General Chat

Hi Gwynne, how's you? In regards to the rubella for the boys, as I understand it they are vaccinated against it because they can still pass it on to pregnant woman. German measles is at it's most dangerous before the rash appears, so being immunised lessens the severity should they contract it.

Some neighbours of ours had a perfectly normal daughter whose physical and mental development was severely impaired by vaccination. She's a lovely child (now around 8), but cannot walk unaided, can't speak and has severely impaired sight. It's so tragic when that happens. Her younger brother, however, was vaccinated and has never had a problem. I don't see why separate vaccinations can't be given, if that's what parents want. It may cost more, but so what if it lessens the risks? My MiL had badly impaired sight for the rest of her life, having contracted measles and suffered very badly from it at the age of 3. I believe it's important for children to have ALL the vaccinations (unless there is a medical reason why not). Even if they themselves are unlikely to be harmed by a communicable disease, they could get it and pass it on to someone else who could be harmed. There are huge numbers of people living in this country now who were born abroad and never had vaccinations as children. Many of these communicable diseases are relatively mild during childhood but can be devastating if caught in adulthood. I've never had chickenpox or mumps, and I certainly wouldn't want them now. CB >|<

Hi Dee, I was browbeaten into my eldest son having the MMR but with the other 2 boys I held out and consequently they haven`t had it. I am made to feel bad each time the youngest is ill by certain Dr`s within our local GP practise. I read a few weeks ago that more vaccinations are on the cards and can`t help being worried by the amount being given to such young babies in one go. Just my opinion :) Diane

I know the reasons given for not having the triple vaccine and I am glad I am not a parent having to make those decisions today. all those diseases can have horrific consequences and if I w ere a parent who had denied my child the triple vaccine I would feel so guilty if they were disabled as a result of catching measles or anything. Equally would i feel guilty if I had them vaccinated and they had an adverse reaction to it. I think the single vaccs should be available on NHS and parents should be allowed to decide. Better still would be if they could find a test that would ascertain if the child was likely to have an adverse reaction to any of them. The problem is that they don't seem to be able to prove one was or another if the jab does cause autism. I suspect like everything else it all boils down to cost. I would hate to see a measles epidemic like we used to get though, my daughter was very poorly with measles when she was 5, luckily she didn't have an adverse reaction. Poor parents they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Ann Glos

Hi Gwynne I agree about the Rubella for boys, not quite sure why they should have to have it, perhaps someone else will know Rebs It would be interesting to know what would happen if upto date immunization records were needed before children could start school One can almost see schools being sued if a child catches one of the diseases from some one else at that school. Daisy I agree, the cost of coping with an epedemic would be high. Dee xx

Years ago we had a bus driver who drove the local. When I had my first child he practically begged me to get him vaccinated, as his own daughter has contracted measles before she was old enough to be immunised and suffered the worst consequenses as a result. Twenty one years on we still see her being wheeled around the local shops. I wouldn't wish her disabilities on anyone, nor the guilt her parents have had to suffer. Although I'm not 100% sure, I believe our children here are no longer allowed to start childcare or school without up to date immunisation records. Rebs x

I think it was inevitable when it became obvious that parents didn't want the triple vaccine. It isn't that they don't want their children vaccinated but they want it in single doses and not a triple whammy. All of mine had it but I can't say I'm happy about the triple vaccine and I think the choice is pretty hard when there's so much conflicting information and 'evidence'. All comes down to cost in the end, just like everything else. Wonder what the 'cost' of an epidemic of these diseases will be? Daisy

It seems less and less parents in the South East are taking up the MMR vaccine. The guy on the radio has implied that this will mean we will soon see epidemics of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles) With modern day medications one would hope that if this were the case we wouldn’t see a large rise in infant mortality. I can only feel sympathy for those parents of young children having to make the decisions. With so much conflicting medical opinion it is a minefield. What do others think about the situation?

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