The U.K. has one of the lowest take up rate of the MMR vaccine in Europe

My children and GCs have all been vaccinated. I had measles when I as five, had to lie in dark room for two weeks, developed a terrible squint and have worn glasses ever since (I don't squint anymore!). Any vaccines on offer and I'm first in the queue.

I don't know.

I think I said upthread that the uptake of the whooping cough vaccine was very low in the 1970s because there was a scare and my GP said whooping cough had been eradicated anyway.
When my child, aged 20 months, caught whooping cough he said it couldn't be that, although a neighbour's children had been diagnosed with it by a GP from a different practice. My DC was very poorly.

Is it that the dissagree, do you think, or the way that disagreement is presented?

I still think there is a place for Citizens Juries in this country so that contentious views have a more reliable presentation to the public and it's not just down to which view the MSM think will appeal to their readership.

When medical professionals disagree, then it makes it difficult for the public to decide what is the best course of action.

What make us believe things that are not true?

The belief that correlation is causation.

Strong emotions like fear, anger, and hope.

Belief in simplistic explanations for complex issues.

Cognitive and confirmation bias.

Emotional factors such as fear, anger and hope.

Social factors such as social identity and group allegiance.

Media bias.

Physiological needs.

Etc., etc.

Where do we start? My hope has always been in a broad education but various groups only see education as preparation for work - feeding their needs not the life-long students. But we have to begin somewhere.

I was told by the midwife who delivered my first baby, whom I trusted completely, that because there was severe asthma in both families I should not give my child any "live" vaccines.
Then the MMR came out and there was all that hoo ha about it causing autism.
I asked if I could have the vaccines individually, but my GP wouldn't hear of it as was the case with many gp's. If they had only listened to parents concerns and provided individual vaccines when requested, I am convinced that more children would have had the vaccinations so the medical profession must also carry some responsibility. They should recognise that parents concerns are very valid to them and should find a way to achieve the desired outcome another way instead of digging their heels in and po-pooing parents concerns.
Luckily my children didn't get measles, mumps or rubella and my eldest had the vaccines (her own decision) before pregnancy.
Both my girls got whooping cough though, one after thd other, and after 24/7 nursing I was exhausted, but we got through it.

I don't think it is entirely a question of negligent parents being too busy to remember or failing to make time to arrange vaccination. It is often more difficult than it used to be to make an appointment at a convenient time and it also more difficult than it used to be for parents to take time off work.

The obvious answer to the problem would seem to be to have vaccination teams which would call into homes, nurseries and schools.

When my DCs attended a work-place nursery they provided optional health check-ups which included a general medical, eye tests and dental check-ups, you could attend with your child if you wished. They also offered hair cuts all of which were very useful for busy parents. The work-place nursery is long gone but it was good while it lasted.

It’s surely part of being a responsible parent, getting your child vaccinated against serious diseases.

Being too busy to remember is a ridiculous excuse.

Nothing to pay, what more do people want?

Freya5

GrannyGravy13

I think the MMR triple vaccine still has for some parents the autism cloud hanging over it.

I remember was it a medic or journalist linking autism/neurodivergence with the vaccine in the 80/90’s.

There was a trend for those who could afford it to pay for single vaccines instead of the triple one.

Andrew Wakefield,discredited conspiracy theorist DR. Struck off the medical register. His lies caused this.

That was a rumour around the original measles vaccine too, but yes medical folks are far more careful about protecting the vulnerable/ those with pre-existing conditions, which is why I promote vaccinations whenever they are discussed.

My godson is autistic but has never been vaccinated on medical advice because of his allergies

I am SOO pro-vaccine. It not only protects the vaccinated, but also those who for various reasons cannot or have not had them because it limits the spread, and the virus mutation:

My mum did not trust the "new" whooping cough vaccine. I was 32 with a prem newborn when we both got it (she was too young to vaccinate) - we were both touch and go for a while and my lungs never quite recovered. It took her more than a year to get back to normal weight.

I was five when I got measles (pre-vaccine) and again was critical for a while.

I lived through a major polio epidemic, but was vaccinated every year for 3 years, but I lost a classmate and another was crippled.

I had the first 2 COVID vaccines, but was not eligible for the 3rd and was 14 days before clear and the first 3 were really scary as I struggled to breath

I lived in Southall among an immigrant community when there was a TB outbreak - thankfully the local health authority reacted with testing and mass vaccinations, but one of my classmates spent a year off school having picked it up from a neighbour.

