Why don't you vaccinate your kids? (Read 1573 times)

In the NPR piece that Trent linked earlier, the mother whose child nearly died from measles (transmitted from an unvaccinated kid) was asked whether parents should be allowed to choose whether or not to vaccinate their kids.

"Yes," she said, and then after a pause, "if they live on an island."

Why take the risk, if it can be reduced?  The risk of taking the vaccine is much much lower.  The risk of the disease includes death.

 That's true, but there are associated costs.  I have no idea what the data show, but I'm willing to believe that one could make a reasonable population-based cost-benefit argument against varicella vaccination in the context of the NHS. 

 

As I understand it, when a child gets varicella there is a huge social cost from the parent being out of work for 10-12 days.  When you include that cost in the math, then varicella becomes one of the more compelling vaccines, at least from a cost effectiveness standpoint.

I don't disagree, but the NHS doesn't pay that cost.  It isn't as interested in the family's costs or the lost productivity, just the health care costs.  The NHS at least as the good excuse that any money saved on not giving varicella vaccines is going toward some other health care use.    

I vaccinate my kids...  or should I say that they get shots on a routine basis.  I get them all the time.  To me it is the best deal.  My mother-in-law is barely 5 foot.  She had polio as a child and this was one of the effects of it.  I refuse to cause my children undo risk.  On the same note though if I had serious questions about vaccines then I would question it and more then likely not vaccinate.  I would be more likely to not allow them to take medice after going to the doctors for being sick then not allowing them to receive a vaccine.

 

Do you holiday abroad with your children? Do you think foreign countries have 100% vaccination policies? How many unvaccinated persons do you think your children will come within "100ft" of? When you return the good ole USA do you consider that your children might be putting others at risk?

And this... children brought up in a totally streile environment have terrible immune systems.

So is your argument is that it would be better to say have your child not vaccinated for Polio (example) and then take a long holiday in India (example)?

 

So is your argument is that it would be better to say have your child not vaccinated for Polio (example) and then take a long holiday in India (example)?

vaccinations ≠ sterile environment

 

Do you holiday abroad with your children? Do you think foreign countries have 100% vaccination policies? How many unvaccinated persons do you think your children will come within "100ft" of? When you return the good ole USA do you consider that your children might be putting others at risk?

And this... children brought up in a totally streile environment have terrible immune systems.

1. No, I haven't (yet) taken my kids out of the country. The oldest is only two. But I will.

2. I understand that no country has a 100% vaccination rate, no matter what their policy. I have chosen to greatly lower my family's risk of contracting infectious diseases by vaccinating. Thus, I feel comfortable traveling to foreign countries that may have lower vaccination rates than the United States. I would certainly have second thoughts about visiting a country if it happened to be in the middle of a real epidemic, however.

3. My kids come within 100 ft of unvaccinated persons all of the time. But you missed the point. The point is not about coming within 100 ft of someone who hasn't been vaccinated. The point is being exposed to someone who actually has a disease!

4. And no, when I return to the USA from a foreign trip, I am not concerned about putting others at risk, because I've greatly reduced my risk of contracting infectious diseases by vaccinating.

5. Why mention "sterile environments" in this discussion? I'm totally with you on that point, by the way. But it has nothing to do with vaccinations.