play date with unvaccinated children

[Carrotpuree]

My own view is that you vaccinate children unless health issues preclude it - I also look both ways before crossing the street - but I can respect another's opinion as I you never know all their reasons...however what about playmates who are unvaccinated? Delightful friend has children similar ages to mine (3 and baby) but both are unvaccinated. They do travel abroad with the children. Are my 2 DC safe, especially my DD who hasn't had all her jabs yet?

Im new here, and this is just the post i was looking for. My daughter isnt vaccinated and i dont agree with a lot that was wrote here. Mainly because there is a lack of prespective and information about all vaccination. Ive have friends that are vaccinated and frinds that dont and to be honest i think my daughter is more at risk because the "herd immunity" when they cant fight the virus they spread it. But till now never occure me to stop my daughter of playing or interact with any kind of kid person what so ever.

It is entirely reasonable to choose not to allow your child to play with an unvaccinated child, whose parents simply chose not to get them, while perhaps agreeing to a play date with a child who has medical contraindications for vaccines. It is a question of balance of risks and benefita. It is similar to restaurants not allowing dogs in, but permitting guidedogs. There is a small risk of food being contaminated by having dogs on the premises, hence regular pets are not allowed as there is no benefit to counterbalance the risk. However, for a guidedog, the risk of contamination is balanced by the benefit it brings to its owner, hence it is permitted.

So it does make a difference. I genuinely think those parents who choose not to vaccinate based on 'research' on the internet are negligent and dangerous people, and failing in their duties to their children and to society.

Just on the point of tetanus...useless after the event. Tetanus prone wound...puncture...not bleeding etc would require imunoglobin not tetanus jab.

Calico - My DS (18) had very bad reactions to his first baby jobs, so I stopped vaccinating him then and chose not to vaccinate DD. The only vaccinated child in our house is DSS who seems to get every cold going.

But one of the things you can't vaccinate against is the common cold! So that's a bit of a pointless statement ... Like saying you vaccinated your Ds against polio but he got chicken pox, how come?

Liliane - to be honest i think my daughter is more at risk because the "herd immunity" when they cant fight the virus they spread it.

This makes no sense! What do you mean?

I wouldn't let my DS play with unvaccinated children. Statistically the risks are low but it's better to be safe than sorry.

All my DC's classmates have been vaccinated, as they are mandatory here to attend school (there are very very limited religious exemptions granted, and I know that none of their classmates would qualify for those). I am in two minds about this approach: on one hand it ensures a high take up of vaccinations (and there are more that are needed here than in the UK), but it is very nanny state (especially when the school nurse rings up to chide you for not getting the next doses done)