What should I do?

[rustygirl]

My husband and I have VERY different beliefs when it comes to vaccinations. I don't want our son to have them (as a child I only had up to my 2mth injections) and have done heaps and heaps of research on the net about them, My Husband on the other hand is in the Army (they get vaxed for pretty much EVERYTHING and was fully vaccinated as a child + he isn't open to doing any research on them) and wants Cohen to be fully vaccinated. He is at this stage, but is due for the MMR in just over 2mths. We have come to the decision after quite a heated discussion that he won't be getting the MMR and that we will get the contentious objector form signed.

There's a catch though, my Husband says that he will have to be vaccinated by the age of 4 before he goes to school. I just feel as though I can't agree to this and it is bothering me. All of you that have had the form signed, did you get your child vaccinated before they went to school or did you leave them vac free??

[Ryatha]

I know it is a really touchy subject with a lot of people. Both my husband and I are fully immunised and so is DD. I have also done lots of research on it when I was at university as I have a science / genetics degree. What I found is that there is some chance (very very small chance) that there will be a bad reaction to the immunisation that will lead to complications or side effects.

There is also what is called a 'herd immunity' that a population gets when the majority of the population is immunised it protects the others that aren't immunised. But about 95% of the population needs to be immunised for this to work. I guess this covers the people that know that there is the potential to have a bad reaction due to their genetic make up.

At the end of the day as long as most people get immunised then the rest of the population will be ok. If everyone didn't want to get the shots then we would end up with outbreaks of the deadly diseases that we have mostly got rid off (in Australia at least).

So hopefully I've given enough information so it can reassure you and your DH which ever option you choose. 1. that if you do have the immunisations there is little chance of getting a reaction or 2. if you don't have the immunisations then you should still be covered by the 'herd immunity'.

I hope that i haven't offended anyone, as I know this can be a very sensitive subject, feel free to let me know if I have accidentally offended anyone.

[Heaven]

It is a bit unfair of your DH to be making this decision if he is unwilling to put in the effort to researching it in the first place I think. If he doesn't know anything about it then how can he make an informed decision. If it was me I'd just tell DH that seeing as I was the more knowledgeable one on the issue, for the moment, I am making the decision because only I can make an informed choice. If he wants to do his research then fair enough you can then have a reasonable conversation about it, or maybe it would change his opinion.

Anyway, at least you've bought some time in which to continue to try and encourage him to find out more about it!!!!

[rustygirl]

Well I agree with you on that except that he seems to think that he is well informed being in a government job. He thinks that because I am using my own brain to make an informed decision that goes against what the government tell us to do that I'm "loopy" he didn't call me that but I know that is what he thinks. He thinks that I think there is a Conspiracy happening. When I said 'No it's not that it's what they put in them" and then pointed out to him what they do put in them his response was "Well they put things in the vaccines for a reason!!" OMG?!?!?! Seriously, i love my husband but that is just so ignorant! I can't understand that thinking?? but yeah like you said I have around 3 yrs to get him thinking for himself. It's hard when he works for the government though with all the stuff they drill into them.

[Lulu]

Tell your hubby is has become one of THEM! lol

Have you thought about delaying the vaccs though? I'm a non vaccer, but I might have to (subject to further research and updated info regarding the content of same), have a rethink on one or two things.
Both my lot have had measles and mumps - they are not a terrible sickness I don't know why some people worry about their kids catching it BUT I think we may need to maintain a steadier defence against some things that MAY return..

Ah I dunno, its hard.

[luscious Laura]

There is also what is called a 'herd immunity' that a population gets when the majority of the population is immunised it protects the others that aren't immunised. But about 95% of the population needs to be immunised for this to work. I guess this covers the people that know that there is the potential to have a bad reaction due to their genetic make up.
.

I'm pretty sure that herd immunity is a myth actually!! There are many documented accounts of communities (in the US for example where vaccination is legally enforced in many states) with vaccination rates high enough to qualify for 'herd immunity' where outbreaks of measles etc have occured.

and even if it were true, I don't see any logic in the idea. It seems counter-intuituve to normal mother instincts to risk your own child for the good of everyone elses.

Also, You are using the word 'immunised' in place of the word vaccinated, which i find interesting. You are implying that vaccinating provides immunity. But it does not.

finally, to address to OP, there are no laws in Australia about children needing to be vaccinated to attend school.

[Celsie]

I was in the same boat as you. I was against and he was all for. I made my DH watch a DVD that was brought out by VISA (Vaccine Investigation South Australia) called Investigate Before You Vaccinate. It brought up a lot of my concerns and although DH wasn't completely won over by everything that was said on the DVD, it was enough for him to say that we wouldn't continue to vaccinate our son.

Good luck!

[JellyBean]

This is a hard one. Perhaps you can print off the article here on belly belly- 'Ten Reasons Why Parents Choose not to Vaccinate' and show him- just so he has the oppurtunity to read why others feel this way? Also explain that vaccine side effects are much greater in infants and young children as their immune systems are so undeveloped and fragile. His body will respond very differently to a vaccine as a fully grown adult male. Also mention that the vaccine schedule given to kids NOW is far more extensive than that that was given to his generation as babies- and the rates of Autism, SIDS, ADHD, and learning disorders have increased correspondingly.

Or perhaps you can come to a compromise by delaying his vaccinations until he is older- perhaps until he is at least 1? There is also the option of vaccinating for those with less associated risk, and avoiding those with higher risks (ie- MMR). Or purchase a homeopathic prophylaxis kit (alternative to vaccine) and explain to your husband that it is a recognised alternative with fewer (if any) side effects.

I also suggest you google Jenny Mcarthy and Larry King Live - you will get a great interview which includes a practicing paediatritian who now speaks against vaccines and claims the shot he gave his own son caused him to have Autism. There are also some brilliant books available online on this issue with some very compelling cases and research.

Best of luck. If you need any info- the AVN (Australian Vaccination Network) should be able to provide them for you.
X

[Mumma2three]

It is a hard one, and I was against vaccinating my third as I feel that vaccination is what contributed to DD2's allergies. However, there was an outbreak of Whooping Cough at DD1's school late last year and alot of kids got it. They were all ok as they'd been vaccinated, but it really worried me as to what I'd do if my girls brought it home and the third unvaccinated child contracted it. So I am going to vaccinate next time. I won't be doing the Hep B at birth , but will get the rest. To me, Im just too worried not to. I will aviod chicken pox too probably, but will cross that bridge when I come to it.
It really is a tough one. xo