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Original poster

Why did you choose not to immunise your child?

67 replies

tulip27 · 25/09/2009 15:08

I am a practice nurse about to undergo a course with the dept of health about childhood immunisations.The pre course info wants us to look at why some parents are opting not to vaccinate their children.

So this is your chance to have your say. Tell me why you decided against it and I can out your cases forward at the course.

OP posts:

sardean · 02/10/2009 15:48

Well done to parents who make considered choices. Although I am a health professional, I am still a mother of 5 kids. My eldest child had the original MMR and ended up with Lupus and bowel disease, my eldest duaghter had 1 MMR combined and her eczema flared up so badly that she was bandaged and creamed every night for nearly 6 years. My last 3 children have had single measles and rubella vaccines only, both primary and booster doses and have never had a days illness in their lives and they are now 15, 14 and 11 years old. I have had the opportunity to see the effect of both types of MMR vaccine, combined and single. Guess which one I would plump for !!!!!!!

thumbwitch · 02/10/2009 23:46

sardean, aluminium isn't a new addition, it has always been there. It was in the first types of vaccine as an adjunct to help promote an immune reaction. Egg protein is used in the same way, although it is easier to get egg-free vaccines because of the number of people with egg allergies.

(just a major minor irritation of mine - "heavy metal" is a non-specific term that is not chemically defined as it covers too broad a range of elements and their compounds - I refuse to use it except in terms of music. Instead, toxic metals or toxic minerals is more appropriate)

thumbwitch · 02/10/2009 23:48

btw, sorry to hear about your DCn's reactions to the vaccines, sardean - that must have been dreadfully upsetting.

My osteopath has 3 DCn and they have never had the MMR either. Not sure about the earlier vaccines. They're all fine and healthy too.

TigerDrivesAgain · 02/10/2009 23:58

I had single MMR vaccine for DS as I was worried about the autism etc issues with MMR (he's 7, so the MMR issue was huge when he was 13mths and due the vaccines). When it came to the boosters, I took him to the GPs for the other ones, whatever they are, and the dopey practice nurse gave him an MMR booster as well without checking the notes or asking me, and said in her defence, truthfully but stupidly "oh, well, we can't take it out can we?". Happily, he's ok some years later, but so much for my expensive (and bloody patronising in the extreme in the shape of the private clinic)efforts to do what seemed the right thing.

thumbwitch · 03/10/2009 00:09

bloody hell, Tiger - you could have threatened her with being charged with assault there! Stupid cow.

Thankfully my practice nurse showed me every vaccine bottle before it was given to DS.

TigerDrivesAgain · 03/10/2009 00:21

Yes, I know, I could have gone down all sorts of routes, and goodness me, I have the legal knowhow. But frankly, she was right, it couldn't come out again, so there wasn't anything we could do in practical terms so what was the point in making a fuss. She won't make that mistake again, and if I'd reported her she'd probably have lost her job. DS is fine. the only mug is me for having single jabs in the first place, frankly. but it seemed the right thing at the time.

thumbwitch · 03/10/2009 00:24

ooh no, don't ever think that - just because he was fine at an older age, doesn't mean he would necessarily have been fine at a younger one.

My bf had her DS done with the singles when he was little; and avoided the booster completely for ages. There are all sorts of family health reasons why. Anyway, when she took him to see a paediatrician (after much debate), he said she had done the right thing to wait, under the circs.

TigerDrivesAgain · 03/10/2009 00:29

ok, yes, I didn't mean to say that others are right or wrong wrt the vaccines. But if it was now and not 6 yrs ago, I don't think I'd have had DS have the singles, frankly, especially with the cost, several £100 jump on the bandwagon quid. I was furious about the muddle, but in the end I decided not to take it further as no harm was done and as I say, that nurse (who now seems to have retired) wouldn't have made that mistake again.

Angifi · 03/10/2009 00:57

I live in Australia, so I realise the vaccine schedule and available vaccines etc are different, however just wanted to pipe in here too.

After reading several books about vaccination, both for and against, my DH and I decided we didn't want to vaccinate our son. You have to be made of strong stuff to go against the norm in this country. My doctor actually said "be that at your own peril"...I nearly burst out laughing, but instead stood my ground. I told him I wanted only one vaccine for my son - the pertussis, because whooping cough was going around our community and it did worry me. I waited until he was 8 months old. I asked the practice nurse to give him only the pertussis vaccine, and she told me I'd have to go to America to get it done and had a giggle.She really didn't take me seriously. Eventually after speaking with the doctor they could only get a vaccine with 4 vaccines in it -pertussis,tetnus,diptheria and polio. We ended up giving it to him, but I felt it was wrong that I had to give a vaccine with three strains in it that I felt was unnecessary. Are you able to get single vaccines in the UK?
If parents want an alternative vaccine schedule, for whatever reason, it ought to be available for them.
As it turns out, after the third vaccine, DS had a horrible red lump on his thigh and was covered in eczema - something he'd only ever had mildly before then.So he won't be having a booster.
It seems to me that parents who research what is best for their child/ren actually have more knowledge than many doctors do.Doctors toe the party line, spout percentages and talk about herd immunity.It is only natural that parents will be selfish and consider the health of their loved ones.
I also know two people personally who have had serious vaccine injuries.

thumbwitch · 03/10/2009 01:20

Angifi, I am now in Australia as well - not looking forward to the confrontation re the MMR whenever we register with a GP here. However, DS is 22mo now - he's not getting any of it until he's at least 2. And not then if I can avoid it.

aviatrix · 07/10/2009 07:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsGhoulofGhostbourne · 09/10/2009 10:52

Was just sent this - a bit chilling here

stuffitllllama · 09/10/2009 17:39

OP got what she wanted: which was info and help to practise persuading people to have vaccinations.

That's what all this will be used for: how to persuade other people to have their children vaccinated.

aviatrix · 09/10/2009 20:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

stuffitllllama · 10/10/2009 04:36

hello btw avi! and yet you seem real enough hope the good life is still good and all are well

usamama · 25/11/2009 14:18

I'm really glad I read this post. I have vaccinated both my DCs, but I delayed...I was really NOT okay with my brand new baby being poked with a needle after the trauma of being born.
Anyway, I am still interested in why people choose not to vaccinate, and am so horrified and humbled by some of the stories of vaccines gone bad.
I am fortunate to be in England; there are far less vaccines here than in the US, so I don't necessarily feel like they're having more jabs than they need. (they vaccinate against chicken pox in the US, which is outrageous to me.)

Anyway, I am now trying to make up my mind about swine flu jabs, and you've all kind of nudged me in the direction I was going in, anyway...no thanks. I don't feel comfortable having 'new' vaccines, and many of my reasons mirror most of your reasons for not vaccinating full stop. Thank you for that.

My question is: Are there any of you that are non-vaxing Americans, and if yes, how do you deal with school?? We may move back to the US someday, but I am not willing to get DCs any more vax than they already have, but I know that schools have certain requirements. What do you do in that case?

Thanks all!

tinalouiseuk · 25/11/2009 23:18

What an incredible thread - this is the first time I have found so many who think as I do and I feel so very relieved.

I echo most of the reasons for not vaccinating here on this thread. The reasoning is clearly shared (not alone is a good feeling ).

My DD had one set of shots as a baby and it just 'felt' so wrong - she now has her own DD and after learning all we could - has decided against vaccination. My DGD has had chicken pox and as with any passing illness - breezed through it wonderfully.

Thankful to have read this and am certain this is not what the OP imagined the response would be... there is such wisdom here

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