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 😊

If you're wanting anecdata, I know 2 people who are deaf in one ear due to measles and a lady whose daughter was left profoundly disabled by measles encaphalopathy, dying in her late teens. A relative spent a chunk of her own teens in an institution, back in the day, after contracting TB.

You’re obviously not old enough to remember children who had polio or measles or other childhood illnesses or appreciate how many children died from childhood illnesses

that’s been eradicated for the most part due to vaccinations

why on earth would you put your dc at risk? Have you seen the impact of diseases like measles? Things like permanent hearing loss and much worse

If you want to find out about vaccines, read the book Vaxxers. It’s written by (female) scientists who helped to develop one of the covid vaccines, but the book has a far wider remit than just Covid, and talks about vaccines in general, how they are tested, etc. fascinating book.

I have worked in a secondary school for 19 years, organising all the vaccines. Not one pupil has ever had a serious reaction. A few fainters, sore arms and aching limbs - but that’s it.

I don’t think many people would think anyone is a “bad” parent in the sense of wanting to do what is best for your kids (we all do). But making the decision to not vaccinate in the face of overwhelming scientific and statistical evidence is a bad decision which could have catastrophic consequences for your own children (not to mention being socially irresponsible for the wider population). This would be a bad outcome.

FWIW I agree with PP - I think reframing this as just asking questions in order to do the right thing is disingenuous. Your initial questions were clearly not “what is the right decision to make”, they were “please give me a good reason to make this terrible decision that I already want to make”.

@Winnie98 - go to a very busy place and have a look around. People everywhere, walking, chatting and generally healthy. The overwhelming majority of people you see will have received their childhood vacations. They are protected and can move freely around in that knowledge. Surely you want your own child to join this happy go lucky crowd.