https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:07:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-104143 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:15:13 +0000 MsMini 104143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I am lucky, in that my DH backs up my medical opinions on how to care for our baby, in general, we are really in sync on out theoretical parenting choices (we'll see what happens when LO is born). He is also big on following recommendations, so we will be asking grandparents to get the pertussis vaccine, since the current recommendation is that anyone who spends more than 1 hour around your baby should have it done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103782 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:44:09 +0000 ecogirl 103782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All of the children I ever worked with that weren't able to get vaccinated for health reasons had parents that were very diligent about keeping them safe and disease free. Liam does have a little friend that is undergoing chemotherapy and while they do play together his friend always has a medical mask on and gloves. The number of children that cannot get vaccinated is really quite small. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103748 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:55:20 +0000 Adira 103748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LivsMama: Good point! I didn't even think of that, but you're right. The parent of a child that cannot get vaccinated due to medical or religious (I actually don't know of any religious reasons either, but if there are some, okay) reasons probably are even more cautious about who their children hang out with since they are at an increased risk to begin with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103746 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:53:36 +0000 Adira 103746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: You're right, I didn't originally mention the medical or religious reasons for not getting vaccinated. I think the thread has been fairly consistent about making the point of the CHOICE involved though. Parents that CHOOSE not to get their kids vaccinated is different that someone who CANNOT get vaccinated, if that makes sense.</p> <p>Although I wouldn't want my children spending time with unvaccinated kids, I would make an exception for those that cannot get vaccinated, especially due to medical reasons. I feel it would be unfair to exclude these children, as there wasn't a CHOICE in the matter.</p> <p>What I really want is for ALL parents who CAN to vaccinate their children to strengthen the herd immunity, especially for those children that cannot get vaccinated.</p> <p>Hopefully that makes sense! Sorry if I was confusing earlier! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103725 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:41:51 +0000 looch 103725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I reread your posts to see if you made the distinction between medically or religiously exempted children and didn't see it( I am on my phone). Regardless, though, of the reason, the risk stays the same and you( general) have to do what is right for your kid. For me, it doesn't mean automatic exclusion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103722 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:39:26 +0000 LivsMama 103722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grace: @Adira: I agree with you guys. A parent who cannot vax their child due to medical reasons or religious reasons (which I hadnt heard of until coming on here) is probably much less likely to KNOWINGLY have their child around unvaxed kids. Especially if the child has a supressed immune system to begin with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103708 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:29:57 +0000 Adira 103708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: Your lucky that your husband is on your side all the way on this! I haven't had this conversation with my husband, but I know he wouldn't really back me up. My husband doesn't worry about stuff like that (or anything really) so he would think I'm just nutty about wanting to keep unvaxed kids away from our vaxed kids. I'm REALLY hoping his sister's children are vaccinated so I won't have to deal with this situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103705 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:28:35 +0000 MrsBrewer 103705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: Yikes, that's rough....As long as you and DH are on the same page that's great! I'm sure the decision will be easy for you both too because you are going to be looking out for your own child's health. You might hurt you SIL's feelings, but your child's health and well being should be your 1st priority!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103698 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:24:56 +0000 MsMini 103698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: UGH! I am 34 weeks pregnant right now, and the situation really stresses me out. I actually asked DH last night if he thinks we can get away with dodging his sister and her kids for the first 2 months of our LO's life ... He says he is going to ask his parents about our nieces immunizations, and that he is going to deal with it, because he is with me about keeping unvaxed people away from our LO before it has its immunizations. His sister can be really explosive and self-righteous about things like that sometimes, so I know that there will be a big issue made of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103681 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:15:48 +0000 Grace 103681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Oh, nice. Now I can stop picturing these sad sad kids. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103662 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:04:28 +0000 MrsBrewer 103662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: 100% agree with this. This is exactly what I think I will be doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103624 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:38:48 +0000 Adira 103624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Grace: I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. If someone CAN'T get vaccinated, then that is one thing. I certainly wouldn't ostracize a child that was unvaccinated due to a medical reason. It's the children that CAN be vaccinated and their parents CHOOSE not to get them vaccinated that I wouldn't let my kids hang out with. Hope that makes more sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103615 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:29:56 +0000 Grace 103615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: eek, I understand that you do what you feel is best for your child, but I can't help feeling sorry for the poor kids that can't get vaccinated (as opposed to