All Communities > Debating Mums! > Another vaccine debate - groan! What would you do?

Another vaccine debate - groan! What would you do?

Becky - posted on 03/15/2011 ( 264 moms have responded )

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So, I'm not sure I've mentioned this before in vaccine debates, but my youngest sister is a non-vaxxer. (did I spell that right?) She buys into all this Dr. Mercola stuff. She has tried to convince the rest of us not to vaccinate too, but we're not buying it, we vaccinate. She has an 11 month old daughter.
Anyway, to this point, it hasn't really been an issue, because my kids are older than hers and are vaccinated. But, now we're trying to have another baby. My mom was telling me she was concerned about my niece not being vaccinated the other day, and that got my husband and I talking about it. He said that if my sister does not vaccinate her daughter, when we have another baby, her daughter is not allowed around him/her at all until our child is vaccinated. That's going to cause issues in my family! Obviously, the health of my child is my first concern, but this is my sister and my niece...
What would you do? If you had a newborn, would you keep unvaccinated family members/close friends away from them, or is that going to the extreme?

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Lacye - posted on 03/16/2011

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I understand about being close to your family(I am really close to mine) but your husband has a point. I wouldn't let my newborn around somebody that I know for a fact has not been vaccinated until the newborn has at least had it's first couple rounds of shots. Your sister will just have to understand that you are concerned about your child.

Sharon - posted on 03/16/2011

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Isn't "not getting as sick" better than "getting so sick it kills them"?

Cathy - posted on 03/16/2011

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Also do you refuse to attend postnatal groups with all the other unvaccinated newborns in case they have been in contact with an infected (vaccinated or unvaccinated) person because they could be infected but not showing symptoms...

Cathy - posted on 03/16/2011

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Vaccines don't stop even vaccinated children from being infected ... they only provide the antibodies to fight it off so they don't get as sick.

Your baby is just as likely to get infected from a socially active vaccinated sibling than an unvaccinated toddler who stays at home with mum all day.

Your choice though.

Toni - posted on 03/16/2011

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If you look at it from another perspective, say one of your collegues chose not to vaccinate their child would you want that child around your newborn baby, more than likely not, just because this is your sister and niece why take the risk you wouldn't take with someone else.



If it were me I would most definately not allow my newborn baby around somebody I know to be not vaccinated and would have no worries with stating that was the reason why I was not allowing them to see my child - at the end of the day their safety comes before anyone elses feelings - my child comes first to me.

Sharon - posted on 03/16/2011

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Louise - you deal realise that most of the time a person is contagious even though they aren't showing symptoms?

Waiting for signs of illness is like waiting for the atomic cloud to appear before making preparations to get away.

Krista - posted on 03/16/2011

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I would definitely keep my newborn away from a child who I know isn't vaccinated. The child may LOOK healthy, but most illnesses have incubation periods. So that child might look perfectly healthy, come over to visit, and all the while, the pertussis bacteria is being spread all over your house.

Louise - posted on 03/16/2011

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I think this is a bit extreme. Unless your niece is showing signs of illness and generally unwell then I would not worry to much about it. Most childhood illnesses are caught during the first couple of years at school.

It is irrational to think that just because she has not been vaccinated she will catch these illnesses, a vaccine is given to help prevent a severe dose of the illness not to stop the illness completley. You can still catch measles whether you have been vaccinated or not, you will just have a milder case. If your still worrid then speak to your health visitor who will be able to give you some leaflets on it to show your husband. I really see no need to keep a family apart because of it.

Katherine - posted on 03/16/2011

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I agree, keep the baby away. Even when she is vaxxed at that young of an age she still has more vaccines. You are going to have to do a lot of thinking on this one. You may have to keep the baby away for a year or so.

Tracey - posted on 03/16/2011

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I'm not going to argue about vaccines but you have to do what is right for your family and put your kids first, whether it is your sister's decision not to vaccinate, or if she had an unsafe dog, or even if her house as so dirty you feared she could get something. Stick to your guns whatever you decide and be prepared for the emotional blackmail from your mother and sister about not letting them see your baby.
What age would you consider a baby to be vaccinated enough to allow your niece to see him/her?

Erin - posted on 03/16/2011

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I agree with your husband. I would not allow my newborn to be in contact with an unvaccinated child. The family tension would be worth it to me. We all make decisions and must take responsibility for them. This would be the consequence of your sister choosing not to vax.

Meghan - posted on 03/16/2011

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I probably would keep them away from each other...until my newborn was old enough to have gotten all vaccines. Even then.
I totally understand your point about family ties and closeness...but what if your niece does by chance contract something that the baby isn't old enough to a. have a vaccine for or b. have the immunity to fight?
With my son being 2, I still don't like people with cold or flu symptoms being around him, let alone a serious life threating disease.

Sharon - posted on 03/15/2011

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Hell yeah.



She wants to gamble with her childs' life, fine.



But putting your unvaccinated child next to hers is YOU gambling with your childs' life.



I swear we had a woman in the store with tuberculosis. Yeah yeah, they don't cough differently than anyone else but I was creeped out by her.



ugh I'm tired, yeah tuberculosis is something you can be vaccinated for, but its communicable and creepy and that was a stranger I couldn't avoid during the course of business. If you have the choice to avoid someone who could possibly kill you, you'd do it right?



WTH? I can't type for shit tonight.

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