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Original poster

I am sat here wondering how people justify NOT giving vaccinations to their children when there are children in the world that are dying because they can't get them

168 replies

RTKangaMummy · 02/07/2005 19:56

I am sat here wondering how people justify NOT giving vaccinations to their children when there are children in the world that are dying because they can't get them

Why do people in USA and Europe not realise how fortunate their children are to be given the opertunity to have vaccinations

And then they don't give them

There are children in the world dying cos they can't have them

I DO REALISE we are talking about different diseases

But it all seems wrong to me

.

OP posts:
frogs · 02/07/2005 20:07

RTKM, it will kick off, because although most vaccinations are safe for most children most of the time, there are instances where individual children, either because of genetic susceptibility or other, not terribly well-understood factors, have been adversely affected by vaccines, occasionally with catastrophic results. Understandably, these children's parents are going to react badly to sweeping statements like the one in your original post.

My children are fully-vaccinated, for the record.

snafu · 02/07/2005 20:07

Kanga with respect I think you're trying to draw together two completely separate issues.

Blossomhill · 02/07/2005 20:08

madmarchhare - well all of the carry risks don't they? Although it is the MMR that has been in the news the most I believe

emily05 · 02/07/2005 20:09

It is similar to saying in that in the western world with our education people still choose not to have safe sex, even though there are millions dying of aids in Africa.
Or people eat junk food knowing the risk to their heart, when the poorer people dont even have basic food rations.
I could go on and on - I think people make decisions every day for themselves and their children that people could argue about

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/07/2005 20:10

Ok sorry perhaps I should have thought better before posting it

It was watching the concert and thinking about all the missed opertunities

OP posts:
emily05 · 02/07/2005 20:11

Kanga, you have a right to ask the questions! DOnt worry it is a good debate to have

emily05 · 02/07/2005 20:11

Kanga, you have a right to ask the questions! DOnt worry it is a good debate to have

emily05 · 02/07/2005 20:11

ooopppss!!

WideWebWitch · 02/07/2005 20:11

RTKM You said "Yes everyone has a choice I knwo that but is it right???? "

Er, if you're talking about the UK, yes, it is right would be my answer and like hmb, that's my last post on this thread. I'll pop in in a day's time and see how it's going!

Blossomhill · 02/07/2005 20:11

The thing is Kanga it is such a personal thing and we as parents have the right to do what we think is right for our child.
I am not saying I think either way but just know how sensitive this subject is.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/07/2005 20:11

Yes I am really sorry everyone I have messed up here

Just that I understood it wrong

I was thionking about the children in aftrica needing vaccinations and in USA and europe children who could have them not being given them

OP posts:
starlover · 02/07/2005 20:12

vaccines may carry catastrophic risks to SOME children.

but so does not having them.

it's a matter of weighing up the risks, and doing what you feel is right for your child.

I would be devastated if DS had the MMR and went onto develop autism
I would be equally devastated if he became blind and paralysed after contracting measles.

Nik72 · 02/07/2005 20:12

I suppose, rightly or wrongly, when parents are making the often very difficult decision about whether to have their child vaccinated they will be thinking about the potential consequnces for their child. I'm not sure if the availability of vaccines in other countries would factor in that decision.Maybe it should, I don't know.

starlover · 02/07/2005 20:12

yes, i think in a lot of countries the risks of NOT having vaccines far, far outweighs the risks of having them

it is a different matter in this country i guess

WideWebWitch · 02/07/2005 20:14

I agree with snafu, 2 very different issues and they don't really bear comparison. If you mean 'isn't the distribution of wealth and its impact on health worldwide terrible and shocking?' then I'd agree with you. If you're trying to say we shouldn't have the choice to refuse vaccination in the UK then I wouldn't.

But I'm off to watch a film now!

madmarchhare · 02/07/2005 20:14

Blossomhill, Oh yes they do, I just wondered if you meant that one specifically. If you did, I would have been interested in your POV, given that yes, it is the one you hear about the most.

I have to say I dont really know enough about it and agree that anyone with such strong views against it must have some pretty good reasoning to go with it.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/07/2005 20:14

I don't have enough knowledge of what is needed in africa or any other country

BUT have obviously written it completely wrong

It sounded better in my head when I heard it on the TV earlier

OP posts:
Nik72 · 02/07/2005 20:16

Very true, Starlover - expect measles must have a higher mortality in African countries. I guess perception of risk plays a part too - how risky do you see vaccines being compared to the risk of the diseases they're designed to prevent.

Blossomhill · 02/07/2005 20:17

I mean I have always worried about vaccinations as a big ? has always been over whether or not my dd has an asd (she hasn't, we have had loads of tests etc). So I have to admit that at nearly 6 I am putting off her pre-school booster as I am so scared it may damage her and make her go back (she is doing so well)
She has had all of the others though.

starlover · 02/07/2005 20:20

can totally understand that BH.
am not looking forward to having to make desicions for DS i have to say

having said that, i know a couple who were very against MMR. When they had their little girl they did a LOT of reserach on it (obsessively so) and decided to give it to her anyway...

personally i don't know enough about it either way, but am leaning towards having it just because of these people... they are very "thorough" for want of a better word!

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/07/2005 20:22

I am sorry that the MMR question has been linked I didn't really mean that

What about DTP????

Is that still done to babies here?

Is that of use to the babies in africa?

OP posts:
MistressMary · 02/07/2005 20:25

Well if we had dirty water and poor living conditions then I would think differently.
That's all I'm saying for the mo.

Nik72 · 02/07/2005 20:26

DTP is given as the 5 in 1 jab that babies now get. My dd has had it twice & third one later this month. Polio is part of it which I imagine could be very useful in developing countries.

Original poster
RTKangaMummy · 02/07/2005 20:29

what are the other 2 as well as DTP ?

Do all babies have that in UK or is that the cause of "problems" too?

OP posts:
Caligula · 02/07/2005 20:46

Kanga, I think if it's bothering you that much, you should maybe read some literature about vaccinations. Even a cursory glance in your local library database should bring up a couple of books which have information which is not simply NHS propaganda.

A bit of basic reading about vaccinations was what persuaded me not to take the easy route and just do what the medical professionals and most people think one should do. Not vaccinating a child is not a decision made lightly, and every time I see an article about it, or come across a dilemma (like when my DS scratched his hand on a thorn) I have to re-assess my decision not to vaccinate.

And tbh there are times when I wish I hadn't bothered to read the info, but had just done the normal thing. But I couldn't do that - I just felt that it was my duty as a mother to inform myself as best I could about the pros and cons, and when I started reading, I honestly believed that it would set my mind at rest and I would come out the other side feeling confident that risks notwithstanding, vaccination was the better option. I wish that had been the outcome for me, but it just wasn't, and I couldn't ignore what I'd read. Wish I could, frankly.