Unvaccinated Children?

scchapman · July 2009

I know this may be a hot topic, not trying to start a debate, just have a questions. One of my coworkers has chosen not to vaccinate his child, his choice and have no problem with that. The question is, she comes in the office often and has been sick a few times, does this pose any health risk to me, other coworkers and their children?

Ashley.Davis23@gmail.com · July 2009

i would stay away from him when he's sick. one of his kids could have something they weren't vaccinated for, and you don't know if he was vaccinated as a kid either. i'd stay clear, just to be safe. you don't want to get sick, or little one.

you

could even talk

Ashley.Davis23@gmail.com · July 2009

i would stay away from him when he's sick. one of his kids could have something they weren't vaccinated for, and you don't know if he was vaccinated as a kid either. i'd stay clear, just to be safe. you don't want to get sick, or little one.

or

you could event

Ashley.Davis23@gmail.com · July 2009

i would stay away from him when he's sick. one of his kids could have something they weren't vaccinated for, and you don't know if he was vaccinated as a kid either. i'd stay clear, just to be safe. you don't want to get sick, or little one.

or

you could event talk to your boss about the possible health risks it could cause the

Ashley.Davis23@gmail.com · July 2009

i would stay away from him when he's sick. one of his kids could have something they weren't vaccinated for, and you don't know if he was vaccinated as a kid either. i'd stay clear, just to be safe. you don't want to get sick, or little one.

or

you could event talk to your boss about the possible health risks it could cause the office.

Ashley.Davis23@gmail.com · July 2009

sorry about teh multiple posts. no idea how that happened.

easjer05 · July 2009

It would only pose a risk if it were a communicable disease that could be vaccinated against and you were unable to receive the vaccine for some reason or you received the vaccine, but it was ineffective for you.

For example - my friend was vaccinated with the MMR at a young age and had the routine boosters. However, she was exposed to measles through her husband, who was exposed to an unvaccinated child who contracted measles. For whatever reason, the vaccine did not work for her and she was not immune to measles. She contracted measles and was very sick - complicating this was heart condition that made having the measles a much more dangerous situation for her. She nearly died.

You would have to be in a similar situation for it to matter.

mooeta · July 2009

Ditto an unvaccinated child isn't dangerous, but if they have something that you aren't vaccinated against you could get exposed. If you aren't vaccinated for something you are just as much at risk being in contact with a vaccinated person as a carrier as you are another unvaccinated person and you are as much a risk to them as they are to you.

Nothing to fear if you are vaccinated.

JulieandBen · July 2009

Any unvaccinated child poses a risk to every single person they come in contact with. Especially if the person has a compromised immune system such as a pregnant woman.

ZAngel · July 2009

An unvaccinated child is a huge risk to other children. The child could pass along something to children that are not old enough to receive certain vaccinations. If I know a child has not been vaccinated, I would keep any young kids far away from them. I would also hope that if the parents choose not to vaccinate, they would be responsible enough to keep their children away from babies and small kids.

JulieandBen · July 2009

ZAngel:
An unvaccinated child is a huge risk to other children. The child could pass along something to children that are not old enough to receive certain vaccinations. If I know a child has not been vaccinated, I would keep any young kids far away from them. I would also hope that if the parents choose not to vaccinate, they would be responsible enough to keep their children away from babies and small kids.

The problem with this is those parents don't keep their kids away from other kids. You have no idea which children at the neighborhood park or Gymboree or Little Gym have been vaccinated and which ones haven't.

I have no problems with parents who choose to spread the vaccine schedule out. I think it's socially irresponsible to not vaccinate at all. Children don't have to exhibit symptoms to pass them along.

Lariah14 · July 2009

JulieandBen:
ZAngel:
An unvaccinated child is a huge risk to other children. The child could pass along something to children that are not old enough to receive certain vaccinations. If I know a child has not been vaccinated, I would keep any young kids far away from them. I would also hope that if the parents choose not to vaccinate, they would be responsible enough to keep their children away from babies and small kids.
The problem with this is those parents don't keep their kids away from other kids. You have no idea which children at the neighborhood park or Gymboree or Little Gym have been vaccinated and which ones haven't.
I have no problems with parents who choose to spread the vaccine schedule out. I think it's socially irresponsible to not vaccinate at all. Children don't have to exhibit symptoms to pass them along.

This. Even if you have been vaccinated however you are not necessarily immune. Depending on the disease you may need a booster (Diphtheria and Pertussis for example) and you may not have gotten it. Or you could have gotten vaccinated and not received immunity (which is one reason they do the titers for MMR at your first OB visit) My family doctor said pertussis is becoming a big problem because of people refusing to vaccinate and it is very dangerous for infants. You don't to bring that home from work either!

Your co-worker should not bring in his child when she's sick, PERIOD, especially if she's not vaccinated. You could get exposed, another co-worker could be exposed. You just don't know who has compromised immune systems or who lives with someone undergoing radiation and chemo, etc. I hate when people come to work and cough and sneeze all over and spread their cold/flu around- stay home and let the rest of us stay healthy! I'm sick of other people's choices having potentially serious consequences for the rest of us!

I would talk to your boss about co-workers bringing in sick children- it's a business issue- sick employees = lower productivity! Not to mention, you're entitled to a safe/healthy working environment.

bob&bobbijo · July 2009

JulieandBen:
Any unvaccinated child poses a risk to every single person they come in contact with. Especially if the person has a compromised immune system such as a pregnant woman.

this. it is extremely dangerous not to vaccinate. for everyone.

MeiMei77 · May 2014

I have the same concerns about unvaccinated children with whom I work (I'm a teacher). By law, I am not permitted to know which children are not vaccinated. I wipe down my classroom surfaces daily, but nothing prevents kids from coughing and sneezing right on me.

I have nephews and a few friends whose kids are not vaccinated. They applied for religious exemptions, which is ridiculous. One parent states that MMR vaccs are developed with aborted fetal tissue. To my understanding, that hasn't been the case since the early 60s.

My concern is that when my child is born, she will not be able to receive the MMR vaccine until 13 months. I know that I will pass on some of my immunity to her, but that only lasts for so long. I don't know how I'm going to break it to unvaccinated family and friends that I don't want my baby exposed to any potential dangers.

There have been several pertussis and even measles cases in my area; one was less than a mile away from my home.

I think parents who do not vaccinate should be forced to see pictures/videos of the horrible, but preventable birth defects, complications, and miscarriages that arise from not having vaccinations.

I really think people are oblivious to how many people have suffered and died in the past before life-saving vaccines.