Exactly - and trust me, people will still knowingly let their sick kids play with yours when they are older (someone brought their kid over the other day and they had school sores, for example!) - it never ends!
It is for this reason that you are well within your rights as the mother of your child to set the boundaries. If you intend vaccinating and want close family and friends to get the vaccine that is YOUR choice. It is THEIR choice if they choose not to and therefore don't get to visit / have cuddles!
I felt really strongly about this and made sure that anyone who was spending any length of time with DS had it done. In our case it was just the grandparents, which made it simpler. I did ask my OB and GP about the risks and they both said that it wasn't necessary to get it done unless the said individuals were actually spending days / nights in your home. I mean, realistically, you can't expect cousins and others who are popping in to visit for a half hour to get it done (though ideally they should!). Well, that is my opinion anyway. You kind of need to draw the line somewhere...
Before our next bub is born, we are seriously considering asking BIL and his girlfriend to get it done because, next to the grandparents, they spend the most time around our kids. Fortunately, most of our family is pro vac, so the the kids and parents have been done over the years.
There are also the financial considerations, though: my folks are off-shore and when they came for the birth, they had to pay full price for their booster shots - it came to about $70 each. To me it would be worth paying double or triple, but some people don't see it that way.
Just be diplomatic in your requesting them to get the boosters, because a) it is an expense b) can involve organising the script, going to the chemist to get it, then back to the GP for administration etc. and c) does involve some pain!
If you feel strongly enough about it - follow those instincts!





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