If your DC hasn't had the MMR, what are your reasons & have they had the illness's ?

[IcantbelieveImForty]

If they have had any of the illness's, how have they been ?

I wasn't vaccinated (although I did have rubella age 15) & as a child had mumps & measles.

If they haven't had the illnesses are you assuming they won't because of herd immunity, or are you relying on their healthy immune systems ?

Its very much a personal decision amrla, I would never advise someone not to vaccinate, only to read the literature as it is (and hence learn that it is woefully lacking) and make the decision that sits best with them.

Olympede honestly i've never been asked. head only releaqsed it as there is a child with cancer in ds3's former class. he's at an SNU now so doubt it'll co,e (it's on record that ds1 /3 have ASD and ds2 possibly ahs related disorders). the HV decided staright away not to harass us and let us decide, which I understand is a first LOL.

my DS1 is nearly 3 and am still agonising about it.

FWIW my DD is six and has never had any problems at either nursery or school.

I went into speak with the Head when there was a child in school having chemotherapy but her view as well as that of the parents and the girls Consultant was that my DD was no more of a problem than any other child and her unvaccinated status made no difference.
I am however very vigilant and if DD seems the slightest unwell I keep her at home

I do think BTW that someone who criticises someonre who ahs very real worries and has read info for nto having it, esp. someone in our position, is truly alcking in empathy at a staggeriung level; surely whilst one might not agree one could understand?

I mean we're not allowed to judge people who blend sausage rolls as a baby food but can swear at someone terrified of a third child being dx'd with autism? Bizarre

Single measles jab here so far - rest to follow. Do not agree with MMR - too risky as far too much for a little body to cope with.

glad you've had such good responses pag and Peachy. People have such knee jerk reactions on here, I'm a bit worried about general reactions in RL

I've never been asked at nursery/preschool, but since DD had mumps, the school secretary asked if she'd been immunised.

Peachy's 4th thank you very much

we think big numbers here LOL

justaboutspringtime, some interesting points here - just to clarify, are you saying parents should vaccinate (potentially risk their childs health) to protect other children that are unable to have the MMR ?

Also JAB whilst I understand your POV I think it would be too much of me to ask people to follow a path I think too risky for my own. The decision purely rests with each ndividual imo.

Once upon a time most of us had no reason to suspect a MMR risk; had I known about the auto immne thing I may have done but even now how many do?

I think I have posted this before but DS was under one of the consultants involved in the researh that caused the mmr/autism stir. He was an absolutely amazing gastroenterologist and one of the few doctors that really listened to me and helped to get to the bottom of ds's bowel problems. Ds was diagnosed with an autoimmune problem and so I was worried about the mmr. This dr- who actually DID that research and has been slated by the media since said that I should definately get ds to have the mmr. He said their were children dying in the hospital of measles when there was no need. He did not think chidren should avoid the mmr and he is an amazing dr who took the autism/bowel connection seriously. I would often meet parents of children with autism in the waiting room who said he was the only dr who took them seriously and helped. If he thought the mmr was safe for most people then I believe it is.
That is not to say adverse things never happem- when you take any medication you can have a rare bad reaction but it is about weighing up the risk and it seems the risk from not having the mmr is far far greater than the risk from having it.

The problem, Ra, is where you draw the line for 'most' people isn't it?

My ds was also under a gastroenterologist who had been at the Royal free with Wakefield. He was very helpful to us.

I understood if there was any hint of an autoimmune problem, the MMR was off the list ? Has your DS had the jab now ?

I wonder if it was the same one Olympede? Simon Murch?

But what if we all stopped immunising our children?

The rise of measles in my borough of London is not just a handy anecdotal story to have up your sleeve if you are 'pro-immunisation'. It is real. And it worries me. Am I not allowed to be worried, then?

I don't blame parents who are worrying about autism (although I have read a lot on this and personally, don't believe there is a link between the two). We all want to protect our children and we do that in different ways - and I do understand why some parents choose the single jabs, but I don't think avoiding immunisation full stop is the key. Countries where children aren't immunised = countries where children get very ill and some die.

'took a potential risk to my kids' health'
Yes but a hypothetical one. If the risk was more established, and backed up by medical professionals you had spoken to [on an individual case basis, not same risk for all] then you might have though twice.
I do think the social responsibility factor is a very nice secondary benefit rather than a primary motivating factor, on the whole. I like to think I am extremely socially responsible, but there are some things I cannot do if I feel it is social responsibility in spite of my child.

MrsMattie of course you are entitled to worry

But when singles aren't available to poeple like my family, what should we do but avoid immunisation?

Well I was told at the time (ds is now 12) that due to ds's health problems it was more important he was vaccinated as he would be terribly at risk were he to get one of the illnesses . He did have autoimmune problems among other things.