Are non-vaccinated kids a threat to my vaccinated kids?

[Anonymous]

My kids are vaccinated per the regular schedule. I know there are a lot of strong feelings about the decision to vaccinate. I think it is a good idea of course which is why I do it. I see a lot of things discussing judging parents who don't vaccinate and such and cautions along the lines of parents of vaccinated kids saying they won't let their children play with non-vaccinated children. But really is there any direct danger? I get that the overall effectiveness of a vaccination depends on the bulk of society receiving a vaccination and for that reason the new trend is allowing certain diseases to make a resurgence, but in general is there any problem I am missing? Because I guess I don't really mind that a lot of my friends don't vaccinate their kids because I just assume it has no impact on my or my kids. Am I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Vaccinations are not 100% effective for any given person, so yes, theoretically if your child interacts with an unvaccinated child who is infected with a communicable disease but doesn't know it yet, your child could still get that disease even if s/he has been vaccinated. Also, obviously if you have an infant in the house who is not fully vaccinated the risk would be larger.

[Anonymous]

Its not a big deal. If their kids are at risk, its their responsibility not yours.

[Anonymous]

I think the biggest threat is the danger unvaccinated kids pose to other children (and adults) who, for health reasons, cannot receive the vaccine. For example, my oldest had a very severe neurological reaction to his first Pertussis vaccine. We were advised to avoid the "P" and vaccinate with DT. My son is 23. When he was an infant Pertussis was almost unheard of. It wasn't a huge threat for him. Unfortunately, Pertussis is making quite the comeback. If he were born today, I would be very concerned about exposure.

My oldest was very sick after the pertussis vaccine. We went through several very, very scary days. Despite this, my other kids are fully vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vaccinations are not 100% effective for any given person, so yes, theoretically if your child interacts with an unvaccinated child who is infected with a communicable disease but doesn't know it yet, your child could still get that disease even if s/he has been vaccinated. Also, obviously if you have an infant in the house who is not fully vaccinated the risk would be larger.

This. And many vaccines' effectiveness wanes over time, so a person could be more at risk in a few years than they are now.

[Anonymous]

Yes, because as PP stated, vaccines are not 100% effective. Their effective rates depend on individual reaction to the shots -- which can vary based on immunocompentency, age, health, and whether they took Tylenol after the shot (really! It lowers the efficacy of vaccines).

It's unlikely that your children will catch a vaccine-preventable disease if they are healthy and have a decent immune response to their vaccines, but that's hard to check without doing some titers. Also, if they ever became immune-compromised (god forbid) or if you have another child, they will be at risk.

Vaccines are a public health issue, and everyone who can (i.e., who is not ill or immunocompromised) should get them. I get that some people are anti-science idiots, but the degree to which supposedly educated people are jumping on the antivax bandwagon is unreal. Particularly given the recent research that links autism to inflammation caused by infection in the pregnant mother and/or neonate. It's sad that people base their decisions on Jenny McCarthy and a fraudulent quack doctor rather than current peer-reviewed research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the biggest threat is the danger unvaccinated kids pose to other children (and adults) who, for health reasons, cannot receive the vaccine. For example, my oldest had a very severe neurological reaction to his first Pertussis vaccine. We were advised to avoid the "P" and vaccinate with DT. My son is 23. When he was an infant Pertussis was almost unheard of. It wasn't a huge threat for him. Unfortunately, Pertussis is making quite the comeback. If he were born today, I would be very concerned about exposure.

My oldest was very sick after the pertussis vaccine. We went through several very, very scary days. Despite this, my other kids are fully vaccinated.

Pertussis is a very scary disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the biggest threat is the danger unvaccinated kids pose to other children (and adults) who, for health reasons, cannot receive the vaccine. For example, my oldest had a very severe neurological reaction to his first Pertussis vaccine. We were advised to avoid the "P" and vaccinate with DT. My son is 23. When he was an infant Pertussis was almost unheard of. It wasn't a huge threat for him. Unfortunately, Pertussis is making quite the comeback. If he were born today, I would be very concerned about exposure.

