MMR and anti vax chat at the school gates

[Snog]

I was influenced on MMR by Tony Blair who refused to confirm that his own son had the vaccine. Did this affect anyone else in their decision?

[Charliethefeminist]

I think it's very hard to read both sides any more. For example, going back decades now, a lot of people think that Andrew Wakefield did an immoral trial that said MMR causes autism, because he was set to profit from a measles vaccine he invented. You can't blame younger parents for thinking that.

[danigrace]

Another one here who was a bit unsure but on reading both sides vaccinated wholeheartedly feeling it was the right and sensible choice

[Charliethefeminist]

It's weird how quickly people forget

[yoursworried]

Na I am pretty much influenced by science. Also by not wanting my children or anyone elses to get preventable, deadly diseases

[Charliethefeminist]

Just dropped in to look at the 💉 ns board that used to be here. There used to be lots of conversations like this, but with more of a balance. But the auto-immune board wasn't here, and I think the allergies board has expanded, so I guess some conversations go on there instead.

[SleepingStandingUp]

@Snog youdo realise that YOU started a thread about a decision you made years and years ago based on a politicians word despite your apparently superior knowledge? No one is baiting you, just confused

[titchy]

Why did you start the thread then?

[Snog]

I suggest you chat amongst yourselves or find somebody else to try to bait

[SleepingStandingUp]

I have a biology degree, I am better equipped than most people to evaluated scientific evidence but you were influenced in your decision by TB keeping his families medical history private, vaccinated your daughter anyway and then started a thread about it several decades later??

[lljkk]

Does "pro MMR advice" = "you should vaccinate" (I never said that)

Or does "pro MMR advice" = "reasons why MMR is good thing" (I suppose I kind of said that when I said I was motivated to vacc after reading about kids who suffered from measles)

I don't know what "pro MMR advice" is if it's not one of those 2.

must find another procrastination hobby

[Fuzzyend]

Well you're willing to say what you consider to be inappropriate so why not what you think is appropriate?

[Snog]

Lljkk why exactly do you feel it appropriate to give me pro MMR advice when my dd is 20 years old and has been vaccinated?

[lljkk]

Give us example of the type of pro MMR vaccine messaging that you would find appropriate and not patronising, Snog.

[Drabarni]

come on OP, you are asking for it. WTF bases their most important choices for their children on what a PM says, who are known for lying.
Patronising comments should be the least of your worries if you really can't see what you did.

[Snog]

I don't find patronising comments particularly helpful or called for here let alone the unwarranted personal insults which have been deleted by mumsnet upthread.

[lljkk]

So if
NHS
health visitors
midwives
Bounty flyers
GPs
GP nurses
most parenting websites
WebMD
NICE
Surgery posters
Chief Medical Officers

all tell us to vaccinate,
but ONE politician declines to discuss his private citizen child's medical records, that means we can blame the govt for low uptake.

Not Andrew Wakefield, not the parents & attorney who hired him, not trolls in Macedonia writing any exciting rubbish click-bait they can imagine, not people who refuse to use their brains, not Robert Deniro or Robert Kennedy Jr not antiEstablishment populism but just ONE politician who left elected office 12 yrs ago is to blame.

Sure, you believe that. Would you like to buy a bridge in Brooklyn, btw?

[Drabarni]

OP seriously, you want to be careful who you are influenced by regarding your children.
Do your own homework and make your own mind up, surely your children are worth this

[titchy]

'School gate chat' isn't meant to be literal ffs - it's a shorthand for parents spreading information/misinformation about something when they are all together. It includes nursery-gate chat for clarity. If that helps.

[Fuzzyend]

Then why are you bringing up something from 20 years ago that most current parents of babies won't even know about?

Very random.

[Snog]

My point is really about the impact of government behaviour on public confidence in the vaccination programme.

My dd is now grown up and has had her vaccinations. I'm not anti vax as I have already said.

The NHS is putting out stories about "school gate chat" being responsible for drop in uptake of vaccinations. I'm challenging this as MMR vaccinations take place before children start school. I'm challenging this blaming of mothers and laying blame at the door of the behaviour of government and the NHS for their patronising approach to dealing with lack of public confidence.

[Namenic]

Btw, it is not wrong to be cautious about meds and read the side effects and be aware . But it would be good to talk to a Dr if you have concerns as they may be able to put things in perspective by putting the risk in context. See link below on encephalitis:

www.encephalitis.info/measles-infection-and-encephalitis

[BubblesBuddy]

Everyone talks about their child and vaccinations. We need “herd immunity” to protect those who cannot be vaccinated. Some DC cannot tolerate vaccinations but would be covered by everyone else having them. So it’s selfish not to have them done. It means others die from the diseases and we have already lost our vaccination status.

[Namenic]

OP - it’s hard to prove causation. A lot of the reports are correlation: ie child had xyz condition and prior to this had abc, cde exposure. May be nothing to do with vaccine.

It boils down to whether the total individual risk is higher when a significant proportion choose not to vaccinate vs a small proportion (if more people do not vaccinate, individual risk of measles increases as does side effects of measles - which are probably at least as extensive and have higher probability than the purported vaccine side effects). This also does not take into account people who are not able to receive live vaccines due to immunodeficiency or anaphylaxis to components. This group will be adversely affected through no choice of their own. They rely on herd immunity for their own safety.

I wonder if you would have this attitude to antibiotics in cases of suspected sepsis? Do we worry out of proportion to the risk compared to other treatments/activities? Do people look up all the side effects of paracetamol before taking a dose?

[whattodo2019]

Im 45 and wasn't vaccinated as a child. Living in King Kong as an ex pat family I contracted, whooping fought, diphtheria and measles. I was so sick on 3 separate occasions and nearly died.

My educated Dr mother struggled with her decision as I nearly died!

My kids are vaccinated!!