Hellobee Boards

@Reese: I've shared my answer to that question several times on these similar threads and it proved to be very unpopular. Feel free to go search for it, but I'd prefer to not answer it again.

I have a friend who has her children on a delayed schedule. Other than that, I believe all of the children I know are fully vaccinated on schedule, but it's not something that I ask my friends.

I don't know of anyone IRL who chooses not to vaccinate their children. I know a couple who are unable to vaccinate their child fully due to medical issues, but I don't lump them in the same category as people who blatantly refuse to believe science and thereby put their children, as well as others, at risk.

Yeah, I would just be unlikely to associate with someone who didn't give vaccines (with medical reasons obviously excepted). I disagree with that position so strongly that I'd probably be unable to get past it.

Tons. It's common in the PNW...so scary.

Yes, several sets of kids in my hometown whose parents are against vaccinating. While I have a baby under one, I choose not to be around them. I doubt that I would really try to anyway as we live very different lifestyles and my career is based in science and laboratory studies.

If it were a medically exempt reason, I would look at it on an individual basis- how is the outbreak in the area and just like I do with my grandfather and cousin who are both immunosuppressed due to cancer. If my kids are sick, we stay away until everyone feels better. The last thing I want to do is hit an already sick person with a kiddy virus.

@anonysquire: I'll wall you...

@Freckles: I haven't had to do this yet (LO is a little young for play dates yet!) but I feel like I will. I think I'm more likely to ask awkward questions when it's protecting my LO. Like asking nannies we interviewed if the smoked, or my mom would always ask if there was a gun in the home when we went on playdates with a new friend.

@Freckles: I wonder the same thing. Currently I don't ask, but I mention that I'm extra cautious with LO getting sick, so I hope that people would mention it to me, just as they'd hopefully take from my statement that I'm a mom who would rather skip this week's play date if a child has a nasty cough or if half the day are she attends is currently out with and foot and mouth.

@PinkElephant: You echoed a lot of my thoughts. (Cocooning when younger, not being as concerned once they are of a certain age.) I was responding more towards another poster's comment, and didn't see your original comment. Thanks for the context.

@HLK208: We are in the PNW too. I see it a lot in my FB groups, but only know one family IRL that doesn't vaccinate.

@anonysquire: I think what I take issue with is your use of "high and mighty" and "won't associate with *her kind*", as if we are a bunch of bigots or racists. Its not the same thing as if we wouldn't let our kids play with black kids or wouldn't associate with families with same sex parents - I personally strongly disagree with the choice not to vaccinate or to vaccinate on a delayed schedule because IN MY OPINION (my research-driven but personal opinion which I don't try to convince anyone of) the benefits of vaccines far, far, FAR outweigh the potential harms (none of which I believe in). Because of my opinion which is based in my education in microbiology and virology, and because of the outbreaks I have seen and experienced in the suburb I live in which currently has a 72% vaccination rate, I chose to not associate and not let my son associate with people who make a choice not to vaccinate. Not because I think they are dirty, not because I think they are riddled with disease - but because if an outbreak or an isolated incident of a disease were to occur, I want my family to be as safe as possible. I understand that there are many children and adults who cannot be vaccinated safely (including your darling daughter, shout out March 2014 moms), and I think that makes it extra important for others who safely can to be vaccinated. Again, all of this is just my opinion, and it hurts to be thought of as high & mighty or prejudiced because of my opinion.

@Mrs. Jacks: Thanks for that information! We do have some pertussis after vaccination in the area. Obviously, most of these would be mid-series.

I was terrified of it.

H. flu meningitis was another major one for us. Our doctor hasn't diagnosed this in our area (at least since our daughter was born), but I believe the vaccination rate is over 95%.

We took an amazing vaccine workshop, which came with resources and links to information with actual data. I will admit, I was totally clueless on this whole topic before having a kid. Hearing the most popular doctor in town (seriously, he has a 7 year wait list) discuss fears vs. truth vs. risks vs. benefits, I had a totally different perspective.

