I just got an email from my DCP. She is considering taking on a child that does not get vaccinated and has asked me how I feel about it. I am not looking to start a pro/anti vax discussion, just wondering for those of you who vax how you would feel about this?
Re: Daycare and Vaccinations
I would pull my child out.
eta: ok maybe not that drastic, because we really really like our dcp, but I would express my displeasure.
I think its great shes asking you.. That being said how do YOU feel about it?
Part of me personally thinks WTF who cares its not my kid.. but knowing that the unvaccinated child is there brings in a different element. the child has NO vaccinations or the child is on an alternat schedule?
If no vaccinations I would clearly state that I might hae to pull my child if alternate schedule I would leave DD at DCP still
Unless there's a VALID medical reason for it - I think you should have to be vaccinated to be in school or daycare, so I would be pissed and looking for a new provider if she let the child in.
I wouldn't like it. I would absolutely tell her so.
Edited to add: And I would pull my child. You've got an 8 month old. She hasn't been vaccinated against a lot of stuff. Things like measles can kill. And if, for example, your measles vaccine wore off and you got pregnant, measles can do horrible things to a fetus. What if this kid caught measles, passed it to your LO and then on to an adult pregnant friend of yours?
No way, no how.
I would pull Grant - not that he goes to daycare anyway.
We fully vaccinate (except for flu). BUT - I strongly believe in shots being more spread out - we have a 2 shot rule per appointment - which means we go once a month. He hardly notices two shots and we have no side effects.at.all by doing it this way.
So I understand not wanting to pump a bunch of medicine and partial viruses into a baby's tiny body and overwhelming the immune system. BUT I don't understand not vaccinating entirely.
If your LO is vaccinated then it shouldn't really matter....our daycare didn't even ask, and it is not required for school either....
ETA: depends on how old the child is. If older amd could bring potentially life-threatening diseases then I wouldn't like it. Also, it would depend on if no vacc at all or just alternate schedule. We don't do flu (of H1N1) and might not do chicken pox.
You do know that you can still get some things even if you are vaccinated..?
I would tell her that you'll keep your child home from DC while he/she is shedding virus post vax if the other child stays home during outbreaks.
Jake is not vaxed, btw.
I'd pull my kid so fast, it would make your head spin.
He has enough to deal with. He doesn't need to be put at risk because some other parents don't care about the fact that their decision will potentially hurt my child.
And if the child is at the forefront of the outbreak? Or if it is an illness where they are contagious before they get symptoms?
My child's theoretical early outbreak status vs a vaxed child's known shedding status? No brainer to me.
Know what a better no brainer is? Vax your child.
Go right ahead. I won't stop you. Ever see YOUR child go into seizures post vax? I have. Will I see it again? Nope.
And the number of people who are not immuno-compromised who have been made ill because of vaccine shedding (heck, throw in immuno-comrpomised people) SO outweighs the risk of catching the disease that it's a no brainer for you? Really now? You stay up nights worrying about your child catching a disease from other children who have been vaccinated, but you sleep easy thinking about the return of polio?
You're the one worrying about the risk of a non-vaxed child being around your child who is supposedly protected by the vaccines. I was just stating a comparitive risk.
I am worrying about the risk to my child who has not yet received all her vaccines because she is only 8 months old. I take comfort in the fact that herd immunity protects her. I worry about children who are otherwise ill or have bad reactions to vaccines and thus can not be fully vaccinated. I worry about woman who grew up before chicken pox vaccines and get chicken pox while they are pregnant.
You can make your analysis of comparative risk because everyone else vaccinates their child and you are a freeloader on "herd immunity." Your "comparative risk" would change considerably if everyone thought as you did. Honestly, I can't respect that and it particularly bothers me if you are cavalier enough to follow it with a winking smiley face. It's not funny.
Seriously, and I'm not being snarky, this is the best argument FOR vaccinations. That must be horrifying and I totally understand why you don't vaccinate your child. There are a few kids who do have bad reactions. I hope you can take some comfort in the concept of herd immunity and the fact that kids who can get vaccinated without bad side effects do. And that their immunity will help prevent a spread throughout your community that could harm your LO.
I respectfully disagree that this is an argument for vaccinations. For me, it's an argument against massive doses of chemicals being injected into children.
She was saying that by other people vaccinating THEIR children, they protect YOURS. But, you're right. Let's put ALL of our kids at risk because yours had an adverse reaction.