Vaccinating your child

[melfy77]

Keeping the kid at home when they're sick...obviously!!! Except that most of the time, the kid is contagious BEFORE showing actual signs of a disease.

Here we get Hep B shot in elementary school, I totally forgot about the flu shot and I'll get the chickenpox shot soon for my oldest.

Yes sometimes people get bad reaction to a shot, but it's so very rare...looking at the odds. that person had a higher risk of getting sick (or even dying) from the disease than reacting to the shot itself.

As do people who are vaccinated, except they never show symptoms so actually expose more people to the disease. At least a non vaccinated person shows symptoms and is taken out of circulation.

If they do, at least they don't get sick, and if your child is not vaccinated...well chances he's gonna get sick regardless. Like many posters said before, the anti-vax thing sucks big time, but to those who just CANNOT get vaccinated for health reasons, it's basically a ticking bomb...

 

[XJessicaX]

Genuine, real, and I mean REAL, medically-evidenced reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. Really, really, rare.

The autism/vaccination argument has been debunked again and again, and there are PLENTY of peer-reviewed scientific studies that agree that autism is not a by-product of vaccines.

Irish Eyes, I'm sorry what I said offended you about kale smoothies, and how the whole anti-vax issue is a 1st world issue. You know, I will agree with you when you said that most things discussed here are...except that the majority of those "things" don't equate into something that could become a health crisis, or could result in a permanent health issues or death. I am also sorry that your brother suffered an extreme reaction to a vaccine. It DOES happen, but as I stated above, very, very RARELY. And I realize that "rarely" does not mean "ever."

However, the anti-vax movement is most surely a bandwagon. There are blogs, web sites, CELEBRITIES (see Jenny McCarthy) dedicated to "educating" people about the "dangers" of vaccination, the conspiracy of Big Pharma, and how doctors are eeeeevil, and want to become rich, take away your choices, and impose on your ability to make "informed decisions." Oh, it's really a bunch of poppycock, in my opinion, and it's all based on magical thinking and unicorn dust. Let's not forget the kale smoothies. I'll take science, REAL MEDICAL RESEARCH, and tried and true herd immunity ANY DAY.

I don't think any less of anyone's children if they're not vaccinated. They are probably not diseased or plagued, or whatever. But, as judgey as this sounds, I do think less of the child's parent for not putting that child's health and safety first, as well as the safety of others.

Research is rarely performed by reading some WebMD articles, blogs, or by watching Dr. Oz. It's complicated. It's all been done for us by people trained to interpret the studies. And the vast majority of it has proven the benefits of vaccination. There's no conspiracy here. Just facts, and also the ability to look at how these awful diseases have virtually disappeared over the years...this is due to VACCINATION. We now can enjoy a longer lifespan, and not suffer from blindness, deafness, immobility, etc., as children suffered from in days of yore. It's just too risky to mess with.

I shall surely be flamed or something for the above comments. But, it's my opinion, and I refuse to contribute to the echo chamber that has become the anti-vax movement.

I think I love you.

 

[Shadowy Lady]

I'm pro-vaccination and honestly only on this site have I heard of people who don't vaccinate. You need the vaccination card for school registration here and I'm thankful for that.

 

[jd83]

Genuine, real, and I mean REAL, medically-evidenced reactions to vaccines are extremely rare. Really, really, rare.

The autism/vaccination argument has been debunked again and again, and there are PLENTY of peer-reviewed scientific studies that agree that autism is not a by-product of vaccines.

Irish Eyes, I'm sorry what I said offended you about kale smoothies, and how the whole anti-vax issue is a 1st world issue. You know, I will agree with you when you said that most things discussed here are...except that the majority of those "things" don't equate into something that could become a health crisis, or could result in a permanent health issues or death. I am also sorry that your brother suffered an extreme reaction to a vaccine. It DOES happen, but as I stated above, very, very RARELY. And I realize that "rarely" does not mean "ever."

