If you're willing to not vaccinate your child based on insufficient evidence and debunked theories and risk her life you dont love her enough, if at all.

Even if there was a link between autism and vaccinations.. wouldn't you rather an autistic child over a dead one?

Get off the fence OP, dont be so stupid. We've just lost out measles free status because anti-vaxxers are scare mongering pillocks. Dont be one of them.

I seriously think that MNHQ should zap these threads as soon as they come up. There is no ‘argument’ it’s information vs misinformation... no balance or debate needed. I think it’s dangerous to even entertain anti vax as a ‘view’ and MNHQ have a duty of care to both posters and people who look for info on the site so should state a clear position.

OP, I get where you're coming from with asking, when I had my first and realised there was this huge divide I was convinced there must be something in it, there must be a big reason why some people choose not to vaccinate their babies. I searched online threads, read countless medical articles I barely understood, joined a couple of antivax groups and spoke to numerous health professionals looking for any evidence on why it's such a big subject. I really tried to understand both sides so I could make an educated decision.

In complete honesty, when you dig the antivax groups have zero evidence, zero medical back up, zero examples of any valid reason not to vaccinate. I'm still at what I read occasionally from antivaxers and it makes a lot of us so angry because not vaccinating your children puts more than them at risk, and diseases that should have been eradicated are now on the rise and there's a lot of children that do rely on the herd immunity vaccinating provides. It's heartbreaking and pointless.

By all means read everything you can, ask both sides questions, talk to medical professionals and join debates, but do make an educated decision based on actual evidence, not 'government cover ups/poison theories/more scaremongering.

Vaccinate. Not only for your own child's health but for other people who are immunocompromised. A friend of mine has a baby with a life limiting condition and she's terrified of her daughter catching easily prevented diseases that could kill her because parents have chosen not to vaccinate

That fence probably has tetanus on it.

Vaccinate.

I'm a first time mother that only wants the best for my child!

Then vaccinate @Angelina88. My 13 month old DD had her MMR and other one year jabs last week. You don't want the best for your child if you are choosing to put them at risk for measles and other deadly diseases.

I agree with Pinky.

We should question what we do wrt our children. I did a lot of reading up on both sides of the argument and would advise you do the same. Both of mine had all their jabs except for the swine flu jab (I didn’t feel enough research had been done on it). I was nervous about the MMR but did research that too and considered three separate jabs.

Hi op, it's much much safer to vaccinate than not vaccinate.
Could you speak to a health visitor, nurse or gp at your local surgery? they would be more than happy to talk through your fears.
I too am a worrier, but try to stick to reading only the NHS websites online. There's alot of scare mongering on other sites.
Your vaccinating to protect your precious baby, I realised I'd never be able to forgive myself if I didn't vaccine my ds, if he ended up with one of these preventable diseases. Try not to worry about the side effects, although none of us like to see our little ones abit off it, they are only short lived and its a sign it's in babies system, working its magic.
Vaccines aren't linked to autism, so no need to worry about that!

Vaccines are not entirely risk free.

Not vaccinating has more risks.