If you chose not to vaccinate...

...could you tell me why?

I know this has probably been done a few times over but I can't find the info I want from previous threads.

I am having a huge personal battle over vaccinations. I really don't want to do it, but fear is driving me to do so. But I don't want the decision to be fear driven, I want it to be an informed decision.

So for any mothers out there who didn't vaccinate, can you share with me the reason for you decision.


Please everyone, I don't want a debate here, and nor am I looking for anyone to come in and tell me I should vaccinate. I know all the reasons of why I should, I hear them over and over, but I'm still unconvinced. Only fear is stopping me from not vaccinating so I want to know how others validated this choice for themselves. And I'd also like to hear about any repercussions you may have encounters due to your choice.

TIA

My son had an extreme reaction and we ended up hospital. He kept having seizures and a really high temp. There was talk of possible brain damage due to his prolonged temp, thank god that wasn't the case. It was so scary though.

We were advised not to continue with his vaccinations and since having done my own research I am comfortable with this.

I see that someone has bumped the other thread....I posted a link in there for a book called "Just a little prick" It is awesome and written by a NZ women. It is totally free as well, you don't even have to pay postage. Of course they like donations, but that is up to you.

I just noticed that wasn't the thread I posted the link, so here it is link to order

Edited by kellie

i think one of the hardest things you will find is getting accurate kiwi based information.

I'm a pro vax parent but TBH I wouldn't vaccine for fear alone. If that's what's driving you towards it, sit back, do some research (trying to get unbiased stuff is quite hard though) and don't vaccinate until you are ready (or at all).

Alos, just to add....I"ve got a pro vaxing Dr as well as very pro vaxing nurse...but they've all been supportive of my decision, and know that I've researched thoroughly what we feel is best for *us*. They also agree (as do my Plunket nurses) that fear alone is a very bad reason to vax.

I am a non vaxing parent and my only advice is that if you are even a little unsure then postpone until you are certian.

In my opinion 6 weeks is very young to start injecting foreign things into your baby's undeveloped immune system. You can always vaccinate later, but you can't unvaccinate.

For me vaccinating was never an option, and I have never for a second regretted it.

Im pro-choice and also pro-vaxing, but also believe that you cant make this decision lightly or in a hurry. Having said that, your decision should be based on solid research and not on someones opinion.

Mum2Mac wrote: Thanks everyone for your input. I've spent a larg epart of this evening opening up websites and saving them to my favourites so I can go back and read all the info. There is so much to consider. Definately not a choice to be taken lightly. Thanks again.

Good call, its such a personal choice - research is really the only way you can do it. I would also talk to your Doc about your concerns especially if your child has any other health issues

good luck with your choice!

I'm not a non- vaxer in the truest sense of the word; DS1 is fully vaxed, DS2 had everything but meningicoccal till 5 months. Then I had a friend 'enlighten' me and have not vaxed since. LOL

I fully admit that I did ZERO research when DS1 was born; I was very much of that "I am vaxed and fine, as is everyone else I know so it can;t be THAT bad can it". OOOh how my eyes have been opened.

At the end of the day it is such a personal decision that each individual family has to make and there are a host of reasons that we haven't carried on vaxing DS2. The one thing I've learned in the nearly 18 months that I have been researching this area is that each family usually has a number of reasons why they don't; some overlap and some you will find don't. So for example where someone might be worried about sever reactions, another family might have a purely moral or ethical objection even if they believe in the science. The one thing I will tell you is that I used to vax out of fear because it is drummed into you that your child can get measles and get really sick and die and to hear that scares the cr@p out of you. I'm not afraid any more, yes I worry that they might get sick, but then I worry whether they are getting enough food or enough sleep but I'm not afraid. There's alot of fear in parenting, something that you never hear about but I agree with the others that you shouldn't just do (or not do) something for the sole reason that you are afraid.

I am no closer now to making a decision than I was 18 months ago...and personally for every question I have had answered, I end up with many more. I found the measles surveillance reports from the recent measles outbreak very eye opening. Feel free to PM me if you've got any more questions. I've done soo much reading and so much research looking at BOTH sides (there isn't really any 'balanced' information out there) that in the end I have just followed my instincts and my instincts at the present time is that he won't benefit from being vaxed.