Immunisation Dress Up Party.....

[Cranky Kitten]

Honest question here - if you have the option of going to the council or the GP why do people opt for the GP - lots of my friends seem to opt for GP but have never really explained why - is there some sort of stigma I am missing out on about going to the council ones? - I love the free council service - the nurses are well practiced in vaccinating children (is all they do) - is far nicer than waiting in a docs waiting room etc etc.

I don't know to be honest - I don't have anything against going to the council ones, but just go to the GP by default. It's usually the practice nurse who does the actual vaccination, but the Dr will pop their head in beforehand to check general health and ask if I have any questions/concerns about anything. Our GP bulk bills for kids visits, so it's not a cost thing.

I do think the idea of having a "party" to increase vaccination rates isn't such a bad idea, gives the kids something else to focus on rather than "eeeek, I have to have a needle!"

[nickle730]

Hmmm, don't honestly know what to amke of a 'Vaccination Party'?! Do they have a big table of Cheezles and fairy bread for the kids? I might be in it if they do...

I choose to take my kids to the GP because I tried the council ones a bit like a production line when I tried them with DD1. Jab a baby... and the next... and again... I prefer the more personal service I receive from my doctor and he does do the immunisations himself. I find he has more time to answer any questions I might have, he takes his time with the kids and it's a good opportunity to discuss any concerns I might have about the kids health with him. Also, parking is easy and I can make a time which suits me! I don't have anything against the council immunisation days, it just wasn't for me.

Traveller, I would be furious if someone tried to jab my child without telling them what they were doing (assuming the child is old enough to understand, which I reckon would be about 12 months). So disrespectful of the child and would frighten the poor kid off doctor's for life! I always tell my kids why we are going to the doctor and if they ask whether it will hurt I tell them the truth ie. yes, there will be a quick sting but hopefully that quick sting will prevent you from getting a nasty illness which would feel much worse. I also tell my kids that it will sting to rip off a bandaid - if I lie, they are going to figure out pretty quickly that they can't always trust what I say!

[Rouge]

I'd let my kid dress up as a zombie. But only do the reveal after the needle. Hilarious.

I don't like it. Just like I don't like lollipops at Dr surgeries.

I know of children who suffer every day. And would be grateful if all they had to have was their vaccinations.

Just like I don't believe kids should be bribed with sugar to eat food. Perspective. Which no one will get at a vacc party IMO.

AND the worst part. Is I don't want my kids growing up to think needles are something you get at parties o.O

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

But I want my son to be scared of needles. He is distracted for the vaccinations he is given so he doesn't see them. If he isn't scared of needles then what's stopping him injecting naughty drugs as an adult? (Clearly not just needle phobia stops people becoming junkies - but YKWIM). Rouge, I think we have similar ideas about this!

DS knows he is having his vaccinations and it will involve an injection. He gets to sit on my lap and talk to me and has my complete attention while it happens (even when we've already talked for 5 hours about his latest hot topic that day - thankfully he now has one I really like too) - and he doesn't really notice it.

[Beach Mama]

I don't want my kids to be scared of needles at all. I think there is a big difference between not liking something but knowing you have to suck it up and deal with it anyway, and being literally scared and fearful.
I want them to know that there are times that they have to have them, hopefully only rarely, but that they do hurt a wee bit, but I don't want them to fear them. I do distract them especially when younger but with DD's 4 yr old ones I was honest and said yes they hurt a bit but it's over quickly.

I also have a friend who is a diabetic who has to have a needle 4 times a day and often injects when she is here - kids have seen her to do and are quite fascinated and know she needs it or else she gets very very sick. They attribute needles to something you need to be healthy - as for "naughty" drugs, by the time they are old enough to know about them and may want to inject them as adults or teens I would imagine the conversations we will have will be extremely different to the ones I have now about needles and doctors. I don't want them to fear needles now in the hope they won't be drugs users later.