Why did you choose to vaccinate your child?

[Novella]

I am a nurse and have looked after children who were critically I'll with illness that can be prevented through vaccination. The stark reality of watching a 6 week old baby struggle to breathe when I'll with pertussis was terrible

For me the risk of vaccination reactions is something we considered acceptable against the risk of the illness itself. I also believe vaccinating is part of being a responsible member of the community, a certain percent of people need to be vaccinated to offer community wide protection to all including those unvaccinated such as newborns. It helps reduce the incidence of epidemics/ pandemics

In saying that we do not get the newborn hepatitis b vaccination as for us the risks if vaccination side effects are greater than the very minimal risk of our baby coming in contact with Hep b

I feel very strongly about people making an informed decision about vaccinating and actively considering their views, I have difficulty understanding why some people do not vaccinate their children out of ignorance/ laziness. Vaccinating for us is the right thing but I do understand that for some families after considering a lot of information it may not be the right choice for them.

[Aussiegirl777]

We were always going to vaccinate. For us the benefits outweighed the risk. At 5 weeks old my DS contracted WC, he was 3 days away from getting his first vaccination. After his illness that just reinforced to us that vaccination was necessary in our society. There are diseases that we can continue to prevent with vaccination. There are diseases that we have stopped in Australia that without continued vaccination have a definate possibility of returning to this country again.

[Ginger]

like others have said, i think the benefit outweighs the risk. i would not want my children to get a preventable disease.

[RockingBaker]

I feel the benefits far outways the risk. I couldn't live with the guilt that I chose not to vax my kids and they got sick.