Haven't had vaccinations yet please share experiences

[Hannah25194]

My daughter is now 16 weeks old. I haven't had her vaccinated. I have been trying to make the best decision for her. Can any body please share experiences with me regarding difficulties with vaccinations or wishing they did/didn't vaccinate. I have booked an appointment for a few weeks time but I just can't get me head around the thought of pumping my small baby with chemicals which I feel could cause more harm than good. Please share any experiences which can help me make this decision thanks mummys xx

Lmao at '100% safe'.

Nothing, NOTHING is 100% safe. Can you wrap your mind around that? Talking about 100% safe just reveals the low level of basic understanding on this issue.

Why do people with poor understanding and seemingly questionable intelligence think they know better than some of the world's brightest minds on such a complex issue??

Because ignorant people don't realise they are ignorant.

You are looking for experiences, OP?
Here’s my Tuppence worth (same for all my kids)

1. Child gets to appropriate age, book appointment.
2. Go to appointment. Feel a bit shitty about it on the journey there but remind yourself that your grandfather died of meningitis as a young man- it was unspeakably tragic and painful horrifying.
3. Have vaccinations- cuddle your baby as they look furious for about 30 seconds. Give Calpol.
4. Drive home feeling fucking lucky that medical professionals in this country can safeguard the health of your baby. So many other children in the world sadly cannot hold this privilege.

Fast forward a few years- I wouldn’t change a thing. Please don’t pass up this chance to save not only your own child’s health but other children’s health too.

It reminds me of Brexit. Man on street feels they know more than countless experts.

Boss and Delta, sometime on these threads I think it’s Dunning-Kruger at work, and other times I think it’s anti-vaccine activists setting out their stall and wilfully trying to cause confusion and fear amongst average sensible parents... sometimes both.

Heads - yes indeed. We are in the post expert age now, dontcha know?

Funny how often the worlds of pro-life, anti-vaccine, pro-gun, pro-Trump, pro-Brexit, religious right, seem to collide... sometimes I wonder how many of those promulgating these views are Russian bots

It’s hard to tell these days. I only know I’m not one (although obviously I would say that wouldn’t I?)

I think further up thread someone mentioned avoiding giving calpol beforehand because it may interfere with vaccination efficacy? That isn't the case, it's advisable and will not in any way impact upon the efficacy of the vaccinations. Apologies though if I read it wrong.

It's been pointed out that immunity can wane over time or, in some cases, not work at all. This is true, there are a small number of people for whom vaccinations will not be effective. This makes herd immunity all the more vital, it makes no sense to use that as a reason to not vaccinate.

You are right, there are side effects to vaccination and again you are right that statically your baby has a much higher chance of experiencing side effects (pyrexia, malaise, rash etc.) than contracting the disease itself. Leaving you feeling that you've deliberately caused your baby unnecessary suffering. But it's the severity and short lived nature of the potential side effects (and how we can give otc medicine to relieve or reduce them) versus the potential devastating consequences of contracting any one of the diseases.

The vaccination schedule hasn't been cobbled together on a whim, it has been rigorously researched. Designed to deliver the vaccinations in the most effective and safest way possible.

Deciding to not vaccinate or play around with the schedule is in essence gambling with your baby's health.

@Lucie8881 I wish someone would tell that to my doctor's surgery: could fit DS in for 8 week jabs until 10 weeks, 12 week jabs at 15 weeks and won't allow me to book 16 week jabs until I've received the letter from the NHS about them. Most likely won't finish the course until he's around 22 weeks old yet they've repeatedly told me it's fine?

@sleepymummy1

That's pretty poor, your doctors surgery should be doing all they can to comply with the national programme. There's enough debate and stress around vaccination without them undermining the importance.

Follow your instincts and delay until you have read up and researched. The informed parent, dr jane donegan, how to raise a healthy child all good sources of info. Go to a local arnica meeting. Vaccinated children get meningitis (it is a side effect).
Pm me if you would like further info on meetings in your area.

Genuine question: do you apply this fear and distrust of big business trying to make money off everyone to all businesses?

I don't understand why this argument is trotted out by anti-vaccers who still use every other form of medicine known to man, drive cars, buy processed food etc etc.

You either live in your own little bubble where you are completely self sufficient and rely on no one for anything or you place some trust in the many many medical facilities who have tested vaccines and found the risk of harm to be miniscule and the government who requires them to be tested.

Please vaccinate your child

"I think further up thread someone mentioned avoiding giving calpol beforehand because it may interfere with vaccination efficacy? That isn't the case, it's advisable"

It is advisable for the rotavirus.

It is not recommended as prophylaxis for the other (longer in use) childhood vaccines, as it diminishes the immune response. I can't remember (and possibly never knew) what the advice is for the newer meningitis shots.

"( You do all know that they wear off after time?) "

Yes if course we do.

"There actually is proof that vaccines are not 100% safe"

And we know that too, and I don't see anyone, other than those setting up a straw man, referring to such a claim at all. All the evidence shows that the risks of the vaccine are tiny in comparison to the risks of the diseases.

Just seem today that mumps is currently circulating - small spike in cases in London. Let's hope it doesn't take hold.

You give 3 doses calpol at 4-6hourly for the men B at 8 and 16 weeks as per national guidelines. They don't necessarily need it for anything else.

And it's not ideal if they're done slightly delayed (must be 4 weeks between them) although not ideal sleepy But in general practice we are heaving. I have no appointments now for anything until next month.

I'd rather see them done late, even on an erratic schedule, than not done at all.

It takes up more appointments than is needed (not too bad if you have a drop in baby clinic, bit of a PITA if not) but again, better that than no jabs.

Apologies, I wasn't aware of the study looking at paracetamol use and vaccination, it's been a few years since I've done any child imms. I've since had a read around and can see that pre medication isn't necessary or advisable for all injections.

I can't understand this. Do you want to be living like the victorian slums where numerous children died and people saw it as sad but normal? This is the reason modern medicine has come about, literally to stop people dying from things they don't need to die from. Making a decision like that for your baby is terrible

There is no decision to be made. You vaccinate your child and thank your lucky stars you life in a time and county that offers this for free.

Oh and stay of the internet as you clearly struggle to be able to identify a credible source from those written by crazies.

The probability of your baby experiencing a life threatening reaction to a vaccination are less than the probability of them contracting any one of the diseases vaccinated against, by a mile.

Other than vaccination you can't protect against disease exposure, it's not always going to be obvious where the risks are. I wouldn't want to live with the worry that my baby or child were vulnerable to these infections.

We advise giving calpol after the men B one, not rotavirus.

Fully vaccinated both my children. Don't regret it for a second. Of all the childhood illnesses and sicknesses and worries we face, I at least can cross some off the list!

It's not worth the risk to not vaccinate.

Thanks for the clarification, and my apologies for getting rotavirus and MenB immunisations the wrong way round.

Vaccine link

What is quite frightening to me is how many of you are willing to inject god knows what into your child simply because you are told to, by seemingly those who are more intelligent etc.

There are plenty of doctors out there who do not follow the standard line of 'vaccinate'. Even my own GP friend freely admits to me that vaccines was a week on her course (if that) and had no other information to it other than basically do it.

@StarUtopia what made believe that man's interpretation of the evidence?