the ones that could and won't). Imagine little Billy is on chemo for a childhood cancer and therefore can't be vaccinated yet. He's going through something terrible and on top of all that being shunned by all his former little friends because he can't be vaccinated. Same for the kid that's on immunosuppresents for rhumatological diseases or a transplant. Sick and friendless. That makes me sad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103596 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:57:31 +0000 Adira 103596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBrewer: @looch: I <i>think</i> we've been pretty clear (maybe not) that when we speak of people who are anti-vaccinations, we're talking about those that COULD vaccinate their children (no medical or religious reasons not to) but CHOOSE not to. I'd definitely be interested in hearing what they have to say too. Presumably they've done their research and have their reasons for making the decisions they make, but hopefully they understand why parents of vaccinated children (or parents of children who cannot be vaccinated) don't want their kids to hang out together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating/page/2#post-103593 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:52:37 +0000 MrsBrewer 103593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: When you said you would like to have a parent of an unvaxed child weigh in. I am completely supportive of parents that don't vaccinate their children for medical or religious reasons. My concern is all of the parents who aren't vaccinating their children when nothing is wrong with them, and they should in fact be vaccinated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103591 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:50:43 +0000 MrsBrewer 103591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: This is exactly how I feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103590 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:50:17 +0000 MrsBrewer 103590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: Wow, I completely get where you are coming from! It doesn't have to do with in-laws thank goodness. But it would be my best friend. I mean I'm no where near having a child yet myself, but when the time comes, the situation just scares me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103568 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 06:18:01 +0000 looch 103568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LivsMama: No, I think I get your point, I am just saying that the only thing that would put you at 100% of not ever contracting an illness that vaxes could prevent would be to not get the vaxes and not be exposed to any other people in the world, ever. Not very practical, agreed.</p> <p>I also think it warrants mentioning that you could be vaxed and get a mild case of whatever illness. That could mean that a vaxed child spreads the illness to their peers, because usually they're contagious before the symptoms present themselves. So, in this case, limiting the exposure to only vaxed children could still result in an illness.</p> <p>Lastly, I also think it's important to have a parent of an unvaxed child weigh in, if there are any out there. I would hate to be the parent of a child that does not vax for either medical or religious reasons and depends on the herd immunity for my child after reading this thread. Lot of good that would do, because my kid would never be invited out for a playdate or to a birthday party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103529 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:23:40 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 103529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ardently: Keep in mind that we pediatricians see several kids each year who have found a needle and gotten pricked by it. You still have to worry about HIV, but I'm always glad when those kids have their Hepatitis vaccines since they are much more likely to get hepatitis than HIV from a needle stick. (and yes, I know, they are still not covered for Hep C). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103526 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:16:11 +0000 cupcakemama 103526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: That is really tough. I think I would have to be blunt with IL's. Is neice/nephew immunised? Nope - then no contact. It's your SIL's choice she really should be prepared to wear the consequences. You shouldn't be expected to bend your parenting to hers. Easier said then done with family, I know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103523 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:12:44 +0000 cupcakemama 103523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would restrict LO's exposure to unvaccinated kids. The way I see it those who choose not to vaccinate are relying on me and others to maintain herd immunity and stop various diseases from sweeping through the community. They are not prepared to vaccinate their children but are happy to reap the benefits of everyone else doing so. Problem is if enough people 'do their research' and decide that vaccinations are bad news then the whole community is at serious risk. I feel desperately sorry for those who can't vaccinate for medical reasons as they are totally at risk due to the choices of others.</p> <p>Those that choose not to vaccinate need to be aware that there are consequences. One of them being that other parents won't want their children socialising. Vaccinations are one of the few parental issues where it IS the business of other parents - the choices a parent makes effect my child as well so too bad if they don't like/want to hear my opinion.</p> <p>Sorry I can't toe the PC line. Not vaccinating by choice is something I cannot respect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103481 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:21:21 +0000 MsMini 103481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am having quite the dilemma about this issue right now. I highly suspect my SIL has not and will not immunize her kids, and it will be expected that I allow her toddler touch my baby. That makes me so uncomfortable I can't even express it. </p> <p>I don't even know how to approach the question without getting my IL's backs up, let alone make it known that my niece/nephew will not be allowed to contact my LO until the immunizations are complete. I am fearing starting WW3 with my IL's.