However, the anti-vax movement is most surely a bandwagon. There are blogs, web sites, CELEBRITIES (see Jenny McCarthy) dedicated to "educating" people about the "dangers" of vaccination, the conspiracy of Big Pharma, and how doctors are eeeeevil, and want to become rich, take away your choices, and impose on your ability to make "informed decisions." Oh, it's really a bunch of poppycock, in my opinion, and it's all based on magical thinking and unicorn dust. Let's not forget the kale smoothies. I'll take science, REAL MEDICAL RESEARCH, and tried and true herd immunity ANY DAY.

I don't think any less of anyone's children if they're not vaccinated. They are probably not diseased or plagued, or whatever. But, as judgey as this sounds, I do think less of the child's parent for not putting that child's health and safety first, as well as the safety of others.

Research is rarely performed by reading some WebMD articles, blogs, or by watching Dr. Oz. It's complicated. It's all been done for us by people trained to interpret the studies. And the vast majority of it has proven the benefits of vaccination. There's no conspiracy here. Just facts, and also the ability to look at how these awful diseases have virtually disappeared over the years...this is due to VACCINATION. We now can enjoy a longer lifespan, and not suffer from blindness, deafness, immobility, etc., as children suffered from in days of yore. It's just too risky to mess with.

I shall surely be flamed or something for the above comments. But, it's my opinion, and I refuse to contribute to the echo chamber that has become the anti-vax movement.

I think I love you.

Me too.

I'm also very pro-vaccine for anyone who is healthy/eligible for vaccines. Obviously there are some who cannot be vaccinated due to health risks/pre-existing conditions, which is why its so important for the healthy to keep as much herd immunity as we can. There have been a LOT of outbreaks of these preventable diseases in the past few years, which I fully believe is attributed to this new movement of anti-vax. It's a tough situation, because I do think its overstepping to have government force vaccines, because then what's next? Its a fine line. But at the same time, if vaccines aren't to be forced, you can fully expect herd immunity to suffer as this ant-ovax movement increases, and its completely unfair to the immunocompromised who have no choice in the matter. So in that respect, I just am not sure what can be done since its still a choice. There obviously needs to be better education on risks/benefits, without so much scare mongering about very rare risks. yes, there are always risks with vaccines. But they are very very rare, and overall, the benefits far outweigh them IMO.

 

[Tasha]

And as for the repeated argument re money - maybe in America medicine revolves around how much doctors and hospitals can get paid. Here in the UK our nhs is funded by the government (tax payer) and if vaccinations weren't proven effective, safe and necessary, we wouldn't get them funded! There isn't enough money in the nhs for widescale unnecessary procedures.

I agree that the NHS has to consider the costs V effectiveness much more but how much the doctors get paid does have an impact here too. When there was the swine flu stuff, the GP's were getting around £7 for every vaccination done, H1N1 was around £5 and if they meet their target of 90% of two years old getting the MMR they get a bonus (I am not sure what it is no but about ten years ago it was just under £3k).

 

[Foogirl]

This is not an exception in science. Scientists regularly turn out papers like this. I did not read one paper in my labs that my professor did not point out many mistakes, or assumptions. Epidemiological studies, done for vaccination, are particularly prone to error. It's widely joked that epidemology is the whore of science; throw enough money at it and you can get it to do whatever you want. If you cannot discern these mistakes then you simply have faith in something you don't understand.

That's what the peer review and cochrane process is about. Of course anyone can write a scientific paper and of course anyone can have it published, no matter how accurate the results. But science does not stop there and the fact people believe it does is what got us into the sorry MMR mess in the first place.

A properly conducted study, properly peer reviewed, having been through the rigorous assessment does not require "blind faith." The kind of nonsense spouted by Anti-vaxers found with a google search is what requires blind faith.

As I said, the gist of the whole piece is go and do the research, never rely on one source and make an informed choice.

 

[JessPape]

As someone who is immunocomprismed myself, I still stand by it and say its none of my business about who vaccinates and doesn't.

I can still get sick from a person who has received them as well. No, shot is 100% and some don't even work In some people. My kids are vaccinated, I have friends kids who aren't, I still go out and visit my friends.

Have yet to fall down dead from some illness, but hey I wash my hands and stay away from sick people, eat healthy and generally look after myself..

