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Original poster

What were your reasons for not vaccinating your child?

446 replies

Londonmamma · 29/04/2007 22:41

I don't think we've done this for a while and I like to keep up to date on the vaccination issue so - fire away!

OP posts:
Spidermama · 01/05/2007 11:52

I also doubt the figure.

It had been demonstrated to me, for example, how the figures are skewed when it comes to reporting adverse reactions to vaccination.

I'm not a big fan of stats. I tend to try to read as much as I can and go with my own experience.

In my lifetime I've enoucntered so much more stress and anxiety, not to mention illness and fear, around vaccination than I around measles.

Cazee · 01/05/2007 11:54

Don't even get me started on the reporting arrangements for vaccine side effects.....!

Spidermama · 01/05/2007 11:55

Innit?

Hathor · 01/05/2007 11:57

I have just read this statistic in the NHS Green Book about infectious diseases that:

"Before the introduction of measles vaccine in 1968, annual notifications of measles in England and Wales were between 160,000 and 800,000 per year, with peaks every two years, and around 100 deaths from acute measles occurred each year."

That implies 1 death per 1600 to 8000 cases.
I guess the stats depend on which group of people are being measured.

suejonez · 01/05/2007 11:58

there was a mumps outbreak at my nephews sons school last year, lots of worried mums who hadn't had their boys vaccinated

Cazee · 01/05/2007 11:58

It says nothing about whether those people were previously healthy

suejonez · 01/05/2007 11:59

I cared for a teenager with measles induced brain damage (does measles-related meningitis make sense?) with some deafness.

Spidermama · 01/05/2007 11:59

suejonez did any of their fears turn out to be founded?

Hathor · 01/05/2007 12:00

Agree Spider - I also read and go with my own experince, but I also think the official stats are very helpful in reaching the decision.
I have no personal experience of these diseases in recent times precisely because of the MMR jabs. They were so common in my childhood.

Cazee · 01/05/2007 12:01

Did you know that the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit have recognised that a child's epillepsy (sp) was caused by MMR, and have paid out? How many mothers, if thair child developed eppilepsy, would even think that MMR could have caused it? (Oh dear, I have started on the reporting arrangements for side effects...!)

suejonez · 01/05/2007 12:02

I have no idea Spidermama - can't remember much about it as I didn't have DS at the time and couldn't be less interested in vaccinations. Now of course am thinking about it a lot!

gess · 01/05/2007 12:02

The reported figures are for MMR, not single measles- the coverage for measles is much higher than reported. Mumps coverage is low, but that is because the import of single mumps vaccine has been limited for some reason.

FiveFingeredFiend · 01/05/2007 12:04

I thought that everyone else could do it. My child would be safe.

FiveFingeredFiend · 01/05/2007 12:04

I thought that everyone else could do it. My child would be safe.

gess · 01/05/2007 12:05

Stirring FFF?

Spidermama · 01/05/2007 12:06

Not helpful FFF.

Hathor · 01/05/2007 12:10

Cazee - it is good that there is a compensation scheme in place. I guess they have to prove without doubt that the vaccine caused the epilepsy or whatever condition is claimed for.
I wonder how they do that, and if the scheme has been tested by parents claiming for autism?

Cazee · 01/05/2007 12:12

My point about the current system is that if you don't know that eppilepsy can be caused by MMR, and your child develops eppilepsy, you are not going to connect the two. So the figures for serious side effects will be false.

Cazee · 01/05/2007 12:12

Can I spell eppilepsy worse?

Hathor · 01/05/2007 12:16

Well yes, but the doctor should make the connection (in theory).

Cazee · 01/05/2007 12:19

Yes Hathor, and that is exactly the problem. They are fed as much misinformation as every one else, plus they have a financial interest in getting MMR take up as high as possible. This is why lots of people feel lied to.

Hathor · 01/05/2007 12:25

Does that imply that there is a conspiracy to get people to vaccinate their children even though it is known that for the whole population the vaccine does more harm than good? What would be the advantage of that?

Cazee · 01/05/2007 12:29

What it implies is that we are not being given the information on which to make a reasoned decision.

Spidermama · 01/05/2007 12:31

My feeling is that medics on the whole are reluctant to admit or even to see that the concept of mass vaccination which they hold so dear is not all it's cracked up to be.

Hathor · 01/05/2007 12:42

But, surely, the concept of mass vaccination is all it is cracked up to be.
It reduces the incidence of the disease in question, sometimes to a level where the disease is eradicated (smallpox, for example), therefore either reducing mortality or reducing the overall level of effects from that disease.
Yes, there are complications and side-effects of all of the vaccines, but I don't think that this is denied is it?
I agree that proper information is needed for individuals to reach decisions about what is best for their children.