</p> <p>I am so against my baby coming into contact with unvaxed people until their immunization series is complete, but I don't want to make my IL relationships any more tense then they have to be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103454 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:17:39 +0000 ecogirl 103454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MrBee that is a great point about herd immunity. I think a lot of people ask how an unvaccinated kid will be a danger to a vaccinated kid so if it's okay, I copied this from another site. I think it is a good answer. I also think that the most important part of the question is the last part. What about the unvaccinated kid? </p> <p>This is a legitimate question to ask: if vaccines work in preventing diseases, why do we say that unvaccinated children are a danger to the vaccinated ones? There are many reasons why unvaccinated children pose a risk to vaccinated children. Here I will go over the main ones:</p> <p> There are many children that cannot be vaccinated, for various reasons such as an autoimmune disease, allergies, or simply being too young to have received the vaccine. These children have no protection against the disease. If they are exposed to it through an unvaccinated peer, they are at risk of suffering and/or even dying.<br /> Unvaccinated children are protected by the herd immunity created by the vaccinated children. Herd immunity basically means that if enough people are vaccinated it becomes really hard for the disease to find hosts it can survive in and spread. The more children are unvaccinated the greater the risk that herd immunity will fail. If herd immunity fails, all suffer for the reasons described below.<br /> Vaccines do not offer 100% immunity towards disease. The efficacy varies; some vaccines offer higher rates of efficacy, some lower. Having received a vaccine doesn’t guarantee that a child will not get sick when exposed to the disease. Vaccines reduce the risk of contracting the disease, if exposed, dramatically, but there will always be a number of children for whom the vaccine will not provide protection. Those children will be at risk, from other unvaccinated children who may contract and spread the disease.</p> <p>However, the first and foremost children that are being put at risk by the unvaccinated children, are the unvaccinated children themselves. Before they can become a danger to others, they’d have to contract the disease themselves, and that disease could carry with it all kinds of pain and suffering, including in some cases death. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103420 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:46:34 +0000 mrbee 103420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are definitely vaccinating our kids. I would never knowingly allow Charlie or Olive to spend time with someone who was unvaccinated, especially when they are young.</p> <p>Parents who don't vaccinate do more than just threaten the herd immunity. Vaccinations carry the risk of an adverse reaction; the risk to any one individual is outweighed by the collective good, but it still exists. If you don't vaccinate your kids, then I am risking my child's health and you are not. That's not fair to parents who do the responsible thing. If the parent of an unvaccinated child feels shunned, I consider that nothing compared to the risk that I took to my child's health in order to help confer herd immunity to my local community. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103397 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:16:18 +0000 cyneswith 103397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm considered "anti-vaccination", though I'm more "delay, space out, and omit." (I had a severe adverse reaction to a vaccine, so my kids are likely to as well.) I don't want to expose my kid to many people until he/she at least has the polio vaccine. </p> <p>Once my kid IS vaccinated, though, I have no problem with letting him/her hang out with the unvaccinated. The percentage of people for whom vaccination is ineffective is FAR greater than the percentage of kids who are unvaccinated.</p> <p>HOWEVER, I won't be vaccinating against chicken pox until age 10, Hep B until teen years, and NO Gardasil (it only protects against 2 of about 20 carcinogenic strains of HPV - I'd prefer my kids learn to use protection.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103396 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:16:10 +0000 Grace 103396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, wrt unvaccinated kids in school, if there is a medical reason for them not to get the vaccine (allergy, for example), I'd bet the school would let them in. </p> <p>Also, if you are really concerned about the effectiveness of the vaccine, you could always have an antibody titre done to see if the vaccine "took". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103387 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:00:25 +0000 regberadaisy 103387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plan to vaccinate but are unsure yet if we will be following the CDC/APA's schedule to a T.<br /> With that being said I am unsure of if I will allow my kids to play with other kids who are not vaccinated.</p> <p>Andddd don't assume that ALL kids at your public school are vaccinated. I know for a fact that a determined parent can and will get their child into school w/o all the "required" vaccinations. ETA: And not for a medical reason either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103216 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:54:59 +0000 ecogirl 103216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is not allowed to play with unvaccinated children. It's one of the questions I ask every single parent of every single child he comes into contact with in playgroups and at the playground. My kids will also be going to private schools where vaccinations are mandatory. Coming from a medical background and having to care for terminally ill kids makes me never ever want to take any unnecessary risks with their health. Some people may find that to be too strict but it works for our family and our peace of mind so we are happy with it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103196 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:40:04 +0000 Adira 103196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ardently: I think it's very important for each parent to make whatever choice they feel is best for their family. I honestly have done that much research on the subject, but plan to do more when the time comes.</p> <p>You probably just need to know that some parents might feel wary about their kids hanging out with your kid if they're not vaccinated for certain things (MMR being the big one I think). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/vaccination-for-those-who-are-vaccinating#post-103186 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:31:59 +0000 Ardently 103186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm actually not anti-vaccinations - but I don't plan to vaccinate my children for everything. Things like tetanus where the benefits greatly outweigh the risk, they'll be getting.<br /> But vaccinations that carry a huge risk and are very unlikely for my child to come in contact with, like some Hep vacs, they will not be getting.</p> <p>I just want to do my research and make sure that each choice I make for my child is the best one, even if that means being disliked by both the pro-vax and anti-vax sides. lol </p>