 

[Foogirl]

And as for the repeated argument re money - maybe in America medicine revolves around how much doctors and hospitals can get paid. Here in the UK our nhs is funded by the government (tax payer) and if vaccinations weren't proven effective, safe and necessary, we wouldn't get them funded! There isn't enough money in the nhs for widescale unnecessary procedures.

I can't imagine the NHS spending money on stockpiling useless drugs for an epidemic that never happened. tamiflu anyone?

***runs away.....**

 

[Tasha]

Foo.

 

[monkee12]

I am pro vax, however I wouldn't judge anyone who choose not to. Their baby, their choice.

 

[Jes.shortcake]

Just bc they don't work 100%, doesn't mean parents should just opt out. A lot of situations aren't 100%, shit happens..but im still going to do everything I can to protect my child. Surely some protection is better then no protection at all.

 

[summer rain]

I am not anti vax in the slightest however two of mine rapidly went downhill after getting their 8 week jabs, they were both poorly for months. With my two youngest I couldn't take the risk and even the militantly pro-vax nurse at the GO surgery said that what happened most likely was due to the jab. With my second youngest I delayed until he was 22 months and plan to do similar with my youngest. My second youngest his leg swelled very badly for two weeks, but that reaction was nowhere near as bad as with my others. I know many who have decided not to give any vax, one or two are conspiracy theory nuts, most are not though. They are all highly educated people many of them in the medical field and I'm pretty sure that none of them have ever heard of Jenny Mccarthy xx

 

[wookie130]

Thank GOD they haven't heard of Jenny McCarthy. She certainly didn't create the anti-vax hype, but her foolish vitriol certainly fueled it.

I can only speak for the doctors I know in the U.S., and I would say that it is VERY uncommon that you find a physician who has not vaccinated their own children here. I suppose there are doctors who bought the woo, but I'm willing to bet that they are in the vast minority.

 

[supertabby]

And as for the repeated argument re money - maybe in America medicine revolves around how much doctors and hospitals can get paid. Here in the UK our nhs is funded by the government (tax payer) and if vaccinations weren't proven effective, safe and necessary, we wouldn't get them funded! There isn't enough money in the nhs for widescale unnecessary procedures.

I agree that the NHS has to consider the costs V effectiveness much more but how much the doctors get paid does have an impact here too. When there was the swine flu stuff, the GP's were getting around £7 for every vaccination done, H1N1 was around £5 and if they meet their target of 90% of two years old getting the MMR they get a bonus (I am not sure what it is no but about ten years ago it was just under £3k).

But the patient/insurance company were not paying that - the money was still coming from public funds. The GPs may have been given incentives but they are nhs workers not managers, the decision to utilise nhs funding in this way has been taken by the management who research what is necessary to finance. The incentives will have been put in place because it had been deemed medically essential to get a good uptake on the vaccine.

 

[megrenade]

Thank GOD they haven't heard of Jenny McCarthy. She certainly didn't create the anti-vax hype, but her foolish vitriol certainly fueled it.

I can only speak for the doctors I know in the U.S., and I would say that it is VERY uncommon that you find a physician who has not vaccinated their own children here. I suppose there are doctors who bought the woo, but I'm willing to bet that they are in the vast minority.

I didn't know anything about autism. I was 13 when my sister had her adverse reaction. After I saw that, I just knew something was wrong with our vaccines and the large doses during infancy.

When you have dealt with it, you'd much rather deal with mumps or measles than irreversible brain damage. My sister will probably never be able to live a normal life.. have a boyfriend, have kids, live by herself, etc. And honestly, it's fucking depressing to think of her future. Even as mildly autistic as she is, it will affect her for the rest of her life.

My children's pediatrician has practiced medicine all over the US and he is 100% fine with being selective and delaying them. He's the most popular pediatrician in our area and I am very lucky to have him to care for them.

And being in the minority doesn't mean somebody's opinion is any less valuable?

 

[roomaloo]

I used to work in the finance side of the nhs. Trust me there is PLENTY of unnecessary spending. It's a disgrace and the reason I changed careers!

 

[Foogirl]

Definitely unnecessary spending. But that's down to bad management rather than because of the range of treatments they offer.