My oldest was very sick after the pertussis vaccine. We went through several very, very scary days. Despite this, my other kids are fully vaccinated.

That must have been scary! The good news is that the pertussis vaccine was reformulated to be acellular (the "a" in DTaP) which makes it orders of magnitude less likely to cause complications. So thankfully it's much, much safer now -- because you're right that pertussis is an epidemic now and can kill unvaccinated babies with little warning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the biggest threat is the danger unvaccinated kids pose to other children (and adults) who, for health reasons, cannot receive the vaccine. For example, my oldest had a very severe neurological reaction to his first Pertussis vaccine. We were advised to avoid the "P" and vaccinate with DT. My son is 23. When he was an infant Pertussis was almost unheard of. It wasn't a huge threat for him. Unfortunately, Pertussis is making quite the comeback. If he were born today, I would be very concerned about exposure.

My oldest was very sick after the pertussis vaccine. We went through several very, very scary days. Despite this, my other kids are fully vaccinated.

Pertussis is a very scary disease.

Yes it is. My mother almost died of it. I am so grateful that everyone in my family got TDaP before my DD was born. It's terrifying how quickly it can kill a baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its not a big deal. If their kids are at risk, its their responsibility not yours.

You're not understanding. The unvaccinated child can give the vaccinated kid a serious illness. Being vaccinated and having it be effected are based on a herd mentality.

[Anonymous]

That must have been scary! The good news is that the pertussis vaccine was reformulated to be acellular (the "a" in DTaP) which makes it orders of magnitude less likely to cause complications. So thankfully it's much, much safer now -- because you're right that pertussis is an epidemic now and can kill unvaccinated babies with little warning.

It was terrifying. He had that weird high pitched cry that they warn you about and several seizures. Even back then side effects were rare which is why, despite our experience with the oldest, our other four were fully vaccinated.

I had forgotten that they reformulated that vaccine. He probably got the newer vaccine when he deployed to Afghanistan last year. I need to ask him about that. He graduates from college in a couple of months and is engaged. Definitely need to make sure he has been vaccinated before they have kids.

[Anonymous]

One of my sisters also had a bad reaction to the old pertussis and didn't finish the series as a baby, but recently got the new one without any problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are vaccinated per the regular schedule. I know there are a lot of strong feelings about the decision to vaccinate. I think it is a good idea of course which is why I do it. I see a lot of things discussing judging parents who don't vaccinate and such and cautions along the lines of parents of vaccinated kids saying they won't let their children play with non-vaccinated children. But really is there any direct danger? I get that the overall effectiveness of a vaccination depends on the bulk of society receiving a vaccination and for that reason the new trend is allowing certain diseases to make a resurgence, but in general is there any problem I am missing? Because I guess I don't really mind that a lot of my friends don't vaccinate their kids because I just assume it has no impact on my or my kids. Am I wrong?

They are a menace to society and should be shunned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That must have been scary! The good news is that the pertussis vaccine was reformulated to be acellular (the "a" in DTaP) which makes it orders of magnitude less likely to cause complications. So thankfully it's much, much safer now -- because you're right that pertussis is an epidemic now and can kill unvaccinated babies with little warning.

It was terrifying. He had that weird high pitched cry that they warn you about and several seizures. Even back then side effects were rare which is why, despite our experience with the oldest, our other four were fully vaccinated.

I had forgotten that they reformulated that vaccine. He probably got the newer vaccine when he deployed to Afghanistan last year. I need to ask him about that. He graduates from college in a couple of months and is engaged. Definitely need to make sure he has been vaccinated before they have kids.

Wow, thank you to your son for his service to his country, and congrats to him for graduation/engagement. He sounds like he's making you proud

My BIL had a reaction to the old vaccine but got the acellular one with no issues before his children were born. Apparently it's harder to have an adverse reaction because your body isn't reacting to a whole cell...but that's also why the vaccine doesn't last as long anymore and adults have to get boosters now.

[Anonymous]

Wow, thank you to your son for his service to his country, and congrats to him for graduation/engagement. He sounds like he's making you proud

Thanks! I am pretty proud of him!