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Original poster

has anyone NOT had their child vaccinated and later regretted it?

13 replies

Divastrop · 16/04/2008 16:30

i mean any of the childhood immunisations?have you opted not to get them done then wish you had as your child has gone on to catch something bad?

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Original poster
Divastrop · 16/04/2008 16:48

bump

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Original poster
Divastrop · 16/04/2008 20:14

evening bump

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yurt1 · 16/04/2008 20:19

Um- I think if you decide not to vaccinate (as I have with ds2 and ds3 for the moment) then you have to accept that they can catch stuff. And that actually they could catch and die from something you could have vaccinated them against.

I tend to have quite a 'shit happens' view of life. I did everything 'right' with ds1 (including vax) and he will never live independently. My friend did 'everything right' with her son and he died from a virus that usually causes mild stomach bugs. And so on.

So in choosing not to vaccinate at the moment (because given our particular family;s balance of risks it is the right thing we think to do) then we also accept that we take that risk.

the only one that worries me is tetanus as I would like ds2 and ds3 to have that but can't get it singly.

stripeymama · 16/04/2008 20:27

DD (5) is completely unvaccinated, and I accept as part of that the fact that she may well catch 'preventable' diseases. I take all sorts of decisions all the time regarding her health, and I accept fully my responsibility for them and the consequences they may have. I am happy with my choice and feel that I have made it carefully - the best anyone can do IMO.

So far she has only had chickenpox, which we don't immunise against anyway in UK. As children (unvaccinated) my brothers and I all had measles and mumps, I had german measles (without knowing it - was told when pg that I was immune) and they both had whooping cough. My mum still stands by her decision not to vaccinate.

yurt1 · 16/04/2008 20:29

ds2 has had whooping cough btw- it went on a loooong time but wasn't really a problem (except in lack of sleep I had to sit up for about an hour each night for months giving him sips of water whilst he tried to stop coughing).

souvenir · 16/04/2008 20:33

Message withdrawn

yurt1 · 16/04/2008 20:36

I meet children damaged by diseases all the time tbh- there are some at ds1's school. It's why I always smile wryly when people on vax threads remind you that children can be damaged by diseases. I know, ds1 is taught alongside them.

It's never black and white and shit does happen. Often repeatedly to the same people ime. You just have to take the decision you're most comfortable with.

Original poster
Divastrop · 16/04/2008 21:13

thank you

i just wanted to get a bit of a view from the other side,as i have read many,many posts(on here and other forums)about children getting ill or worse as a(suspected)result of immunisations,but wondered if there were also lots of children who have got ill or worse having not been immunised.

i myself had measles at 3 months old,and mumps and whooping cough aged 4.i havent suffered any problems as a result.i do remember whooping cough being very awful,but that was it.

i decided against the MMR for my dd2 due to the problems my ds2 had afterwards,but dd3(13months) hasnt had any jabs atall as i just couldnt find any information about the newest one(which i cant spell) that i was happy with,plus i found plenty of information about all the vaccinations that i wasnt happy with on my quest to re-assure myself

i just worry whether ive made the right decision,but i didnt make it lightly so i suppose i have.

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yurt1 · 16/04/2008 22:02

I think that's a normal way to feel. I wake up cold and sweating at ds2 and ds3's lack of vaccinations sometimes, but then the thought of taking them in and having them injected - I just can;t do it. Therefore I live with myself iyswim.

stonedout · 17/04/2008 07:30

my friend may regret it (never asked), as her dd got measles and is now totally blind in one eye

stonedout · 17/04/2008 07:32

saying that, I understand why parents choose not to get MMR, just cannot understand why ppl would not get first lot of jabs.

Beachcomber · 17/04/2008 08:05

Stonedout my DD2 hasn't had any jabs because DD1 reacted really badly to the first set of jabs at 2 and 4 months old. I have chosen not to vaccinate DD2 because of our family risk, a bit like yurt, although for different risk factors.

So far I regret vaccinating DD1 as it has made her very ill.

So far I don't regret not vaccinating DD2 but she is only 21 months so we haven't had much experience of infectious disease yet.

Despite our experience with DD1, I am not 'anti-vaccine'. I am pro informed consent and individual choice for safe vaccines.

I think it is VERY important that if you do take the decision not to vaccinate for certain diseases that you find out as much about them as possible and how to treat them in order to minimise risk. Vitamin A supplement in measles for example.

'Tis still a worry though.

Original poster
Divastrop · 17/04/2008 11:55

i never had a problems with the first lot of jabs when it was just 3 in 1,but it was when dd3 was called for a 5 in one i thought it was a bit much and looked into it.i would prefer her to have a tetanus jab but as someone said you cant pick and choose what jabs your child has on the NHS,its all or nothing.i think thats wrong

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