Well, I would think with a Medical Genetics degree and working in a hospital I may know a bit more than your friend! LOL - not because of the degree or the work, just that I can now read all the medical papers and understand them, something that does take a bit of practice.

There's no way my babies aren't going to be immunised. I have had many immunisations, some of them rather "unusual" due to my travels, and the diseases are so horrid that I'd rather have an injection than run the risk: even at 7 years old I'd happily sit for my injections. And I wasn't bribed with sweeties for that.

You are quite right in saying that immunisations led to the irradication of the disease for that generation in that area. We have seen in recent times, when parents stopped immunising children, that immigrants have brought those diseases back (there are studies in both the UK and the USA about this).

The only thing that has ever put me off childhood immunisation injections is that the UK Government currently backs them, which must mean there's something wrong with them. But reading independent papers (not NHS of Dept of Health ones) shows that immunisations are best... so I'll just have to assume that the Govt. slipped up this once and gave advice that is good and proper. Can't see that ever happening again though.