I am allergic to so many things along with acute asthma, my GP when first child was born advised against vaccinations.

Roll on a few years, next baby, new GP she was absolutely aghast.

She arranged for elder child to be vaccinated on a catch up schedule (whatever that was) and all subsequent babies have been fully vaccinated.

My dad gave me a glass of Babycham after my polio jab.

It's something you can't be "too busy" to get done.
When both parents work full-time it is hard, but how would they cope if their unvaccinated child got measles badly and couldn't go to school / nursery for 3 months & needed them to nurse them through it? That would be a lot more disruptive to their lifestyle.

There will be those who don't believe and those who just can't be bothered.

GrannyGravy13

I think the MMR triple vaccine still has for some parents the autism cloud hanging over it.

I remember was it a medic or journalist linking autism/neurodivergence with the vaccine in the 80/90’s.

There was a trend for those who could afford it to pay for single vaccines instead of the triple one.

Andrew Wakefield,discredited conspiracy theorist DR. Struck off the medical register. His lies caused this.

Perhaps if the vaccine was offered individually, more would vaccinate. I had the flu and last top up vaccine in one shot. Worst mistake, I was sick for three weeks. Neve4 again. Put me off forever.

Devorgilla

I feel aggrieved I didn't get the free donuts and burgers as I had all the Covid ones.

I’ve been crying all afternoon

GrannyGravy13

I think the MMR triple vaccine still has for some parents the autism cloud hanging over it.

I remember was it a medic or journalist linking autism/neurodivergence with the vaccine in the 80/90’s.

There was a trend for those who could afford it to pay for single vaccines instead of the triple one.

You are thinking of Andrew Wakefield, who conducted a study on sick children then faked the results to show a link between MMR and autism. He was struck off for this. Subsequent studies have shown no link.

I feel aggrieved I didn't get the free donuts and burgers as I had all the Covid ones.

Whatever happened to the school nurse? One used to come around searching for nits and another gave a Heaf Test followed by a BCG jab if necessary (forgive me if my memory is playing tricks!). The excuse of parental amnesia is not acceptable.

I think/assume that my mother got me vaccinated as a baby. Nevertheless, I contracted mumps as a teenager in the Sixties and caught chicken pox from my nursery school son in the Seventies. He was definitely vaccinated. All my children had the vaccines as separate doses.

I must confess, that I have never been a fan of MMR - putting all those antibodies into a tiny child at the same time, makes me feel uncomfortable.

I do remember a couple of fellow pupils at primary school having to wear calipers, as they had had polio. Maybe the antivaxers should see what could befall their children.

Whats the difference between a conspiracy theory and fact? About 6 months.
My grandson age 6 wad vaccine damaged by the Mmr at 13 months. A month later he regressed and became autistic. My eldest grandson took the 1st covid jab at 18 because he was going in the RAF. 2 months later he developed type 1 diabetes. Neither of which had ever been our family.

Sarnia

Some mothers would rather listen to those spreading rubbish about vaccinations causing autism than believe the qualified medical professionals on the necessity of having this done.

I agree Sarnia: about the rubbish being spread about autism.
But surely it is not the mothers who are solely to blame as you imply. The fathers should take some responsibility too.

James O' Brien on LBC.

I'm really bloody disappointed I didn't get a doughnut when I queued up in the snow for my covid vaccine

This thread has brought up some interesting viewpoints. I know someone mentioned it's not as easy to access vaccines as it once was and I think that is problematic too. I work with soil and it wasn't even suggested that I get a tetanus. Maybe we all need generally reminding about the dangers of just normal life and disease? maybe we have become too complacent?

Casdon

fancythat

Casdon

fancythat

10% who might revolt, is a huge number.

But it’s okay in your book for the children who aren’t vaccinated to put other children who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons, and young babies of other families at risk of serious illness or death because they aren’t yet fully vaccinated? That is the alternative.

I am not a poster child for anti vac.
As you see upthread i vaccinated my own.

People shoud be allowed to make their own personal choices.

I know, and I’m not saying you are anti vac yourself, I’m asking you if you think that in order to preserve the ability of some to choose, the children of others should be put at risk? The more children who aren’t vaccinated, the more children of others are put at risk, that is the dilemma.

See my last sentence.

Not meaning anyone in particular, but I am seriously thinking to change my name to something like my choice only two replies
Not being rude, but I do not have time, nor inclination come to that, to delve deep into anything. With the possible exception of God stuff.

I ought to be flattered I suppose, that so many people want to ask me so much.