Vaccines/medicines and alternative approaches such as herbal

[Winnie98]

Looking for advice/experiences from parents who haven’t vaccinated

Hi, I’m hoping to get some advice and hear from people who have chosen not to vaccinate their children, or have delayed some vaccinations.

I know vaccines are one of those subjects that can get very heated on here, and I’m really not looking for a vaccine vs anti-vaccine argument or for anyone to tell me I’m a terrible parent 😂. I completely respect that people make different choices for their children. Please just be kind.

My DC is 1 and has had their previous vaccinations, but I’m now starting to feel quite hesitant about going ahead with the next ones. I’m feeling a bit conflicted and I’m trying to get as much information as I can before making any decisions.

I think some of this probably comes from my own experiences with vaccines. Growing up, I had some vaccinations delayed because my parents weren’t sure about some of the newer ones that were being introduced at the time. As an adult I’ve also chosen not to have the Covid or flu vaccines. When I’m ill myself I’m quick to grab natural remedies like Ginger drink , tumeric ect ect to avoid taking medication where it can be avoided. Obviously those were my own decisions and I know everyone’s circumstances are different, but I think those experiences have probably contributed to how I’m feeling now that I’m having to make these decisions for my own child.

What I’m actually hoping for is to hear from people who have chosen not to vaccinate and how to make this decision with the right information in relation to life without vaccines.
As well as people who try and avoid the likes of calpol and lemsips and paracetamols ect and focus more on herbal remedies.

• Where have you got your information from?
• How have you gone about understanding the risks of the illnesses themselves?
• If your child has become ill with something they weren’t vaccinated against, what was your experience and what did you do?
• Are there particular symptoms/signs you’d look out for that would mean getting medical help?
• where can I learn about natural remedies for illnesses for children

I’d also be interested to hear if anyone has spoken to their GP/health visitor or another healthcare professional about not vaccinating and whether you found that useful or felt judged.

I’m genuinely just trying to educate myself and work out what I’m comfortable with, rather than looking for people to agree with me. I’d really appreciate hearing people’s experiences, particularly from those who have been through the same thought process.

Thanks 😊

There are no "herbal" remedies capable of making a child immune to deadly or severely debilitating infectious disease.

@PickAChew is correct. You'll leave your child vulnerable.

That's a decision it is fine to make for yourself, but risking your child's health, even their life, is not ok.

I had measles,I was off school for 6 weeks and the doctor visited me at home. I was so ill I remember it now even 45 years on. I was extremely lucky not to have lasting damage. I remember lying in bed with the curtains drawn to protect my eyes.

I also remember whooping cough and mumps- the pain in my neck was agony.

There are no natural remedies for series illnesses.

🙄 these threads should not be allowed.

Wroting an article? Remember to mention how many children have died before vaccination became standard.

A bit of ginger or turmeric is not going to stop your child getting measles FFS. Might help with symptoms of a mild cold but that's it.

Btw we use honey for nearly everything.
The children are fully vaccinated though.

Honey is antibacterial but won't do anything against a virus.

Natural remedies are great for the common cold or even if you have mild flu. A hot ginger, honey and lemon drink can be really soothing.

For viruses that can potentially kill you? Not so much.

Works wonders for any cough or sorethroat.

My thoughts too.

Drinking honey lemon cloves and hot water is objectively, medically better for a little sore throat that cough medicine.

BUT

There is no effective herbal vaccine that can replace childhood vaccinations. If your child gets seriously ill because they didn't get the vaccine, or dies like the poor kids in the US, how will you live with yourself?

You don't have to do your own research. Very highly qualified researchers and epidemiologists already did. If you don't have advanced medical or research knowledge, any googling you do will be lightyears behind them.

This: (photo awaiting approval, I imagine)

What you are asking for is proof to support your confirmation bias. If you really want to ask the right questions to do the right thing for your children should be asking for evidence of health effects from vaccinating vs non vaccinating

I am massively into alternative/complementary medicine. I try most things to improve my family's health alternatively.
I also very nearly died from measles aged 9.
Never in a million years, would I allow my children to go through what I did. I wasn't vaccinated. It was hell. I have the lifelong issues as a result. Only someone that was happy to take a massive risk with their children's lives, wouldn't vaccinate. And could live with a consequences, if things went wrong.

My niece was not vaccinated against measles, she is now partially blind. Her parents deeply regret their choice to not vaccinate against a « benign child illness ». You asked for real experiences.

Calpol and paracetamol are the same thing. Calpol contains paracetamol. It’s just a brand of it. Perhaps your reading needs to expand to include basic knowledge like this.

Are you worried about your child “catching” autism? Don’t worry, it’s not contagious. It’s genetic. I have an autistic daughter. My husband/her father is autistic too.

There are worse things than autism like a child dying from a vaccine preventable illness. Look up the statistics and causes of death of children prior to vaccinations being available. Lots of unnecessary deaths that would have been prevented by vaccination.

My DH had chicken pox as a child. No vaccine for it back then. He still remembers the agony of it. He had itchy blisters everywhere including on his penis under his foreskin. His mother didn’t believe in pain relief so he got to suffer it fully.

Big deal if your child cries a bit when having a vaccine. They’ll get over it. Give them a hug. They’ll cry more when having cannulas placed when they end up in hospital fighting for their life from a vaccine preventable illness.

If you dont like your children, don't vaccinate.

Why would you listen to a bunch of anonymous posters on a forum when you could ask your doctor?

I wasn't fully vaccinated as a child. My parents weren't antivax, it just got overlooked. I was sick for over a month with measles, weeks with chickenpox, caught rubella too as well as lots of other things. As an adult I now have an autoimmune disease and a particular weakness to viral and bacterial infections and have to take antibiotics multiple times a year. It's awful and my life is harder because of it. I now get evey vaccination going but the damage was done. Please don't put your kids through a life without vaccinations.

You don't want to hear what I'm going to say.

People who haven't vaccinated have got their 'information' from conspiracy theorists, cranks, and quacks on the internet.

There are no natural remedies for serious childhood and adult illnesses.

That is why the mortality rate for the under fives was so high in centuries past, before the introduction of vaccines and antibiotics.

Wise up.

My mum was anti-vax in 80s/90s (I had none at all until an adult). I had whooping cough as a young child that damaged my lungs and has meant that pretty much every cold I get turns into a nasty chest infection. (and I am prone to colds). The Dr said my lungs were permanently damaged. I’ve never been up to running far or doing sport either due to shitty lung capacity. Don’t mess around with your child’s health. My toddler has had all his.

If you think about it logically, immunisation is the ultimate in natural medicine. They work by activating the child’s own natural immune system to give protection against seriously nasty diseases, but without the risks and suffering of the actual diseases.

I had whooping cough as a small child. I still remember the feeling of coughing/choking until you can't breathe. I'm nearly sixty. Vaccines protect not just your own child, but herd immunity also protects immuno compromised children who are unable to be vaccinated.

There are no alternatives to vaccines
Get your child fully vaccinated
Stop reading nutty articles on the internet
End of

Vaccines save lives. It’s as simple as that.