I wouldn't say I was excited about starting vaccines (because who really LOVES seeing chemicals injected into their baby?), but I was relieved once our cocoon period ended and we could start them.

@littlejoy: we have large pockets if unvaccinated people in our state, so there is high risk of H flu. Pertussis has endemicity so it the non vaccinated kids most at risk with partially vaccinated at least having some protection.

@spaniellove: Hib is the H flu vaccine and prevnar is pneumococcal. No one wants this types of meningitis!

Epiglotitis used to be a huge deal and it's been virtually eliminated with H flu vaccination.

Look, I'm not anti-vaccination one bit. But many near and dear to me are and I resent the idea perpetrated here that they made this decision flippantly. Everyone I know who made this decision read many books by doctors on both sides of the issue, researched medical articles, read the cdc and fda websites extensively, consulted with doctors, etc. and those that say their decision is not based in science, that's not true either. One argument they make is that vaccines are not safe, which is a true statement verified by the cdc. Go ahead and jump to page 6 of this booklet put out by the cdc on the MMR vaccine. It lists all the possible side effects of the vaccine, including but not limited to, encephalitis, diabetes, asthma, Stevens Johnson syndrome, guillan barre syndrome (I have met someone with GBS from a vaccine injury), and the list goes on. The fear is just as real on their side as it is on yours/ours. I get it, I know what it's like being on both sides- and it's fear no matter what. I understand that the adverse side effects are statistically low, but someone is the one in a million- and it's been said that vaccine injuries are under-reported so it's hard to know real numbers.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM123789.pdf

I'm not looking to start a debate- I am pro-vaccination, and I know they're effective and I'm so thankful for all the awful diseases they've eradicated and mostly controlled. But I also understand that parents labeled anti-vax are typically more educated on why they don't than those who do, and they just love their child and want them safe and healthy.

@Mrs. Pen: @littlejoy: While there are certainly some educated folks in the anti-vax camp, I think there is still a non-trivial population who are not quite so educated and don't understand the science. I'm fairly certain I've heard people tell me that they think the flu vaccine causes them to get sick with the flu.

@Mrs. Pen: so while I'll agree that there are anti-vaccinators who have read a lot, I do not think they are demonstrating educated behavior around risk and epidemiology.

Doctors and scientists nearly uniformly agree on efficacy and risk of vaccines. Those who don't fall into two camps-- the fringe (see AZ doc who is now at risk of losing his license) or those who are either so patient centered that they let parents drive the debate and support the notions of anti-vaccinators in order to keep the clientele or who think that by keeping the patient they can slowly change their minds.

I still wonder how parents who don't trust my knowledge of vaccines after all my training can trust me to care for their child with a vaccine preventable illness (or any other illness for that matter).

I'd imagine they'd think that I would try to harm their child in other ways too. Wouldn't they?

@spaniellove: h flu and strep pneumo both cause meningitis-- so I bet you need them both.

@coopsmama: I have met one child with a serious vaccine preventable injury and one adult. Both have recovered most of their function thanks to intensive therapy.

One qualified for the vaccine compensation fund, which paid a size able sum of money to the family.

I have seen far more children neurologically devastated from the disease vaccines prevent. The risk of serious adverse events from vaccines are so, so low that you are more likely to have many other rare events happen to you.

I'm compassionate to how hard it is to understand risk and benefit and put it in context for your family, but that's why there are medical professionals and scientists to help you.

@Mrs. Jacks: this.

I have a degree in public health. I know how to read medical studies and have read countless. I understand epidemiology and know it's a very complex and multi faceted science. And I know that in no way am I educated enough to counter epidemiologists and MDs and PhDs who have not only performed the meta analyses of studies but consulted with other MDs and PhDs and spent years in the field observing, researching and studying vaccines.

I think learning more about your child's immunization is awesome. And to be frank, it's something I could have done more of. But there is just no way someone can be come educated on the topic to a greater extent than professionals.

But I do think learning and consulting reliable sources like the CDC and FDA is awesome.

Also, just read this: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/measles-outbreak/dont-call-them-dumb-experts-fighting-anti-vaccine-movement-n298956